Oliva Rauh

Olie Westheimer Rauh, 94, who co-founded an art gallery, volunteered and served on several boards, died of congestive heart failure Feb. 12 at her home in Washington.

She was born in St. Louis and attended schools in Missouri, California and Switzerland. She graduated from Wheelock College in Boston. In 1935, she married Joseph L. Rauh Jr., a well-known civil rights and civil liberties leader and lawyer, and moved to Washington. He died in 1992 and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously by President Bill Clinton.

Early on, Mrs. Rauh taught at the National Child Research Center. In 1959, she and three friends founded the Art Rental Gallery, which in 1963 became part of the Corcoran Gallery of Art. Mrs. Rauh was active for many years with Planned Parenthood and served on its board and as an officer. In 1985, she was honored by Planned Parenthood for her service.

Mrs. Rauh also was a volunteer and tutor at the Washington Literacy Council. She served on the boards of the Smithsonian Women's Committee and the Corcoran Women's Committee. She also was a lifelong Democrat and volunteered at the White House.

Survivors include two sons, B. Michael Rauh of Shady Side and Carl S. Rauh of Washington; her companion, former ambassador David Popper of Washington; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

-- Yvonne Shinhoster Lamb, The Washington Post, Tuesday, February 26, 2008