Celebration of Life Planning - Letter of Direction

Sep 15, 2026

Resource guidance for UCSD leaders and senior/active retired faculty on three actions after a colleague’s passing: issuing timely campus notices, planning a campus “Celebration of Life” event, and initiating “end of life planning” through a “Letter of Direction.” The letter is described as a practical coordination tool listing key contacts, personal documents, credit card access, property decisions, health and legal instructions, burial and memorial preferences, and steps to draft an obituary. Emphasis is placed on acting early and reducing reliance on chance after the fact.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLetters

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time1 min

AccessFree to download

UCSD resource overview

Campus notices and event planning

Letter of Direction definition and purpose

Required contents of a Letter of Direction

Health, burial, and memorial instructions

Next steps and postscript

Celebration of Life Planning and ‘Letter of Direction’by Professor Emeritus Jack C. Fisher, UCSD Emeriti Association Historian From: UCSD Emeriti Association / UCSD Retirement Resource Center To: Deans, Department Chairs, Division Heads, Program and Unit Directors, & appropriate Administrators Re: We are announcing a resource webpage designed to provide guidance for (1) sending notice of an academic colleague’s passing,(2) planning for a campus “Celebration of Life” event, and (3) encouraging senior and active retired faculty to initiate steps recommended for end of life planning. Given that UC San Diego is now in its fifty-sixth year as a general campus of the UC System, it should come as no surprise that its Emeriti Association (EA) now claims 550 members, more than half of them still active on campus, nor that many more will join after they elect retirement. And so it becomes the interest and concern of the EA that resources be made known to campus leaders in the event of the passing of a colleague. The EA website, [http://emeriti.ucsd.edu](http://emeriti.ucsd.edu) now provides helpful links to the following resources on Blink: 1. Link to ‘Campus Notices and Flyers’ for timely and efficient distribution of word that a colleague has passed. [https://rmp.ucsd.edu/policy-records/notices.html](https://rmp.ucsd.edu/policy-records/notices.html) 2. Link to the University Communications and Public Affairs for proper noticing of local newspapers and other publications -[http://ucpa.ucsd.edu/about/contact/](http://ucpa.ucsd.edu/about/contact/) 3. Link to Process for Submission of Faculty Memorials, to be posted on UC History Digital Archives website 4. Link to Faculty Club for planning a “Celebration of Life” event using the Club or just its catering function at any campus [http://facclub.ucsd.edu/mod_AboutUs/ContactUs.aspx](http://facclub.ucsd.edu/mod_AboutUs/ContactUs.aspx) 5. Link to instruction and outline for completing a “Letter of Direction” which might serve to encourage senior faculty and retirees to begin their end of life planning well in advance of the fact. [http://retire.ucsd.edu/pdf/ALL/LETTER_OF_DIRECTION.PDF](http://retire.ucsd.edu/pdf/ALL/LETTER_OF_DIRECTION.PDF) IMPORTANCE OF WRITING A‘LETTER OF DIRECTION’ Definition: Attorneys involved with end of life planning recommend completion of a “letter of direction” that serves two purposes: 1) it tells the location of important personal papers including access to online documentation, and 2) it expresses certain personal preferences. Such a letter does NOT have the same legal force as a trust or a will, an independent planning step, although ideally linked by selection of a trustee who will honor and fulfill provisions in the letter. A letter of direction should contain the following: 1. Notifications: --Organ donation coordinator if specified. List all contact numbers for family members to be called, also doctors not already in attendance, religious advisors, personal attorney, designated trustees, financial advisors, insurance agent(s), academic department and designated colleagues, all friends wished to be notified. --Also to be notified: UC Retirement Administration Service Center (RASC); cite UC employee number. 2. Personal Documents: --Assemble in one place or else cite exact location of following personal documents: birth certificate, social security card, safe deposit box info/keys, marriage license, driver’s license and vehicle registration, title to motor vehicles, property deeds, insurance policies (life, health, accident, auto), recent bank statement(s), check book(s), copies of trust and/or will, recent tax returns, investment account statements, pension information.--Where applicable include: naturalization papers, military discharge papers, firearms registration, divorce papers, business ownership records.--Consider when feasible a photocopied set of briefest documents to be sent to a responsible family member

FAQs

What is the purpose of a “Letter of Direction” in end of life planning?

It provides the location of important personal papers and expresses personal preferences. It does not replace a trust or a will, but can be coordinated with a selected trustee.

What key information should be included under notifications?

Contact details for designated people to be notified, including donation coordinators (if specified), doctors, religious advisors, attorneys, trustees, advisors, and academic colleagues, as well as UC Retirement Administration Service Center information and the UC employee number.

What kinds of health and legal instructions can the letter include?

A health issues checklist and, as applicable, second-opinion guidance, requests for treatment alternatives including palliative care, HIPAA authorization, advance directives with a health proxy, and legal DNR and DNH orders.

Sep 15, 2026

Uploaded by Caleb Sterling