Gustav O. Lienhard was chairman of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Board of Trustees from 1971 to 1986, a period in which the Foundation moved to the forefront of American philanthropy in health care.

Prior to Mr. Lienhard's being named chairman of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, he had a distinguished career with Johnson & Johnson, the health and medical products company, where he began in 1932 as an accountant and retired 39 years later as president and chairman of the Executive Committee.

Robert Wood Johnson, who died in 1968 after having been chief executive officer of Johnson & Johnson during most of Mr. Lienhard's years with the company, personally selected Mr. Lienhard to head the Foundation. During Mr. Lienhard's 15 years at the Foundation, General Johnson's bequest, valued at more than $1 billion, was received, a staff was assembled, and grants totaling approximately $660 million were made to improve health care in the United States.