Rites Planned for Merritt Adamson, 59

Merritt Adamson, whose family established a real estate empire along the coast near what is now known as Malibu, died Sunday of cancer, a spokesman for his company said.

He was 59, lived in Malibu and died at St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica.

Adamson was a grandson of Frederick H. Rindge, who purchased the Rancho Malibu Topanga Sequit in 1891 and expanded the former land grant into a 17,000-acre working ranch.

At his death, Adamson was the managing general partner of Adohr Milk Farms Inc. and the Adamson Cos., the successor to the family-owned land holdings.

In 1968, the Adamson Cos. donated 138 acres of their Rancho Malibu that made possible the establishment four years later of Pepperdine University’s campus there.

Adamson was a member of Pepperdine’s board of trustees and had been closely affiliated with the new campus since its inception.

His grandfather helped found such Southern California corporations as Union Oil Co., Pacific Mutual Insurance and the Southern California Edison Co.

Adamson leaves his wife, Sharon; a daughter; a son, and two sisters. A funeral is scheduled todayat 11 a.m. at the Church of the Recessional at Forest Lawn Memorial-Park, Glendale.