As a much-sought after philanthropist who is nearly ‘philanthropized out of my mind,’ Audrey Geisel says her first concern is the human equation. (photo/lambertphoto.com)

I was almost a no-show,” admits Audrey Geisel, the 85-year-old heir to the fortune of Theodor Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss. She doesn’t grant interviews or meet individually with people very often anymore. But she pulled herself together, hopped into her old Cadillac with the “GRINCH” license plates and tooled down Mount Soledad to the La Valencia, beating the reporter to a 7:30 a.m. breakfast.

She doesn’t like the questions about philanthropy.

“You either have it or you don’t. If you have it, you do it. If you don’t, you don’t. I’m philanthropized out of my mind. That’s my word, philanthropized. I have 94 things I care about. I care about this community. I think this is ongoing Nirvana here, never gonna end. Why this place is blessed with the best weather and climate and loveliness, I can’t understand. But I think the first concern is the human equation. That’s my first, absolute caring area.

“But you see, after a little time, you get a great group of people out there and what they represent, and they glom onto me, although I like their work.

“Joan Kroc was fantastic. She was in a different class. She left buildings. Helen Copley is gone. Somehow word got out that I would assume their position. I’m not able or capable. But I seem to be doing it! They were private people. They hadn’t made the mistake – question mark – I have made. I go places. I back certain areas. I’m more visible. They did not meet with the people. They were aloof and you could not get to them. Every single person wants something from my pink body. They want money. They want me there. It does nothing for me, nothing, zilch, nada.

“If I try to do all things, I’ll split at a crucial part of my body.

“I keep wondering who’s going to carry on after me. I don’t see that particular person on the horizon. I have many, many friends. I don’t know their names. They know my name.

“I love them at UCSD. I fought for the Faculty Club and told them I was removing my monetary input unless they got started right away. They started. There was nothing holding them up. I’m supporting the chancellor’s house (University House). That’s a gorgeous property that should never get lost and it should be built right there. The new design is remarkably better.”

She says her fondness for UCSD does not extend to “all the University of California framework. I’m singling out UCSD. It’s right up there because they made a point of having very special professors and sending off academically well-informed students. It does have a lovely reputation nationwide. I was there when the first spade of earth was turned and since then it has become a mega-house of knowledge with so many large concerns dealing with the human condition to benefit everyone.”

She says donors often “spread money where there’s a payback, not in money but in exposure. I don’t do that. I want it under your hat. I don’t care about exposure. But others give to be socially visible, the San Diego Opera, Old Globe, ballet. I think Mama’s Kitchen is more important for people who need the help. But I do those things, like the opera, because I have so many friends.

“The San Diego Foundation does a good job for me. I am spread so wide, they really have to work for me to cover all that. When Ted was alive, he wanted to (handle charitable giving) for himself and not bother anyone. He never could have known how big he’d become. I still think there was a twinkle in his eye when he said, ‘I’m leaving you my animals.’”

Her lovable, insatiable beast is Dr. Seuss Enterprises, which she serves as CEO, with Susan Brandt as head of merchandising and Karl ZoBell in charge of legal matters.