Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi
Congresswoman Nancy PelosiA native of Philadelphia, John served as a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne Division during the Battle of the Bulge during World War II . Following the war, he worked for NATO in England and France. He attended New Mexico State University on the GI Bill and received his BS in Business. His college roommate, John Hirten, urged him to come to San Francisco to lead SPUR, which he did for the next twenty years.
John was one of the most influential figures in San Francisco's planning and economic development since the 1960's. Under his leadership, SPUR played a key role in the creation of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area by developing a network of more than 65 conservation and civic-minded organizations. He served as deputy director of SPUR from 1960 to 1968 and as executive director from 1968 to 1981.
He then served as executive director of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce from 1981 to 1988, when he became president of the organization for a year. He played a leading role in resolving the downtown business community's battles with City Hall and neighborhood groups and helped draft guidelines for the treatment of HIV-positive employees.
John was also an avid sailor and expert yachtsman and named champion in several sailboat racing classes. His love for the San Francisco Bay Area was demonstrated by his service on the boards of the Fine Arts Museum, KQED, Point Reyes Bird Observatory, and the San Francisco State University Foundation.
John's service to San Francisco and the Bay Area was a gift to us all. His
insistence that the business and conservation communities communicate with and
support each other made San Francisco a model for other cities. He was a hero,
always vigilant, always willing and able to do battle. To John's lovely wife
Shirley, I extend my deepest sympathy and my gratitude to her for sharing her
magnificent husband with us.
