John Gilbert Fall
John Gilbert Fall (July 9, 1926- July 8, 2009) passed away at his home in San Francisco after a brief illness. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Margaret Bard Fall, five children, and six grandsons.
John grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from LA High School. At age 17, he joined the US Navy through the V12 program at UCLA. After two years he transferred to UC Berkeley where he earned a degree in Economics. He attended Stanford Law School and was admitted to the California Bar in 1954.
In 1951, the young couple settled in San Francisco where they raised five children and where John built his career. He became a partner in the firm Partridge, O’Connell & Partridge, practicing business, contract, and insurance law both locally and overseas. In 1968, he accepted the position of Deputy Director, and later Director, of the Peace Corps office in Santiago, Chile. The three-year assignment afforded John and his family the opportunity to travel throughout Latin America.
Recently, John attended a 40th reunion of Peace Corp volunteers in Maryland. John continued his commitment to service after his return from the Peace Corps in 1971. He served as a consultant to the California Judicial Council and Administrative Office of the Courts on several key issues eventually resulting in the adoption of the first mandatory arbitration statute in California.
A Renaissance man and voracious reader, John Fall’s interests, knowledge, and curiosity were both broad and deep. He enjoyed books, film, food and wine, art, history, politics, theology, philosophy, and the human condition. Highlighted by John’s stories and insights, lively discussions around the dinner table between family and friends would continue long into the night. Contentious at times, John Fall had a passion for well-considered argument.
Throughout his life John enjoyed traveling, often accompanied by his children and grandchildren. For the last 15 years, the Falls exchanged houses with a family in London.
John was most at home in Inverness, California, where the family enjoyed many weekends and summers, picnicking, sailing, and gathering shellfish on Tomales Bay. In his later years, John became a gourmand. He prided himself on his tripe soup and baked oysters. He was a well known “regular” at his favorite local restaurants.
John and Margaret and their five children, grandchildren and friends gathered often for birthdays, holidays, and any special occasion. He was always interested in the activities, opinions, and thoughts of his family and many friends and was generous with his time and guidance. He will be missed. May his memory and legacy continue to be a blessing.
He leaves behind his loving wife Margaret; brother Charles N. Fall; five children, Richard Fall, Rebecca Fall, Elizabeth Raskin (Gordon), Charles Fall (Sharon), and Constance Fall Abramo (Jack); and six grandsons, Ellis and Ruben Raskin, Caleb and Emmet Kauffman, and Alexander and Miles Fall.
There will be a memorial gathering for family and close friends in the future.
(Published in San Francisco Chronicle from 7/19 to 7/20/2009)