Theodore A. Kolb

Theodore A. Kolb, a long-time San Francisco resident and prominent attorney, died on March 2nd after battling bladder cancer. He immigrated to San Francisco with his family from Vienna, Austria in 1937. He was a graduate of Galileo High School and the University of San Francisco where he received his undergraduate degree in 1942 and then his JD in 1945. He started his 70 year law career as an intern with the law firm of Brobeck PhIeger & Harrison but moved shortly to Sullivan, Roche, Johnson & Farraher, where he remained for almost fifty years. He was mentored by Theodore Roche and then Senator and former Governor Hiram Johnson and ultimately became the managing partner of the firm. He remained there until 1995 when he joined McQuaid Bedford & Van Zandt LLP. Subsequently, in 2008, he and a number of attorneys from the McQuaid firm joined Hanson Bridgett LLP, where Ted was Of Counsel, and where he remained actively practicing law until his death. The family would like to thank McQuaid Bedford & Van Zandt and Hanson Bridgett for allowing their father to maintain his association and pursue his passion, the law, up until his death.

Over the years Ted developed a very robust and diversified client base requiring continuous learning in order to effectively represent his clients. Industries such as Agriculture, Vineyards and Wineries, Lumber, Mining, Construction, Insurance, and Real Estate were among his main focus. He specialized in Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Administration, but felt that in order to properly represent his clients, he needed to understand their total interests. He was a respected but fearsome adversary in the courtroom where he was known as an accomplished and effective trial lawyer.

He believed it was important to "Pay It Forward" as an integral part of his practice. He was very active in the California and American Bar Associations. His contributions include Director and Officer of the San Francisco Bar Association, Chairman of the Executive Committee and Vice-Chairman of the Conference of Delegates of the State Bar of California, ABA - House of Delegates since 1964 representing the Bar Association of San Francisco, Assembly Delegate and Senior Lawyers Division Delegate, Committee on Scope and Correlation (Chair 1975), Committee on Traffic Court (Chair 1984-89), Lawyers Conference of Judicial Administration Division (Chair 1983-84), Judicial Administration Division (Chair 1991-92), Task Force Reduction of Litigation and Court Delay (Chair 1985-89). Committee on Forum Committees (Chair 1978-1982) and Senior Lawyers ' Division Council (Chair 2006-07).

He was a member of the Judicature Society, Federation of Insurance Counsel, Defense Research Institute, USF Law School Alumni Association (President, 1970), USF Law School Board of Counselors, Fellow of the American Trust and Estate Counsel, Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, Downtown Association of San Francisco (Director), and World Trade Club of San Francisco, (President 1982-84) and an active member of the American Law Institute. He supported his alma mater and provided leadership and training at the USF-School of Law, including its Moot Court and Trial Advocacy Programs. These efforts were recognized by these organizations as in 1997 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the ABA Foundation for 50 years of outstanding contributions to the law profession, and the Alumnus of the Year award in 2004 from the University of San Francisco.

He also enjoyed the intimacy and fellowship afforded by many social and service organizations in San Francisco, including The Family, the Pacific Union Club, the Olympic Club, St. Francis Yacht Club, the Villa Taverna, the French Club, the Presidio Golf Club and the World Trade Club to name a few. Not satisfied with merely being a member, he sought leadership roles within these clubs. He was generous with his time and resources and was excited and invigorated by the experience of participating with their ongoing successes. He was a long-time supporter of the San Francisco Opera and Symphony.

He is survived by his sister Ruth Globerson; long-time companion Doris Kolb; 3 sons, Jonathan (Gail), Richard (Sandra), and Douglas (Sandy); 3 granddaughters, Michelle (Duane), Carrie, and Lindsey (Kyle); and 2 great granddaughters, Savannah and Kylee; his sister-in-law Susan Kolb and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by Alison Kolb, his wife of 39 years, and his brother Felix Kolb. A private service was held on March 5, 2015. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. The family wishes any contributions to be made to the University of San Francisco- School of Law in Theodore's memory.