Leona Marie Bridges

March 24, 1956 – September 26, 2026

Obituary

Leona M. Bridges, a trailblazing financial executive, devoted servant leader, and fierce woman of faith, departed this life on September 26, 2026, at the age of 70. Born in Louisiana, she became a true San Franciscan who loved the city by the bay and gave generously of herself to it for decades.

For more than two decades, Leona was a Managing Director at Barclays Global Investors, which was acquired by BlackRock in 2009 and became the world’s largest asset manager. Her work spanned global securities lending and trading, custody services, client service, and business development, and she was responsible for establishing and maintaining the firm’s civic and community relationships. Her work took her around the world, and she made an impact in Africa through her aptitude for finance, investment, and strategy. Global Custodian inducted her into the Securities Services Hall of Fame.

Leona believed in civic involvement, social action, and serving her community, her nation, and the world. Appointed a Commissioner of the San Francisco Employees’ Retirement System in 2013, she served as President, Vice President, and most recently Acting President of its board. Nominated by former San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, Leona served as Director of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and a Commissioner of the San Francisco Parking Authority, where she continued to serve on the Bond Oversight Committee. Her influence extended across California through her service on the California State University System Investment Advisory Committee and the California Democratic Party Central Committee, and nationally as a member of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, to which she was recommended by Senator Nancy Pelosi, nominated by President Joe Biden, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2022.

She gave her time to many community and nonprofit boards, including the San Francisco State University Foundation, the Golden Gate University Ageno School of Business Advisory Council, West Bay Local Development Corporation, Third

Baptist Gardens, and the Delta Research and Educational Foundation. A devoted life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (San Francisco Alumnae Chapter), she served on the sorority’s National Social Action Commission. She was also a former board member of Progress Investment Management Company and a life member of the NAACP (San Francisco Branch) and the National Council of Negro Women (Golden Gate Section).

Leona valued education. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from San Francisco State University in 1979 and an MBA from Golden Gate University’s Ageno School of Business. At San Francisco State, she established the Leona M. Bridges Endowed Scholarship in Business to support economically and educationally disadvantaged students, and she was inducted into the university’s Alumni Hall of Fame in 2011.

Leona was a fierce sports fan and a loud, loyal supporter of both professional and collegiate athletics, especially the SF 49ers. No one who watched a game with Leona ever mistook her for a quiet spectator. She loved to travel, and from the many places she visited, she often sent postcards to her family and friends. She loved to take pictures to capture special and everyday moments and was always ready to shop.

Leona accepted Jesus Christ at an early age, and her faith anchored her life. She was a faithful member and leader at Third Baptist Church in San Francisco, where she served on the Usher Board and the Finance Committee. Her service in the church reached far beyond her home congregation. She was General Secretary of the California State Baptist Convention, Inc., and a Trustee of American Baptist Seminary of the West, which conferred upon her an Honorary Doctor of Laws.

Her many honors included the Citizen of the Year Award from the National Council of Negro Women, the Trailblazer Award from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women of San Francisco, the Woman of Achievement Award from Legal Momentum, the Eagle Award from the National Association of Securities Professionals, of which she was a longtime member, and a Certificate of Honor from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Yet she believed simply that “we should always be a blessing to others,” and she lived that way.

Above all, Leona was devoted to her family. She was a constant source of support and a mentor to her nieces, nephews, and the many young people in her life, always willing to share her knowledge, her experience, and her advice to help them navigate the road ahead. Leona and her mother, Thelma Bridges, were exceptionally close. Thelma gave her daughter the foundation of her spiritual faith, which carried her through her life, leadership, and service to others. Thelma survives her daughter, along with Leona’s siblings, Brenda, Gwendolyn, David, Patricia, and Tracy, and a host of nieces, nephews, godchildren, and friends who became family. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Lawrence and Otha.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at Third Baptist Church, 1399 McAllister Street, San Francisco, beginning with an Omega Omega Service at 10:00 a.m., open to the public, followed by the Memorial Service at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Leona M. Bridges Endowed Scholarship in Business at San Francisco State University or to the Delta Research & Educational Foundation.