Michael McCone

1934 - 2017

Michael Fenwick McCone

March 18, 1934 - May 9, 2017

"It really started with John Kennedy, the idea that I would treat my life as an adventure." – Mike McCone

It is with a heavy heart, fanfare, and love we say goodbye to Michael Fenwick McCone. Mike (Big Mike as he liked to be known) passed from us on Tuesday, May 9th following a mercifully short illness. Mike is survived by his first wife Nini Charles McCone and their children: Andy, Mike (Gigi), and Matt; their grandchildren, Charlie, Kennedy, and Tyler; his second wife Birgit Jacobsen; and his companion of two decades Charlene Harvey.

Mike was born in Philadelphia on March 18th, 1934 to Howard and Barbara McCone. In 1942 Mike, his sister Jennifer, and his mother Barbara (affectionately known as "Baba", as small grandchildren were unable to pronounce Barbara) made a life in Ross, California with the love and encouragement of Barbara's Aunt Harriet and Aunt Georgie. Barbara married Aleck McAndrew who was very encouraging of Mike and Jennifer.

Mike was an avid tennis player taking lessons and practicing at the Lagunitas Country Club and throughout Marin. As a Marin County Athletic League singles champion (more than once!) Mike competed in regional tournaments in Northern California, where he met his lifelong friend Mike Marron. Mike continued to play tennis for sport and fun the rest of his life.

Mike attended public schools in Marin County where he excelled in sports and being funny. Also, he was a fine scholar. Mike attended Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley until Sir Francis Drake High School opened in 1951. He was the student body president of Drake's first graduating class in 1952. The summer between high school and college Mike worked as a logger in Coos Bay, Oregon.

Mike attended Yale University (as mentioned, he was a fine scholar) and was on the varsity tennis team. Mike graduated in 1956 with a Bachelor's in Political Science. Upon graduation, Mike was commissioned as an ensign in the Navy and was assigned to the USS Isbell, a Pacific fleet destroyer helmed by Commander Elmo Zumwalt. After completing two years of service Mike returned to the Bay Area and worked in the shipping industry at Jones Stevedoring Company in what was the old produce district near the Embarcadero.

Mike and high school girlfriend, Nini Charles, were married in 1958. When John F. Kennedy became President, he formed the Peace Corps and placed Sargent Shriver at the helm, who famously led and shaped the Peace Corps. Mike was inspired to join up so he applied and took off for Washington to undergo an extensive interview process. Nini remembers receiving a phone call from Mike, while holding their infant son, Mike, and keeping an eye on their toddler, Andy, in their Russian Hill flat. Mike said, "I'm in Sargent Shriver's office and he said I should call you before agreeing to go to Africa." In 1962 the family took off for Sierra Leone where Mike was the Peace Corps Deputy Director and where a third child, Matt, was born. During the following years, the family lived in Malawi, Washington, D.C., and Sarawak (Malaysian Borneo). The family's stay is documented with words and images in Mike's book "Transformative Years" published with the assistance of Heyday Books.

In 1967, Mike and family left the Peace Corps to return to San Francisco, drawn back by the reports of all that was happening there. He worked for Mayor Joseph Alioto, first as a volunteer, then as Alioto's Appointments Secretary. Mayor Alioto then appointed Mike the head of San Francisco's Model Cities, a federal urban aid program to fight poverty. Mike made another lifelong friend in Pete Richardson while at Model Cities.

In 1972, Mike became the Deputy Director of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. In Mike's 13 years at SFMOMA, he continued to forge many great relationships, took up an appreciation of modern art, and forced his kids to endure many an opening gala. Mike was married to Birgit Jacobsen from 1988 to 1997 and was the loving and beloved step-father of her children Christian, Finn, and Molly Pillsbury. He went on to work for Grace Cathedral, JFK University and in 1990 took over the helm of the California Historical Society, ushering it from a smaller organization in Pacific Heights to a cultural institution in the Yerba Buena area.

After retirement in 1999 from the California Historical Society Mike was on the Board of Directors at Heyday Books and served as its' chairman. An appropriate match as Mike was a voracious reader. Additionally, Mike volunteered at the San Francisco Food Bank and helped 2nd graders with their reading skills at Daniel Webster Elementary School across the street from his home on Potrero Hill.

During the last part of Mike's life, he was accompanied by his companion Charlene Harvey, whom he adored so very ardently. They shared a love for art and an interest in politics, enjoyed a broad social circle, and traveled extensively together throughout the world.

Throughout his life, Mike cherished his friendships and family. He was always a great friend to run into. Excited to hear what you had been doing, what you had been reading, and if you had any jokes. He was funny and a good joke teller. He liked conversations, he was open to challenging his own thinking and a gracious person whether you were his son, coworker or a stranger.

Goodbye Mike, God help them where you're going.

A memorial service will be held for Mike at Grace Cathedral on Friday, June 2nd at 2 pm.
Memorial donations may be made to Heyday Books or The San Francisco Food Bank.

"I turned the gas down, I got into bed. I said some words to the close and holy darkness, and then I slept." – Dylan Thomas, A Child's Christmas In Wales