Jane Pharr

1942 - 2026

Jane Pharr
01/06/1942 - 01/06/2026
Jane E. Pharr, a Hillsborough resident since 1985, died peacefully at Stanford Medical Center on January 6, 2026, her 84th birthday.
Jane was born to Helen and E. Gordon Erickson in Minneapolis, MN on January 6, 1942. She was a proud 1959 graduate of St. Louis Park High School (MN) and received her bachelor's degree in English from Iowa State University in 1963. She later received a master's degree in public administration from the College of Notre Dame (now Notre Dame de Namur University) in Belmont, CA.
Following her college graduation, Jane was a junior high school teacher in St. Louis Park, MN. She married Michael M. Pharr in 1969 and their son Matthew M. Pharr was born in 1971. The family moved from their Minneapolis home near Lake of the Isles to beautiful Hillsborough in 1985. Although Jane would always remain a Minnesotan at heart, she loved Northern California's climate and opportunities for long walks, daily strolls down Burlingame Avenue with her dogs, and year-round gardening.
Jane was an avid reader, enjoyed needlepoint and loved working with her English bulldogs: Boullia, Thumper, Truffles I, Steamboat, Kipling, Bailey and Truffles II. Jane could often be found with a pocket full of training treats, and their bulldog Kipling even earned his CDX (Companion Dog Excellent), a rarity for the breed. Her dedication to bulldogs led to her holding several offices in the Bulldog Club of Northern California.
Jane was a willing volunteer for many organizations and good causes. She was a docent at both the Minneapolis Institute of Art and the de Young Museum in San Francisco, and a longtime volunteer at Filoli House and Garden in Woodside, CA. She will be remembered for her dedication to family, intellectual curiosity, and her wonderful laugh.
Jane is survived by her loving husband of 56 years, Michael M. Pharr; devoted son Matthew M. Pharr, daughter-in-law Deirdre S. Pharr and granddaughters Sheelyn M. Pharr and Meghan M. Pharr, all of San Francisco; sisters Carol E. Hiatt of Poughkeepsie, NY and Linda B. O'Brien of LeSueur, MN; and two nieces and two nephews, as well as several great nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be sent to NorCal Bulldog Rescue, 13520 Skyline Blvd, Woodside, CA 94062, or via norcalbulldogrescue.org.