Arthur P. McGlenon Jr.

1943 - 2024

Arthur P. McGlenon, Jr.
April 13, 1943 - January 23, 2024
Arthur Patrick McGlenon, Jr. - Art or Artie to the many he held close - was born April 13, 1943 in St. Francis Hospital, San Francisco, and died January 23, 2024 at Kaiser Permanente San Francisco, his beloved hometown, with his friends and family gathered. Diabetes, a fall and kidney failure contributed to his death.
His parents, Art and Grace, both worked for the City, and his boyhood included swimming to Seal Rock with his father and learning to surf at Kelly's Cove. He enjoyed challenging authority, which accounted for his multiple high schools and eight years at City College before attending San Francisco State. A kind neighbor signed him up for the firefighter exam, and woke him to take it. He served the City as a firefighter for 13 years at 3 Truck on Post Street, while also studying law at USF. After he passed the bar, he worked as an attorney for more than four decades. Among his many successful legal actions were the first money judgment during the separation of a same-sex couple and a lawsuit he brought against the San Francisco Fire Department while he was still an employee, arguing that SFFD's regulations of facial hair infringed upon the right of personal expression.
Art married Charlene Iverson (1943-1995) in 1968, and though they divorced ten years later, their children, Jesse McGlenon (Tessie), Stacie Davis (Matt), and Lindsay Nieri (Michael) brought him endless laughter and love. They all survive him. His sister, Karen; and cousins throughout the city, also survive him.
He met his wife, Ann in the early 1980s, and they had a law office together on Post Street until he moved to Costa Rica for a year and she got a job in Fresno, Calif. Though they did not officially wed until 1998, he served as stepfather to her sons, Robert (Whitney) and Hank (1985-1996) Voris. Ann and Art lived in Fresno, Calif., until their retirement and return to San Francisco in 2016. They loved to travel together, visiting Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska, Spain, Morocco, and The Bahamas over the decades. Their many trips to Atlanta and New York City provided wonderful experiences and memories filled with culture, food, and family. They also shared a great enthusiasm for music. Recent concerts enjoyed included Sade, John Legend, JJ Cale, Bruno Mars, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, Billy Joel, Leon Russell and Kanye West and Jay-Z. She survives him.
Quick-witted and playful, Art adored children. In addition to his son, daughters, and stepsons, he delighted in his grandchildren, Tia and Sophia McGlenon; Emma, Jaxson, and River Davis; Mia Harsha; and Henry Voris; and brought them great joy in return. He volunteered for California Court Appointed Special Advocates, where he represented the interests of children, and then worked with the court during family and dependency court proceedings. He took time to greet any baby, toddler, or child that he met and inquire about their day.
His retirement with Ann to the Sunset District of San Francisco allowed him ample opportunities to dote on his dogs, smoke cigars, greet his neighbors, and people-watch. Though he no longer surfed, he visited Ocean Beach every day, just as he did when young.
His friendships spanned decades. His collection of Hawaiian shirts was legend. He loved life One Day At A Time. He is already missed.
A celebration of Art's life will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, February 20, at Duggan's Serra Mortuary, 500 Westlake Ave., Daly City. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Art's memory to the American Diabetes Association, Bearskin Meadow Camp, ALS Association, or the charity of your choice.