David Heilbron Obituary

David Michael Heilbron

November 25,1936 - March 8, 2020

David Michael Heilbron, son of Louis Henry Heilbron and Delphine Rosenblatt Heilbron, was a native of San Francisco and a graduate of Lowell High School, UC Berkeley (in English), Oxford University (in law, as a Rhodes Scholar), and Harvard Law School. He received all his degrees with first class honors. David made his legal career in the San Francisco firm of McCutchen, Doyle, Brown & Enersen, of which he became the managing partner in 1985. As a lawyer he was distinguished by his ability to negotiate solutions and, if that failed, to litigate with measured precision. He appeared often in the US Court of Appeals and once in the Supreme Court of the US, and shared his expertise in appellate procedures in courses he gave at UC's Boalt Hall School of Law. His peers elected him their leader, as President of the San Francisco (1980) and then of the California State Bar Association (1985-6). During his two years of service at the state level, he fought successfully against a proposal in the Legislature to free practicing attorneys from the obligation of belonging to the Association, thus saving it from bankruptcy.

Following his parents' lead, David was active in civic affairs. He did pro-bono work and served on the boards of the Jewish Community Center, the Legal Aid Society, and the San Francisco Senior Center, of which he was President from 1972 to 1975. After retiring from his firm, he acted as an independent arbitrator with great success and practiced the old recipe of keeping his head clear by vigorous exercise. He was devoted to tennis, skiing, bicycling, and walking the dog. Among his closest friends were several of his fellow Rhodes scholars, who showed their wisdom by settling in the Bay Area.

David was married for 59 years to Nancy Ann Olsen, also a graduate of Lowell and Cal; they made their home in San Francisco and then in Tiburon, where David died last week, his generous spirit and brilliant mind dimmed by Alzheimer's disease. He is survived by Nancy and their daughters Lauren Rubin, Sarah Heilbron, and Ellen Schupbach, and by his brother John. He will live on in our hearts as a loving, generous, witty, and supportive husband, father, and brother.

A memorial service will be held in due course.

Published by San Francisco Chronicle from Mar. 12 to Mar. 15, 2020.
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Memories and Condolences
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6 Entries

My name is Maurice (Maury) Taylor. I am an old friend of Lauren Heilbron (Rubin?), daughter of David Heilbron. I´d very much like to reconnect with her, it´s been over 35 years! My phone number is: 415-246-6490. Please send her my love!

Maurice Taylor

Friend

May 28, 2023

Condolences to his wife and three great daughters. David was a bright and warm person whom I truly admired.

March 18, 2020

For more than a decade David Heilbron was Chair of the Northern California Advisory Committee of the American Arbitration Association. He was a mentor to me and a creative advocate on behalf of dispute resolution. He was instrumental in helping to create the Large Complex Case Panel which was such a successful part of AAA's efforts to expand alternative dispute resolution throughout California and the rest of the country. He was always insightful, decisive yet pleasant in helping bring disparate interests together. Chuck Cooper, Sr VP (retired) American Arbitration Association.

Charles Cooper

Coworker

March 17, 2020

IN ALL RESPECTS, THE VERY BEST OF THE BEST!

Bill and Marion Quinby

March 15, 2020

I remember Dave fondly from Grant grammar School and Lowell high. We had a baseball team once year at grant, and, Dave played catcher on the team. He also was a very good swimmer on the Lowell swimming team. We shared many practice sessions at the Concordia Swim Club on VanNess ave. I lost track of dave after high school. RIP, fellow Grant and Lowell alum. Bob Randall. Dave was one year ahead of me.

March 15, 2020

My most heartfelt condolences to the Heilbron family. As a fellow member of the Cal Club I always enjoyed our many locker room conversations (we had nearby lockers). Dave was truly one of the brightest and nicest men I ever had the pleasure of knowing. The family of man lost one of its best.

Lloyd Hanford

March 13, 2020

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