Jack N. Downer

Jack N. Downer Born on April 9, 1911 in Marysville, CA, and passed away in San Francisco, 5:49AM, Sept. 29, 2006 at the age of 95. Jack came to San Francisco in 1917 when he was 6 years old and lived there for 89 years. Son of the late Pearl Wise Downer Arndt and John Byron Downer of San Francisco; brother of the late Violet Downer Roche of San Francisco and Thelma Downer Zane of Mill Valley, CA; Jack is survived by his beloved nieces, Deanna Zane Vickers and Virginia Zane Haldan and her husband Glenn, all of Mill Valley, CA; a nephew, John Ronald Downer and his wife Maria of Reno, NV; four grand nephews, Michael Vickers of Mt. Shasta, CA, Neal Vickers and his wife Cherry of Sausalito, CA, Brian Vickers of Mt. Shasta, CA, Gregory Haldan of Forestville, CA; a grand niece, Rachel Haldan Zanetti and her husband Alex of Encinitas, CA; and a great grand niece, Sequoia Marianna Haldan of Forestville, CA. Jack was truly a scholar and graduated in three and a half years from Mission High School in San Francisco and three and one half years from the University of California, Berkeley. He was secretary of his freshman class, on the Deputations Committee, traveling throughout California, speaking to high school students encouraging follow-up education at U.C. Berkeley. He was a member of the 22 member Brick Morse's Collegents musical group, performing at major theaters on both the East and West Coasts. Jack was a member of the Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity and president in his senior year. An infantry officer in the Battle of the Bulge, World War II, Jack served his country for three years. He spent 38 years at Standard Oil Co. Of California, handling public relations, advertising and promotion materials, including the Standard School Broadcast and Standard Musical Hour. Jack retired in 1967. Jack had a passion for horses, collecting over 72 figurine horse statues and miniatures in his home. For the last 15 years, every Christmas card had a picture or drawing of a horse. He will be truly missed and never forgotten. Friends are invited to attend the Funeral Service at noon on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2006 at Nobel Chapel, Cypress Lawn Memorial Park, Colma, CA. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made in Jack's name to The Shriner's Hospital for Crippled Children, 2425 Stockton Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95817. HALSTED N.GRAY-CAREW & ENGLISH (415) 673-3000