John Grey

John Robert (Jack) Grey Passed away peacefully at his home on May 13, 2011, shortly before his 89th birthday. Jack was born on June 26, 1922 in Burbank, California, and was the ninth of ten children. With five older sisters, he always said his sisters were confused as to whether they were his sisters or his mother. He grew up in Glendale, California, and was active in school activities such as football and the school newspaper. He also dearly loved machinery, and when he was 15 years old, he bought a Model T Ford for $15. When he brought the car home, he laid a blanket on the lawn, and proceeded to take the engine apart to see how it worked. He then put the engine back together, and it ran! He was able to sell the car during the next year for $20. After graduating from high school, Jack attended Stanford University. He went out for freshman football, but when he could see Bruno Banducci (a future 49er) as the first string tackle, he saw the handwriting on the wall and retreated to his studies. Jack paid much of his own way through school by working. One of his jobs was waiting on tables, or "hashing," as it was called. He became the head hasher and found an additional attraction in a female hasher. He found the love of his life in Margaret Severance, a student from Great Falls, Montana. Margaret was equally enamored and moved up her graduation to August 1943, one year early, and they were married the day after her last final exam. Jack graduated in chemical engineering and went to work for Chevron, which in those days was called Standard Oil Company of California. He loved working on challenging engineering problems, and he also loved working with people. He spent his first years with Chevron working in the El Segundo refinery, and in 1957 was appointed Manager of the Salt Lake City refinery. In 1965, after holding positions at the refineries in Salt Lake City and Richmond, Jack was named Chief Engineer of the Corporation, and in 1966 he became the Vice President and General Manager of Manufacturing of Western Operations, which was Chevron's principal operating subsidiary. He became Vice President of the parent company in 1969, and then in 1974 he was made President of Chevron. He also served on the Board of Directors of Bank of America, playing an important role in helping the Board steer the bank through a difficult period during the 1980s. While pursuing his career, he donated much of his personal time to public service, ranging from coaching Little League baseball teams to heading up the United Way of the Bay Area. He also served on the boards of trustees of Stanford University and the California Academy of Sciences, and as chairman of, and senior advisor to, the California Roundtable. Jack was an unassuming man, a manager who led through gentle humor, common sense, and fairness. He was known simply as Jack and was always accessible to those who needed his guidance. He was widely known as a man of great integrity. Despite his success in business and his personal accomplishments, Jack's greatest happiness was his family. He and Margaret were married for more than 67 years and were inseparable. They raised three sons, John (who predeceased him), Douglas and Richard. Survivors include nine grandchildren: Amanda Timar, Courtney Hanna, Katie McCarthy, Emily Goldman, Maggie Harris, David Grey, John Grey IV, Thomas Grey and Molly Grey. There are also four great-grandchildren: Annelise Timar, Francesca Timar, Jack McCarthy, and Max Harris. At Jack's request, the memorial service will be a family gathering. Donations in his memory may be made to Operation Access, which through volunteer physicians provides medical care for low-income uninsured patients in the Bay Area, at 115 Sansome Street, Suite 1205, San Francisco, CA 94104, or to a charity of the donor's choice.