John J. “Jack” Doherty

August 23, 1935 - January 20, 2021

Jack Doherty of Lafayette passed away peacefully on January 20, 2021 with Sally, his loving wife of 50 years, by his side.

The son of John J. and Edith M. Doherty, Jack grew up in San Francisco’s Mission District surrounded by a close-knit Irish community. As a child, he was a San Francisco Seals minor league baseball team fan and attended games with his father. He later became a diehard Forty Niner fan with season tickets.

After graduating Riordan High School, Jack attended University of San Francisco (USF) where he was sports editor for the newspaper and president of the Irish Club. He had a short stint as a pitcher on the baseball team before hurting his shoulder. Graduating cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree, he then went on to USF’s School of Law where he graduated second in his class.

As Deputy City Attorney for the City and County of San Francisco for 22 years, Jack’s work was divided equally between litigation and non-litigation. He had extensive trial experience. He successfully argued nineteen appellate cases, including six cases before the California Supreme Court. He handled over a hundred large cases before the San Francisco Assessment Appeals Board. After retiring in 1990, Jack was appointed to the Contra Costa County Assessment

Appeals Board where he served for five years.

Jack’s passions included researching and writing about Irish history, playing (and often winning) Fantasy Football, reading legal thrillers and mysteries, enjoying good food, wine and the company of their Golden Retriever, and entertaining family and friends at he and Sally’s vacation Tahoe home. A highlight each year was their Christmas party. To those who knew and loved him, Jack was unfailingly kind, thoughtful, loyal, generous, and always interested in others. He is survived by many cousins, including the McGuire’s, Ferree’s and Palu’s. He will be dearly missed.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jack’s honor to the Little Sisters of the Poor, 300 Lake Street, San Francisco, CA 94118.

Jack will have a private burial at Holy Cross Cemetery on Monday, February 1 at 11:30 am. This event will be live-streamed. https:// youtu.be/dnhoUcimtF0