Jules “J” Heumann

January 27, 1924 - December 16, 2017

Jules “J” Heumann, born in San Francisco in 1924 to Zelda (Jankelson) and Armand Heumann, died peacefully on December 16, 2017.

J lived his nearly 94-year life to the fullest, delighting in his family and friends; his devotion to the collector car hobby; his life-long interest in design, architecture, and engineering; the joys of fine wine and good food; his enthusiasm for classical music; and his love of the city of San Francisco. He enjoyed collector car tours and travel, especially in France, home of his paternal grandfather and the country that nurtured his particular favorite among automobiles, the Hispano Suiza. His sense of humor was both sophisticated and prankish. J embraced new acquaintances and experiences until the end. He will be remembered as a mentor and role model to many, particularly in the automotive world, where, along with fellow enthusiast Lorin Tryon, he was acclaimed as the “savior” of the Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance.

A graduate of Lowell High School, J went on to the University of California at Berkeley and served in the Navy on an LST in the South Pacific from 19441946. After World War II, J and his brother Syl went to work at the family business, Metropolitan (“Metro”) Furniture Company, founded by their maternal grandfather in 1905. Upon the death of their father in 1949, J and Syl became co-presidents of Metro, engineering its evolution from a floundering firm to a highly successful manufacturer of residential and contract furniture. J was chief designer at Metro, winning numerous awards for his furniture and patenting several innovations. He retired in 1985.

J was also proud of winning several sailing championships with Syl on San Francisco Bay; his service on the San Francisco Civil Grand Jury for two years, the second as foreman; his role as a Board member and past president of the Columbia Park Boys’ Club; and his many charitable contributions over the years, particularly his underwriting of a garden in honor of his beloved late wife, Sally Heumann, at the San Francisco Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum.

Above all, J will be remembered as a collector and restorer of fine automobiles, particularly Hispano Suizas about which he became a world renowned expert, and his involvement with the Pebble Beach Concours. Until late in life J did nearly all aspects of his car restorations himself. A crowning achievement was winning Best-in-Show at Pebble Beach in 1972 for his 1922 Hispano. J served as Co-Chairman of the Pebble Beach Concours from 19721998, Chairman in 1999, and became Chairman Emeritus in 2000. He and Lorin Tryon are credited with elevating the Pebble show to its current status as the premiere event of its kind in the world. J and Lorin were awarded the Meguiar Award for their significant contributions to the collector car hobby in 1998.

J married Sally Coen in 1947, with whom he had two daughters, Leslie and Jann. Their 50-year marriage was cut short by Sally’s death in 1998. J married his companion of the last several years, Barbara Pastorello, in 2017.