[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16574]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                    REMEMBERING WILLIAM K. COBLENTZ

 Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, it is with deep sorrow that I join 
my colleagues today in honoring the memory of an incredible public 
servant and a dear friend of mine, William Coblentz. My heart goes out 
to his family, whom he loved so much: his wife Jean, sister Lolita, 
daughter Wendy, son Andy, son-in-law Jim, daughter-in-law Shari, and 
four grandchildren: Nikki, Ben, Jake, and Gena. A loving family man, 
gifted attorney, and astute political figure, Bill left an enduring 
impact on the city of San Francisco, the State of California, and our 
Nation. Bill passed away on September 13, 2010, in San Francisco. He 
was 88 years old.
  Bill, a native of San Francisco, was born in 1922 and attended Lowell 
High School. After graduating from UC Berkeley in 1943, Bill served in 
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during World War II. Upon completing 
his service, Bill attended Yale Law School, graduating in 1947.
  Although Bill's monumental legal career began in land use law, it 
quickly expanded to reflect the diversity of his interests and 
passions. His private practice, Coblentz, Patch, Duffy & Bass, played 
an essential role in guiding the development of several transformative 
San Francisco projects including Yerba Buena Gardens, Levi Plaza, 
Mission Bay, and AT&T Park. In the 1960s, Bill helped rock concert 
promoter Bill Graham win a permit to open San Francisco's renowned 
Fillmore Auditorium.
  Bill's passion for civic engagement was unyielding. He entered the 
political scene as a young adviser to then-California Attorney General 
Pat Brown. When he became Governor, Brown offered Bill a seat on the 
University of California Board of Regents, which he occupied for the 
next 16 years. During this time, he developed a reputation for 
defending the rights of outspoken students and faculty. Bill had a 
strong passion for the promotion of civil rights. In 2008, Bill's law 
firm honored his civil rights work by establishing the Coblentz 
Fellowship for Civil Rights at UC Berkeley's Boalt Hall School of Law.
  I had the honor of calling Bill a friend. His ability to connect with 
people was unparalleled. From his influential clients, to his political 
advisees, to his fellow San Franciscans, Bill treated everyone with the 
respect, humor and consideration he believed they deserved. His 
relationship with San Francisco was with its people, and it was one 
that he cherished throughout his life.
  Bill approached the people and experiences in his life with a rare 
combination of courage, humility, and authenticity. His wisdom and 
camaraderie were consistent sources of inspiration that will truly be 
missed. Although he is no longer with us, Bill left us not only with 
the tangible symbols of his legacy in San Francisco, but also with 
enduring memories of his engaging personality and steadfast 
determination.

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