Jim Jenner

Saint Mary's College has received a generous planned gift from the estate of James R. Jenner (Jim), friend of the College and avid women's basketball fan. Watching Saint Mary's College women's basketball games was one of the passions that Jim shared with his beloved wife Mina. "Once you start going regularly and know the team and coaches from year to year, it's a lot of fun," said Mina. Jim's appreciation for Saint Mary's stemmed from this initial interest and grew over the couple's many years of connection with the College.

An avid hiker, climber and runner, Jim began his lifelong love of mountaineering in the Colorado Rockies. He climbed over 1,000 peaks worldwide, including 39 ascents of Mount Shasta. Jim also ran more than 20 marathons, and rarely missed a Bay to Breakers race in San Francisco. Together with Mina, an avid hiker and climber in her own right, the couple climbed to the highest points in 50 states and traveled the world together. The couple met through friends in the climbing/trekking community and got married four months after they met - a marriage that lasted for thirty-three years. "We had a wonderful life together full of adventure and love," Mina said.

Jim also achieved considerable professional success. A renowned and respected attorney, author, and public speaker, Jim was a former public defender for Alameda County, leading the office for several years. His interest in women's basketball touched his professional life as well. He was a strong proponent of Title IX, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender in any education program or activity that is federally funded. He and Mina felt strongly that women should have an experience in team sports. "Jim and I talked about that a lot," Mina said, noting that she could not play sports when she was growing up. When hiring at the public defender's office, Mina said that Jim made a point to interview women athletes. "He considered women athletes some of his best hires because they were team players and knew how to work hard and persevere," she said.

After graduating from UC Berkeley, magna cum laude, Jim enrolled in the U.S. Army, where he served as a Russian translator and military intelligence interrogator. He earned a law degree from UC Berkeley law school, and then completed advanced studies at the University of Madrid as a Ford Foundation Scholar. Jim had a national reputation as a trial lawyer, and was in high demand as a speaker. A prolific writer, he was credited with many publications on criminal procedure and practice. Jim also wrote poetry and short stories, and was described by many as a compelling storyteller. Mina described Jim as a "renaissance man, with widespread interests." She fondly recalled his ability to draw people out in conversation, "I would stand by his side at parties and marvel at how people opened up to him," she said. "He could get their life history in 10 minutes."

Jim believed in the impact planned giving can have for an organization and his appreciation for Saint Mary's was reflected in his own legacy plan. Jim's generous gift will help grow the College's endowment, which is the cornerstone of Saint Mary's College's financial stability. The endowment provides funding that is not dependent upon enrollment, tuition, or annual giving. Endowment funds support College priorities including but not limited to athletic scholarships, professorships, and programs in perpetuity for many future generations of Gaels.

"Jim was a true friend of the College," said Courtney Bennett, Planned Giving Officer. "He was passionate about our women's basketball program and valued the overall mission of the College. He and Mina were regular fixtures at games, and also enjoyed attending events at the Saint Mary's College Art Museum and other activities on campus."

"Remembering Saint Mary's College with a bequest from your estate helps to sustain and strengthen the College," said Hansen. "It also provides a wonderful opportunity to honor a family member or support a favorite cause. We are very grateful to the Jenner family."