Jane Morgan O'Neill

The Honorable Jane Morgan O'Neill, 100 years old, passed away on January 2, 2021 at her home in Atherton, California. She was a proud and loving mother of four children, Stephen (Mary), Jonathan, Barb and Barry (Martha); a devoted grandmother to Lauren, Morgan and Mary Jane. Jane was driven by her passion for law and justice and worked to hold local and state governments accountable. She was an active volunteer in programs to aid children and young adults and to promote women's rights.

Jane was a native of San Francisco, a Mayflower descendant of William Bradford and part of a California Pioneer family. Her parents were Horace Bradford "HB" and Rene Morgan (ne Schaffeld), native Californians, of San Francisco and Pebble Beach, California. Jane was predeceased by her parents and three brothers Adam (Vivian), Walter and Jonathan Bradford "JB". Jane and her twin brother JB were born at home in San Francisco on August 18, 1920.

Growing up during the Depression, Jane was fiercely independent and overcame many obstacles to achieve her goals in life. She graduated from the University of California Berkeley with a double BA/BS in 1942, and the University of San Francisco (USF) Law School with a J.D. in 1946. This was at a time when few women were admitted to law school, and in 1947, Jane was one of only three women admitted to the California State Bar. In addition to her law classes at USF, she did graduate work at UC Berkeley School of Law and was a judicial law clerk for two US District Court Justices the Honorable Adolphus Frederic St. Sure and the Honorable George B. Harris.

She married the late Commander Joseph S. O'Neill, a career naval officer. They traveled extensively with the United States Navy; were stationed in several places throughout the United States and Europe, as well as Pohnpei, a small island in Micronesia. While married to Comdr. O'Neill, raising four children, and moving over thirteen times, Jane still managed to pursue her passions of the law, justice and women's rights. Her legal career ultimately spanned over 50 years.

Upon returning to the Bay Area, she set up a law practice and was a member of the San Mateo County Private Defender Program. She had a passionate belief that all are entitled to legal representation. She moved from private practice to work for the State of California. She held many positions while working for the state, dealing with workplace safety and ultimately workers' compensation. Jane was one of the first women hired as Counsel for the Division of Industrial Safety, was Staff Counsel for Workers' Compensation Appeals Board; a Workers' Compensation Judge and Commissioner; and Chairman of the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board appointed by then California Governor George Deukmejian.

After retiring from the law, she worked with her childhood best friends, Helen and Jim McCracken on the Charter Auxiliary for Children benefiting Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford and was active on the Atherton Civic Interest League.

She grew up in San Francisco surrounded by three generations of her family on Twin Peaks. She attended Presentation High School and stayed connected with her school friends. Her family spent summers and holidays swimming and boating on the San Lorenzo River at her grandparent's home in Ben Lomond; camping and hunting in northern California; swimming in Stillwater Cove, Pebble Beach where her uncle purchased one of the first lots offered for sale by founder Samuel F.B. Morse, a staunch environmental conservationist who treasured the Del Monte Forest and wanted to keep it a playground for wildlife.

Jane loved to travel, learn new languages and go to the theatre and the San Francisco Opera with friends. As a peripatetic traveler she toured the U.S., Canada, Europe, China, Singapore and Russia. In later years she enjoyed gardening and spending time with her family in Atherton and Pebble Beach, California.

Jane was enormously proud of her family and was loved, admired and respected in return. Jane and her family were grateful for the special care given to her by caregivers; Ljiljana Derokov Medic and Maria Jimenez. They made it possible for Jane to remain in her home, as the fiercely independent woman she was until the end.

The committal service will be held graveside at the Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Colma, California on May 27, 2021 at 11:30 am. She is going to be interred in the Morgan/Kraemer Plot. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests volunteering or donating to a charitable organization of your choice.

Following the committal service friends and family are all invited to join us for a luncheon celebration of her life at 1:00 pm at the Basque Cultural Center, 599 Railroad Ave., South San Francisco, California.