Jack Jorgenson passes away at age 99 1/2

Long time Menlo Park icon Jack (John Decker) Jorgenson left us Sunday, March 16, 2025. He was 99 and a half, just short of his 100 year goal. Although he often said he was not sure when or if he was going to die, he passed quietly in his sleep at the Sequoias in Portola Valley, his home of 23 years.

Born in San Francisco, October 16,1925, he was the product of the public schools. After graduating from Abraham Lincoln High School in 1943, he enrolled in the Marine Corp Officer’s training at Occidental College in Los Angeles where he met Shirley Dokken, his future wife and mother of his children.

Following his discharge from the Marines in 1946, he enrolled at Stanford University and ultimately earned BA and LLB degrees. While there, he was president of the Residents Council, representing the interests of the law school student body.

He also married Shirley in December 1947 and settled in a new post war subdivision on Oak Knoll Lane in Menlo Park.

He was the founding partner of Jorgenson, Siegel, McClure and Flegel, a still flourishing law firm. As part of this practice, he acted as City Attorney of Menlo Park from 1961 to 1985.

His legal skills served him well as a member of the Board of Visitors, Stanford Law School; a trustee of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation; director and president of The Palo Alto Club; director and president of The League to Save Lake Tahoe; and president of the Menlo Park Kiwanis Club. Additional board memberships include the Menlo Country Club, the Children’s Health Council, Filoli. He was also a 3rd degree Mason, as a member of the Palo Alto lodge since 1960. Finally, he was president of the Residents’ Council of the Sequoias, Portola Valley where he spent his final days.

While at the Sequoias, his dear wife Shirley died in 2007. Subsequently he married the lovely Sallie DeGolia in a historic reception at the Sequoias, May 24, 2009, both age 83.

Jack is survived by Sallie and her four children, grand- children and great- grand- children. Jack’s family includes son Rob Jorgenson (Luce), daughters Lorie Sinnott (Sam) and Carol Mince (Bill); grand- children Jackie Sinnott (Matt Perotti), Katie Sinnott (Rimas Simaitis), Hillary Sinnott (Damian Ganey), Michael Jorgenson (Tiany), Bryan Jorgenson (Carrie), and 11 great -grandchildren.

A memorial of this ‘great run’ is scheduled for the afternoon of Saturday, June 1 at the Sequoias. The reminisces should paint an accurate picture of a guy who knew your next domino play two moves in advance while drinking martinis.

Contact Carol Jorgenson Mince for further details: caroljorgdesign@gmail.com

Editor’s note: This post was contributed by Lorie and Sam Sinnott.