Jane Morrison Passes
Jane Morrison, queen of San Francisco and California Democratic politics, died this weekend, just two months after celebrating her 100th birthday. Her passing truly marks the end of an era in San Francisco politics. Jane became active in Democratic politics in San Francisco in 1952, when she worked on the Adlai Stevenson campaign. She was a tireless campaigner and fundraiser for San Francisco politicians for the next six decades, including working to elect her husband Jack to the Board of Supervisors in the 1960s.
Jane and I joined the board of San Francisco Tomorrow together in 1992, a year after the death of Jack, a major force in the organization for many years. Already in her 70s, Jane threw herself into SFT issues, particularly those championed by her husband. She served on the Port’s Waterfront Plan Advisory Committee in the 1990s to ensure the protection of the waterfront as a publicly accessible open space, successfully campaigned for Saturday closure of JFK Drive, and supported the extension of Caltrain to the Transbay Terminal.
Jane served as president of SFT for several years, resigning only to become chair of the Democratic County Central Committee after the 2000 election. She remained one of our most active board members, directing fundraising activities, editing the newsletter and supporting progressive candidates. The parties at her Woodland Avenue home were legendary. She remained active until her mid-90s, but has been housebound for the past few years.
Jane worked on multiple causes and campaigns in her long life, but what she really collected was people. This became clear to me when the SFT board decided to put together a tribute to Jane on her 100th birthday in April. Although the pandemic changed our initial plans to film on location at some of Jane’s favorite San Francisco haunts, nearly 60 people sent in videos or photographs to include in a Happy Birthday video. Rest assured that she was able to view the video several times in the months since her birthday.
I’ll miss my friend of 28 years – and I’m sure I’m not alone in that feeling.
I know that Jane wanted a big memorial service and a procession led by the Green Street Mortuary band. That of course, isn’t possible in the current environment, but we’ll keep you advised of anything that is planned.
Good-bye Jane! Rest in power.
Jennifer Clary
President, San Francisco Tomorrow
RIP Dear Jane Morrison. One of a kind🌸
I met Jane through my mother who lived on the same street. They were about the same age, had the same politics, and both held many parties although Jane’s were bigger and better. Another neighbor and progressive activist was Aigar Jaicks who was head of the San Francisco Democrat Party and was married to Diana Roosevelt, Eleanor’s niece. In Jane’s last years a younger woman who lived on the block would walk down the hill every day to visit her. Although Jane was fading, her friend Josie would turn on the tv so that Jane could see her dear friend Nancy Pelosi preside over Congress and impeachment. Jane will be greatly missed.