DONHOFF

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Sunday, July 30, 2006 at 05:01:52 :

San Francisco Chronicle
Sunday, September 8, 2002
A-24

DONHOFF, John G. - A key Democratic Party speech writer and campaign manager during the 1960s, died at his home in Novato early Tuesday, September 3, of cancer. He was 81. During former San Francisco Mayor George Moscone's rise through the ranks of the California State Senate, Mr. Donhoff served as his principal speech writer, and was often the "go to" guy for Moscone's colleagues who needed a speech, a press release, or campaign help. Mr. Donhoff managed State Senate campaigns for former State Senator Nicholas Petris (Dem. Oakland) and Michael R. Pevey in Marin County, now a California Public Utilities Commissioner, and worked to elect many others to state office. A newspaper man, Mr. Donhoff worked as a cub reporter for a weekly paper in the Owens Valley between high school and his first semester on scholarship at Claremont Men's College. In 1941 while attending college, he enlisted in the Navy as an aviator. Lt. Donhoff served early in WW II in Texas as a fighter pilot instructor, and was later stationed throughout the Pacific on reconnaissance duty. After the war, Mr. Donhoff was the managing editor for a number of suburban weekly newspapers in California. By far his favorite was the Mill Valley Record, then owned by Thomas Collison. As Editor from 1958-1962, Mr. Donhoff threw himself into the life of the community. He served as President of Little League, as volunteer fire Commissioner for Mill Valley's Homestead Valley neighborhood, and was elected to the Mill Valley School Board. On the school board, he and the board majority moved Mill Valley into the fight for civil rights when it voted to support the integration of the Mill Valley elementary schools with those in Sausalito, serving Marin City. Mr. Donhoff's youngest son, Garry, joined a group of Mill Valley middle school kids who were bused to Sausalito as part of that effort. Mr. Donhoff began his political career in 1962 managing the Congressional campaign of George McCabe against the long-time Republican incumbent Don Clausen whose district ran from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon border. Distinguishing himself in a losing effort, in 1963 he was recruited by Governor Edmund G. "Pat" Brown's executive staff to manage the Southern California State Disaster Office, and in 1966 managed Mr. Brown's gubernatorial campaign in Orange County. Returning to Northern California in 1967, Mr. Donhoff was hired by Senator Moscone as one of the first professional staff members of the newly-formed Senate Democratic Caucus, often working from Moscone's San Francisco district office to be near his family in Mill Valley. Mr. Donhoff's last political job was as Hubert Humphrey's campaign manager for Northern California in the 1972 Democratic Presidential Primary election. Thereafter, Mr. Donhoff worked in Mill Valley with his wife, Jill, in residential real estate sales and as the general manager for a closely-held San Francisco apartment building investment firm. Until slowed by arthritis Mr. Donhoff was an avid tennis player. He was a life master bridge player, enjoyed the Opera and jazz, painted in watercolor and sang in a barbershop quartet. He loved playing with his grandkids and cheering on the Giants and Niners. He is survived by his wife and eldest son, John, Jr., and by his grandchildren, Nicholas, 9 and Angelina, 6, all of whom will miss him dearly. There will be a private family memorial. Donations to Marin Hospice would be appreciated.

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San Francisco Chronicle
Monday, September 9, 2002
A-22

John Donhoff of Novato -- campaign manager, Moscone speechwriter
by Kelly St. John, Chronicle Staff Writer

John G. Donhoff, a newsman who became a Democratic Party speechwriter and campaign manager during the 1960s, died of liver cancer Tuesday at his Novato home. He was 81.

Mr. Donhoff was the principal speechwriter for former San Francisco Mayor George Moscone as he rose within the California senate. He also managed state senate campaigns for Nicholas Petris and Michael R. Peevey, now a California Public Utilities commissioner.

He was born on Oct. 18, 1920, in Chicago; his family moved to Pomona when he was a toddler. After high school, Mr. Donhoff worked as a reporter for a weekly newspaper in Owens Valley, then attended Claremont Men's College in Los Angeles County.

In 1941, he enlisted in the Navy as an aviator. A lieutenant, he served as a fighter pilot instructor in Texas early in the war. There, in 1943, he met Jill Pappas. They married three weeks later, and Mr. Donhoff was then sent to the Pacific on reconnaissance duty.

After the war, Mr. Donhoff served as the managing editor at several weekly papers. His favorite was the Mill Valley Record, which he edited from 1958 to 1962.

"He was always a newsman at heart," said his son, John Donhoff Jr. "His father had been printer, so he was around newsprint and hot type growing up. It was a natural thing for him to get into."

Mr. Donhoff was active in the community, serving as president of the Little League and on the Mill Valley School Board. With the board's majority, he supported the integration of the Mill Valley elementary schools with those in Sausalito and Marin City.

In 1962, Mr. Donhoff was seated on a plane next to George McCabe, who was running for Congress. When the plane landed, he was hired to run McCabe's campaign against incumbent Republican Don Clausen.

McCabe lost, but Mr. Donhoff was selected the following year by then-Gov. Edmund G. "Pat" Brown to run the Southern California State Disaster Office.

Mr. Donhoff returned to Northern California in 1967, and then-Sen. Moscone hired him to work with the newly formed Senate Democratic Caucus. Mr. Donhoff found success in politics because he was a talented writer, said his friend Don Solem, who also worked with Moscone.

"He was a master with words and phrases," Solem said, "not spin, but beauty. "

Mr. Donhoff's last political job was serving as Hubert Humphrey's campaign manager for Northern California in 1972. Later, he worked in Mill Valley with his wife in real estate sales and as the general manager for a San Francisco apartment building investment firm.

Described by friends as curious and gregarious, Mr. Donhoff was a lifelong tennis and bridge player. He enjoyed opera and jazz, watercolor painting and singing in a barbershop quartet.

Mr. Donhoff is survived by his wife, Jill Donhoff of Novato; a son, John Donhoff Jr. of San Bruno; and two grandchildren.

A private memorial service is planned. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Marin, 150 Nellen Ave., Corte Madera, CA 94925.