Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Friday, August 08, 2008 at 05:27:25 :
Independent Journal
Monday, October 6, 1975
Page 1
JORDAN L. MARTINELLI
Retired Marin County Judge Jordan L. Martinelli, third generation Marin resident and a longtime civic leader, died Saturday in his San Rafael home after a lengthy illness.
He was 78.
Martinelli was born in San Rafael in his mother’s family home, which stood on property that is now part of Boyd Park. His grandfather, Lorenzo Martinelli, had come to Marin County with Fremont’s army.
His father was Ennio B. Martinelli, a lawyer who served as Marin County district attorney and later as a California state senator.
Martinelli graduated from San Rafael High School, where he was student body president, and Santa Clara University. He received his law degree from St. Ignatius College (now the University of San Francisco).
He served as a Navy ensign in World War I and during World War II was a member of the Marin County draft board.
In 1919, he entered law practice in San Rafael with his father and his aunt, Genevieve Martinelli, one of the first women lawyers in California.
In 1922, he married Genevieve Cochrane, a daughter of Patrick H. Cochrane, Marin County assessor and a business and civic leader.
Martinelli was elected seven times for four-year terms as San Rafael city attorney and he also served 20 years as city attorney for Sausalito, Larkspur, Ross and Fairfax.
He was a member of the firm of Martinelli, Gardiner and Riede from 1934 until 1949, when he was appointed Marin County Superior Court judge by Gov. Earl Warren. He also was presiding judge of the court’s appellate division and was judge of the county juvenile court.
After he retired from the bench in 1960, he sat in various counties for the next 10 years as a visiting judge. He also was president of the Marin County Savings and Loan Association from 1960 to 1971.
He was active in a variety of civic affairs. He was former president of the Marin Council of the Boy Scouts of America and held the Silver Beaver award, the highest award given adults who work with the Scouts.
He was an honorary member of the Rotary Club of San Rafael and was one of the founders of the Marin Art and Garden Center. He was also an honorary member and past exalted ruler and past district deputy exalted ruler of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, San Rafael Lodge 1108.
He was a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West and the Society of California Pioneers.
Survivors include his wife, who lives at the family home at 129 Mountain View Avenue; two sons, Jordan Jr. of San Anselmo and Roderick P. Martinelli of San Rafael; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild; his brother, Ennio H. Martinelli of San Francisco, and two sisters, Emma P. Martinelli and Genevieve M.MacNeil, both of Sonoma.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. tomorrow at St. Raphael’s Church in San Rafael. The Rosary will be recited at the church at 8 p.m. today. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery.
The family prefers memorial contributions to the Marin County branch of the American Cancer Society or a favorite charity.
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