Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Saturday, November 21, 2009 at 03:57:54 :
Marin Independent Journal
Thursday, October 31, 1985
Flags lowered to honor San Rafael’s Jensen
San Rafael Fire Chief Robert Marcucci had a feeling something was wrong when he jogged by former City Councilman Fred Jensen’s Center Street home early Wednesday morning.
Hensen, 85, usually sat by his living room window and waved to Marcucci as he ran by.
Hours later, Mr. Jensen, a retired contractor who served on the San Rafael Council for 28 years, was found dead of an apparent heart attack.
Mr. Jensen’s ex-wife, Juliet Bobo, found him slumped in his living room chair. She alerted police, who brought city paramedics to try to revive him. Their efforts failed.
That morning there was an empty seat at Sams’s Family Restaurant. Mr. Jensen attended Wednesday meetings there of The Group, an organization of businessmen, civic leaders and others.
Mayor Lawrence Mulryan ordered the flags in front of City Hall and other city buildings lowered to half-staff in memory of Mr. Jensen, who served as a councilman from 1955 to 1983.
Mr. Jensen’s friends and political colleagues spoke of his years of service to the San Rafael community and his down-to-earth style.
A funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the First Presbyterian Church in San Rafael.
Mr. Jensen was born and reared in San Francisco.
He attended Horace Mann Grammar School and enrolled in Mission High School. But he dropped out after a few months, because he decided “I wasn’t meant to be a scholar” and became a machinist’s apprentice.
He served in the Coast Guard during World War II. After the war, he moved to San Rafael and started his business as a general engineering contractor.
He retired in 1955 and decided to run for City Council when he got angry about the city selling its yacht harbor to developers who built the Montecito Shopping Center.
He was a member of the American Association of Retired persons, the International Footprint Association, the California State Sheriff’s Association, the San Rafael Yacht Club, the San Rafael Goldenaires, Marin Lodge F & AM of San Rafael, California Bodies of the Scottish Rite and Islam Temple of the Shrine.
Mr. Jensen was best known for his feisty style and blue-collar approach to local politics.
While his manner was tough, he occasionally exposed a soft heart. His grumbles were often replaced with an elfish smile and laugh.
When city officials celebrated his 80th birthday with a small party, tears welled in his eyes.
“Fred was sort of a rough and tough guy, but he had a heart of Jell-O. Many people didn’t know that about him,” said Louis “Bud” Baar, who served many years with Mr. Jensen on the City Council.
“Obviously, it’s a real loss to the city,” Supervisor Robert Roumigiuere said. “Fred was a wonderful guy and I think was one of the most honest politicians to serve in office. He wasn’t into a lot of puff and rhetoric.”
Others remembered Mr. Jensen for monitoring city budget and public works affairs.
“I think it’s a sad day in the history of San Rafael,” Councilman Gary Frugoli said. “His intentions were always of the highest integrity. He would vote his conscience and not the crowd.”
Memorial contributions may be sent to the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital in San Francisco, the City of Hope or a favorite charity.
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San Francisco Chronicle
Thursday, October 31, 1985
Fred Jensen
Fred Jensen, a straight-talking “working stiff” who served 28 years on the San Rafael City Council, died yesterday at his home.
Mr. Jensen was born 85 years ago in San Francisco, the son of a Danish immigrant who was a horse-shoer.
Over the years, he was a truck driver, sewing machine salesman, machinist, milk wagon driver and car bumper producer.
In 1938, he purchased a power shovel and went into business for himself as a contractor.
After retiring in 1955, Mr. Jensen became angry at the City Council for approving the Montecito Shopping Center at the city yacht harbor site.
He spent $350 in a successful campaign for the City Council, and was re-elected six times. It was the longest tenure of any San Rafael councilman.
“He always had a deep concern for the elderly and for the maintenance of the city’s property and equipment,” former Mayor C. Paul Bettini said. “Fred always spoke the truth and was sometimes pretty blunt.”
Mr. Jensen was married and divorced twice.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
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Marin Independent Journal
Friday, November 1, 1985
Death Notice
JENSEN – In San Rafael, Oct. 30, 1985, Fred E. Jensen, very close friend of Juliet Bobo. A native of California, aged 85. A member of the American Assn. of Retired Persons, International Footprint Assn., Calif. State Sheriff’s Assn., San Rafael Yacht Club, San Rafael Goldenaires, Marin Lodge F.&A.M., Calif. Bodies of Scottish Rite and Islam Temple of the Shrine.
Friends are invited to the funeral Saturday, Nov. 2, 1985, at 1 pm., at First Presbyterian Church, 5th Ave. & E St., San Rafael. Interment, private. Memorial contributions preferred to Shriner’s children’s Hospital, City of Hope or your favorite charity.
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Marin Independent Journal
Monday, November 4, 1985
Section A, page 3
San Rafael pays final tribute to Councilman Jensen
City officials and employees, old-timers, friends and relatives gathered Saturday at the First Presbyterian Church of San Rafael to pay tribute to Fred E. Jensen, San Rafael’s longest-term city councilman.
“Fred spent 28 years of service to the city of San Rafael – he is now part of its history,” Mayor Larry Mulryan said during the brief funeral.
Jensen, who was 85, died Wednesday, two years after retiring from the council. He had served seven terms.
Mulryan noted that Jensen did not always agree with him on city issues. “But we agreed on a love of the city.”
Jensen was born six years before the San Francisco earthquake in 1906 and “he remembered that and just about everything that happened since,” Mulryan said.
His memory of past events acted as a “deep rudder” in city affairs, Mulryan said. “He remembered all the foibles and all the successes.”
Mulryan listed the significant projects in San Rafael completed during Jensen’s tenure – including the building of City Hall and the Community Center, establishment of various parks and the acquisition of Falkirk.
“All of us in San Rafael owe a debt to Fred. We’ll miss him,” Mulryan said.
Also participating in the service were Jensen’s fellow members of the Marin Masonic Lodge, where he had been a master Mason for 63 years.
The Masonic burial rites preceded Mulryan’s brief talk.
The Rev. Daniel White of St. Luke Presbyterian Church in San Rafael concluded the funeral with the Lord’s Prayer and a blessing.
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