Bill Kiene semi-retired
09-24-2016, 10:37 PM
**I just heard tonight from a friend of John's passing in February 2016.
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May 5, 1942 to February 20, 2016
Born in Denver, CO to John Henry and Frances Louise Sullivan, John moved to Bishop, CA in elementary school where he was imprinted with the Owens River and Eastern Sierras, becoming a lifelong lover of nature and fly fishing. John graduated from UC Berkeley with a journalism degree and headed to New Orleans, which he loved. Jobs in public relations and newspapers followed, interrupted by military service in Korea during the Vietnam War. John attended and graduated from McGeorge School of Law while working full-time as Director of Public Information for the CA Department of Benefit Payments. After passing the bar, he went to work for the CA Taxpayers' Association (research director, vice president and general counsel). In the late 80s he was Undersecretary for the CA Business, Transportation and Housing Agency. In the early 1990s he served as Chief Deputy Director of the State Department of Fish and Game, the perfect job for an avid fly fisherman. He also served on transition teams for Governors Deukmejian, Wilson and Schwarzenegger. John was President of the Civil Justice Association of CA (CJAC) from 1995-2011. Under his leadership, CJAC became one of California's most powerful political coalitions, successfully sponsoring a 2004 statewide ballot measure (Proposition 64) to end "shakedown lawsuits" -- litigation used to leverage financial windfalls for lawyers.
John was a Renaissance man, with wide-ranging interests, from fly fishing to Go Karting and sports car racing to beekeeping. He was on the Sacramento Symphony Association Bd of Directors, President of CA Fly Fishers Unlimited, chair of the Sacramento Area Beekeepers Association Honeybee Ordinance Committee; and wrote numerous articles and opinion pieces. He received the President's Award from CA Fly Fishers Unlimited for conservation work on the American River. John's happiest place was fishing on the Fall River.
John is survived by his loving wife, Kathy Lewis, his daughter Megan Dill (Bill), granddaughter Kiley, brother Tim Sullivan (Nancy), sister Susan Hannah (Chad), son Brendan, and many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. He was cherished by his family. He was a man of integrity, honor and humor.
Memorial Service March 5 at 2 pm at Carmichael Presbyterian Church, 5645 Marconi Ave, Carmichael. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Nature Conservancy
http://www.nature.org/membership-giving/more-ways-to-give/tribute-honor giving/index.htm[/url]
See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/sacbee/obituary.aspx?pid=177856882#sthash.QJwlOjg4.dpuf
.
__________________________________________________ _________
May 5, 1942 to February 20, 2016
Born in Denver, CO to John Henry and Frances Louise Sullivan, John moved to Bishop, CA in elementary school where he was imprinted with the Owens River and Eastern Sierras, becoming a lifelong lover of nature and fly fishing. John graduated from UC Berkeley with a journalism degree and headed to New Orleans, which he loved. Jobs in public relations and newspapers followed, interrupted by military service in Korea during the Vietnam War. John attended and graduated from McGeorge School of Law while working full-time as Director of Public Information for the CA Department of Benefit Payments. After passing the bar, he went to work for the CA Taxpayers' Association (research director, vice president and general counsel). In the late 80s he was Undersecretary for the CA Business, Transportation and Housing Agency. In the early 1990s he served as Chief Deputy Director of the State Department of Fish and Game, the perfect job for an avid fly fisherman. He also served on transition teams for Governors Deukmejian, Wilson and Schwarzenegger. John was President of the Civil Justice Association of CA (CJAC) from 1995-2011. Under his leadership, CJAC became one of California's most powerful political coalitions, successfully sponsoring a 2004 statewide ballot measure (Proposition 64) to end "shakedown lawsuits" -- litigation used to leverage financial windfalls for lawyers.
John was a Renaissance man, with wide-ranging interests, from fly fishing to Go Karting and sports car racing to beekeeping. He was on the Sacramento Symphony Association Bd of Directors, President of CA Fly Fishers Unlimited, chair of the Sacramento Area Beekeepers Association Honeybee Ordinance Committee; and wrote numerous articles and opinion pieces. He received the President's Award from CA Fly Fishers Unlimited for conservation work on the American River. John's happiest place was fishing on the Fall River.
John is survived by his loving wife, Kathy Lewis, his daughter Megan Dill (Bill), granddaughter Kiley, brother Tim Sullivan (Nancy), sister Susan Hannah (Chad), son Brendan, and many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. He was cherished by his family. He was a man of integrity, honor and humor.
Memorial Service March 5 at 2 pm at Carmichael Presbyterian Church, 5645 Marconi Ave, Carmichael. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Nature Conservancy
http://www.nature.org/membership-giving/more-ways-to-give/tribute-honor giving/index.htm[/url]
See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/sacbee/obituary.aspx?pid=177856882#sthash.QJwlOjg4.dpuf
.