With Heartfelt Appreciation to June and Jack McKay

By Lisa Nerenberg, Director of Special Projects

CEJC recently received a very generous bequest from June and Jack McKay, for which we are deeply honored and profoundly appreciative. 

​I first met Jack in the early 1980s when I was an intern at the San Francisco Consortium for Elder Abuse Prevention, then housed at Mount Zion Hospital, and he was a leading figure on the group's Steering Committee.The program, now part of the Institute on Aging, was launched by the Coalition for Agencies Serving the Elderly (CASE), which Jack also chaired and was active on for many years. ​Among his many other accomplishments, he was the founding director of Support Services for Elders (SSE), one of the country’s first comprehensive financial case management programs.SSE provided services that ranged from simply helping clients pay their bills to conservatorship. 

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I’ve  heard that Jack was an incredible folk-dance caller. Although I regret never having the chance to see that side of him, I saw him as a mentor and often followed his calls in our work with elders."   ​

At CEJC, we honor Jack's legacy by advancing his vision, most recently through our collaboration with the Judicial Council of California on its state-funded study of conservatorship. The study aims to protect the rights of those under conservatorship while exploring the least restrictive protective options, a mission that aligns perfectly with Jack’s pioneering efforts. I’ve heard that Jack was an incredible folk-dance caller. Although I regret never having the chance to see that side of him, I saw him as a mentor and often followed his calls in our work with elders.   ​

I met June through Jack, and our friendship continued until her death on April 12, 2024. Over countless meals—most often sushi—we shared conversations about our respective classes and students at City College of San Francisco. She taught English to non-native speakers, and I taught classes on elder abuse, aging, and ageism. June’s passion for teaching was inspiring; she took great care in understanding her students’ lives and interests, insisting that language acquisition required a deep dive into their lived experiences. Her dedication left an indelible mark on her students and colleagues alike—and occasionally baffled anyone who relied on teaching from textbooks alone.

June’s passion for teaching was inspiring; she took great care in understanding her students’ lives and interests, insisting that language acquisition required a deep dive into their lived experiences."

Beyond education, June was deeply committed to restorative justice and criminal justice reform, topics we discussed often. When visiting, she often pulled out items she’d clipped from the San Quentin News, a publication written and produced by incarcerated individuals with a mission to promote public safety and social justice. I later learned that she extended her targeted clipping service to others as well. When my last book came out, June bought a stack and told me to send them to individuals I most wanted to reach. It was a powerful exercise in human values, leading to books being placed in the hands of passionate students and high-ranking government officials alike. I look forward to working with my CEJC colleagues to follow June’s lead by using this gift to promote new leadership and set our sights high.  ​