Class of 1993
For Donn Furman, an insatiable thirst for knowledge and a desire to share his deep and spiritual love of nature influenced every aspect of his life.
Don attended Fresno State University and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy, while minoring in Economics. After completing some graduate work in Philosophy at the University of Washington in Seattle, Donn worked a variety of jobs. They included designing and building furniture, and serving as a manager for Vendo Corporation, of vending machine fame.
Donn’s love of rivers, fly fishing, hiking, and all things water and outdoors inspired him to become a lifelong environmental advocate. In 1985 he became the Executive Director of “The Committee to Save The Kings River” with a goal to preserve the body of water from a proposal to build a dam. Donn testified before Congress for the proposed protection of 92 miles of the Kings River, and the creation of a 49,000-acre special management area. In 1987 the committee’s work resulted in federal designation and protection for the Kings River under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
That achievement led Donn to become the Executive Director of the “San Joaquin River Committee,” a grassroots group whose vision was to preserve another local river, the San Joaquin, in order to protect its bottomland as open space. A year later he led the formation of the “San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust,” a nonprofit public benefit corporation. With this organization he coordinated the development of the conceptual plan for the scenic river corridor, created educational programs, and organized fundraising and membership.
But he didn’t stop there. Donn’s understanding of the political process and the importance of communities working for the greater good led him to enroll in law school. He realized his work on environmental issues required a deeper knowledge of due process at all levels. He graduated from SJCL in 1993, with Honors, and opened a solo law practice in civil litigation with an emphasis on environmental, water, and public lands law.
In 1996 Donn became a founding member of the “Sierra Foothill Conservancy” to acquire, protect, and preserve historic rangelands for educational and recreational use. Later that year he was hired as a Deputy City Attorney for the City and County of San Francisco. Throughout his career Donn was considered one of California’s experts on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and water rights law. He shared this expertise with SJCL students as a law professor teaching environmental law. Donn remained the in-house attorney for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission until his retirement in 2014.
But Donn’s love of life was not confined to his commendable service. He was also an avid reader, writer, poet, musician, gardener, and traveler. Just last month, Congressman Jim Costa noted Donn’s passing in October of 2023, by honoring his legacy in the Congressional Record.
In it, the Congressman stated: “Mr. Speaker - I rise today to honor the distinguished life and incomparable spirit of Donn Furman; a passionate environmental advocate whose legacy lives on in the natural world around us, and in all who were fortunate enough to know him. Donn Furman was a catalyst of change and a beloved friend to the Central Valley.”