St. Thomas More award for Justice Dondero
In San Francisco, Archbishop George H. Niederauer will be principal celebrant and homilist at the St. Thomas More Society’s Red Mass Oct. 22 at St. Peter and Paul Church in North Beach. Justice Robert L. Dondero of the California State Court of Appeals will be honored with the society’s annual St. Thomas More Award.
Justice Dondero, a graduate of Archbishop Riordan High School, completed undergraduate work at Santa Clara University in 1967 and earned a law degree from Boalt Hall School of Law at UC Berkeley in 1970. He is a former San Francisco deputy district attorney and served in the Office of the United States Attorney for the Northern District of California from 1978 to 1992. He was appointed to the Municipal Court of San Francisco in 1992 and to the Superior Court in 1993. He was named to California’s First District Court of Appeals in 2009.
According to the St. Thomas More Society, the St. Thomas More Award is presented to a person who exemplifies the ideals of service and sacrifice in the pursuit of justice so conspicuously reflected in the life and death of St. Thomas More.
“The Red Mass continues a tradition begun by English barristers and judges in the 13th century of offering prayers to the Holy Spirit that all men and women in the legal profession, the judiciary and the public life be blessed with wisdom and understanding,” St. Thomas More Society President Gregory Schopf told Catholic San Francisco.
“First District Court of Appeal Justice Robert Dondero is chosen this year to receive the award because of his commitment to public service, preparedness and scholarship throughout his distinguished career,” Schopf said.
“I am very honored I have received this award,” Justice Dondero told Catholic San Francisco. “I am also humbled by it since I can think of others more deserving than myself. More was a man of great character. I, myself, have tried to be a person of integrity as I practice the profession of the law. Perhaps this award reflects some acknowledgement of this effort.”
Justice Dondero and his wife, Liz, are members of St. Ignatius Parish in San Francisco and regular supporters of Catholic Charities CYO of the Archdiocese of San Francisco.
“Liz and Bob Dondero are gifts to the Church,” said Jesuit Father Charles Gagan, pastor at St. Ignatius and who will concelebrate the Red Mass. The Dondero’s adult daughters, Christina and Alison are also members of St. Ignatius.
“I count them among my closest friends, which means they sometimes to get to ask their pastor to dinner,” Father Gagan said with a laugh. “Bob is a member of our finance committee and advises the parish in some legal matters and Liz, a very gifted singer, is a member of our choir and volunteers with our shelter meal program.”
Father Gagan was among those present for Justice Dondero’s swearing in ceremony for the appeals court. “I heard people speak of his accomplishments and the influence he has had especially in juvenile justice and the care he takes with each case,” Father Gagan said. “His Catholic heritage and family have remained very important to him.”
“Bob and Liz Dondero have been devoted members of Catholic Charities CYO’s Circle of Angels for the last several years, as well as supporters of St. Vincent’s School for Boys,” said Jeff Bialik, executive director of Catholic Charities CYO. “Through their generous and loyal support, Catholic Charities CYO has been able to serve those who count on us for help.”
The St. Thomas More Society of San Francisco was founded in 1937 and is the oldest fellowship of Catholic lawyers, law students, paralegals and judges in the West.
Information about the Red Mass is available at www.stthomasmore-sf.org.
By Tom Burke
From October 9, 2009 issue of Catholic San Francisco.
