John L. deBenedetti
1938-Jan. 7, 2007
Atherton, California

John L. "Jay" deBenedetti III died Jan. 7 in Atherton after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 68.

Mr. deBenedetti was born in San Francisco and grew up in Santa Cruz. He came from a pioneering family of growers and shippers.

He graduated in 1959 from UC Berkeley, where he was a member of the golf team and Zeta Psi fraternity. He was member of "The Builders of Berkeley" and supported many Cal programs over the years.

He broke with the family's agricultural roots and pursued a career as a commercial real estate developer. The beginning of his career was spent with Coldwell Banker and Sutter Hill Development. In 1976 he co-founded Cypress Properties, where he engaged in shopping center and suburban office acquisitions and development.

He served on the board of high-tech and medical technology companies, as well as philanthropic organizations, including the Vista Center for the Blind. He was a member of the San Francisco Golf Club, Bohemian Club and Menlo Country Club.

He is survived by his wife, Marti; daughters Ann Levis of St. Louis, Missouri, and Mary Newman of Lafayette; son John deBenedetti of San Francisco; sister Jane McInnis; and eight grandchildren.

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