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Jackson Claflin Stromberg

Surrounded by family, Jackson (Jack) Claflin Stromberg passed away in his Mill Valley, CA home on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. He was 88 years old.

Jack was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico to Jackson C. Stromberg Sr., whose family had recently immigrated from Germany, and Jeanette Stromberg who could trace her lineage back to 1619 Jamestown. With little formal education, Jack Senior used his training as a tailor to become a successful entrepreneur building a men’s clothing business in the growing southwestern city. Jeanette put herself through Mount Holyoke College by working as a librarian. Once back in Albuquerque, she became a committed community volunteer and eventually a philanthropist who is remembered for her passion for education. The Jeanette Stromberg Library at the Community College of New Mexico is a source of family pride.

The combination of their father’s work ethic and mother’s love of learning were instilled in Jack and his two sisters, Gretchen and Ilsa, and younger brother, Kurt, at an early age. In high school, Jack became a ribbon-winning calf-roper, captain of his football team, long-jump record holder, and class valedictorian. After what he remembered as his ”idyllic” childhood, Jack left New Mexico to attend Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire.

At Dartmouth, Jack majored in philosophy, competed on the track team, skied alongside the Dartmouth Ski Team, and proudly belonged to Casque and Gauntlet, a senior society devoted to the “fellowship of men.” He was active in the rich intellectual life at Dartmouth and made many lifelong friends at his beloved “college on the hill.”

After graduating Phi Beta Kappa from Dartmouth, Jack was selected to become a Rhodes Scholar. He studied philosophy at the University of Oxford in England where he met his soon-to-be-wife, Elizabeth Hoem. Born during World War II and raised in the reconstruction of war-torn Norway, Elizabeth was sent to England to study business at St. Clare’s Hall. There Jack and Elizabeth were introduced by Jack’s friend and fellow Rhodes Scholar, Kris Kristofferson. For years afterward, Kris teased that Jack had stolen Elizabeth from him, but Jack was smitten from day one and insisted, “Kris was never even in the competition.”

After Oxford and their wedding in Norway, Jack and Elizabeth moved to the U.S. where Jack attended Stanford Law School eventually becoming an editor of the Stanford Law Review. After Jack graduated from Stanford in 1963, he became a corporate lawyer at Thelen, Marrin, Johnson & Bridges in San Francisco. He, Elizabeth, and their new baby daughter moved to Mill Valley where they put down roots and would remain for the rest of their lives.

Jack soon rose to become a partner at Thelen, Marrin, Johnson & Bridges, where he specialized in corporate and securities law. He was recruited by Bechtel Enterprises, Inc. to become their Assistant General Counsel under Casper Weinberger. Jack was soon tapped to become Treasurer of Bechtel Group, Inc. then he became Senior Vice President of Bechtel Corporation, and eventually was promoted to President of Bechtel Financing Services, Inc. where he was responsible for global project financing and development and ownership of various Bechtel projects. He retired as Managing Director and Executive Vice President of Bechtel Enterprises, Inc.

Jack served on the Board of Trustees of the World Affairs Council of Northern California, was a member of the San Francisco Committee on Foreign Relations. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of the British American Chamber of Commerce, served on the Advisory Committee of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, and was a member of the Board of Directors of J.P. Morgan Securities Asia, Ltd.

Beyond his illustrious career, Jack was also an adventurer. He traveled to nearly every continent and was an avid skier. He spent endless days skiing the terrain at Squaw Valley in Tahoe (now The Palisades). He was also a regular at CMH (Canadian Mountain Holidays) where he skied over 1M vertical feet of Heli-Skiing. He only stopped skiing in his late ‘70s when his doctor told him his knees and hips couldn’t take much more. Jack also loved golf. He was a regular at The Meadow Club in Fairfax and loved the camaraderie and sportsmanship that golf brought into his life, especially after retirement from Bechtel.

While he nurtured his friendships and was exceptional in maintaining them, family was also a priority for Jack. He and Elizabeth had three children, Lisen, Chet, and Kirsten. He was a father who loved debating at the kitchen table and opening his children to a wider world. At the same time, he could make you laugh at his quirky, silly jokes, and see the world through his optimistic approach towards life. He and Elizabeth created many great family traditions in Mill Valley and Lake Tahoe that will be sorely missed. They were lucky to have six grandchildren nearby and two more in Italy who visited frequently.

Jack’s strong character and high integrity were personal hallmarks. He was a heroic partner to Elizabeth when she was diagnosed with PSP (Progressive Supranuclear Palsy) five years before her death in 2020. Their relationship was always loving, but when Elizabeth’s health declined precipitously, his love and care for her were truly inspiring. Though he wasn’t a religious person himself, he recognized Elizabeth found great strength in her church community and he regularly joined her on Sundays and participated in church activities. He loved international travel, as did Elizabeth, but when she could no longer travel far from home, he planned short trips for her enjoyment.

Jack Stromberg will be remembered for his devotion to family and friends, consistent enthusiasm and optimism in life, and insatiable curiosity, all anchored in a value system that guided his everyday actions. He was a friend to many, a role model to all, and an example of a life well-lived.

He leaves behind his daughters, Lisen and Kirsten Stromberg; son, Chet Stromberg; son-in-law, Bill Rossi; and grandkids: Will, Maret, and Soren Rossi; Savanna, Graydon, and Caleb Stromberg; and Kai and Liam Ridolfi. Known as “Daddy Daddy” to all, he will be deeply missed.


Family and friends will be gathering at the Meadow Club on December 21st for a Celebration of Jack Stromberg’s Life. If you would like to join us, please RSVP here.

For those who can’t attend, in lieu of flowers, please consider donating to The International District Library, the All Faith’s Children Advocacy Center , or to your preferred charity in his name.