Anton Jungherr

Anton was an amazing man of action who worked tirelessly, served humbly, and gave generously to make tomorrow brighter than today. While Anton ultimately succumbed to stomach cancer, he lived a full and powerful life and remained active, sharp, and dedicated until the very end.

He was born in New Haven, CT and grew up in Storrs, CT on the University of Connecticut campus where his father, Dr. Erwin Jungherr, was a professor and the Head of the Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science from 1930 to 1959. His mother, Marie Healy Jungherr, was a homemaker.

Anton graduated from the University of Connecticut with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (1954), Syracuse University with a Masters in Public Administration (1958), and Teachers College, Columbia University, with a Masters in Education (1971). He was the co-author, with Robert Alioto, of a textbook on school budgeting published by Harper & Row, New York, 1971. He was a lifelong learner, attending many conferences, workshops, and classes.

Anton had a varied career defined by service: U.S. Army First Lieutenant, Adjutant General’s Corps; General Electric Company Business Management Trainee; Assistant City Manager/City Clerk in Lake Forest, IL; Controller for the Anchorage Public School District (AK); Assistant Superintendent for the Pearl River School District (NY); Director of Finances for the City of Newark (NJ); Deputy Superintendent for the Yonkers School District (NY); Deputy Superintendent for the San Francisco Unified School District (CA); Owner tax/accounting practice in San Francisco (CA); Associate Superintendent for the Berkeley Unified School District (CA); Business Manager/Chief Financial Officer for the Making Waves Education Program/Making Waves Academy, Richmond, CA.

During his career, Anton was a fighter for change who never shied away from challenges or feared the unknown: He went to Alaska two years after they became the 50th State, driving his Volkswagen Camper from Illinois to Alaska. He went to Newark, NJ after the 1967 Newark Riots; four days of rioting, looting, and destruction that left 26 dead and hundreds injured. He went to the San Francisco Unified School District after the State Superintendent of Schools made a public statement that San Francisco schools were an “embarrassment” to him. He went to Berkeley Unified School District after they had gone into bankruptcy.

Over the last 48 years in California, Anton has impacted many communities, organizations, and lives. He started his own accounting and tax company with one client, holding meetings at his kitchen table, and grew his business to over 500 clients before he sold it and returned to work in the public sector, at the Berkeley Unified School District, in 1988. After a life of adventure, Anton planted roots in Hercules in 1999 and made it his home. In 2001, Anton was a member of the founding team for Making Waves Academy, a public charter school in Richmond, CA.

Anton was a co-founder of the California League of Bond Oversight Committees (2006-2018) to promote school district accountability by improving the training and resources available to California Prop 39 school board oversight committees, educating the state legislature, local school boards, and the public.

In June 2011, Anton led the movement to reform the Hercules City Council, resulting in the resignation of the Mayor, the recall of two Council members, and the election of three reform Council Members. He served on the City of Hercules Finance Commission.

In 2019, Anton co-founded the California Association of Bond Oversight Committees, a nonprofit California Public Benefits Corporation, with Jack Weir. The Association’s purpose was to provide training to over 4,000 Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee members in California on effective oversight of school bond construction projects.

In addition to his best friend and the love of his life, Lori Chinn, and Lori’s daughter, Kari Chinn, and son, Adam Chinn, Anton is survived by three daughters, Karen Manning of Sharon, CT; Lisa Jungherr of Los Altos, CA; and Anna Mikuriya Jungherr of Alameda, CA, his son, Antonious Mikuriya of Brooklyn, NY, his sister Eileen Roehr of Reston, VA, brother Mark Jungherr of Williston, FL, and former wife Mary Jane Mikuriya of San Francisco, CA. Anton was predeceased by his twin sister Barbara Santacroce, brother Kent Jungherr, and former wife, Elizabeth Elwell.

Anton often recalled the Athenian Oath, during his many years of public service and volunteer activities, that graces the first floor of Maxwell Hall at Syracuse University: “We will transmit this city not only not less, but greater, better and more beautiful than it was transmitted to us.”

Anton was immensely proud of his Boy Scout Eagle Award, received in 1948. Throughout his life, he tried to honor the Boy Scout Oath, especially duty to his country and to help other people at all times. He followed the Scout Law and the Scout motto, “Be Prepared.”

Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, taught Scout trailblazers to make a simple trail sign, a circle with a dot in the middle, to indicate that they had gone home. This Eagle Scout blazed many trails for us to follow, and now he too has gone home.

In keeping with his philosophy on promoting education and passing on learning, Anton donated his brain to the UCSF Brain Health Registry. In accordance with his wishes, a public service will not be held.

Those who wish to honor Anton can make contributions to the California Association of Bond Oversight Committees (CABOC), by credit card using PayPal (https://www.bondoversight.org/donate/) or by sending a check to CABOC at 911 Notre Dame Ave., Concord, CA 94518.