Former Deputy City Attorney Burk “Buck” Delventhal to be honored with namesake rotunda in City Hall, receive prestigious public service award
After his nearly 50 years of service, the City Attorney’s Office lost one of its finest in Buck Delventhal last October.
However, the career Deputy City Attorney’s countless contributions and accomplishments continue to shape San Francisco. Delventhal had a hand in almost every major case that touched City Hall over the past five decades. His powerful legacy, storied career and contagious kindness are remembered by his friends and colleagues at City Hall and beyond. Delventhal continues to receive honors and awards for his service that reached every corner of the City.
In February, Mayor Breed signed an ordinance naming the City Hall second floor rotunda for Delventhal. The Buck Delventhal Rotunda will commemorate his dedication to San Francisco over the course of his work at the City Attorney’s Office. It will include a plaque with a dedication to his accomplishments, which will be placed by June 30. It is only fitting that Delventhal, who called City Hall home, be recognized this way.
Delventhal will also be awarded the James B. Lindholm, Jr. Legacy Award by the County Counsels’ Association of California in March. The award is the Association’s highest and rarest honor. Delventhal was an active member of the Association, serving on its Litigation Overview Committee for 22 years and on its Cost Shift Committee for 20 years. He was also highly engaged with the Association’s listserv, where he offered his encyclopedic knowledge to colleagues.
Delventhal was a tireless advocate for the law, a legal lion and a beacon for many elected officials and City departments he guided throughout his career. We miss him greatly and are glad to see his impact on San Francisco and California law recognized.