Amanda Metcalf died on August 21 at her home In Bay Marin Park at the age of 71 after a courageous battle with cancer.
Amanda was a tremendous force on behalf of our Pt. San Pedro Road community. She was smart and tenacious — and outspoken. Our Coalition would not have had the success we enjoyed without her indomitable spirit and dedication. She was warm and caring, had a great sense of humor, and was advocate par excellence….
Amanda served on the Coalition Board of Trustees for many years. She was a highly skilled and respected attorney and legal writer. Her legal career included Assistant U.S. Attorney, California deputy attorney general, private practice attorney with Pillsbury, Madison and Sutro, and in her own firm as an education law specialist and the “go-to” attorney for African American professionals in sports and entertainment industries. She earned her bachelor’s degree at UC Berkeley and her law degree at Berkeley’s highly competitive Boalt Law School.
Amanda’s community service was extensive and included serving as a neutral court mediator, a pro tempore judge for the Marin County Superior Court, and the Policy Commission for the California State Bar. She was a long-term trustee of Dominican University of California, a board member of “Bread and Roses’, an advisory member for “As you Sow” and a mentor for young girls in the Big Sisters program.
Amanda is survived by her beloved son, Matthew Metcalf-Welch of San Rafael, former husband, Vincent “Deke” Welch and his family, and brothers Bill and Julius Grogan and their families. She was predeceased by her sisters Joyce and Frances.
A memorial service and celebration of her life will be held at 1pm on Sunday, September 8, 2019 at Dominican University’s campus at Caleruega Hall, Creekside Room, 100 Magnolia Avenue in San Rafael. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Amanda’s name to the Lowell High School Alumni Scholarship program, 1101 Eucalyptus Ave., San Francisco, CA 94132, or to the Dominican University “Close the Gap” scholarships, 50 Acacia Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901.
We are profoundly saddened to learn of her passing.