C. Jeffries Obituary

C. Bradford Jeffries
January 17, 1931 - June 30, 2023
C. Bradford Jeffries, friend and mentor to many, venture capital attorney, investor, volunteer, vineyard proprietor and philanthropist, passed away peacefully on June 30th at the age of 92.
Born in 1931 to Frances and Charles Jeffries, Brad grew up in Beverly Hills and enjoyed family vacations camping and fishing in the High Sierra and renting homes at Balboa Bay during the summers. After graduation from Stanford University (B.A. 1953) and Stanford Law School (J.D. 1955), he served three years in the Air Force. In 1958, he joined the San Francisco law firm of Cooley, Crowley, Gaither, Godward, Castro & Huddleson as its 13th attorney. His legal practice focused on representation of venture capitalists and counselling venture financed companies. Brad played a prominent role in building the venture capital industry in Silicon Valley through his participation in the formation of 28 venture capital funds and more than 150 venture capital financings. He retired from Cooley in 1984 and began a second career as a venture capitalist, becoming a founding partner of Sigma Management. In 1993, he co-founded Venture Investment Management Company to acquire the venture investment portfolio of American Express. Over the years Brad served on the boards of a number of public and private companies, including JAFCO America, the U.S. subsidiary of Japan's largest venture capital group. He spoke frequently on the subject of venture capital in the United States and Japan and served on numerous panels on venture investing.
In 1970, Brad accepted the presidency of the National Kidney Foundation of Northern California (NKFNC), which was then a young organization without an Executive Director. Under his leadership the NKFNC broadened its programs and services, expanded its volunteer base and increased its funding base. In 1974, he co-founded the non-profit Satellite Dialysis Centers with Dr. Norman Coplon, whose idea of providing local, individualized dialysis in a comfortable setting transformed the care of patients living with kidney disease. Brad served as Director and Vice President of the National Kidney Foundation and served on the board of Asia Renal Care. He received the NKFNC's Man of the Year Award in 1994 for his contributions to the Kidney Foundation and Satellite. Other volunteer work included four terms as a member of the Stanford Law School Board of Visitors.
Brad was an avid skier, sailor, scuba diver and windsurfer. Into his eighties, he still wanted to be the first one on the slopes and the last one off. He and Dorothy also enjoyed the opera, ballet and travel. Brad was a member of several clubs but most enjoyed the camaraderie of the Bohemian Club and his participation in a singing group.
After retiring, Brad and Dorothy built a house in St. Helena. Wondering whether the wooded hillside on the property would be suitable for grape growing, he began to explore the possibility. He eventually partnered with the Bond winery to develop a vineyard and enjoyed sharing his Quella with family and friends.
He is survived by his son Steven (Jennifer), daughter Lynn, granddaughter Katherine, grandson Michael, first wife Ann, sister Barbara Ann Hall and eight nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his second wife Dorothy.