On May 2, the 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis Foundation presented Gene Pendergast 鈥61 with the 2024 Charles J. Soderquist Award at a luncheon in his honor 鈥 an accolade fitting for someone who once served side-by-side on the board with Soderquist himself.
Named in honor of Charles J. Soderquist, a well-loved 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis alum and entrepreneur, the award celebrates Aggies who embody Soderquist鈥檚 commitment to the development of the university. The foundation presents the award to individuals to recognize outstanding philanthropy, volunteerism and leadership within the 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis community.
Pendergast, a retired estate attorney, has been a dedicated supporter of 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis since graduating with a B.A. in political science. As an alum, he has volunteered many hours as a past president and member of the Cal Aggie Alumni Association, or CAAA, Board, former alumni representative to the 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Regents, and past chair and trustee of the 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis Foundation.
After graduating from 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis, Pendergast continued his education at 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Berkeley, where he earned his law degree in 1964.
He embarked on a successful legal career, providing legal services in estate planning and real estate practices. For more than 50 years, he practiced in probate court in Sacramento County and the surrounding areas as a partner at Schei, Pendergast & Collins, and as counsel to Wilke Fleury.
鈥淕ene and his wife, Julie, have supported units across 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis and 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis Health through philanthropy for over 50 years,鈥 said J.R. Springer, director of development at 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis Health. In addition to supporting the Center for Advancing Pain Relief, the couple has given to CAAA scholarships, the 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis Annual Fund and the arts.
Pendergast said he was 鈥渟urprised and flattered鈥 when he heard he鈥檇 been nominated, and 鈥渆ven more so鈥 upon learning that the foundation selected him for this year鈥檚 honor.
Volunteering to advance pain relief
In 1999, the 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis School of Medicine recruited Scott Fishman with a mission to build a successful, world-class pain medicine program. Fishman knew that the project would require extensive community support and prioritized forming a community advisory board, of which Pendergast became an original member.
鈥淚n his more than two decades on our board, Gene has fully embraced our mission and worked to educate himself in our work and spread his enthusiastic support of 新澳门六合彩内幕信息DH and pain medicine in every imaginable direction,鈥 Fishman wrote in his nomination letter. 鈥淭here is simply not more that I could have asked of him.鈥
Pendergast continues to show his commitment as a member, board chair, advocate and friend to the 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis Center for Advancing Pain Relief and the Division of Pain Medicine, advocating for the program through his network of community leaders, friends and colleagues.
鈥淕ene has always been first in line when it came time to develop a new program or initiative and offer the resources needed to advance a new project,鈥 Fishman wrote.
Pendergast's unwavering support has contributed to the program's mission to provide compassionate, cutting-edge treatment of chronic pain in the greater Sacramento area.
He now remains the 鈥渙nly active member remaining from our original board 鈥 showing no signs of leaving any time soon,鈥 Fishman added.
An Aggie for life
Pendergast holds many fond memories of 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis from his years of involvement. At the luncheon, he reminisced on how much the campus has transformed over the decades.
鈥淚 used to know where everything was around here,鈥 he said, gesturing toward Vanderhoef Quad and the Walter A. Buehler Alumni Center. 鈥淚 used to give people tours, and this was all fields.鈥
Pendergast added that with each passing year, he eagerly anticipates witnessing the ongoing transformation of 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis, hoping that his service and dedication as an Aggie will remain impactful for the future to come.
Media Resources
Media Contact:
- Betsy Towner Levine, Development and Alumni Relations, 530-752-9693, etlevine@ucdavis.edu