Remembering Senator Dianne Feinstein ‘51

On Friday, September 29, 2023, Senator Dianne Feinstein ’51 passed away at the age of 90 at her home in Washington, D.C. As San Francisco’s first female mayor and as the longest-serving female senator in U.S. history, her reputation and impact is self-evident. The legacy she leaves behind is uniquely recognized at Convent & Stuart Hall as Senator Feinstein’s high school alma mater. In tribute to her memory, we look back on and share gratitude for her connection to the school both as a student and throughout her life as an alumna.

“The love that I got from this building and the religious within it has been unprecedented in my life. It is responsible for who I am today. To have the staying power, the determination, the faith in what I believe, and to continue on. I owe a great amount of gratitude to the Convent of the Sacred Heart. Ladies and gentlemen, this institution has made this Jewish woman what she is today: a United States senator." – Senator Dianne Feinstein ’51

Senator Feinstein shared this touching message during her most recent visit to Broadway on November 5, 2022, for the memorial service of her former teacher and longtime friend Mary "Be" Mardel, RSCJ. Throughout her career, Senator Feinstein maintained a close connection to the school, welcoming many groups of Convent 8th graders into her office during their class visits to Washington, D.C. “She remained an incredibly loyal friend to our program for decades," Rachel Simpson, Chief Academic Officer and Head of Convent High School said. 

In a message to the school community following Senator Feinstein's passing, President Ann Marie Krejcarek wrote, "We are honored to have had a place in her legacy and her heart." View the photos, articles and links below to learn more about Senator Feinstein's legacy and life at Convent.

Photos:
Photos provided by the Convent & Stuart Hall Archives

Dianne Feinstein (middle) performing in a school play.

Convent of the Sacred Heart, Class of 1951

Read More:

“What I'll always remember about Dianne Feinstein.”
Opinion piece by Nancy Pelosi in the San Francisco Chronicle

“It was clear that going to school at the Convent — and growing up in a city as beautifully diverse as San Francisco — nurtured Dianne’s gentleness, her love, her respect for and faith in the goodness of others. These were the qualities that defined her historic career in public service.” Read the full article.

“California Today: Saying Goodbye to a San Francisco Icon”
Article by Claire Fahy ’13 in the New York Times 

“I went to the same high school she did, the private all-girls Convent of the Sacred Heart, which, I should add, Representative Nancy Pelosi’s daughters also attended. By the time I came along, gone were the white gloves and the nuns whom Feinstein so loved, but the curriculum remained rooted in the idea of female empowerment, and Feinstein was commonly invoked as an example of how far we could go.” Read the full article.

“Feinstein’s Farwell”
Broadview article by Senior Ada Linde reflecting on her experience attending Senator Feinstein’s memorial service. 

“In a way, it made the whole thing human for me. To remember her holistically. By the person she was, not just the decisions she made or the treaties she ratified. …To see her remembered and celebrated from so many angles of her life was amazing.” Read the full article.