George Gund III (1937–2013)
photo by Pamela Gentile

It is with great sadness that the San Francisco Film Society announces that its longtime Chairman of the Board George Gund III passed away at his home in Palm Springs on January 15. He was 75.

George Gund was an avid film lover and distinguished philanthropist, and his unwavering support of the San Francisco Film Society spanned more than four decades. His leadership led SFFS and its annual San Francisco International Film Festival into a period of unprecedented growth and success, resulting in a robust year-round cultural organization that now reaches more cinema enthusiasts and supports more filmmakers than any other time in its 56-year history.

In 2011 the San Francisco Film Society paid tribute to Gund for his more than 40 years of unwavering support and leadership of the organization, inaugurating the George Gund Award which will be given periodically to a member of the film community for their outstanding and unique contributions to the advancement and enhancement of the art of cinema.

Mr. Gund was the son of George and Jessica Roesler Gund.  He is survived by his wife Iara Lee, son George Gund IV, his two grandchildren, his siblings Gordon, Graham, Geoffrey, Agnes and Louise, his ex-wife Theo Gund and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his son Greg in 2005.

A celebration of his life, to be held at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco is scheduled for Friday, January 25 at 2:00 pm. The family asks that donations be made to the San Francisco Film Society, the Western Folklife Center, the Sierra Club, the National Museum of the American Indian or the USA Hockey Foundation. Charitable contributions can be made to the Film Society below. Please note, American Express is only accepted over the phone. Please contact Keith Cowling at 415-561-5035 or Angela Mathews at 415-561-5026 to process.