Donald L. Reidhaar, Chief UC System Legal Counsel

Donald L. Reidhaar, chief general counsel for the University of California who helped steer the nine UC campuses through years of student unrest and minority enrollment controversy, leaped to his death from the Golden Gate Bridge, the university reported Wednesday.

Reidhaar, 52, had been with the university since 1962 and had been the school’s general counsel since 1973.

The university announcement said the reason for his suicide is not known. His body was recovered by the Coast Guard about 4 p.m. Tuesday.

“The University of California family is in mourning over the loss of an enduring friend and esteemed colleague,” said UC President David P. Gardner. Jim Holst, deputy general counsel under Reidhaar, said he was mystified over the suicide and that Reidhaar had no apparent health, domestic or professional problems.

Reidhaar was a graduate of the University of Washington and earned his law degree from Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1960.

As general counsel, he reported directly to the Board of Regents. Over the years, his tasks included the coordination of the massive legal effort that led to the 1978 U.S. Supreme Court decision admitting Alan Bakke, a white student, to the UC Davis medical school. Reidhaar had sought to defend a university policy setting aside some medical school openings for minorities.

Holst said Reidhaar also was involved in drafting regulations governing student conduct during the years of anti-Vietnam War campus unrest. Most recently, he had prepared the policy papers on the legal implications of the university continuing to do business with South Africa.

Reidhaar is survived by his wife, Dolores, and daughter, Lisa.