Meet the St. Jeans Living each day for the love of the game and one another

By Anne Angstenberger, Resident

Sports have always played an important role in the St. Jean household. MJ’s undergraduate degree was in physical education, and she met her perfect match in Garry being an NBA coach and executive for over 32 years. During his time with the NBA, Garry worked for the Bucks, the Nets, the Kings and our hometown heroes, the Golden State Warriors. Danville has a local legend on the westside, as Garry spent many years with the Warriors, specifically as the team’s Head Coach and General Manager. After coaching, Garry continued to use his talents as an analyst TV sportscaster for the Golden State Warriors. To this day, Garry remains connected to broadcasting through a weekly radio show on 95.7, The Game.

Originally from Massachusetts, Garry St. Jean met MJ while boarding a plane at Logan Airport in Boston, MA. MJ was a flight attendant for American Airlines at the time and was in her uniform “deadheading” (when an airline crew member flies on a plane while not working the flight). She was lucky enough to be seated in First Class right next to Garry. From Boston to Dallas, they spent the next four hours talking non-stop, and “the rest is history!” Prior to their meeting, MJ attended University of Massachusetts for her BS degree and Suffolk University in Boston for her MBA. She spent many years working for American Airlines as a flight attendant and flight service manager. More recently, MJ is well known in Danville as a top performing real estate agent and has even been the recipient of many national awards; notably named as San Francisco’s Top 100 Realtors in 2021 and 2022.

For anyone that knows the St. Jeans, they know that basketball plays a central role in their life and hearts. It’s fitting that Garry attended Springfield College (the birthplace of basketball!) for both his undergraduate and Master’s degrees. Shortly after, he received an advanced degree from American International College in Springfield, MA. Garry began coaching basketball at his former high school and eventually was hired to work for Don Nelson at the NBA team, the Milwaukee Bucks. When Garry first met MJ, he was working as a coach for the Milwaukee Bucks in Wisconsin. It was during this time that Garry and MJ were married and lived in Milwaukee, until his successful career with the NBA sent them to New Jersey, across the country to the Bay Area, Sacramento and eventually planting roots and settling in Danville to raise their family. The St. Jeans have lived in a few different neighborhoods within Danville, from Northridge Estate, to the El Pintado Loop, to their current home on the westside.

Garry and MJ have two children, Emily and Gregory, who both attended St. Isidore school as children. Beginning to cultivate their own love for basketball, both Emily and Gregory started playing basketball through the St. Isidore CYO program (and Garry as their coach, lucky teams!). Emily continued her education at Carondelet High School and then Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, also playing basketball for the Bulldogs! Making her way home back to California, Emily now lives in Danville with her husband, Patrick, and their three children: Cassidy, William, and Joseph. Not to be overshadowed by his big sister, Gregory too played basketball at De La Salle, then later at Wesleyan University. Following in his father’s footsteps, Gregory is currently a coach for the NBA team, the Dallas Mavericks!

Throughout the years, MJ has been linked to the local community through her passion for real estate, volunteering at St. Isidore Church and school, as well as leading small group bible studies. Although her successful career in real estate keeps her quite busy, she remains focused on spending as much time as possible with their children and grandchildren. Some of the St.Jean’s most fond memories include their time spent at summer family gatherings on Cape Cod, MA. When Gregory’s busy coaching schedule with the Mavericks permits, the whole family enjoys carving out time to do an annual trip to Kona, Hawaii or sneaking away to Aptos, CA as much as possible. The beach is definitely a home away from home for the St. Jeans!

Since moving to the westside of Danville 12 years ago, MJ and Garry have fallen in love with the small town community. They enjoy their walkable downtown location to church, restaurants and the Iron Horse Trail. On weekdays you might even catch Garry riding his bike to Garden Montessori Preschool as he drops off and picks up his grandson, William. They love taking advantage of their westside location and biking back home after preschool to have lunch together. Garry and MJ also love hearing the bells, band and cheers from sporting events at San Ramon Valley High School. It’s that connection to their neighbors and community that they love about the westside. The St. Jean family feels blessed to call Danville home and have their family and friends here as well. Keep your eye out for Garry and MJ around town, they would love to say hello!