Save the legacy and symbol of one of San Mateo's greats

Claire Giannini Hoffman, Giannini's daughter, willed that the home be destroyed since she believed no one could do his legacy justice. Seven years after her death, her estate sought to do just that last week. Demolishing the house, however, is destruction of a vital symbol of his legacy.

Executors of the Hoffman estate want to follow Hoffman's wishes and demolish the house. That's their right and indeed, their responsibility.

However, not every portion of a will needs to be followed, especially if it is against the greater good. If Hoffman willed that a 45-foot pink tower be constructed at the residence, it would be in the city's right to reject such an abomination.

The city's decision to file a lawsuit to stop demolition of the historic home follows that logic. The city is right in its effort to save the house by any means necessary. Demolishing the house should not be an acceptable option for anyone who places value on deeds of great men or history and our culture. It is a reminder of this area's suburban roots and of the drive and determination that is the fabric of our nation and the Bay Area.

The house itself is modest. It is a two-and-a-half story Tudor revival cottage with limited grounds. But it is symbolic of so much and to let the treasure fall to pieces is a shame. Giannini founded the Bank of Italy which later became the Bank of America. When Bank of America bought the Bank of San Mateo, it also bought Seven Oaks. Although he did his business in San Francisco, Giannini went to live at Seven Oaks in 1905.

Immediately after the 1906 earthquake, Giannini and his other bankers disguised themselves as farmers and took the bank's assets away from San Francisco in farm wagons. The assets were kept inside a fireplace in Seven Oaks. After the fires in San Francisco were extinguished, Giannini brought the assets back up to San Francisco, put a board over two barrels and made the loans that rebuilt San Francisco. He helped finance "Snow White" and the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge. His is the story of an immigrant's son who would make Horatio Alger proud.

His accomplishments as a San Mateo resident have yet to be equaled by another. To allow the destruction of the building that symbolizes this man would be a horrible and unjust execution of our laws. The city has every right to pursue litigation to save this building and all it stands for.

And the estate should recognize the city's resolve and, instead of allowing the house to fall into disrepair, donate the land and a small stipend for repair, rehabilitation and maintenance to the city. Instead of blindly following the letter of the will, the estate should see that a greater good can come from deviation from it.