Coggeshall’s Will Names Group : Multimillion-Dollar Windfall Real Shock

The San Diego Community Foundation has helped improve neighborhoods throughout the county for 12 years now. But on Thursday, foundation officials said it was their turn to get help.

The April death of Ariel Wharton Coggeshall, 84, who accumulated his riches by making real estate purchases and operating the A.W. Coggeshall building supply company, unveiled a statement in his will that left about half of his multimillion-dollar holdings to the foundation.

Foundation officials said they were surprised at Coggeshall’s act because he had not made known any interest in the organization before.

“I know he loved San Diego, and I’m very happy to hear that he did it, but it came as a surprise,” said Willis H. Fletcher, 79, who sits on the foundation’s board. “I knew him back in the ‘30s when he was an avid rower and I swam on a local team. We have been acquaintances since but never close friends. And he never indicated he wanted to take part in the foundation. It was a wonderful thing for him to do.”

But according to the foundation’s program officer Pamela Hill, Coggeshall or somebody representing him inquired about the organization.

“He called and asked about what the foundation did several years ago,” she said. “He found out what we did and also knew some of the board members. I can only assume that gave him the confidence to help our organization.”

The foundation was told of the gift in early May, but officials said there are many unanswered questions regarding Coggeshall’s donation.

“Since he owned a smattering of property throughout the city, we really don’t know how much land he owned,” Hill said, “And since none of his holdings have been assessed, it’s hard to determine how much it’s all worth.”

She said “ballpark figures of $10 million to $50 million” have been reported.

But Hill said one thing is for sure: This is the largest “discretionary” gift ever given to the foundation. Hill said such gifts come with “no strings attached” and let the organization’s board control the gift’s distribution.

Hill said Coggeshall’s holdings most likely will be liquidated before they are distributed to various nonprofit organizations in the form of grants.

The 12-year-old foundation has funded several neighborhood improvement projects, including a summer reading program for children, the photographic archive at the San Diego Historical Society and neighborhood cleanups, through interest from its $25 million endowment.

Hill said, however, that it may be “several years” before the foundation actually receives anything from Coggeshall.

“Whenever you’re dealing with an estate of this size it always takes time,” Hill said, “But it will take longer than usual since Mr. Coggeshall’s widow is contesting the will.”

His widow claims she was slighted.

Louise Morgan, vice president of California First Bank, which was named executor of Coggeshall’s will, verified that the documented is being contested.