Pen People Mar 2018

Julie and Fram Virjee in Kigali, Rwanda, where
they helped establish a school for the deaf.
Photo courtesy of the Virjees
Julie Virjees with art students in Kigali, Rwanda. Photo courtesy of the Virjees
Fram and Julie Virjee
follow their callings, from
‘success to significance’
by Richard Foss
When Palos Verdes resident Framroze “Fram” Virjee retired from
the high-powered law firm O’Melveny and Myers, his partners
asked his wife Julie what to get him as a parting gift. Her answer
probably wasn’t what they expected, and…well, let’s let him tell it.
“My wife was asked, ‘What would Fram like as a retirement gift?’ I think
most people get a set of golf clubs or a new fishing rod. Julie said, ‘I know
what he wants – a 501c3 that will allow us to do what we need to do in
Rwanda.’ My partners incorporated it, which is no small endeavor, and on
top of that, they kicked in seed money to start Yambi Rwanda.”
Virjee had been integrating philanthropy and social justice issues
throughout his professional career. He credits that passion to his upbringing
in San Pedro and Palos Verdes, where he stood out both because of his
heritage and early life experiences.
“My father was a ship captain from India, my mom is Swedish-American,
and for the first seven years of my life we sailed around the world.
We moved to California in 1966 because my parents wanted to be near my
mom’s family in the South Bay. We moved to San Pedro first, where I grew
up with folks from the Azores, Croatia, Serbia, Mexico, and all over the
world. Then we went to PV and I went to Dapplegray for the last year of
junior high and spent four years at Miraleste. I would be less than candid
if I didn’t say that as someone used to diversity who grew up in a family
with progressive values, I was a bit of an outlier. I think that may have
made me a better negotiator later in life. I am comfortable communicating
and collaborating in both a culturally rich environment and one that is
more homogenous like Palos Verdes was.”
College in Santa Barbara and law school in San Francisco followed, with
the eventual payoff of a position at O’Melveny & Myers. Contrary to the
public image of large law firms being ruthless and highly competitive, Virjee
found working at the firm to be spiritually uplifting. He was mentored
by former Secretary of State Warren Christopher and former Secretary of
Transportation Bill Coleman, one a Democrat and the other a Republican,
March 2018 • Peninsula 29