Leaving a legacy

Key developments in the life of Mayor Richard Riordan, investment banker, businessman, lawyer, Korean War veteran, California secretary of education and mayor of Los Angeles.

1930: Richard Joseph Riordan born on May 1 in Flushing, Queens, New York.

1952: Graduates from Princeton University with an A.B. in philosophy.

1955: Marries Eugenia Warady; marriage is annulled in 1977.

1956: Earns J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School.

1956: Moved to Los Angeles, hired by O'Melveny & Myers law firm.

1975: As founding partner, helps create law firm Riordan & McKinzie.

1980: Married Jill Noel; divorced in 1998.

1981: Purchases iconic downtown restaurant The Pantry.

1982: Helps found private equity firm Riordan, Lewis & Haden.

1993: L.A. Mayor Tom Bradley announces his retirement. Riordan wins election to post, the city's first Republican mayor in nearly four decades. He takes office in a divided city after the acquittal of four LAPD officers in the Rodney King beating triggers widespread rioting in 1992.

1994: The 6.7 magnitude Northridge earthquake kills 57 people, injures more than 9,000 and spurs billions of dollars in widespread damage. Riordan earned praise for leading the recovery effort in the years ahead.

1997: Riordan replaces embattled LAPD Commissioner Willie Williams with Bernard Parks. 1997: Riordan reelected, defeating state Sen. Tom Hayden.

1998: Marries Nancy Daily; she dies in 2009.

2001: He leaves the office amid term limits. Democrat James Hahn succeeds Riordan. More than 20 years later, Riordan is still the city's last Republican mayor. 2001: L.A.'s iconic central library renamed Richard J. Riordan Central Library in his honor. It is the third largest public library in the U.S.

2002: Riordan loses bid for governor, falling to businessman Bill Simon in the GOP primary. Simon lost to incumbent Democrat Gray Davis in the general election.

2003: Appointed secretary of education by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

2017: Marries Elizabeth Gregory.