Robert Leon La Vine

December 24, 1929 - December 4, 2022

Robert Leon La Vine passed away peacefully on December 4, 2022, with his loving and deeply loved family by his side.

Proud native of San Francisco, Bob, as he was known, graduated from Madison Grammar School, Presidio Jr. High School and Washington High School. He went on to U.C. Berkeley (“Call it CAL”), where he was a member of the Scabbard and Blade Military Honor Society and the ROTC, which led to his becoming a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army in Korea. He was honorably discharged from the Army as a captain and continued in the Army Reserve for several years. His first post was at Fort Lee in Virginia. His service included trial work at Camp Stoneman in California, where he was inspired to go to law school. He graduated 4th in his class from Hastings College of the Law Cal, where he was elected to Phi Delta Phi Honorary Law Fraternity and received a Thurston Scholarship.

Our beloved Bob was a member of Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity at Cal, where he and his wife of 71 years made many life-long friends.

He was a Vice President of Willig Freight Lines and was a director of many corporations. He served on the Board of Directors of Temple Sherith Israel and of Wornick Jewish Day School.

He received his BS from UC (Berkeley), his LLB and JD from Hastings College of the Law and was licensed to practice before the California Supreme Court and later on the U.S. Supreme Court. He was also a CPA, but didn’t really like numbers.

His love for family was central to his life, and he passed that gift on to all of them at every turn.

Bob leaves behind his beloved wife, Betty (née Sussman), his loving daughter (his “little girl”), Barbra Losel, his dear grandsons, (“his boys”), Zack and Jake (Erika) Losel, his brother-inLaw, Leonard Sussman and his family.

“Rest in peace, my love.” A graveside service was held on December 7, 2022, at Hills of Eternity Cemetery, Rabbi Jonathan Singer presided. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Donations can be made to:

Jewish Family and Children’s Services, S.F., Congregation Emanu-El, S.F., Packard Children’s Hospital, Stanford, or the charity of your choice.