Anthony "Tony" de los Reyes

Anthony “Tony” de los Reyes, 83, of Los Angeles passed away peacefully on Monday night, October 20. Born in Manhattan, NY, as an adolescent he moved with his parents Tony and Kay Reyes to Los Angeles, eventually graduating from Loyola High School, Pierce College, and Whittier College of Law.

Professionally, he was an extremely well-known and respected attorney with over fifty years of practice, beginning his legal career with Raoul Magaña in 1969, and eventually retiring from his own firm Pocrass & Reyes in 2013. As an expert litigator in aviation law, medical malpractice, product liability, and personal injury cases, nothing gave him more pleasure than helping his clients receive restitution for their pain and suffering. He was an important confidant to many in the legal community, and his fidelity to best practices was widely admired. His membership with the Chancery Club, American Board of Trial Advocates, and Mexican American Bar Association played important roles in his commitment to ethical jurisprudence and fellowship.

As a proud Angelo, perhaps the greatest gift to his beloved city was his extensive, thirty year involvement with civic affairs. He was the first and only member to serve on three separate Los Angeles Commissions: Police, Cultural Affairs, and Civil Service, the latter coming from an invitation by Mayor Tom Bradley in 1983. Later, after accepting a seat on the Police Commission, he presided during the tumultuous era of Police Chief Daryl Gates, the Rodney King trial, and its historic aftermath. During his tenure, he was nicknamed fondly as “The Voice of Reason" by his fellow commissioners.

In his private life, Tony had an abundance of passions. He was an avid race car driver, held a pilot’s license, was a recreational sailor, skier and scuba-diver, devoured historical nonfiction, was a lover of French wine and gourmet food, and above all, an aficionado of classical music. On his 70th birthday, with his friends and family in attendance, he performed "Carmina Burana" at Disney Hall as a member of the LA Lawyers Philharmonic & Legal Voices. As an early Board member to both the Museum of Contemporary Art and Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions, he helped promote LA’s cultural reach. As for sports, nothing rivaled his complete devotion to USC football and the Dodgers, where he had decades-long season tickets, witnessing Rose Bowl victories and World Series championships.

Tony leaves behind three sons from two wonderful mothers, Tony and Matthew (Carol), and Patrick (Kathryn), and four grandchildren, Sebastian, Gabriel, Dario, and Aurora. In his later years with his beloved partner, Natalie, he found deep companionship that defined his final decades. Together they loved to travel through Europe, cook, and spend time with their blended families. His final days were spent savoring sunsets overlooking the channel in Marina del Rey, where he quickly made new friends who were touched by his warmth, brilliance, and zest for life.

A memorial service and celebration will take place at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Westwood on Saturday, November 8, at 1 p.m.