Hon. Lester E. Olson (just “Les” to all who knew and loved him) passed from this earth on October 22, 2019 at the age of 92. Les died unexpectedly but peacefully at our home in Fallbrook, CA, leaving a huge hole in my life - and in the lives of all who were lucky enough to know him.
Les was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1927, the youngest of three children of Oscar and Agnes Olson. After graduating high school, he hitchhiked across the country for several months before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1945. World War II was drawing to a close, so he never saw active duty; he was stationed on Galveston Island, TX where he worked as a welder. After his military service, he followed his parents to Sacramento, CA where they built and operated a roadside motel. He attended Sacramento Junior College for two years and then transferred to Stanford University, where he completed his B.A. before entering their Law School.
Les distinguished himself at Stanford Law School, where his classmates included Sandra Day and her future husband John O’Connor. He told stories of all of them as starving law students, and stayed in touch with Justice O’Connor for the remainder of her life. Upon graduation in 1953, he moved to Los Angeles to join the law firm of Belcher, Henzie & Fargo. His many notable clients included John Wayne, Rory Calhoun, and former President of Mexico Miguel Alemand. Les eventually opened his own practice, Olson & Markey, with his good friend Christian Markey. Their firm would eventually become the powerhouse Munger, Tolles & Olson, but with a different Olson now on the masthead.
Les deeply loved the Law, but didn’t always love being a lawyer; so when offered the opportunity to join the bench, he leapt at it. He was appointed to the Court by outgoing California Governor Edmund G. (Pat) Brown in 1965. Les served the Los Angeles Superior Court with distinction for twenty years, presiding over numerous high-profile cases – most notably the legal malpractice suit of Doris Day v. Jerome Rosenthal. The trial has a whole chapter in her autobiography – look him up!
Due to his sterling reputation on the bench, upon his retirement in 1985 Les became one of the most sought-after private mediator/arbitrators in Los Angeles, and enjoyed another twenty-year career as a “Rent-a-Judge.” He loved mediation and dispute resolution - often likening it to being a car salesman, shuttling back & forth between the parties. His cases included more high-profile characters, including Johnny Carson, Whoopi Goldberg, Leonardo DiCaprio and John DeLorean.
In addition to the Law, Les loved the outdoors. He was an avid skier and backpacker for many years, forging lifelong friendships in the Saga Ski Club. He also loved construction, and working with his hands; he remodeled several of his houses by himself, and was always building something in his state-of-the art woodshop. His motto was “Never use a nail when a screw will do better.”
Les also loved his dogs. He was never without one or two dogs in the house, or sometimes three, and their pictures line the walls of his office and fill countless photo albums. They were spoiled and pampered without apology. Above all, he loved me, and I’m so grateful to have shared over half my life with him.
Les’ countless friends will remember his brilliant mind, his incredible generosity, his intolerance for bullshit, his great laugh, his enthusiasm for life… and his many, many stories. How that man loved to tell stories. I hope you all will share some of your favorites here.
Patrick
