i. LORELEY⁵ BULL, m. CALVIN CARLOS CREED LAROCHE; b. 28 Oct 1927, Manhattan, New York; d. 21 Sep 2002, Mariposa, California.

Notes for CALVIN CARLOS CREED LAROCHE:

Judge Carlos C. LaRoche of Mariposa died on September 12 He was 74.

Judge LaRoche was born on October 28, 1927 in Manhattan, NY and was an avid photographer who enjoyed walking and travel. He retired from the bench on January 4th of this year and was known for his common sense, compassion and fairness, all attributes that were born of an extraordinary life.

At age twelve he started working as a professional singer in radio theater on the "Uncle Don" show. The show, now better known for an infamous blooper, gave the young Carlos a chance to work with entertainment greats like Burgess Meredith and Barbara Belgeddes.

In the Navy — and under-aged

Later, during WWII an under-aged Carlos enlisted in the US Navy where he stayed for the next 1 1/2 years. It was during this time that he turned the skills he had learned in the streets of New York into the pugilistic arena. His skills gained him acclaim and he quickly went on to earn several base and regional boxing championships. However, his career with the Navy was cut short when his true age was discovered and he was honorably discharged.

However, never one to shirk his duty, Carlos rejoined the war efforts after attaining legal age, this time transporting ammunition and explosives to the war zone with the Merchant Marines. The duty was hazardous and nearly cost him his life when one of his ships was torpedoed by an enemy submarine.

Carlos was on deck, the day the "Abandon Ship!" message blared. The ship was hit and its explosive cargo blew taking the lives of everyone below decks. Those on deck either jumped or were thrown by the blast into the water where they then spent hours in cold water waiting for rescue.

After the War

The end of the war found Carlos making his way back to New York. He worked for several months in the Garment Center to save up money to go to Mexico and in December of 1945, he moved in with relatives in the city of Ixtapa and in January, 1946, began classes at the University in Mexico City.

A year later he returned to New York City to find that his mother had arranged an appointment for him to meet with an acquaintance in order to garner educational guidance. The acquaintance was Lionel Trilling, who suggested that Carlos enroll in the New School of Social Research. Carlos took the advice, continuing his studies under the likes of W. H. Auden and Karen Horney.

Ever the champion, it was during this time in New York that Carlos learned of a brutal sweatshop operating in the vicinity. Carlos, accompanied by newspaper photographers, stormed into the sweatshop taking photographs to chronicle the filth and horrid conditions in which the "workers" were kept.

In an attempt to stop the story, the shop owner made a retaliatory attack and police were called. The story and photographs did make it into the newspaper, the shop’s owner was arrested and the sweatshop was closed.

A year later, Carlos returned to the University of Mexico where he discovered what would be a life long love of history. He began studying archaeology and in 1952 earned a bachelor’s degree in Mezo-American archaeology.

Editor et al.

During this same year Carlos became the editor of the Mexico City Post, the only English language newspaper in the city at the time. Seeking to elicit similar work in the states he moved to San Francisco in 1954, but when he couldn’t find employment in the field, he ended up working as a bartender/bouncer at Vesuvios, a San Francisco landmark, and at a steel mill.

He later went into a partnership with Connie Smith in "Miss Smith’s Tea Room" a well-known bar in the North Beach area of San Francisco. The bar became a watering hole for beatniks and jazz aficionados and it was here that Carlos was to rub elbows with celebrities like Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway. When his partnership split he found himself working at the steel mill again.

However, this time Carlos took on a responsibility that would change his life: he became Shop Steward for ILWU Local 6 from 1958-1959. His duties found him speaking on behalf of the union members and from this a thirst to represent others was born. In 1960 Carlos enrolled in evening classes at Golden Gate University School of Law.

Carlos left his job with the steel mill when his revolving shift began conflicting with school. Instead, he began working as an investigator for the personal injury lawfirm of Berkeley, Randall & Harvey in Berkeley, California where he remained until he earned his law degree in 1964.

Private practice, public service

After graduating Carlos set up his own practice where he became known as one of the best criminal defense attorneys in California. He served as the Vice President of the Northern California Trial Lawyer’s Association from 1973-1974. In 1976 he was named the "Hispanic Man of the Year" by the Arriba Juntos organization for his work on a youth scholarship fund. By 1978 he had built a prominent San Francisco practice that had grown to eight lawyers.

In that year, he was offered a judgeship in San Francisco but decline, as greener pastures awaited. Those pastures were located in Mariposa where he owned a vacation property. Local friends and businessmen convinced him of the need for his services in the town and he opened a branch office which was staffed only part-time.

Charmed by the town and townspeople, he closed his office in San Francisco and by December of 1978 was living and working full time in Mariposa.

In 1979, he met his third wife and they married in 1982. Together they staffed his law office until his appointment to the bench on December 21, 1988. Judge LaRoche was to gather many accolades for his service including: serving on the Executive Committee of the California Judge’s Association from 1992-1995 and as Vice President of the California Judge’s Association from 1994-1995.

His commitment to service was not limited to the state level. Locally, he was a former member of the Mariposa Rotary Club, a former Director for the Mariposa Bears Football, a current member of the Mariposa Lions Club, and a long standing member of the Mariposa Mental Health Board.

Personal accomplishments

His greatest professional joy came from the formation of the Mariposa Drug Court and the success of its graduates who held a special place in his heart. His greatest personal joy came from his family and friends, of whom there were many.

Judge LaRoche is survived by his wife, Rene’; by his sons, Enrique and Carlos M. LaRoche of Oakland; and Andre’ and Alec LaRoche of Mariposa; by his daughters, Anita LaRoche-Winn of Antioch and Carmen LaRoche-Wright and Claudia LaRoche both of Oakland; seven grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 21, at 11 a.m. at the Mariposa Funeral Home followed by a reception on the Courthouse lawn. Arrangements are under the direction of the Mariposa Funeral Home.