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Thursday, 21 August 2008 |
Feb. 2, 1919 – Aug. 15, 2008
 On Aug. 15, 2008, longtime Mammoth resident Myron Blumberg passed away from complications of Parkinson’s Disease.
Myron was an attorney and community leader in both Long Beach and Mammoth. Following his service in World War II as an Army Air Corps Captain and pilot, he attended USC law school and began practicing law in Long Beach in 1954. As a highly skilled trial lawyer, he represented victims of personal injuries, medical malpractice, negligent building construction and racial discrimination. As a pioneer in the fight against housing discrimination, he won more than 20 judgments against discriminatory apartment owners – effectively breaking down the walls of the black ghetto in Long Beach.
He and his wife Shirley built a house in Mammoth in 1976 and moved here permanently in 1983. He skied, backpacked, hiked, flew stunt kites, practiced law and loved and enjoyed this area.
He represented many Mammoth homeowner associations in construction defect litigation, was legal counsel to the Mammoth Lakes and June Lake Fire Protection Districts, and served as special litigation counsel for the Town of Mammoth Lakes in successfully defending it in the federal lawsuit over the Lodestar development.
He helped found and was the first president of the Eastern Sierra Jewish Community. As a local civic activist, he tried, in vain, to persuade the town council that the proposed local airport condo development at the airport gave away too much and was against the town’s interest – a position that was only recently revisited in a Superior Court judgment.
As an experienced litigator, he often tried to convince legal combatants to resolve their differences out of court – especially where a court battle might create long-term animosities. He became a skilled mediator and peacemaker, and founded the Dispute Resolution Center of the Eastern Sierra, which provided mediation, conciliation and arbitration services outside of the traditional court arena. Myron reluctantly retired from active legal practice in 2005 after 50 years of loving and practicing law.
Myron is survived by Shirley, his wife of 65 years, sons David (Sherry) and John (Marcie), daughters Debra Blumberg and Barbara Kluger (Larry), seven grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. A memorial service was held at the Blumberg home on Aug. 17, and a memorial service also will be held at Temple Israel in Long Beach on Aug. 23 at 6:30 p.m.
Donations may be made to the Sierra Club (Range of Light group), Chamber Music Unbound, Mammoth Lakes Library or the National Parkinson Foundation.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 28 August 2008 )
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