John Travis La Follette; Attorney
John Travis La Follette, husband of former Northridge Assemblywoman Marian La Follette and a longtime Los Angeles attorney, has died in Newport Beach. He was 68.
Marian La Follette, a five-term legislator, cited her husband’s failing health as a reason for not seeking reelection last year.
He died Dec. 27 of cancer, said Earlene McCabe, a spokeswoman for the California Horse Racing Board of which La Follette was a member.
Born Aug. 10, 1922, in Birmingham, Ala., he graduated from the USC law school in 1947 and worked as an attorney in Los Angeles for 40 years. He served as president of the American Board of Trial Advocates in 1962 and was elected Trial Lawyer of the Year in 1964 by the group.
La Follette had also served as president of the Los Angeles Police and Fire Pension Commission from 1971 to 1973 and as a member of the California Commission on Judicial Performance from 1973 to 1977.
In addition to his wife, La Follette is survived by daughters Jackie King and Laurie Cesena; stepsons Philip Olson and Curtis Olson; sister Dorothy L. Wotring; and seven grandchildren.
Private services have been held. Donations can be made in La Follette’s name to St. John of God Nursing Hospital, 2035 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles 90018, or to The Hospice Foundation, 2601 Airport Drive, Torrance 90505.
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