Bruce B. Bales

Bruce B. Bales 1923-2013 Bruce was born May 12, 1923 in Los Angeles, CA to Ruby Reed Bales and Homer R Bales. He was the youngest of six boys, all graduates of UC Berkeley. He grew up in Marysville, CA and attended schools there. He and his wife, Joann, met at Marysville High School. He spent his first two college years at the Yuba Junior College in Marysville before enlisting in the Navy at the onset of WW2. He attended the Navy V12 program for officers at College of the Pacific and then was sent to officers training in Plattsburg New York and became an ensign attached to the USS Pickens, a Marine transport vessel. He participated in the landing of his marines in the first wave on Iwo Jima, and then into battle on Okinawa. After the war in 1945, he returned to California, married Joann, graduated from UC Berkeley, Phi Beta Kappa, and continued into law school at Boalt Hall, UC Berkeley. His first job as an attorney began when he was hired by judges Harold J. Haley and Leonard Thomas in Marin County. He worked with them until he was appointed a Deputy DA of Marin County by William O Weissich. He later became Assistant DA to Roger Garety and then was appointed District Attorney of Marin County, where he served from 1964 until 1978. He practiced law in San Rafael from 1979-2005. During his career he was a member of the Marin County and California Bar Associations. He retired from active practice of law in 2005 at age 82. During his career he served in many avenues of community service: president of the Young Republicans, president of the Exchange Club, Deacon and then Elder of the First Presbyterian Church of San Rafael; a member of the Elks Club, Native Sons and American Legion. He was on the Executive Board of the Marin Council of Boy Scouts and was a member of the Terra Linda Rotary and Marvelous Marin Breakfast Clubs. Bruce was an avid hunter and fisherman and spent many hours enjoying these sports with the Hon. Dave Menary, Rod Martinelli, Art Feidler, Bill Weissich and later with his son Dr. Tom Bales and grandson Peter Bales. Bruce's wife of 67 years, Joann, remained a steadfast caregiver throughout his long goodbye with dementia. The family appreciated the many years of care given by the staff at Hired Hands, Atria Tamalpais and Heartland Hospice Care. He is survived by his wife Joann and his three children Dr Tom Bales (Suzanne), Elena Bronfenbrenner (Steven) and Bob Bales, as well as five grandchildren; Dr. Katie Bales, Peter Bales, Diana Bales, Ross Bronfenbrenner and Will Bales. The Bales Family Endowment at Boalt Hall provides funds for the Bales Oral Competition in Criminal Law each year in his honor. His grandson Peter Bales, also a Boalt Alumni, was involved in setting up the competition and helps run it today. No services will be held at Bruce's request. If you wish, you may contribute to the Bales Family Endowment at UC Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall) 2850 Telegraph Ave # 500, Berkeley, CA 94705 or a charity of your choice.