Joseph R. Bailey

May 7, 1926 - January 4, 2021 Joseph was the son of Joseph Bailey (Senior) and Lillian Bailey (b. Levine) who immigrated to the U.S. in 1906 at the age of two with four sisters who sought refuge from persecution in Lithuania. Joseph was born and raised by his mother in Hollywood, CA during the Great Depression. Joseph attended Le Conte Jr. High and later Hollywood High where he held a part time job with a local newspaper. In 1944 while the U.S. was engaged in WWII, Joe joined the navy. He served in the Aleutian Islands and was sent to Attu after the Americans had retaken the Island from the Japanese. He was a Petty Officer and served as an electrician's mate. Joseph qualified for officer training at Stanford University in 1945. In 1946 after the war had ended, Joe returned to civilian status and continued his studies at Stanford where he met his wife Donna Richards. Joe and Donna had their first child Stephen in 1949, and Joe graduated with a major in economics. Joseph was accepted to Stanford Law School and graduated in the class of 1952. His classmates included: Justices William Rehnquist and Sandra Day O'Connor, and his close friend Bill Hoffman who became a prosecutor in the San Jose area. Joe and Donna moved to North Hollywood, and they had their second child, Catherine. Joe worked for two L.A. attorneys: Arrington and then Meyberg.
Joe and Donna bought a small home in Dennis Park (later Mission Hills) and Joe established his own law practice on Sepulveda Bld. at Devonshire St. He shared his office with his friend State Farm Ins. agent Cam Galieti. Joe specialized in civil law, estate planning, and property law. In 1960 Joe and Donna bought their home in Northridge, CA, and Joe moved his law practice to Panorama City. Joe formed a partnership with attorney Donald Block who specialized in personal injury law. Joe and Don hired two highly trained legal secretaries, Thelma Sondheimer and Maria Freeman (later Alaton). Joe continued to practice law for many years and made several investments in commercial real estate, nearly all of which were made in partnerships with friends, clients, or members of his family. Joseph enjoyed traveling and reading. He read two daily newspapers and numerous books dealing with history or biography. He enjoyed art, theater, gardening, camping, skiing, and sailing.
Joseph died peacefully at his home in Northridge with family members at his side on January 4, 2021. He was 94 years old. He died of complications arising from vascular disease and a rare blood disorder. Joseph will be remembered first and foremost for being a loving son, husband, father and for being a provider for his family. Joseph leaves behind many good friends including Maria Cruz who is like a member of the family. Joseph is survived by his wife, Donna, his eldest son, Stephen, his daughter Catherine Holst, and his youngest son, Raymond. Joseph is also survived by Catherine's eldest child: Karen Arkam, her husband, Cherif and their two children, Michael and Benjamin, and Catherine's youngest child Michelle Kane, her husband Kenneth and their two children Matthew and Allison. He is also survived by Ray's wife Julie and Ray and Julie's children, Jonathan and Thomas. Joseph will be greatly missed by his family and friends.