Ralph A. Lombardi

1945 - 2022

Ralph A. Lombardi
August 22, 1945 - December 20, 2022
The San Francisco Bay Area legal community lost a well-respected attorney in December. Ralph Lombardi was remembered by his fellow attorneys as the epitome of a professional, known for his kindness, integrity and honesty in and out of the courtroom. Ralph Lombardi passed away on December 20, after a short illness, with his wife and daughter by his side. He was 77 years old.
Ralph was born on August 22, 1945, in Vallejo, California, to Richard Caesar Lombardi and Virginia Elizabeth Smallridge. His father was a career naval officer and the family lived in Virginia during his younger years. Ralph graduated from Vallejo High School in 1963 and attended U.C. Berkeley where he met his college sweetheart, Gail Gibson. They were married in 1968, and in 1970 Ralph graduated from the University of California School of Law at Berkeley (Boalt Hall).
Ralph wanted to be an attorney for as long as he could remember. Upon graduating from law school, Ralph kept his military obligation with the Air Force and was sent to Thailand. On his return, Ralph began his legal career in Oakland with Hardin Fletcher Cook & Hayes (later Hardin Cook Loper Engel & Bergez). Ralph's career focused on insurance coverage and bad faith, personal and catastrophic injury, and medical and legal malpractice. In 1999, Ralph, Bruce Loper and Matthew Conant set up their own firm, Lombardi Loper & Conant, where he continued another twenty years of his rewarding law career. Ralph retired from the practice of law in 2018 and joined ADR Services where he had a successful career in mediation and was known for his ability to make clients feel welcomed, comfortable and at ease.
Ralph was a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (serving as the San Francisco Chapter President 2002-03), the International Society of Barristers, the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers.
When Ralph was not practicing law, he enjoyed spending time with Gail, their three children and five grandchildren. He was never happier than when he was skiing black diamond runs in Aspen, hiking favorite trails to the top of the mountain, or snorkling off the beaches of Hawaii. In 2010, Ralph added paragliding from Aspen Mountain to his list of fun activities.
Ralph and Gail celebrated their 54th anniversary last year with a cruise from London (Southampton) to Lisbon. In addition to family vacations, they enjoyed many other memorable trips throughout the US and Europe with friends in ABOTA.
Ralph is survived by his wife Gail, and children Mike Lombardi (Dee Dee) of Phoenix, Kim Becker (Rudi) of Alameda and Chrissy Snodgrass (Mike) of Santa Barbara, and his brother David Lombardi (Judy) of Boise. Ralph was fondly called "Papa" by his grandchildren Holly and Jack Becker, Abigail Lombardi, and Cara and Laura Snodgrass.
Private services were held on March 25 at Mountain View Cemetery.