Tom LaBonge Obituary

Los Angeles City Councilman, or “Mr. Los Angeles,” Tom LaBonge may in part be remembered for his efforts to help the elephants at the Los Angeles Zoo. In spring 2006, amid pleas to free the elephants, the city council voted to keep the world’s largest animals at the zoo. in a new exhibit, which included grasslands and waterfalls.

“We have three elephants at the zoo… Right now we have to make it better for them, safer for them,” said Councilman Tom LaBonge.

Los Angeles Councilman Tom LaBonge died Jan. 7, 2021 at the age of 67. A graduate of John Marshall High School, LaBonge received his bachelor’s degree in sociology from California State University, Los Angeles.

He was a member of the Los Angeles City Council representing the 4th district, serving from 2001 to 2015. LaBonge won a special election to fill the seat left vacant by the death of long-time council member John Ferraro. The district included a wide diversity of incomes and neighborhoods. During his time in office, he was the chairman of the Arts, Parks, Health and Aging committee, vice chairman of the Transportation Committee and the Ad Hoc River Committee, and member of the Trade, Commerce & Tourism Committee, and the Ad Hoc on Recovering Energy, Natural Resources & Economic Benefit from Waste for L.A. (RENEW LA) in the city of Los Angeles. He was a member of the Democratic Party.

Prior to serving as councilman, LaBonge was director of Community Relations at the Department of Water and Power, special assistant to Mayor Richard Riordan, and chief deputy to council president John Ferraro. LaBonge was a lifelong advocate for Griffith Park, one of the largest urban parks in the nation, which fell in his old council district.

He married graphic designer and illustrator Brigid Manning LaBonge in 1988. Prior to his death, LaBonge resided in the Silver Lake district of Los Angeles with his wife and their two children, Mary-Cate and Charles.

Mayor Garcetti And Council President Nury Martinez On The Passing Of Tom LaBonge  

“Our hearts are heavy with the passing of former Los Angeles City Councilmember Tom LaBonge. In a city of 4 million Angelenos, Tom LaBonge was Mr. Los Angeles. He was a true public servant who was never afraid to roll up his sleeves or pull a City worker over if a constituent needed help or a street needed servicing at a moment’s notice. He knew every mascot of every high school in Los Angeles for a reason – so he could engage people and talk to them about their lives. As a councilmember, he took care of his constituents and was a champion of one of L.A.’s greatest treasures, Griffith Park. Tom LaBonge loved Los Angeles and Los Angeles loved him right back. To quote Tom, he is forever an angel in the City of Angels. May God bless him, his wife, Brigid, and the entire LaBonge family.” — Mayor Eric Garcetti and Council President Nury Martinez  

Janice Hahn On The DeathOf Tom LaBonge

“I am still trying to process the loss of my friend Tom LaBonge on Thursday night. The ten years we spent together on the City Council were the best political years of my life.

I directed that the L.A. Memorial Coliseum torch be lit on Friday until sundown in honor of his life.

Nobody loved this city more than Tom and I don’t know if anyone ever will. He was and will always be Mr. Los Angeles.

May my dear friend Rest In Peace.” —  Janice Hahn