Joseph P. Loeb

Joseph P. Loeb (1883-1974) was an American lawyer and public servant.

Early life

Joseph O. Loeb was born in 1883 in Los Angeles, California. He was the grandson of Los Angeles pioneer business and real estate magnate, Harris Newmark the author of My Sixty Years in Southern California 1853-1913. His father Leon Loeb was the owner of the first department store in Los Angeles, "The City of Paris," and the French Consular Agent in Los Angeles.

He was educated at Los Angeles High School (1901), University of California, Berkeley. He was the editor of The Daily Californian and Phi Beta Kappa.

Legal Practice

After his graduation he law clerked with the Henry O’Melveny law firm. In 1906, he was admitted to the bar in Los Angeles and retained his association with the O’Melveny firm until 1907. At that time, he joined Edward G. Kuster in the practice of law; and, in 1908, they, along with Edwin J. Loeb (brother of Joseph Loeb), formed the law firm of Kuster, Loeb and Loeb. Edwin and Joseph Loeb read proof for their grandfather, Harris Newmark, at the time of the publication of his book on Southern California.

About 1911, Edward Kuster left the law office, and the firm of Loeb and Loeb was established. Over the years, the firm has operated under various names: Lowenthal, Loeb and Walker; Loeb, Walker and Loeb, to the current name, Loeb and Loeb. His contribution to the firm was the corporate business accounts particularly the family owned ones Cedars of Lebanon Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Union Bank, now Union Bank of California where he was a director. The Loeb and Loeb firm went from a two-man practice in its beginnings to a large international law firm.

Political and Charitable Activities

In 1943, Joseph Loeb was appointed by Governor Earl Warren to serve as a member of the California State Board of Education, in which capacity he served until 1956. From 1947 until 1972, he was a member of the Board of Fellows of Claremont Colleges.

His charitable, political, and educational activities were extensive and included: President of Hillcrest Country Club (Los Angeles): 1933-1937, Board of Directors of Los Angeles County Bar Association: 1915-1922, President of United Jewish Welfare Fund: 1937; and General Campaign Chairman: 1938, Founder, Director and First President of Southern California Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation, Director of Jewish Orphan’s Home of Southern California (now called Vista Del Mar Child Care Service): 1916-1939; from 1920-1926 he was its President, and Board of Governors, Los Angeles Civic Light Opera Association.

Personal life

Loeb married Amy Cordelia Kahn (1885-1967) of San Francisco on January 24, 1909. They were the parents of two daughters: Kathleen (Mrs. Edward J. Bernath), born November 11, 1910; and Margaret (Mrs. Edward J. Soares), born June 10, 1913. Mr. Loeb retired from law practice in June 1965.

Death

He died on July 18, 1974.

References