David George Sills

David George Sills

March 21, 1938 - August 23, 2011

David George Sills

March 21, 1938 - August 23, 2011

Obituary

David George Sills
March 21, 1938-August 23, 2011

David George Sills, erstwhile presiding justice of the California Fourth District Court of Appeal passed quietly Tuesday, August 23rd, ending his life as he had lived it, cloaked in dignity and courage and surrounded by loved ones. The legal community will miss his leadership and incisive intellect, but everyone who knew him will mourn the loss of a kind and generous friend.

Born and raised in Peoria, Illinois, Dave was introduced to California as an Eagle Scout when he attended the Boy Scout Jamboree held in 1953 on property that is now Fashion Island. After completing a degree in political science at Bradley University, he obtained a law degree, excelling as a National Moot Court Finalist at the University of Illinois College of Law. After law school, Captain Sills served his country as a company commander and brigade staff officer in the Marine Corps from 1960-1965, before returning to southern California to practice law in Irvine, not far from the site of the 1953 Boy Scout Jamboree.

He was elected mayor of his adopted city in 1976 and served ten years on its city council including four terms as mayor, presiding over its transformation from a sleepy suburb to a city five times the size of the one he had moved into – a city nationally recognized for its intelligent planning and quality of life, both of which were accurate reflections of Dave s values and skills.

He was involved in every conceivable civic endeavor, his support and enthusiasm springing from an apparently bottomless well. He was the Chairman of the Irvine Health Foundation, on whose board he served 26 years. He also built a successful law practice and was appointed to the Superior Court bench by Governor Deukmejian in 1985. Five years later he was elevated to the position of Presiding Justice of Division 3 of the California Court of Appeal, a decision the voters confirmed three times.

He was born to run that court. He led naturally, easily, and by example, inspiring integrity by living it. He wrote with style and precision, and put his indelible stamp on the court system both as a jurist and an administrator.

While turning out an astounding 2, 000-plus opinions whose quality of analysis and rapier prose made him a force to be reckoned with in the development of California law – he also found ways to eliminate the backlog that had plagued the court since its inception, and he engineered its removal from charming but cramped rented quarters into is present showpiece court building on Santa Ana Blvd. and Ross. No one who knew him will ever enter that building without thinking of the man who made it possible – and remembering his ready smile and kind heart.

He is survived by his beloved wife Susan LaCroix Sills, his brother Dan, his bereft colleagues on the Court of Appeal, his Marine comrades, the citizens of Irvine, a grieving legal community, and people all over the state of California whose lives are better because of Dave Sills’ lifelong commitment to service and justice.

In lieu of flowers, you may make donations in David’s memory to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, www.marine-scholars.org; the UCI School of Law Scholarship Fund, www.law.uci.edu; and the Chapman University School of Law Scholarship Fund, www.chapman.edu/law/giving.

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83 responses to David George Sills

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  1. Lori Luthy says:

    Susan,
    My thoughts and prayers are with you. Since Dave’s passing, I’ve discovered so many things about him that I never knew. He was quite a bit older than me and had moved to California before I was old enough to appreciate him. I regret I didn’t get to know him better. He was a great man and I am humbled by his achievements. I knew he was a “pretty big deal” in the judicial arena from listening to my parents speak of his accomplishments when I was little — I knew they were very proud of him — but I never knew the magnitude of those accomplishments and how many peoples’ lives he touched. The tributes Dan has shared with me from his colleagues and friends are so moving and well-deserved.

    I was sharing with Dan one of Dave’s visits to our home in Elmwood. I remember Dave playing basketball against my Dad, who was around age 40 at the time. I guess my Dad pretty much whipped Dave at the game. Dave remarked, “If an old man like C.J. can whip me at basketball, I need to get in shape.” Soon after that, I’d heard he’d started running and saw an article about the Mayor of Orange County winning a marathon. I like to think my Dad would be welcoming him to the Heavens with a basketball in hand, waiting for that rematch!

    The world has lost a truly wonderful man. You have my heartfelt sympathy.

  2. Arno Fritz says:

    Uncle Dave you will be missed, I will forever cherish the time we spent at the cabin in Big Bear and golfing the course. My only regret was not being able to do it more. I will miss the post cards from your travels. I will miss your wit and articles from Orange County. Uncle Dave you touched many lives during your journey here on earth and we were very proud of your many accomplishments. Susan my heart goes out to you. You were a rock not only for Uncle Dave but for Grandma Millie. My you take comfort in knowing you made a difference in their lives. God bless and my thoughts and prayers are with you.

  3. David Riley says:

    “As Assistant Director and then Director of the County Health Care Agency, I got to know Judge David Sills in his capacity as the longtime Chairman of the Irvine Health Foundation and also as the Presiding Justice of the State Court of Appeals located in Santa Ana. Judge Sills was the type of person who I immediately wanted to befriend. We shared a mutual interest in a wide variety of topics. Judge Sills was quite expert and well-read in American and world history, and had an encyclopedic knowledge of politics and many other subjects. David embodied the quintessential American success story: born in the heartland, served as a Marine Corps Captain, distinguished judge and builder of his court, skilled local political leader, and dedicated community philanthropist. He was a thinker and a doer’a rare combination. What impressed me the most about Judge Sills was that in spite of his considerable intellectual gifts, his superb communication skills and incisive wit, and his ability to identify and aggressively resolve issues, I found him to be unfailing humble, calm, courteous, and soft spoken regardless of the setting or situation. He was someone who I was honored to get to spend time with.”

    Dave Riley

  4. Heidi Fritz says:

    Susan,
    Uncle Dave will surely be missed! I will certainly treasure the times we spent together in California both myself and with my family. The boys surely speak highly of him. They always enjoyed getting formal mail from the courthouse of David Sills. Our thoughts and prayers are with you Susan.

  5. Bill Foust says:

    David was a person that I was very proud to call my cousin.

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