Edmund L. Regalia, a brilliant trial lawyer, legendary mentor to the firm’s attorneys, a civic minded philanthropist and a community leader has passed away. He was 86 years old.
Ed, Marvin Starr and Harry Miller founded Miller Starr Regalia in 1964. MSR has grown to become one of the state’s preeminent real estate law firms, playing a significant role in California real estate law.
"Ed was an incredible strategist and trial lawyer. The sheer volume of cases he tried, followed by the numerous published appellate decisions affirming lower court victories is staggering. Ed was instrumental in shaping California real estate law," said Ella K. Gower, managing shareholder of Miller Starr Regalia.
Ed’s legal career spanned five decades and included representation of a wide array of developers, business owners, banks, title insurance companies and contractors. His practice covered nearly every aspect of real estate. He was editor-in-chief of Miller & Starr, California Real Estate, the most widely used and judicially recognized real estate treatise in California. In 2016, he and Marvin were presented with the Real Property Persons of the Year – Great Collaboration Award from the State Bar of California’s Real Property Law Section. By Gubernatorial appointment, Ed served as a Commissioner on the California Law Revision Commission, charged with advising the Governor and Legislature with respect to recommended revisions to the statutory law.
He was a dedicated community leader and supported a wide variety of civic and philanthropic organizations and causes. He co-founded the Kennedy-King Memorial Scholarship Fund to provide minority students at Contra Costa community colleges with scholarships to enable them to complete their education at a four-year university. Since its formation in 1968, Kennedy King has provided almost $4,400,000 in scholarships to students.
"Ed's passion for giving back to the community was inspiring," said Eugene H. Miller, chairman emeritus of the firm who served as chairman from 1985 through 2011. "He was a strong advocate and champion for educational opportunity."
Ed served in the United States Navy, attaining the rank of Lieutenant. He received his undergraduate degree in 1952 and his law degree in 1958 from the University of California, Berkeley, having graduated from Boalt Hall (now known as U.C. Berkeley School of Law).
Ed is survived by his devoted wife Gwen, his sons Doug, Ken and Phil and his daughter Connie, eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by so many of his colleagues, friends and of course his family. Donations in Ed’s name can be made to the Kennedy King Memorial Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 2643, Martinez, CA 94553 or online at www.kennedyking.org.
A Celebration of Life for Ed Regalia will be held on March 11, 2018 at 3:00 p.m. at The Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94596.