Anthony C. Diepenbrock

Anthony C. Diepenbrock, a prominent attorney and descendant of Sacramento pioneers, died unexpectedly on May 2, following a heart attack.

A lifelong resident of Sacramento, he was born on January 8, 1940 to Victor and Betty Diepenbrock. The family dates back to the early days of Sacramento when his great-grandfather, Anthony Coolot, was an early contributor to the Transcontinental Railroad and the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament.

Tony grew up in Land Park and was in the first graduating class at Holy Spirit School. He delighted in telling stories stories from his youth – fishing in the Land Park duck pond, delivering the The Bee on his bike, and joining neighborhood kids in convertible rides with Max Baer, who lived down the street. (1934 Heavyweight Champion of the World).

He attended Bellarmine College Preparatory and McClatchy High Schools, and graduated from Santa Clara University in l961, where he forged lifelong friendships. Following family tradition, he decided on a career in law and graduated from the University of California Hastings School of Law.

Soon after, Tony began work as a prosecutor in the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office where he handled major crimes and honed his craft as a trial lawyer. He moved into private practice in 1970, joining a firm that eventually became the 60-attorney firm Greve, Clifford, Diepenbrock & Paras. After 20 years there, he started his own firm, and in l999 Tony founded Diepenbrock & Cotter LLP with John P. Cotter. Defending a wide variety of civil lawsuits, he handled employment and labor matters, but his practice focused heavily on the transportation industry, including trucking companies and railroads. Officially retiring in 2007, he maintained his license to practice law, went to the office daily, continued to handle legal matters and helped out many who sought his expertise. He was a member of American Board of Trial Advocates and Association of Defense Council of California.

His greatest satisfaction, however, came from his home, where Tony showered love and wise counsel on his wife of almost 49 years, Helen, and their three daughters, Laura (Murphy), Meg (Horrigan) and Claire (Seton). A top priority for Tony was planning annual family vacations from coast-to-coast so the children could experience our nation’s history and appreciate its natural treasures. As the girls got older, itineraries included travel abroad, but his favorite place to be was home. Nothing made him happier than barbecuing a steak on a warm summer night with a Sierra Nevada in hand, especially when regaling his three grandkids with his ready humor and spirit of fun.

Throughout his life, Tony was an outdoor enthusiast, especially fishing, golf and duck hunting. With a cabin on the Fall River in northeastern California, he was an avid fly fisherman, who enjoyed many Western rivers, as well as salmon fishing in Alaska with Santa Clara friends.

A golfer since childhood, he was a proud member of Del Paso Country Club. In the autumn he traded his golf clubs for a shotgun and headed to the H Pond Duck Club, where he hunted in the Yolo By-Pass. No matter where he was, he found peace and great appreciation in the beauty of Nature.

In addition to his wife and daughters, survivors include his sons-in-law, Jim Murphy of Palos Verdes Estates, Mike Horrigan of San Mateo, and Alex Seton, of Park City, UT; his grandchildren, Clara and Will Horrigan, and Helen Murphy, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Jane and Harry Saunders, St. Louis, Mo. and many relatives.

Funeral services were held earlier this week. The family requests that any donations be made to the Effie Yeaw Nature Ceneter, 2850 San Lorenzo Lane, Carmichael, CA 95608 or a charity of the donor’s choice.