Antonio (Tony) Barreto, Jr., long-time Culver City resident and retired judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court, passed away in the loving presence of his family on Jan. 15, 2018, after suffering a heart attack. He was 66.
Barreto was born on Feb. 14, 1951 in New Bedford, Mass., the son of Portuguese immigrants. He moved to Hollywood with his parents Antonio and Maria and sister Margaret two years later.
Tony attended Hollywood High School and graduated from UCLA in 1973 with a double major in history and political science. After attending graduate school at California State University, Northridge, he earned his law degree in 1977 from Southwestern Law School, and was admitted to the state bar that year.
After working briefly in private practice, Tony joined the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office, serving as a deputy district attorney from 1978 to 1989. He began his career on the bench in 1990 when Gov. George Deukmejian appointed him to the Culver Municipal Court.
In 2000 he was elevated by court unification to the Los Angeles Superior Court, and was assigned that year to the Airport Courthouse where he served until his retirement on Sept. 5, 2014.
Tony married Kathleen Lanzarotta in 1992, and their twins Michael and Joseph were born in 1995. A devoted family man, Barreto coached his sons’ sports teams and guided their Boy Scout careers from Tiger Cubs to Eagle rank.
As a resident of Culver City since 1987, he enjoyed his years as a “home town judge” of the Culver Court and was active in Culver City Little League and local Boy Scout Troop 108. Barreto tirelessly helped anyone in need and lived his life for others.
A classic film buff and trivia expert, Tony helped finance his law school tuition with his winnings from game shows, including “Split Second,” “You Don’t Say,” “Joker’s Wild and Jeopardy.” He was also a talented musician, playing clarinet in his high school band and orchestra, and guitar in later years.
A die-hard UCLA fan and avid golfer, Tony enjoyed having more time to indulge both passions in retirement, as a season ticket holder to UCLA football and basketball, and as a member of the Fore Score and Rancho Park golf clubs. He made the local news in 1997, when he chased down a bank robber escaping from the Culver Court on a bicycle, pursuing the escapee in his car until the police could apprehend him.
In addition to his wife and sons, Tony is survived by many cousins in Portugal—and by a multitude of loving in-laws, friends and colleagues, all of whom grieve his loss. He was laid to rest in a private service at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills on Jan. 29; a larger celebration of his life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be sent to the Barreto Family Scholarship Fund at Southwestern Law School, 3050 Wilshire Blvd., L.A., CA 90010; Attention: Alumni Office.