A Steadfast Pursuit of Fairness

Edward A. Panelli ’53, J.D. ’55, Hon. ’86, a longtime member and chair of the Santa Clara University Board of Trustees and member of the Board of Fellows, first-generation Italian American, and retired associate justice of the California Supreme Court, died July 20, 2024 at the age of 92.

Panelli was born on Santa Clara’s campus, in a house now part of the Multicultural Center. His family moved back to their native Italy when he was an infant. When they returned several years later, Panelli spoke no English. He got his first job at the age of 6 in a dry-fruit yard near his home. He returned to his university birthplace on a scholarship to earn his B.S. cum laude in 1953 and his J.D. cum laude in 1955. That same year Panelli met his future wife, Lorna, at a mutual friend’s wedding. They were married for 63 years until Lorna’s death in 2019. Together, they welcomed three sons, Tom ’80, Jeff ’82, and Michael, and four grandchildren, Joey, Elisa, Clara, and Makiko.

After graduating from law school, Panelli co-founded the firm Pasquinelli & Panelli, where he practiced for 17 years, specializing in probate, personal injury, domestic relations, and general business practice. In 1972, California Gov. Ronald Reagan appointed Panelli to the Santa Clara County Superior Court, where he served for 11 years before being named associate justice for the First District Court of Appeal. He was then appointed the presiding justice of the Sixth Appellate District Court when it was established in 1984. In 1985 he was appointed associate justice of the Supreme Court of California by Gov. George Deukmejian. Throughout the legal community, Panelli was known for his ability to parse complex cases and was lauded as one of the best settlement judges in California.

Panelli was a passionate supporter of Santa Clara University and credited his alma mater with shaping his life and career. He served on the University’s Board of Trustees for 60 years as trustee and trustee emeritus and served as its chair for 19 years. He worked closely with multiple University presidents and influenced Santa Clara’s transformation over decades. He and his wife were among the co-founders of the Bronco Bench Foundation, which has raised millions to support student-athletes at SCU. He was a longtime friend and benefactor of the Law School.

“Justice Edward Panelli’s remarkable life and distinguished career exemplified unwavering dedication to justice, deep commitment to the common good, and an enduring legacy of integrity in the legal profession. He was confident, gracious, kind, and a keen supporter of Santa Clara University. His contributions shaped our legal landscape and inspired countless individuals with his wisdom, compassion, and steadfast pursuit of fairness,” says  Santa Clara University President Julie Sullivan. “He shared his insight, expertise and Santa Clara pride consistently and generously, whether in the boardroom, with students or at athletics events. His passing leaves a profound void, yet his legacy of service and principled leadership will be everlasting, guiding us in pursuing a more just society. I join Justice Panelli’s family and many friends in mourning this tremendous loss to the entire university community.”

Panelli worked with several University presidents over his decades of service. He was particularly close to William Rewak, S.J., who was named president in 1976. “Justice Ed Panelli is a giant in the history of Santa Clara,” Rewak says. “For all of us, he left a rich legacy of both wisdom and generosity.”

An ardent advocate of the Santa Clara University School of Law, Panelli recognized that pursuing a strong legal education is not financially feasible for all deserving candidates. He endowed a scholarship in 2001 to each year support a law student who demonstrated financial need. Another gift resulted in the construction of a large lecture hall in the Howard S. and Alida S. Charney Hall of Law: the 230-seat Panelli Courtroom.

Since 2019, Panelli has served as a jurist-in-residence for a Santa Clara Law program that connects students with legal experts. He regularly participated in the law school’s commencement ceremonies, including as the distinguished guest speaker in 1986. Earlier this year, he made a final appearance at law commencement before the Class of 2024 graduates and their loved ones. As he exited the commencement stage, the crowd met Panelli with an ovation in recognition of his tremendous leadership and dedication to the law school community.

“Justice Panelli has devoted his entire professional career to public service. We are all so grateful to him for his devotion to our law students and our entire Law School community,” says Santa Clara University School of Law Dean Michael Kaufman. “He mentored, counseled, supported, cheered up, and lifted up countless law students virtually every day in Charney Hall through his sage advice, caring presence, loving kindness, inspiring stories, remarkable life’s journey, and his example of what it truly means to live out our Jesuit mission of service for and with others.“

A Funeral Mass in celebration of Justice Panelli’s life will be held on Friday, August 16, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at Mission Santa Clara, with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Santa Clara University Office of Development – Justice Edward A. Panelli Endowed Law Scholarship or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Notes of condolence may be sent to:

The Panelli Family
℅ The Santa Clara University School of Law [Dean’s Office]

500 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA  95053