Edward J. Garcia

 Edward J. Garcia passed away on Saturday, April 29, 2023 at the age of 94.  A lifelong Sacramento resident, he was born on November 24, 1928 to Susano and Maria Garcia. 

After graduating from Christian Brother’s High School, Ed served in the United States Army Air Corp from 1946 to 1949.  In 1951 he attended Sacramento City College and then graduated from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in 1958.  In 1959 Ed began his legal career as a deputy district attorney in Sacramento County.  He continued with the District Attorney’s office until 1972 as supervisor and as Chief Deputy.  He was appointed to the Sacramento Municipal Court by then Governor Ronald Reagan where he worked until 1984.  President Reagan nominated him to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, confirmed by the Senate in 1984.  While working at the Federal Court House in downtown Sacramento, Ed was able to look down from his office onto the streets where he grew up.  In November 2012 Judge Garcia retired into inactive senior status. 

While Ed held an inactive senior status with the federal court, he was anything but inactive.  Throughout his life Ed was an avid baseball fan. He played in high school, then softball with the DA Rams while working in the District Attorney’s office, and later with the Golden Seniors. He played throughout his life until he was 85 years old.  When not watching the San Francisco Giants or playing softball, Ed liked to tend his yard and work in his garden where he had numerous fruit trees and grew fabulous tomatoes. 

Ed is preceded in death by his brothers Frank and Henry, his sister Theresa, as well as his son, Edward Jr., and two sisters, Susan and Ernestine, who died in early childhood.   He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Joanne, and their combined family, daughters Linda Garcia, Aileen Ellsworth (Larry), Karen Telford (Ned), Jane Boyd (Fred), and sons, David Rice (Nita), and Rick Garcia (Brandee Mead).  

Services and reception to honor Ed will be held Saturday, May 27, 2023. Visitation is at 1:00pm, Service at 2:00pm, Burial at 3:00pm and Reception will follow at St. Mary Cemetery & Funeral Center, 6509 Fruitridge Road, Sacramento, CA 95820, phone 916-452-4831.