Lyle Landis Lopus

February 24, 1943 - August 30, 2022

Lyle Lopus passed away on August 30, 2022 at age 79 from complications related to Parkinson’s disease. A resident of Berkeley, California, Lyle was born in Detroit on February 24, 1943 to Joseph and Sonia (Heisko) Lopus. He grew up in both urban and rural Michigan and graduated from Gaylord High School in 1961, the University of Michigan in 1966 and the University of Michigan Law School in 1969. Lyle began his career as a legal aid lawyer in Fresno, California and later worked as an attorney for the California cities of San Leandro, San Mateo and Fremont. He lived in Fremont and worked in the City Attorney’s Office there from 1980 – 2003.

Lyle loved his family and friends, the University of Michigan (Go Blue!), skiing, beer, ice cream and traveling (especially road trips). As a boy, he formed lasting memories with his scouting troop at Isle Royale National Park. During college and law school, he had a variety of jobs including short-order cook, cab driver, counting telephone poles, and on the assembly line at the Ford Wixom Plant. Lyle met Jane, his wife of 51 years, in Ann Arbor in 1968. In 1969, he set off in his MG Midget on a nearly non-stop cross-country drive to meet her in San Francisco, and California became their permanent home. A dedicated father, Lyle encouraged his daughters to pursue their academic, professional and extracurricular passions, while also offering numerous pieces of much appreciated (but often unsolicited) wisdom on topics such as the contents of a well-stocked earthquake kit. Lyle was generous with his time and happiest when being helpful, whether it be unloading a moving van, reading up on high quality children’s bikes or applying his excellent handyman skills around the house. He was an avid reader, a warm conversationalist, a street-tree enthusiast and a great appreciator of rock and roll. His home was always filled with music.

Lyle is survived by his wife Jane (Schaerges), daughters Andrea (Nate) Cardozo and Sara (Brannon) Lopus Larson and grandchildren Rudd and Inez Larson. He is predeceased by his parents and brother Dale. Services will be private, with a celebration of Lyle’s life planned in Berkeley at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations made in Lyle’s name to the University of Michigan Law School will go to an emergency fund to support low-income students. Donation information is available at the website lylelopus.com.

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I was saddened to hear of Lyle's passing. My deepest condolences to his wife, Jane, and their daughters. I met Lyle through my sister, Fariba, in 2014. I remember him as a kind, gentle, caring soul, with a mind as sharp as a tack. I would often see Lyle at the Berkeley YMCA, where I would take my parents for their daily exercise. Lyle was kind and courteous to my parents, and always asked about my sister. I recall seeing him in June 2020, at the height of the pandemic, rushing to attend the virtual ceremony/party of a neighbor's daughter's high school graduation. In August 2020, Lyle and Jane graciously signed my petition to help me get on the ballot when I was running for the Berkeley Rent Board. Lyle, rest in paradise. I am sorry that we didn't get together for that glass of wine in October 2019. I was rushing home and thought there would be a "next time".

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.