M.O. Sabraw

Justice M. O. Sabraw (Ret.) died at home November 30, 2013, following a brief illness. He was 87. Justice Sabraw was born in a small town in Saskatchewan, Canada, to Orton and Margaret Sabraw. His family emigrated to the U.S. in 1937, settling in the Bay Area. During World War II, Justice Sabraw served as a paratrooper in the Army Air Corps, 11th Airborne Division, in the South Pacific.After returning from the War, Justice Sabraw earned his undergraduate degree from U.C. Berkeley and his law degree from Boalt Hall School of Law. He settled in Fremont in 1953, where he and his former wife Betty were active members in the Fremont community while raising their four children. Justice Sabraw became President of the Board of Education and the Niles Rotary Club, was on the Salvation Army Board of Directors, and an active member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Boy Scouts of America. During this time, and continuing throughout his life, he pursued his love of riding and raising Arabian horses, ranching, and traveling throughout the world.In 1968, after developing a successful law practice in Fremont, Governor Ronald Reagan appointed him to the Fremont-Newark-Union City Municipal Court. Three years later Governor Reagan elevated him to the Alameda County Superior Court, where he served until 1985 when Governor Deukmejian appointed him to the California Court of Appeal, First District. He retired from the Court in 1988, but continued to work as a private mediator and arbitrator well into his 80's.Justice Sabraw leaves behind cherished memories with his wife of 18 years, Bonnie Sabraw; his three sons, Ron, Mark and Kris; his daughter Teri Block; his foster daughter Elvira Durflinger; Betty Sabraw Whitcomb; his two step-children John Lewman and Becky Williamson; ten grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; as well as many other family members and friends.In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org or the Niles Rotary Foundation, PO Box 7104, Fremont, CA 94537.There will be a celebration of Justice Sabraw's life at the Castlewood Country Club on December 17, 2013 at 2:00 p.m.