A Celebration of LIfe

Tuesday afternoon, at Walnut Creek’s  Lesher Center for the Arts, nearly 500 people gathered to honor the life and civic contributions of Paul Valle-Riestra.

A national leader in telecommunications law and “The” Walnut Creek City Attorney—a position he announced on numerous occasions as his goal in life—Valle-Riestra succumbed to brain cancer on May 26 at the age of 52.

“It’s a celebration of life,” said Communications and Outreach Manager Gayle Vasser. “That was really important to Alice, Paul’s wife.”

The Walnut Creek native and 1977 Los Lomas High graduate moved back to the city and began working as assistant city attorney in 1990 after a career in private practice and working as a staff attorney for the League of California Cities. He became city attorney in 2006 while becoming known around town as an active community volunteer and loving husband and father to two daughters. 

Scott Denison, the center's general manager, explained how the city and family worked together to arrange the tribute.

“Everyone pitched in,” he said, making the carefully planned program sound like a walk in Civic Park.

Spending time out of doors with family was a major part of Valle-Riestra’s life: a fact made apparent in the 15-minute display of photos that began the celebration.

After an invocation to consider the this gathering of family, friends and co-workers a  “sanctuary of hope,” Tom Haas, former city attorney, shared anecdotes from his experiences with his colleague.

John Staten, a close friend from Valle-Riestra's undergraduate days at UC Davis, spoke with eloquence and humor about Valle-Riestra’s legendary steak sandwiches, love of Giants baseball, and devotion to his wife Alice, and two daughters, Jenna and Cara.

“The immortality of memory—this is an honor we can pay him,” Staten said, before inviting the audience to introduce themselves to one another. “Paul would not have wanted us to be strangers,” he added.

Actor and Center Repertory Company education director Keri Shawn read a poem written by Valle-Riestra’s wife during his final days.  “What I wish for you,” it began, continuing with gentle phrases: “peace of mind...a respite for souls...an open door that keeps us close.”

Mayor Cindy Silva described Valle-Riestra as “a guy who loved this community and wanted to make it better.”

Outlining his work on cases involving Comcast, AT&T, and establishing Walnut Creek’s cable television channel, Silva also recognized his contributions to affordable housing in the East Bay.

She concluded her statements with the announcement that the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors will presenta special posthumous award to Valle-Riestra at NATOA’s Annual Conference in San Francisco this September.

In a press release about the award, NATOA President Ken Fellman wrote, “Paul was a true giant in our field. While he will be missed, his contributions to Walnut Creek and to the broader local government community will thankfully live on. We are stronger and wiser as a result of his involvement with us, and NATOA is extremely grateful for his service, his friendship, and his sage advice.”

After a moment of quiet reflection and prayer, a reception with the family was held in the lobby. Friends, family and co-workers shared stories of the man who continues in memories to be their friend, father, husband, civic leader and role model.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking people to donate in Valle-Riestra's honor to:  the National Brain Tumor Society; 124 Watertown Street, Suite 2D, Watertown MA 02472 or call 1-800-770-8287. Website is www.braintumor.orga