Tom LaBonge celebrated again in June (twice!)
BRIGID LABONGE leans on the hood of the convertible, and the City of Los Angeles flag is draped on the trunk, as friends and family pose for posterity below the sign that includes an image of the football that Tom regularly would carry on his hikes. Photo by Gary Leonard
June of each year, the summer solstice in particular, always was a favorite time for former city councilmember Tom LaBonge. It was a day when “Mr. Los Angeles” loved to show off his city by venturing through Griffith Park to Mt. Hollywood on a hike with all who would join him. Keeping up the Summer Solstice tradition again this year, on June 21, Tom’s widow, Brigid, and family and friends made the late afternoon hike to what is now the official city of Los Angeles “Tom LaBonge Panorama.”
The Mt. Hollywood overlook was given its new name several months after LaBonge’s unexpected death on Jan. 7, 2021 at age 67.
OLD FIRE STATION 27 is now the location of the Hollywood Museum of the Los Angeles Fire Department and was the site of the unveiling of a plaque honoring the late city councilman Tom LaBonge.
A regular destination for hikers, this favorite spot of LaBonge’s offers incredible views of Griffith Park, the Griffith Observatory and the entire city. This year, a happy crowd of about 50 people enjoyed those views in the company of one another while saluting Tom and his city. Prominent among them was the current councilmember of the Fourth District, Nithya Raman.
Two weeks earlier, LaBonge was one of two honorees, the other being longtime director of operations for the Los Angeles Fire Department Historical Society, Frank Borden, who are now recognized with bronze plaques mounted on either side of the central doors of the Los Angeles Fire Department Historical Society Museum and Memorial at Cahuenga Boulevard and DeLongpre Avenue. Learn about the museum at lafdmuseum.org.
PLAQUE honors “Mr. Los Angeles” outside the Fire Department Museum.
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