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From left: David Cohn, James Yoro, Timothy Lemucchi, John Tello, Milton Younger, David Stiles, Curtis Floyd, Heather Nichole. Photo courtesy Chain | Cohn | Stiles.
LEMUCCHI DIES AT AGE 84 Compiled from local media reports Timothy Lemucchi, a longtime and prominent Bakersfield lawyer has died at age 84. Lemucchi participated in some of Bakersfield’s most memorable trials, including that of tire store owner William Robert Tyack, accused of killing two of his neighbors in 1982, and Offord Rollins, the Wasco star athlete accused of killing his girlfriend in 1991. He would be involved in more than 250 jury trials. Colleagues say he had an uncanny ability to read jurors and keep his cool amid difficult circumstances. Lemucchi exemplified the value of diligent pre-trial preparation, and he often tutored younger lawyers after completing his own work for the day. Part of what made him such a good defense and later a personal injury
lawyer was his ability to shift tactics seamlessly after being overruled by a judge.
of himself carrying the Olympic torch ahead of the 1984 games in Los Angeles.
Lemucchi was the son of Italian immigrants who established the iconic Old Kern staple, Luigi’s Italian Restaurant, Deli & Wine, which celebrated 100 years of business in 2010. He attended East High School, Stanford University, and then Georgetown University for his law degree.
His competitive spirit took him on the campaign trail in 1972, when he ran for Congress. Lemucchi was also a longtime supporter of the Bakersfield Museum of Art. He was a writer, authoring books about his family’s history. The latest, “Eddies of the Kern,” is scheduled for release Sept. 1 of this year.
Outside of the courtroom, Lemucchi was a competitive athlete. He regularly competed in Ironman triathlons, took cross-country skiing, hiking and fishing trips, climbed Alaska’s Denali, Mount Whitney and peaks in Russia. He survived a helicopter crash, and mounted part of the wreckage on a plaque in his office, The Bakersfield Californian reported. He also displayed a photo
Lemucchi died July 7 while out on a casual bike ride with a friend, local media reported. He is survived by Margaret, his wife of 51 years; his daughter, Lisa Lemucchi, of Santa Cruz; his sister, Antonia Valpredo; niece Monica Sacco (husband John); niece Lanette Caratan (Christopher); nephew Gino Valpredo (Sandra); and numerous cousins and relatives, many of whom live in Kern County. JULY/AUGUST 2021
