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After a ten year stand against lymphoma Michael James Langston passed away at home in his wife's arms, October 6th, 2010 at age 72.
Many will remember Michael as the man who always had a book with him.

Born in San Francisco in 1937 and raised in the Sunset District, his family moved to Burlingame, California when he was 9. He graduated from Burlingame High School, San Francisco State University, and Golden Gate School of Law.

To support himself through law school, he became a professional singer. Blessed with a powerful baritone voice, no one who ever heard him sing can forget his rousing rendition of the National Anthem. Serving in the US Army, Mr. Langston was Artillery Liaison officer to the 49th Infantry Division.

After passing the bar, he was named Managing Attorney at the Hartford Insurance Company in 1971. He went into private practice and had offices in San Francisco, Oakland, and Santa Rosa. He was a Judge Pro Tem in Sonoma County, cofounder of the Redwood Empire Trial Lawyers' Association, and conceptualized and effected a touch screen computerized law library for prisons. Elected Chairman of the North Sonoma County Republican Club 2 years running; member of Sonoma County Central Committee; campaign chair for Congressman Frank Riggs; delegate to Presidential Nominating Committee, Houston Texas, 1993.

He was an avid SCUBA diver.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Jain Fairfax, dear brother, John Belden of Folsom, CA and several close-as-sibling cousins, nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Rose Valley Chapter of the Eastern Star,C/O 7349 Castille Ct, Rohnert Park, CA 94928 payable to Rose Valley Chapter, or to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

40th Reunion (1995)
Visit to the Burlingame Historical Society Archives
Located in the Gunst Mansion Carriage House in Washington Park
Marilyn Dickman Short was the principal archivist at that time.

Jayne Wright Lasley, Carol Alexander, Marilyn Dickman Short, Maren Browning, Dee Williams Ropers (seated), Mike Langston, Jain Fairfax Langston, Elaine Bjorgan.

S.M.J.C. two years; S.F. State (part time), B.A. (English) 1964; Golden Gate University (part time) J.D. (law) 1968; U. S. Army reserve 1959-1968 (OCS-Captain).

Two ten-month marriages (1969, 1976; married Jain Fairfax ('55) in 1983; not long in human years, but our dog thinks it's long; no kids, not much chance of any.

Saloon singer and pizza parlor manager throughout Law School; Chief Counsel, Hartford Insurance Group (Northern California) to 1975; private practice in Oakland to 1979; private practice in Santa Rosa to date. Judge Pro-Tem Sonoma County Municipal and Superior Courts.

County and State Central Committee member 1989-1995 and National Delegate (presidential) for major political party; campaign chair for local U.S. Congressman; Executive Board, Habitat for Humanity.

Presently type-cast as smelly old ogre in Jain's childrens musical; set builder.

When time allows, enjoy Scuba, wood-working, pontificating on societal ills (bring your lunch)

Update on what I am doing...am now the Vice President and General Counsel of a start-up providing hardware and software interface for touchscreen kiosks that replace law book libraries in prisons (and jails). The touchscreens are virtually indestructible and are cheaper by far for the prison industry. We are nationwide and growing. I am just growing older.