A public memorial service will be held Saturday for former Gov. George Deukmejian, who died May 8 at his home in Long Beach at age 89.
Deukmejian’s son, George Jr., is among those expected to speak at the 1 p.m. memorial at the Terrace Theater in Long Beach. His former chief of staff, Steve Merksamer, is also expected to speak, along with former Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster.
Deukmejian was the first person of Armenian descent to serve as a governor when he edged then-Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley in 1982. Deukmejian. a Republican, won a second term in 1986, defeating Bradley by a wider margin.
Known for his passion for law enforcement and public safety throughout his time in office, including authoring the “Use a gun, go to jail” law as a state senator, Deukmejian championed prison construction as governor and oversaw a tripling of the state’s prison population.
Despite the increase in prison spending, he was credited with dramatically slashing the state’s budget deficit.
His often no-nonsense demeanor earned him the nickname “Iron Duke.”
A native of New York, Deukmejian’s parents came to the United States to escape the Armenian genocide. He earned his law degree from St. John’s University, and served as an attorney during a three-year stint in the U.S. Army.
Deukmejian moved to California in 1955 after leaving the Army, and he set up a law practice in Long Beach. He was elected to the first of two terms in the Assembly in 1962 and the state Senate in 1966. He was elected attorney general in 1978.
Deukmejian married his wife, Gloria, in 1957, and they had two daughters, Leslie and Andrea, in addition to his son. He is survived by all four.