Joseph Peter Rebeck

The Honorable Joseph Peter Rebeck passed away on December 17, 2022 at the age of 88. He died in his sleep at his home in Rancho Palos Verdes, California next to his beloved wife and his nearby close family members. On July 31, 1934 Joseph was born in Pittston, PA to Joseph Rebek (formerly Rybek) and Mary Helen Olszewski Rebek. Growing up in Pennsylvania, Joe’s family and friends called him by the nickname, “Sherman.” Through middle school he attended Holy Rosary Polish Catholic School in Duryea, PA. Then in 1952 he graduated from St. John the Evangelist High School in Pittston, PA. From there Joe went off to Penn State on a full scholarship. He received his bachelor’s in accounting in 1956. Following Penn State, Joe moved out to California where he attended then graduated from U.C.L.A. School of Law. When Joe received his law degree, his surname was misspelled as “Rebeck.” The new and final spelling of the family last name was official. After passing the California State Bar Exam in 1961, Joseph worked as a workers’ compensation attorney both for applicant and defense firms. In 1963 Joe met and married Dr. Nita Allman, with whom he was to be happily married for the rest of his life (59 years). Joe and Nita moved to their ocean-view house in Rancho Palos Verdes, California in 1970. Their one and only child, Ramona, was born that same year. In 1976, Joseph was appointed workers’ compensation judge in Bell Gardens, CA. Then from 1983 to 2010 Joseph served as the Presiding Judge of the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board in Long Beach, CA. During his 34 years as a judge, Joseph was one of seven workers’ compensation judges in California who were qualified to hear asbestosis cases. Although he retired as presiding judge in 2010, Joe was a practicing attorney until the day he died. When asked by friends and colleagues why he never fully retired, he said his wife believed he was happier when he was working. The Honorable Joseph Peter Rebeck is survived by his wife, Dr. Nita Allman Rebeck, his daughter, Ramona Rebeck, his son-in-law, Richard Gottschalk, and his grandson, Ian Joseph Gottschalk. Also surviving Joe on the east coast are his younger brother, Bob Rebek, his younger sister, Marilyn Rebek LaTorre, his nieces and nephew Renee, Serrie, and Dean LaTorre, and his grand nephews and niece Conner, Ian, and Dana Doherty. A Memorial Mass/Celebration of Life will take place at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday February 18, 2023 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in San Pedro, CA at 1292 West Santa Cruz Street. In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be given in Joseph’s memory to either the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, CA, or to the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network.