The celebration of life for the beloved and legendary Long Beach lawyer, community leader and philanthropist, Samuel “Skip” Keesal, was an evening full of community and laughter.

Hundreds of people — from local elected officials, nonprofit leaders, and community members — gathered on Thursday, Oct. 30, in the Grand Ballroom of the Long Beach Convention Center to give condolences to the Keesal family, share stories of their friend and mentor, and mourn someone that many said made great impact on the Long Beach community.

Keesal died of cancer at his home in Rolling Hills on Tuesday, Aug. 12, surrounded by his family. He had turned 86 on July 30.

He was born in Chicago, but was raised on a ranch in Tucson, Arizona, according to Keesal, Young & Logan, the Long Beach law firm he founded in

See Full Page