Richard Riordan

The Memorial Mass in Celebration of the Life of Former Mayor Richard J. Riordan will be celebrated at the Cathedral at 2:00pm on Friday, April 28, 2023.  The Mass will be presided by Archbishop José H. Gomez.

The live broadcast will begin starting at 1:30pm with a musical prelude and a welcome by Mayor Karen Bass.

Download Memorial Program (PDF)

The first Catholic to serve as Mayor of Los Angeles in the modern era, Riordan served as mayor from 1993 to 2001 and is largely credited for guiding the city in the aftermath of the 1992 L.A. Riots and the 1994 Northridge earthquake.

In a statement shared Thursday morning, Los Angeles Archbishop José H. Gomez said his death “marks the end of an era here in the city and in the Church here in Los Angeles. Mayor Riordan was a devoted public servant, a generous philanthropist, a wise civic leader, and a fine Christian gentleman, who worked hard to make life better for those he served, especially for the poorest Angelenos,” said the archbishop.

Originally from New York City, Riordan studied at Jesuit-run Santa Clara University in the Bay Area before transferring to Princeton. He eventually moved to Los Angeles, where he built a career as a lawyer, businessman, and investment banker.

He was known as an enthusiastic supporter of Catholic charitable causes, especially Catholic education. When then-Archbishop Roger Mahony established the Catholic Education Foundation (CEF) to provide tuition support for students in LA’s Catholic school students in 1987, Riordan was among the prominent business leaders chosen to serve as a founding trustee. He was also CEF’s first president.

Source (Bio): Angelus News / La Catholics