John Lowell Burton

John Burton, one of the most influential figures in California politics for decades, who gained a reputation as a straight talker from his zestful use of profanity and his openhearted discussion of overcoming drug addiction, died in September 2025 at a hospice facility in San Francisco. He was 92. (brother of Phillip Burton), a Representative from California; born in Cincinnati, Ohio, December 15, 1932; graduated from Lincoln High School, San Francisco, Calif., 1950; A.B., San Francisco State College, San Francisco, Calif., 1954; LL.B., University of San Francisco Law School, San Francisco, Calif., 1960; United States Army, 1954-1956; admitted to the California bar, 1961; lawyer, private practice; member of the California state legislature, 1965-1974; chairman, California state Democratic Party, 1973-1974; delegate, Democratic National Convention, 1968, 1972, 1976, and 1980; elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-third Congress, by special election, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of United States Representative William S. Mailliard, and reelected to the four succeeding Congresses (June 4, 1974-January 3, 1983); was not a candidate for reelection to the Ninety-eighth Congress in 1982; resumed the practice of law; member of the California state senate, 1996-2004; is a resident of San Francisco, Calif. His two marriages, to Michele Hall and Sharon Bain, ended in divorce. He is survived by his daughter, Kimiko Burton, from his first marriage, and two grandchildren.