Michael E. Lasater

Fifty Years as a San Diego Prosecutor

1948- 2025

Michael E. Lasater, a loving husband, and devoted father and grandfather, passed away after an extended illness on February 2, 2025, with family at his side.  Mike served as a highly respected prosecutor for an extraordinary 50 years protecting his beloved San Diego community, balancing his commitment to the rule of law and fair advocacy with compassion and perspective. Mike approached all facets of his life with gusto and the relationships he formed with family members, friends and colleagues are lasting gifts of indelible memories.

Born in San Francisco, Mike was raised in San Anselmo and graduated from Marin Catholic High School, where he played varsity basketball.  He attended University of San Francisco, majoring in political science, and earned his law degree from University of San Diego School of Law.  While his law degree provided the foundation for a remarkable legal career, his time at USD Law presented the opportunity for his most important life achievement, his romance with and marriage of 51 years to Melinda, a law school classmate.  Mike and Melinda distinguished themselves individually in the legal community, but together they were known as a couple devoted to public service and their family, as well as to each other.

Mike started his career as a California Deputy Attorney General in 1974, relishing trial work and taking on challenging assignments, including the newly formed special prosecution unit. In 1983, he was hired as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California.  Over the following 41 years, federal judges, fellow prosecutors, opposing counsel, federal agents, and state investigators came to know Mike as a lawyer who could skillfully investigate and prosecute almost every type of federal crime.  Working many years in the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, Mike led the investigations of local gangs, nationwide drug manufacturing and distribution conspiracies, and international cartels.  He developed an expertise in the various means traffickers used to smuggle drugs, money, weapons and humans, and is remembered for asking colleagues exacting questions as they prepared their cases for indictment and trial, providing suggestions and counsel to improve the case.  Mike excelled in his role as a mentor. When called upon to supervise newly hired prosecutors, he offered sage advice, a dose of humor, and demonstrated a work and ethical standard to be emulated.  These attributes lead to his assignment to various supervision positions including Chief of Border crimes.

Having served more than a dozen U.S. Attorneys during his wide-ranging career, Mike was often asked by them to lead prosecutions involving cutting-edge legal concepts, and to handle both tough and sensitive assignments, ranging from sophisticated sting operations to hundreds of motions for compassionate release during the pandemic.  One such challenging case was the prosecution of a lost novice hunter who started a signal fire which exploded into the Cedar fire in San Diego County in October 2003, causing 15 deaths and destroying 2,200 homes. Public sentiment about the prosecution was divided, as were views on what punishment the defendant-- who later plead guilty to a felony-- should receive. Mike expertly handled a year's long grand jury investigation and shepherded the case through the justice system.

Mike was always proud to represent the United States and to be a part of the Department of Justice. He understood the important role a prosecutor plays to ensure justice and always respected the jury's decision in the many cases he tried. It is the memory of Mike's fun-loving side that will continue as US Attorney lore. He drove his sports cars, usually silver colored convertibles, at significantly high speed to and from work, but then would back into his parking spot with careful and slow precision (and often chided friends for their more anemic choice in cars).  His 1970's vintage Over the Line tank top at the annual USAO OTL tournament always drew commentary, and many will remember Mike's quick wit when he donned a Santa costume at office holiday parties.  He was known for fostering an esprit de corps with colleagues and many fondly remember BBQs and fire pit s'mores at his home.

Deeply devoted to his family, Mike enjoyed being there for and with his two daughters. Many a day started with him taking Ashley to ice skating practice at 6 a.m. before going to work. He coached young Alyse's basketball team and, years later, traveled out of state for her college lacrosse games, often live streaming them for other parents who could not travel.  His daughters cherish memories of riding horses with Mike, playing catch by the barn, good times in the playhouse Mike constructed for them, and driving with him in his sports cars. He could often be found puttering in the garage or working with his vast array of tools outside. He was known to his girls as "Mr. Fix-It," and it seemed there wasn't anything that Dad couldn't construct or fix at their 10-acre Poway home.

Mike was always taking pictures or videos through a lens of love, preserving family memories, capturing sweet moments with grandchildren, and displaying a penchant for sunsets and the neighbors' peacocks who would wander into his yard.  His daughters' sporting events were favorite photography subjects, as were family vacations to U.S. National Parks.

Mike and Melinda loved to travel. Among his favorite trips were desert forays when they were in their 20s and 30s to ride motorcycles.  In later years, cruises became a passion, including trips on the Rhine and Danube Rivers via river boat, or in the Caribbean on larger ships.  A wine connoisseur, Mike enjoyed his annual trips with Melinda and friends to the Sonoma County Russian River for wine tasting.  Of course, cases of wine would be carted home to the underground wine cellar Mike built.

Mike knew to savor the best in all moments of his life, understanding that watching grandchildren play in the yard, or chatting and teasing them on the phone, were moments as important as his many accomplishments in the courtroom.  The two aspects of his life for which he was most proud were his family and his long-time goal of serving as a prosecutor for half a century.  Mike dealt with life's ups and downs with remarkable grace, and when facing health challenges, showed only humor, determination, and positivity.  Always decent and kind, he was an inspiration to many.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents June and Emerson Lasater, and his brother John.  He is survived by his wife, Melinda, his children Ashley and Alyse, son-in-law Oliver, and grandchildren Elon, Ivan, Gabrielle, and Julian.

Mike supported many important community groups and causes.  In his memory, and in lieu of flowers, his family suggests gifts to Project Talk focused on Hearing Impaired Children ( https://projecttalk.org ); Tunnels to Towers benefitting first responder and military families (https://t2t.org ) or the USD School of Law building fund (https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/47720/donations/new?designation=lawschoolbuilding&a=10354164 )

Please contact Mike's family for details regarding a Memorial Mass on May 16th and a Celebration of Life to be held on May 17th.