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Anthony Charles Beilenson (October 26, 1932 – March 5, 2017) was an American lawyer and politician who served as a Democratic Congressman from
In 1998, in tribute to his long career of community and government service to California, Lake Balboa Park, in Van Nuys was renamed the "Anthony C. Beilenson Park". The park, which is located along Balboa Boulevard in Van Nuys, is an water recreation facility, with Balboa Lake at its center, and containing a universally accessible playground. The artificial lake is supplied with reclaimed water from the Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant.
He and his wife Dolores were also honored by the Jewish National Fund, San Fernando Valley Region, in 1991, for Congressman Beilenson's career of service as a public official, and for Dolores Beilenson's service as co-chair of the Congressional Wives for Soviet Jewry.
Beilenson died at his home in the Westwood neighborhood of
Join California Anthony C. Beilenson
, - , - , - , - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Beilenson, Anthony American environmentalists Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from California Politicians from Los Angeles 1932 births 2017 deaths California lawyers Democratic Party California state senators Democratic Party members of the California State Assembly Harvard Law School alumni Politicians from New Rochelle, New York Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area Jewish members of the United States House of Representatives Activists from New Rochelle, New York Activists from California People from Westwood, Los Angeles 20th-century American lawyers 20th-century American politicians 21st-century American Jews New Rochelle High School alumni
Southern California
Southern California (commonly shortened to SoCal) is a geographic and cultural region that generally comprises the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. It includes the Los Angeles metropolitan area, the second most populous urban ...
. He served ten terms in the United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...
from 1977 until 1997.
Early life and education
Beilenson was born in New Rochelle, New York, and grew up in an upscale suburb ofNew York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
. He attended Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of highe ...
, where he earned BA (1954) and JD (1957) degrees. Beilenson then relocated to Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world ...
and became a partner in a Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills is a city located in Los Angeles County, California. A notable and historic suburb of Greater Los Angeles, it is in a wealthy area immediately southwest of the Hollywood Hills, approximately northwest of downtown Los Angeles. ...
law firm which represented the film industry.
Political career
Beilenson was elected to the California State Assembly in 1963, serving until 1967, and then served in the California State Senate from 1967 to 1976. Among his accomplishments in the California State Legislature was winning enactment of the "Beilenson Act", which requires public hearings whenever hospitals in California are closed or reduce services. His most noteworthy accomplishment was as author of the 1967 Therapeutic Abortion Act, one of the most liberal abortion laws at that time, which legalized abortion when a woman’s mental or physical health was at risk or if pregnancy resulted from rape or incest. In 1968 Beilenson was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate, losing to Alan Cranston. Beilenson was then elected to and served ten terms in the U.S. House of Representatives in the United States Congress, beginning in 1977, until his retirement in 1997. While in Congress, he served on the House Rules Committee, and as Chairman of thePermanent Select Committee on Intelligence
The United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI), also known as the House Intelligence Committee, is a committee of the United States House of Representatives, currently chaired by Adam Schiff. It is the primary commit ...
, 1989–1991.
Beilenson was a member of the ReFormers Caucus of Issue One.
Tributes
In 1998, in tribute to his long career of community and government service to California, Lake Balboa Park, in Van Nuys was renamed the "Anthony C. Beilenson Park". The park, which is located along Balboa Boulevard in Van Nuys, is an water recreation facility, with Balboa Lake at its center, and containing a universally accessible playground. The artificial lake is supplied with reclaimed water from the Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant.
He and his wife Dolores were also honored by the Jewish National Fund, San Fernando Valley Region, in 1991, for Congressman Beilenson's career of service as a public official, and for Dolores Beilenson's service as co-chair of the Congressional Wives for Soviet Jewry.
Beilenson died at his home in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world ...
on March 5, 2017, after suffering a heart attack. He was 84.
See also
* List of Jewish members of the United States CongressReferences
External links
. *Join California Anthony C. Beilenson
, - , - , - , - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Beilenson, Anthony American environmentalists Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from California Politicians from Los Angeles 1932 births 2017 deaths California lawyers Democratic Party California state senators Democratic Party members of the California State Assembly Harvard Law School alumni Politicians from New Rochelle, New York Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area Jewish members of the United States House of Representatives Activists from New Rochelle, New York Activists from California People from Westwood, Los Angeles 20th-century American lawyers 20th-century American politicians 21st-century American Jews New Rochelle High School alumni