Gregory Lee Rael, 75, passed away at his Bayside home on June 14, 2025. 

Greg lived a life of incredible depth in the outdoors, overseas, and in the courtroom. He was a friend and mentor to many, a husband, a brother, an uncle, a grandfather, a counselor to those who ran afoul of the law, an amateur architect, a painter, a trader of wood and lumber, and a hunter. He was a collector of artifacts – some valuable, most not, but all with a story behind them. More so, he was a collector of interesting people from all walks of life and from all over the world. Greg’s seemingly infinite stories were slow and circuitous talks that inevitably led to unexpected and often hilarious conclusions.

An alum of and counselor at Camp Unalayee in the Trinity Alps, he met and mentored many young people over the course of his life and became deeply familiar with the lakes, trails, and mountains in the wilderness areas of Northern California. He was impressed by people of character and deeply admired people with rare skills – whether they were privileged and educated, but especially if they struggled in life.

Born on April 17, 1950, in Compton, California to Isador “Izzy” Rael and Paula Jocelyn Rael (Goren), he was named after his grandfather Greg Rael. The family moved to Whittier, California where Greg attended elementary school and La Serna High School. During a YMCA trip to Peru, he met his lifelong friend Becky Evans. Greg attended Stanford University and spent his junior year studying in Italy, where he became fluent in Italian. He then earned his law degree from Stanford Law School. Stanford was an institution he loved, and its medical facilities later cared for him as he wrestled with complicated health issues. He married Rhonda Parker in 2002. The two loved to travel, have friends and family over for elaborate dinners, garden, and spend time at their cabin near Somes Bar on the Klamath River. They were married nearly 23 years. 

Greg first came to Humboldt County when he completed a law school internship, working for both the district attorney and the public defender. He decided to stay on as a public defender for much longer than is common, insisting it was critical to understanding the law and the legal profession. He met John Young in the public defender’s office, and they opened a private practice. After they closed that office, Greg opened his own criminal defense practice and had a long and storied career before retiring at the age of 74.

His reputation as an ethical and fair attorney brought him many cases and clients, both high profile and otherwise. Greg’s longtime assistant Marlene Birnie was his companion through his legal adventures and became his close friend and confidante through many ups and downs. Greg was not above providing legal services in exchange for, say, a load of manzanita firewood, or a few days’ worth of work building a new structure at his beloved cabin. He considered the property among his greatest works of art and the fulfillment of his parents’ dream to own a cabin.

Greg also loved hunting in the Trinity Alps with his brother Dennis and friends and came to know the area around Scott Mountain well. Always maintaining a connection to his roots, Greg made a number of pilgrimages to New Mexico where his family was from. He visited the Santuario in Chimayo each time he went to New Mexico and made sure to bring back exquisite carved santos (saints) that he purchased from the Lopez family for decades. Greg and Rhonda made one last trip to the Santuario in May.

Many will miss Greg’s wit, advice, tremendous generosity, counsel, humor, and warmth. His was a life well-lived, and those who were a part of it have lived life better because of him. 

Greg is survived by his wife Rhonda (Parker); his granddaughters Dayna, Shelby, and Macie; his brother Dennis and his wife Carol Falkenthal; nieces, Trula and Coco Rael; stepchildren Darren and Chad Brittain and Angela Pialorsi; and his Aunt Rosie Orona; his brothers-in-law David (Carol) and Kent (Sheila Parker); and his mother-in-law Arlene Parker. He is preceded in death by his parents Isador and Paula; his grandfathers, Greg Rael and Morris Goren; his grandmothers Lucy Rael and Clara Fischer (Perlmutter) and his stepson Gino Pialorsi.

A celebration of Greg Rael’s life will be held on July 12, at 1 p.m. at the Bayside Grange. 

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Gregory Rael’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.