Juan Carlos Basombrio of Laguna Beach, California born on February 18, 1964, passed away after a devastatingly difficult 18 month battle with pancreatic cancer. He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Joan Topka Basombrio, his two children, Lauren Elizabeth Basombrio aged 21 and John Alexander Basombrio aged 19, his mother Isabel Basombrio Jensen, his sister Isabela Basombrio Hoban, and brother-in-law John Hoban. He is now in the company of his grandfather Juan Basombrio F., his stepfather Karl Jensen, his uncle Juan Basombrio Masias, and his beloved brother Juan Manuel Basombrio, who passed away as a young man aged 22 in 1990.

Juan was born in Lima, Peru to a prominent family that produced numerous generations of powerful leaders and influenced the country profoundly. As a result of political upheaval, Juan, along with his mother and siblings, immigrated to Houston, Texas where he became a US citizen and attended middle and high school. He attended University of Houston honors college, receiving an undergraduate degree in political theory and spanish literature in 1986. Juan simultaneously served as the president of the speech and debate team and president of his fraternity Sigma Chi. Juan proceeded to receive his J.D. from Indiana University School of Law in 1989.

Juan, an accomplished attorney, worked with Dorsey & Whitney LLP for 34 years and was licensed to practice law in both Minnesota and California. Juan represented clients in a broad array of complex business litigation and arbitration matters, both throughout the United States and internationally. He argued in front of some of the world's most influential courts, including the International Court of Justice in the Peace Palace and the United States Supreme Court. Juan represented an expansive collection of countries, including Peru, Honduras, Belize, Mozambique, Turkey, Ghana, Austria, Iraq, India, and the Dominican Republic. A proud achievement of his career occurred in 2015 when Juan won a unanimous decision in The US Supreme Court on a case regarding foreign sovereign immunity and representing the national railway of the Republic of Austria. Further, he did so merely eight months after surviving multi-organ failure and awakening from a medically-induced coma. Many in the legal field were impressed by Juan's lightning mind and ability to build a foolproof case. Juan was highly esteemed by his colleagues, being referred to as, "a skilled and experienced lawyer who exemplified the Dorsey commitment to clients, the profession, and our communities". As a result of his hard work, he was named in The Best Lawyers in America for Litigation from 2007-2024. In addition, Juan was an avid public speaker and media resource who appeared on CNN Español and other broadcasts to discuss the impact of his cases on international and national public policy. Juan also performed pro bono work for many underprivileged groups who benefited from his legal expertise and generous heart. His colleagues and clients, of whom he also considered to be close confidants, will continue to remember his steadfast dedication, exceptional work-ethic, and strong passion.

Above all else, Juan's greatest love was held for his family, of whom he supported relentlessly and unconditionally. He succeeded in fostering a life for his family full of laughter, warmheartedness, moral support, adventure, and unwavering devotion to time spent together. His daughter Lauren is a junior on the pre-medical track studying psychobiology and global health at UCLA and his son John is in his first year studying chemical engineering at UCSD. His wife Joan and his mother Isabel will celebrate their future achievements, missing Juan but also living their lives being inspired by his memory.

To further speak on the man Juan was, what follows is words from his sister Isabela Hoban:

Juan Carlos had an impact on so many lives and each individual will have different memories of him. The memories we share will always be the link that unites us.

We are all so proud of what Juan Carlos accomplished in his life and he will always have a special place in our hearts. Juan Carlos was a loving, brilliant, and extremely intelligent, gifted person, and had been so ever since we were little. As an adult, he was completely committed to his family, it was his first priority. He dearly loved his family. His children were and will always be his greatest pride and joy, his wife will always be his loving companion and his mother will always be his life-long champion and best friend. He was an exceptionally affectionate brother to me and to my younger brother Juan Manuel, whose company he is in now.

Juan Carlos especially enjoyed celebrations with loved ones, barbecues in particular, where he was the master chef. He had a special interest in sports and sports cars, corvettes/mustangs come to mind. He loved plants and trees and shared his home with many dearly loved animals. He was highly accomplished, and extremely driven in his line of work. Juan Carlos loved learning, spending time reading, analyzing, researching and understanding complex philosophical, legal and academic concepts, his way of thinking was very clear and methodical but also flexible and insightful.

Juan Carlos loved to spend time in nature, particularly he loved fishing. He found peace being around water and had a special connection to it. He was born in Lima, Peru on the Pacific Coast, later on he enjoyed fishing on Lake Livingston in Houston, Texas and elsewhere and then he was able to fulfill his dream of living by the sea at Laguna Beach. The ocean stretches beyond the horizon, serving as a symbol of eternity and infinity. As the poet Khalil Gibran said "For life and death are one, even as the river and the ocean are one". Juan Carlos had a very private but profound spiritual life.

He had a great interest in travel and world cultures as well and was naturally very talented in the creative arts also, drawing and music. He was very committed to volunteer work and was involved with charities all his life. And finally, everyone will know that Juan Carlos had a unique sense of humor that was quite unstoppable and quite adorable, one of his most heart-warming qualities. He has touched so many lives and will be missed by many. I will finish with a quote from the poet Rabindranath Tagore "Death is not extinguishing the light. It is putting out the lamp because the dawn has come." Juan Carlos, May your light shine in eternal brightness and with eternal love. Que descanses en paz.

The Funeral Mass will take place at St. Catherine of Sienna at 1024 Temple Terrace on May 8, 2024 from 10:00 to 11:00 am.

The Graveside Service will be 12:00 to 1:00 pm at Pacific View Memorial Park at 3500 Pacific View Drive, Corona Del Mar, CA 92625.

The reception is hosted at Sapphire Restaurant, 1200 So Coast Highway, Laguna Beach from 11:15 am to 4:00 pm. (Parking at Brooks Street parking garage)

In lieu of flowers, the family appreciates donations to Animals Asia Foundation Fund.

Help.animalsasia.org