Lasorda Family’s $500,000 Donation to City Will Honor Son’s Memory

The City Council voted Tuesday to accept $500,000 from former Los Angeles Dodger manager Tommy Lasorda and his wife, Jo, to rename Casa Loma gymnasium in memory of their son.

The new name will be Tommy Lasorda Jr. Field House. As part of the agreement, the Lasorda Foundation will be able to use the facility three days a year for youth activities.

The foundation will also exhibit some of the elder Lasorda’s baseball memorabilia at the gym.

“I’m pleased to accept this gift,” Councilwoman Barbara Kiley said. “It’s a show of goodwill to all the children of the city.”

City officials said the Lasordas, who live in Fullerton, made the offer because of their long affiliation with the Yorba Linda Friends Church, whose pastor is a former Dodger.

Councilman Gene Wisner opposed the plan, however, saying the Lasordas have little connection to the community.

“This town has a rich history of local heroes,” he said. “I think those are the people we should be naming parks and buildings after.”

But the council majority voted 4-1 to accept the gift.

The money will be used to pay off the debt of the year-old community gym and to help pay for its maintenance.

Tommy “Spunky” Lasorda Jr. died in 1991 at age 33.

The family first proposed building a gym on the grounds of the Friends Church. When that did not work out, the foundation contacted the city.

The elder Lasorda, on hand for Tuesday’s council vote, said, “We love Yorba Linda. We think it’s a great place. There are lots of athletic opportunities for young people, and we want to be a part of that.”