Mr. Sutro was born in Victoria, B.C., October 15, 1869. He moved to San Francisco with his family in 1875 and resided there until the time of his death. In 1891 he graduated from Harvard University with the degree of A.B., and then attended Hastings College of the Law at San Francisco, from which he graduated in 1894 with the degree of L.L.B. This same year he was admitted to practice. While attending Hastings, Mr. Sutro had been a clerk in the office of Pillsbury, Blanding and Hayne, and remained with that office after his admission to the Bar. In 1904 he became a partner in the firm of Pillsbury, Madison and Sutro, and at the time of his death was the senior partner of this firm.

Mr. Sutro was an able lawyer and handled many large and important cases. He was also General Counsel of the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company of which organization he had been a director since 1940. He acted in the latter capacity for several other companies, including the Pacific Lighting Corporation.

As a great book lover and collector, one of his main interests was the Book Club of California. Under his leadership while President, this club has become very widely known and an intellectual force, having drawn members from all parts of the country.

In 1902 he married Rose Newmark of Los Angeles. Of the three children, two daughters -- Adelaide (Mrs. Robert P. Bullard) and Margot -- are deceased. The son, John A. Sutro, is associated with the firm of Pillsbury, Madison and Sutro, but is now in military service.

Mr. Sutro was a brother of Oscar Sutro, also a member of the California Historical Society, who died in June 1935. A sister, Mrs. M.F. Loewenstein, is living in New York City, and a brother, Gustav Sutro, in Saratoga.