A Life Well Lived

Rick T. Morton

February 12, 1947 – August 17, 2025

Rick Thomas Morton of Laguna Hills, California passed away peacefully at home on August 17, 2025. All of his loved ones arrived two days prior and surrounded Rick with love, laughter and prayer. In the early morning hours his soul slipped away into his Savior’s arms. 

Early Life - Rick was born on February 12, 1947 in Portland, Maine. His parents brought him home in the dead of winter to their attic quarters of his grandparent’s home. Fifteen family members in all gathered and lived in the 1600 square foot home with only one bathroom while they got back on their feet after returning home from WW2. It was a little tight, but they all made it work. Rick’s love of the ocean began in his youth while growing up near Portland Headlight at Birch Knolls in Cape Elizabeth, a quaint seaside community, only footsteps away from a private beach. This is where he spent much of his time as a young boy, enjoying swimming, boating and watching the lobster boats at Casco Bay. Rick was a natural athlete and enjoyed sports, both as a player and spectator. His love of the New York Football Giants and Boston Red Sox began in his youth and was something he enjoyed throughout his lifetime, never missing a televised game and attending many live ones. When his dad was transferred to Framingham, Massachusetts, Rick attended Marion Catholic High School where he was the starting quarterback and pitcher. Rick cherished his time and friends at Marion, however in his sophomore year he learned that his dad was transferred again, this time across the country to Southern California. Rick continued playing sports at Pasadena High School. There he met his best friend of 60+ years, Mike Melstrom, these two were inseparable. Alas, California girls, fast cars and surfing swayed him from the ball field to the beaches of Orange County. After high school, he enrolled at Pasadena City College where he discovered the Police Science program, which leads us to how Rick spent two thirds of his life with a 52-year career in law enforcement. First, let’s visit Rick the family man. 

Family Man - Rick met Edi Kandel in Hollywood when he was just starting his LAPD career. They were married in 1969. Rick adopted Edi’s two-year-old son, Thaddeus, who he loved very much and raised as his own. In fact, the entire Morton family embraced Thaddeus as their own and never thought of him as anything but a Morton. The young family grew as more kids came along, Kimberly was born in 1971, then Carrie in 1974 and Michael in 1977. Rick researched and mapped out a cross county road trip on his own (pre internet) for an entire year. Then in the summer of 1980, they all loaded into the family station wagon and took the month long vacation. The trip’s highlight was a week spent sharing his roots and cherished memories of his beloved Maine. Edi and Rick raised their children in Costa Mesa until they divorced in 1981.

Rick and Sue’s 43 year long love story began in early 1982, also in Hollywood. It was a double blind date of a Hollywood Vice ride along. Although being paired with the other person, there was a spark of attraction between them that night. After a whirlwind romance, Rick married Sue Onderdonk on October 16, 1982. Rick and Sue shared in raising the kids together as well. There was a lot of love to go around. Eventually, Rick and Sue settled in Laguna Hills. They enjoyed traveling, including annual trips back to Maine and in the spring of 1983 Rick had the opportunity to join an Anti-Terrorism training tour of several European countries in preparation of his assignment with LAPD for the 1984 Olympic Games, supervising the UCLA Athlete Village. Spouses were also invited, so he and Sue

enjoyed the sights and nightlife and met some great people along the way. Their other interests were dining out, long drives along the coastline, live music concerts, their four grandchildren and in their younger years, downhill skiing in the winter and boating in the summer with the family. Rick loved coaching youth sports and was very involved in the all kids’ sports activities, Kim’s softball, Carrie’s flag football, road trips for Michael’s football and basketball games, and even a trip to Canada for Thaddeus’ ice hockey team.

Rick’s love of music was apparent every morning; as soon as he came downstairs he turned on the tunes. While he enjoyed many genres and artists, his top two life long favorites were Elvis and the Beach Boys - by far. In true Rick Morton mode, in 2004 he managed to get invited to hang out with Elvis’ former band members and the ‘Memphis Mafia’ for the weekend at the 50th anniversary of Elvis’ first recording at Sun Studios in Memphis, spending time at Sun Studios and hitting all the Elvis related hotspots. Rick also attended many Beach Boys concerts through the years and managed to get backstage (uninvited) a couple times. 

Rick loved Jesus and his faith kept him strong as it increased even more over the last couple decades. He enjoyed leading his table of women every week at Bible study. He sponsored several people into the Catholic faith and he loved sharing his faith by frequently getting one of his favorite books, Jesus Calling, out of his car and gifting it while encouraging them to connect with Jesus and pray. Rick kept up a positive spirit, despite his cancer diagnosis and the tough times it brought. His faith is certainly a significant part of the legacy he leaves behind for his family and friends to remember. 

LAPD 27 Years  - Lieutenant Morton was appointed to the Los Angeles Police Department on March 3, 1968 and completed probation at Central Division. During his time with the LAPD, he also completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Administration of Justice from Cal State LA. Early in his career Rick was fortunate to have met two great partners who became close life long friends, Joe Cupo and Rob Watters. Oh, the stories they can tell! Rick’s career included assignments at Southwest Division before his promotion to Police Officer III at Hollywood Division in 1974. He served with distinction until his promotion to Sergeant at Pacific Division in 1977. As Sergeant with the Venice Division Vice Unit, he proposed and implemented one of his favorite assignments - the Venice Beach Detail. In 1980, Rick was promoted to Lieutenant at Harbor Division. He continued a career of excellence that culminated in his promotion to Lieutenant II, serving as Watch Commander at Newton Area. There, Rick distinguished himself by implementing an unsolved murder “cold case” program resulting in 12 cases being cleared, supervised officer involved shooting investigations and presented cases to the Use of Force Review Board. Although Rick climbed the ranks he never wanted to promote to captain. He had an affinity for working cops close to the street and preferred using his leadership skills for them as a buffer to the “the brass.” Rick was well respected, maintaining many very positive professional relationships throughout his LAPD career and after. He was honored and recognized with several awards and commendations for his accomplishments and outstanding professionalism. Rick retired on a Friday in February of 1994.

OCDA 19 Years – On the following Monday, Rick immediately went to work as an investigator with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. Initially, he conducted pre-sentencing investigations then transferred to a position with the gang unit. But the excitement really begins when he joins the Organized Crime Unit. Having worked 3 tours of Vice with LAPD, this is where his natural and well-honed skillset was best utilized. He spent more than sixteen years with the Organized Crime and

Intelligence Unit. As an supervising investigator, he was hands on and oversaw investigations related to organized crime groups and related criminal activities, including murder, narcotics, bookmaking, corruption and loan sharking. Rick developed and managed the control of informants while conducting joint organized crime and terrorism investigations with other local and federal agencies. He conducted and supervised numerous undercover investigations of traditional organized crime figures, many high level characters whose names you would recognize, while working jointly with other local and federal agencies. Rick founded and was President of the Western Regional Organized Crime group. Career wise, apart from Hollywood Vice, this was the time of his life. The case of his career was solving the cold case of Horace “Big Mac” McKenna ex-CHP who was murdered on March 9th, 1989. Rick picked up the complex cold case in the late 90’s and spent over 3½ years sifting through over 1000 names, conducting well over 300 interviews of more than 200 people. The responsible parties were found guilty on September 8th, 2001. Several documentaries were made about the case and a few feature Rick in disguise. You can find one online by searching You Tube with key words - Horace Big Mac McKenna, Murder for Hire - to watch the 43 minute Court TV video. There are also LA Times articles dated 9/8/01 and 12/16/01 about the case.

Semi-Retirement Years – After retiring from the OCDA in 2012, Rick was looking forward to assisting the Orange County Harbor Patrol. Boating part time in the local harbors sounded like the perfect retirement job to Rick, unfortunately he couldn’t get a medical clearance for an old job related neck injury. So instead, he accepted a contract position in 2013 with the U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service. This provided Rick the opportunity to see the other side of humanity while continuing to be involved with the type of work he enjoyed. He did in person background interviews for applicants requiring various levels of security clearance and trained newly hired investigators, often retired law enforcement officers. This kept him busy while Sue was caring for her elderly father. 

Cancer Journey - Sadly, in late 2019 Rick was diagnosed with head and neck cancer. Adding to the fear of Rick’s prognosis, his chemo and radiation treatments were at the height of the Covid pandemic. The next six years were filled with a strong and valiant fight, a lot of love, and an even stronger faith in God. Our hero, our rock, our leader, our Dad, our Papa was called safely home on August 17, 2025. In his last few weeks Rick said that he, like Bob Seger, was “runnin’ against the wind” while at the same time he also always acknowledged that he was blessed with a great life. During that time he never passed a stranger or friend without saying “God bless you.” 

Our Rick – Known as husband, Dad, Papa, brother, uncle, son, friend, partner, Lieutenant, coach… rest in peace. We love you forever and always. Give our beloved Nana and Pappy John a big hug and kiss from all of us! What a comfort it is to know you are now hanging out with your best buddy Jesus and still a spiritual warrior against evil now under St. Michael’s command.

Rick was a brave and courageous man of great integrity who constantly strived and encouraged others to always do the right thing. He was fiercely loyal to his family and friends. He was a dedicated and loving father and husband. Rick was always so proud of his children and grandchildren. He loved hearing about all their accomplishments, no matter how big or small. Rick was a superb storyteller with a wonderful sense of humor too. True to his devout, life-long Catholic faith he had a generous, compassionate and tender side as well. He knew just what to say to make you feel like the most special person in the room. To know him was to love him. He will be greatly missed but never forgotten. Thank you for all the wonderful memories that we will cherish in our hearts forever.

Rick is survived by his beloved wife of 42 years, Sue; his children Scott “Thaddeus” Morton of Anza, CA, Kimberly Morton of Petersburg, WV, Carrie Bromer of Carlsbad, CA and Michael Morton of Laguna Hills, CA; his sister Sandra “Sandi” (Jon) Morgan of Pollack Pines; Aunt Barbara Alexander of Estero, Florida. He is Papa to four grandchildren: Naevon Morton, Mariah Morton, Shaylyn Bromer, and Roman Bromer. He is Uncle Rick to several nieces and nephews and is like a brother to his cousins, Karyn Morton-Clark and Gary Morton. 



Rick is Preceded in death by his parents Mary Anita Cecil (Potvin) Morton and John Thomas Morton; his paternal grandparents, Frank Ernest Morton and Katherine M (Loveitt) Morton and maternal grandparents Joseph Potvin and Eva (Casavant) Potvin; Uncles; Woodbury “Woodie” and Gordon “Googie”; Aunt Dorothy Flynn; cousin, Kevin Morton; and great-nephew Noah Morgan.