Pano Stephens

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Pano Stephens, who passed away peacefully on March 20, 2025, at the age of 85. The first member of his family to be born in the United States, Pano was born “Panoyiotti Stephanopolous” in 1939 in Detroit, Michigan, after his parents, Stefanos and Eleni, immigrated from Greece to Greektown, Detroit, in the 1920s. His beloved sister, Tracy “Aspacia” Fox, was born two years later. While in Detroit, the family was an active part of the Greek community. His family lived closely with other Greek friends, spoke Greek at home (Which Pano spoke exclusively as a child) and strictly observed Greek Orthodox traditions. When he was five years old, his parents shortened his name to “Pano Stephens”. The family eventually relocated to Phoenix, Arizona, where Pano’s father operated a bar and restaurant. Pano regularly worked at his father’s bar while growing up, but rather than follow in the family business, he joined the US Army and was stationed in San Francisco.

Following the army, Pano attended law school and began his career as an attorney in San Francisco before moving to Mendocino County in the 1970s, where he continued to practice for the next fifty plus years. Pano specialized in personal injury litigation and was known as a skilled, tenacious advocate for his clients. In his fifty years of practice, Pano tried over 65 jury trials, many of which resulted in favorable verdicts, was a member of the Foundation of the American Board of Trial Advocates for many years, and handled thousands of cases on behalf of his clients. However, if you asked Pano, he’d say his greatest accomplishment was that he was able to help people who were injured and in difficult circumstances when it was needed.

Outside of the office, Pano loved horseracing and horseback riding. Pano also loved spending time at his home on Highway 20, the “Triple P Ranch” where he lived for over fifty years. At the ranch, Pano loved chopping firewood, picking walnuts and blackberries in the orchard, and taking the family for a drive through the property on an old army jeep that had come with the ranch. Pano was also a true music aficionado and enjoyed the Grateful Dead so much that he sponsored the “Grateful Dead Hour” on the coast radio for many years. He also loved good food and was well known for his skills in the kitchen.

Pano is survived by his three children, Alexandra Akaka-Stephens, Zachary Stephens, and Melanie Stephens, his daughter-in-law Grace Ivey, his grandchildren, Leilani Akaka, Anna Stephens, and Gabriel Stephens and former spouses, Karen Mackuliak, Cynthia Stephens, and Felicity Goldsby. Pano was a man of unique style and personality who lived life on his terms and will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and colleagues. A memorial service for Pano will be held on Saturday, August 9, 2025, at 2:00 PM at Barra Mendocino.