John A. LaSota, Jr. attended Claremont McKenna College for his freshman year. He then transferred to Arizona State University for the remainder of his undergraduate studies. He attended the University of Arizona for law school, and then Northwestern University for his advanced law degree.

Jack had a long and distinguished legal career, and he was held in high regard by his legal peers even past his retirement. Early in his career, he worked for the Phoenix Police Department as the department's first legal advisor and later worked with future Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, William Renquist.

Later in his career, then Arizona Governor, Bruce Babbitt, asked Jack to serve as his Attorney General from 1978 - 1979. Although Jack chose not to seek election to continue his tenure as AG, Governor Babbitt later asked Jack to be his Chief of Staff in the mid-1980s.

Jack eventually moved into private practice, working for two law firms before he started his own in 1995, where he worked until his retirement. He also was an assistant dean and professor at the ASU College of Law in the 1980s, and he served as a judge pro tempore.

During his retirement, he served on the Arizona Board of Executive Clemency.

Jack is survived by his two younger sisters, his three sons, and his seven grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Maureen, his parents, as well as his younger sister.

He maintained a very happy and healthy relationship with his mother- and father-in-law, as well as his brothers-in-law, over the years.

Funeral Mass and burial were held on July 11, 2026.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Vincent de Paul at St. Theresa Parish or the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.