San Juan Bautista
– The Mission City’s mayor, Dan Reed, died early Thursday
morning. He was 61 years old.
San Juan Bautista – The Mission City’s mayor, Dan Reed, died early Thursday morning. He was 61 years old.
City Manager Jan McClintock said Reed’s death was caused by complications from a recent lung transplant he received at the Stanford Medical Center.
“He was an extraordinary individual,” McClintock said. “He was very dedicated to the city, he was very dedicated to the whole community and he will be very much missed.”
She added that concerned residents never had any trouble contacting Reed, because he could be found every morning at the Windmill Market, chatting with his constituents.
“He was so accessible and so friendly,” McClintock said.
Deputy City Clerk Trish Paetz echoed McClintock’s praise, describing Reed as kind and considerate.
“The staff really enjoyed working with him,” she said.
Reed, who recently retired from the orchid industry, lived in San Juan Bautista for 12 years. He was appointed by the City Council to fill an empty seat in 2001 and was elected to that seat in 2004. After the election, which he won by five votes, Reed said he was overjoyed to “squeak in” to the council and expressed hope about moving the city forward. He said his main goals were to protect the historical value of San Juan Bautista and complete the new water treatment project.
Reed also served in the U.S. Army for three years during the Vietnam War. More recently, in addition to his work in the council, Reed volunteered at Mission San Juan Bautista. He is survived by his wife Marie, his adult daughter Dana and his grandson Samuel.
McClintock said the city will be accepting applications to fill Reed’s seat on the City Council. She said the council will likely interview candidates at its next meeting, then convene a few days later to appoint Reed’s replacement.
The council will also appoint a new mayor and vice mayor at its next meeting, McClintock said. She added that the timing of Reed’s death made things “tricky,” because three of the council’s five seats will be decided in Tuesday’s election, and new councilmembers will be sworn in at the council’s meeting in December.
“(The council) may be appointing a mayor and vice mayor for just one meeting,” McClintock said.
Grunnagle-Ament-Nelson Funeral Home will be providing the memorial service, but a time and date have not been announced.
Vice Mayor Priscilla Hill said she and Reed had worked very well together.
“He was an outstanding person, basically,” Hill said.
Anthony Ha covers local government for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected].
