Home Press Releases MESA WATER DISTRICT ANNOUNCES THE PASSING OF FORMER BOARD MEMBERS, HEALEY AND OHLIG-HALL MESA WATER DISTRICT ANNOUNCES THE PASSING OF FORMER BOARD MEMBERS, HEALEY AND OHLIG-HALL Posted: Tuesday, December 17, 2019 COSTA MESA, Calif.; December 19, 2019 — It is with great sadness that Mesa Water District (Mesa Water®) announces the passing of former Board members R. Michael Healey and Gertrude “Trudy” Ohlig-Hall. Healey died on November 29 at the age of 89. Ohlig-Hall died on November 27 at the age of 85. “Our deepest condolences go to the Healey and Ohlig-Hall families. Both Michael and Trudy contributed tremendously to the fabric of Mesa Water and the water industry as a whole. They leave behind a legacy of serving our customers with great commitment and dedication. They were our friends and colleagues and they will be missed,” said Board President Shawn Dewane. Dedicated to public service, Healey served on the Mesa Water Board of Directors (Board) from 1995 to 2005, and as Board President from 1996 to 1998, serving Division 5, encompassing the southeast Costa Mesa communities. Healey was part of Mesa Water's Finance, Public Information, Executive, and Human Resources Committees. He was instrumental in the creation of the Demonstration Garden at the District, and the Karl Kemp Reservoir was completed during his service on the Board. Healey was a police officer for the Costa Mesa Police Department for more than 25 years, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant in 1979. After retirement, he worked for the city of Irvine as a civilian Police employee and served as coordinator for the planning and construction of the new civic center for the City. Additionally, he served on many professional organizations, including Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC); Association of California Water Agencies/Joint Power Insurance Authority (ACWA/JPIA); and the Mesa Water/MWDOC Ad Hoc Committee. In 2005, Mesa Water created the R. Michael Healey Award in honor of Healey’s involvement in the loss prevention programs while he served as Mesa Water’s representative on the ACWA/JPIA. The award – the highest safety honor at Mesa Water – is given annually to individual employees whose contributions result in creating a safer work environment. Healey will be remembered for his commitment to keeping Orange County safe and his passion for giving back to the community. A veteran of the water industry for more than 25 years, Ohlig-Hall was elected to the Board in 1987, and served three terms (1994, 1996, and 2001) as Mesa Water’s Board President, representing Division 3, encompassing the north Costa Mesa communities. Ohlig-Hall served on several Mesa Water committees, including Engineering & Operations, Finance, Human Resources, Public Information, and Audit Ad Hoc. She was a member of many professional organizations, including American Water Works Association (AWWA); MWDOC; Water Advisory Council of Orange County (WACO); and Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA), where she was a Board member for more than 10 years and worked with the agency on several impactful water quality issues. In addition, she was a member of the Southern California Water Committee (SCWC). For many years, she was also Mesa Water’s liaison to the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO). Ohlig-Hall had a passion for giving back to her community. She served as director and president of the Mesa North Community Association, and Chair of its Beautification Committee. She was Chair for Costa Mesa's Mothers for The March of Dimes and Vice President of the Costa Mesa Historical Society. Ohlig-Hall was married to former City of Costa Mesa Mayor, Donn Hall and will be remembered for her passion for the water industry and love for the community. For information on memorial services, please contact Mesa Water at 949.631.1206. About Mesa Water Founded on January 1, 1960, and governed by a publicly-elected, five-member Board of Directors, Mesa Water is an independent special district that provides water service to 110,000 residents in an 18-square-mile service area that includes most of Costa Mesa, a portion of Newport Beach, and John Wayne Airport. Mesa Water provides 100 percent local reliable groundwater to its customers due to the Mesa Water Reliability Facility. Visit MesaWater.org, follow @MesaWater on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, email, or call 949.631.1200 to learn more.
Dedicated to public service, Healey served on the Mesa Water Board of Directors (Board) from 1995 to 2005, and as Board President from 1996 to 1998, serving Division 5, encompassing the southeast Costa Mesa communities. Healey was part of Mesa Water's Finance, Public Information, Executive, and Human Resources Committees. He was instrumental in the creation of the Demonstration Garden at the District, and the Karl Kemp Reservoir was completed during his service on the Board. Healey was a police officer for the Costa Mesa Police Department for more than 25 years, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant in 1979. After retirement, he worked for the city of Irvine as a civilian Police employee and served as coordinator for the planning and construction of the new civic center for the City. Additionally, he served on many professional organizations, including Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC); Association of California Water Agencies/Joint Power Insurance Authority (ACWA/JPIA); and the Mesa Water/MWDOC Ad Hoc Committee. In 2005, Mesa Water created the R. Michael Healey Award in honor of Healey’s involvement in the loss prevention programs while he served as Mesa Water’s representative on the ACWA/JPIA. The award – the highest safety honor at Mesa Water – is given annually to individual employees whose contributions result in creating a safer work environment. Healey will be remembered for his commitment to keeping Orange County safe and his passion for giving back to the community. A veteran of the water industry for more than 25 years, Ohlig-Hall was elected to the Board in 1987, and served three terms (1994, 1996, and 2001) as Mesa Water’s Board President, representing Division 3, encompassing the north Costa Mesa communities. Ohlig-Hall served on several Mesa Water committees, including Engineering & Operations, Finance, Human Resources, Public Information, and Audit Ad Hoc. She was a member of many professional organizations, including American Water Works Association (AWWA); MWDOC; Water Advisory Council of Orange County (WACO); and Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA), where she was a Board member for more than 10 years and worked with the agency on several impactful water quality issues. In addition, she was a member of the Southern California Water Committee (SCWC). For many years, she was also Mesa Water’s liaison to the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO). Ohlig-Hall had a passion for giving back to her community. She served as director and president of the Mesa North Community Association, and Chair of its Beautification Committee. She was Chair for Costa Mesa's Mothers for The March of Dimes and Vice President of the Costa Mesa Historical Society. Ohlig-Hall was married to former City of Costa Mesa Mayor, Donn Hall and will be remembered for her passion for the water industry and love for the community. For information on memorial services, please contact Mesa Water at 949.631.1206.
