Long Beach : Community Activist Dies
Rolland B. Samuelson, a civic activist and candidate for the 5th District council seat in Long Beach, died Wednesday at Veterans Administration Medical Center, where he had been hospitalized for several weeks with a heart condition.
Samuelson, 76, was a retired General Motors executive who was president of Friends of the Long Beach Parks and a founder and board director of Long Beach Area Citizens Involved. He had suspended his campaign for the East Long Beach City Council seat because of his illness.
Luanne Pryor, a public relations executive who finished a close third in the primary election for mayor earlier this year, said Samuelson worked tirelessly for various causes in the city.
“He really was somebody who got much out of life,” Pryor said.
Samuelson produced Pryor’s cable television show and another program, “Eye on Long Beach,” said Sid Solomon, president of Long Beach Area Citizens Involved.
He called Samuelson a very friendly and “a very hard-working person” who fought for lower cable television rates for senior citizens. Solomon said Samuelson was also active in a recreational vehicle organization.
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