William Wagner, 70, Who Fought Development, Dies

William Wagner, a former city activist who fought against land development, was found dead in his home Monday evening after a prolonged bout with emphysema.

An official cause of death had not been determined by the coroner’s office late Tuesday, an official of that office said. Wagner, who was 70, had been living alone in his home and had suffered from emphysema for at least five years, Philomena Leclair, his longtime neighbor, said.

No memorial services were scheduled as of Tuesday. Wagner is survived by one son, William Jr. of Las Vegas, and a grandson.

Friends remembered the normally quiet activist for his well-publicized intention to file a wrongful death claim in 1980 on behalf of his wife, former San Clemente Councilwoman Myrtis Wagner. She died at 58 of a heart attack amid recall attempts by a pro-development faction of the community. She was elected to the council in 1978.

Wagner had alleged that stress from the Citizens for Responsible Government campaign targeting the recall of his wife contributed to her death, said former Councilwoman Karolyn Koester, who was the target of similar recall efforts in 1982.

Despite widely publicized accusations leveled against leaders of the 1980 recall effort, which failed due to a lack of signatures, Wagner did not file suit.

When contacted by The Times recently, Wagner declined comment on the events surrounding the recall campaign and his wife’s death. “I just can’t talk about it,” he said, explaining that it was too painful to discuss.

“Myrtis and Bill were very staunch citizens,” Koester said. “They became acutely interested in the growth aspects of the city, and when Myrtis died, Bill wanted to be appointed in her place to carry on her fight. I don’t think he ever got over her death.”

Wagner was not appointed to replace his wife, and ran unsuccessfully for councilman in 1982. He dropped out of city politics shortly afterward because of a weakened physical condition.

The Wagners for several years owned the company that manufactures Kit-Cat clocks, which have trademark features of bulging eyes and a swaying tail that moves like a pendulum. They bought the California Clock Co. in the 1950s and sold it in 1982 after moving it from El Monte to San Juan Capistrano.