Memorial Held for Aide to Santa Ana Council

A memorial service was held Wednesday for William D. Baron, assistant clerk to the Santa Ana City Council, who died this week while jogging during his lunch break.

Baron, who was 46, suffered an apparent heart attack and died at the track of Santa Ana Stadium, where he worked out four times a week with a group of fellow jogging enthusiasts.

The Fullerton resident was described by friends as a gentle and witty man with a sharp sense of humor.

“Bill was there for all of us,” said City Clerk Janice C. Guy, who spoke at the memorial service. “He had time for you and he gave unstintingly. He didn’t sugarcoat: He told you exactly what he was thinking, and he was occasionally brutally honest. But he gave you his absolute best.”

Baron was hired as assistant clerk of the council in 1985 after he had spent three years in City Hall working as a systems and procedures analyst. Before coming to work for the city, he had worked for UC Irvine, Cal State Fullerton and USC.

Baron had also worked as a part-time instructor at Chapman College, Santa Ana College, Pacific Christian College and Cal State Fullerton in a variety of subjects including managerial psychology, microcomputer applications, human relations, accounting and urban planning.

He earned a bachelor of arts degree in economics and a master of arts degree in planning from USC.

Baron is survived by his wife, Christine, and their four children: Helen, Lisette, Brian and Christian.