Max H. Waller; Community Activist

Max H. Waller, president of the San Fernando Gardens Residents Council, has died at a Van Nuys hospital. He was 55.

Waller died Sunday of heart failure, said his son, Max R. Waller.

Born Oct. 16, 1935, in Hoxie, Ark., Waller served in the Marine Corps from 1950 to 1953. He came to California in 1963 and later moved to Tijuana, Mexico, where he worked as an apartment manager for several years until returning to the San Fernando Valley. Since 1977, he lived at San Fernando Gardens, a 448-unit public housing project in Pacoima. Waller, who served as president of the residents’ council for the past four years, pushed for a community center and a security fence for the complex. The fence is to be constructed soon. He also helped organize a crime watch program and urged increased police protection.

He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Maria M. Waller of Pacoima; sons Anthony Waller and Max R. Waller, both of Pacoima; and brother Bill Waller of Fenton, Mo.

Visitation is planned from 4 to 8 p.m. today, with a rosary at 7 p.m., both at Noble Chapel, 1231 1st St., San Fernando, which is handling the arrangements.

A funeral Mass is to be celebrated at 9 a.m. Thursday at Guardian Angel Catholic Church, 10886 Lehigh Ave. in Pacoima. Burial will follow at San Fernando Mission Cemetery.

Donations can be made in Waller’s name to organizations benefiting the homeless.