Chula Vista
A public memorial service for Chula Vista Mayor Gayle McCandliss and the establishment of a memorial fund in her name to benefit cultural arts were announced Monday by a city official.
“She always had a lot of interest in the cultural arts,” so the idea of an arts fund was accepted enthusiastically by McCandliss’ family and friends, said John Goss, Chula Vista’s city manager.
The fund will probably present an annual award to help support creative and fine artists in the city, he said.
Contributions may be made payable to the Gayle McCandliss Memorial Cultural Arts Fund and be sent to the City of Chula Vista Finance Department, 276 4th Ave., Chula Vista CA 91910.
A memorial service for McCandliss will be held Thursday at the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints, 630 Corte Maria, Chula Vista, Goss said.
McCandliss, who was 36, died Jan. 17 after nearly a yearlong battle with colon cancer. Active in Chula Vista politics since she was in high school, McCandliss was elected mayor in November and inaugurated Dec. 4. Before being elected mayor, she served on the City Council for 10 years.
McCandliss was admitted to Mercy Hospital on Jan. 1 and remained there until her death last Thursday, a city spokesman said.
She is survived by her mother, Norma McCandliss.
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