Rites Today for Former Newport Mayor McInnis

Services will be held today for Donald A. McInnis, 72, a former mayor of Newport Beach who died of complications from lung surgery Friday.

McInnis, who moved to Newport Beach in 1960, was thrust into city politics a few years later when his beachfront home and those of his neighbors were threatened by beach erosion caused by the high surf. Frustrated by City Hall’s inaction, even after his patio plunged into the sea, McInnis ran for office. He was elected in 1968, and remained on the council until 1980.

During his tenure on the council, including two terms as mayor, McInnis succeeded in having rock walls built to halt beach erosion.

Described by friends and associates as pro-business and pro-growth, McInnis “was a perfect person for Newport Beach at the time,” former Mayor Jackie Heather said. “He made Newport Beach grow up from a beach community to a full city. He turned us from a cracker-barrel City Council into a professional one which addressed things in a businesslike way.”

Dennis O’Neil, a former city attorney who served when McInnis was on the council said that Newport Beach was developing so fast during McInnis’ reign that the council had to meet once or twice a week, often late into the night.

“It was really wild times, it was fun,” O’Neil said. “It was development like you can’t believe. Under his reign . . . the city has developed to the way it looks today.”

McInnis’ final public appearance was the annual Speak Up Newport dinner to honor the city’s past and and current mayors.

“That was very dear to him, because he was one of the founders,” said Gail McInnis said.

After retiring from the council, McInnis was appointed by former Gov. George Deukmejian to the California Coastal Commission in 1983 and served there until 1992.

McInnis was a former president of Northrop Services Inc, a subsidiary of Northrop Corporation.

He was also a private pilot who enjoyed traveling with his wife, Gail. The couple owned a lake home in Montana where they spent their last three summers.

In 1983, they moved to Fallbrook, where they lived on an avocado orchard.

McInnis died at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian after surgery for lung cancer.

He also is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Marilyn and Fred Wynia of Lake Forest, and two granddaughters, Alison, 13, and Christina, 15.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. at Pacific View Memorial Park Chapel in Newport Beach. The family suggests that contributions be made to the Hoag Hospital Foundation Memorial Fund in McInnis’ name.