* Charles R. Imbrecht; Former Assemblyman

Charles Richard Imbrecht, a former state assemblyman from Ventura, died of a heart attack at his home in Pasadena. He was 50.

Imbrecht was born in Ventura on Feb. 4, 1949, and grew up there, graduating from Ventura High School in 1967. He went on to Occidental College and received his law degree from Loyola University.

His public service career began in 1974, when he worked as a staff attorney for the Interstate Commerce Commission in Washington, D.C.

Two years later, his interest in politics brought him back to Ventura to run for election in the 36th state Assembly District. He ran unopposed in the Republican primary and went on to claim an upset victory in the general election. He was reelected in 1978 and in 1980.

In 1982, he was appointed chairman of the California Energy Commission by Gov. George Deukmejian. He served as chairman of the commission until 1997 and played an important role in the deregulation of electrical service. He encouraged use of alternative sources of energy.

In 1992, he received the Commission of the European Community’s International Augustine Mouchot Prize for leadership in alternative energy development.

In 1996, he was honored with the Charles Percy Award in Washington, D.C., for his contribution in the energy field.

For the past two years, he served as vice president and legal counsel of CAL-start, a Pasadena-based nonprofit consortium of more than 200 companies dedicated to the development of improved transportation technology.

Imbrecht was an avid swimmer, skier and boater. Every summer he spent time at Lake Tahoe. He also enjoyed traveling and his work, which took took him to distant and unusual locations. Just before his death, he had returned from a Christmas cruise through the Panama Canal with his wife, children and mother.

He enjoyed household projects--whether making a simple wall shelf or taking on a complicated room addition. His father, Earl, the founder of Economy Plumbing, was proud of his son’s accomplishments but equally proud that he had learned from him the skills of plumbing, electrical and auto repair work.

Imbrecht is survived by his wife of 20 years, Alida Bergseid Imbrecht, daughters Erica and Emily of Sacramento; and his mother, Hazel of Ventura.

A memorial service will be held today at 11 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ventura with the Rev. David Hall officiating. Burial will be private. A memorial service will be held at a later date in Sacramento. Donations in his name may be made to the Imbrecht Endowment Fund for Higher Education at Trinity Lutheran Church or to the Ventura County Museum of History and Art.