Councilman Gelff Mourned by San Juan Leaders

San Juan Capistrano civic leaders Wednesday grieved the death of Councilman John Gelff, a relative newcomer who championed the community’s small-town character.

Gelff, 54, was found dead in his home Tuesday night by sheriff’s deputies when he failed to appear at a City Council meeting.

An Orange County coroner’s spokesman said Gelff died as a result of blocked arteries. Gelff, a retired banker and former elementary school teacher, moved to San Juan Capistrano from the San Fernando Valley in 1998 and two years later was elected to the council.

“Although he was a Valley guy, he fell in love with the city, and he developed a real genuine relationship with it,” Mayor Joe Soto said. “He was a doer. He tackled problems others would shy away from.”

While most council members have advocated controlled growth for San Juan Capistrano, Gelff favored an extremely slow or no-growth plan and was frequently the council’s lone opposition to large housing developments. He also led community opposition that blocked Home Depot from opening a store in San Juan Capistrano.

“His death hurts all of us in San Juan,” said Lon Uso, a slow-growth activist. “He really followed through on his campaign promises to be a slow-growth advocate.”

Uso said that because Gelff was a lone slow-growth voice on the council, his death won’t alter the city’s pro-growth philosophy.

San Juan Capistrano City Clerk Meg Monahan said the council has 30 days to decide whether to appoint someone to serve the balance of Gelff’s term, which expires in November. That is also the soonest an election could be held to fill the seat.

Uso and another slow-growth advocate, Mark Nielsen, said they hope the council will appoint Gelff’s longtime companion, Linda Cooley, to his seat. Cooley, who moved with Gelff from the San Fernando Valley, was out of town Wednesday and could not be reached for comment.

“Even if it’s a minority voice on the council, it’s important that [Gelff’s] perspective is heard,” Nielsen said. “It would not be an accurate reflection of the community if the council were always in agreement, because the town does not always agree.”

Another of Gelff’s causes was opposing the California High-Speed Rail Authority from adding a set of tracks near the town’s historic district. Though transportation officials had long ago dropped the idea, Gelff drove to Fresno last week to thank them for their earlier decision.

“He could have very easily handled it over the phone, but he wanted the city to have its presence known to ensure there were no gray areas,” Soto said. “It was above and beyond the call of duty, and John was exhausted when he got back. But it was typical of him and how he handled things.”

Funeral services are pending. The John S. Gelff Scholarship Fund to benefit children in San Juan Capistrano has been established at California Bank and Trust, 3221 Camino Capistrano.