Gertrude ‘Trudy’ Ohlig-Hall, a former Mesa Water board president, dies at 85

Former Mesa Water District board member Gertrude “Trudy” Ohlig-Hall has died, according to the agency. She was 85.

Ohlig-Hall died Nov. 27 at the Vista del Monte retirement facility in Santa Barbara from Stage 4 uterine cancer, according to her death certificate.

Ohlig-Hall was part of the water industry for more than 25 years, according to a Dec. 19 statement from Mesa Water. She was first elected to the district’s board in 1987 as the representative of north Costa Mesa and served three terms as president during her tenure, which ended in 2012.

She also was a member of multiple water industry organizations and was a board member of the Assn. of California Water Agencies for more than 10 years.

Ohlig-Hall also was involved in community-based organizations and served as chairwoman of Costa Mesa’s Mothers for the March of Dimes and vice president of the Costa Mesa Historical Society, according to Mesa Water.

Ohlig-Hall was born in Germany and grew up during World War II. She moved to Canada when she was 18, according to her daughter Brigitte Ohlig.

She lived in Costa Mesa for more than 50 years and was married to Donn Hall, a former Costa Mesa mayor who died in 2009.

“She was very proud of being an American citizen and was grateful for the privilege of living here. That’s why she spent her life contributing to the community,” her daughter said.

Ohlig-Hall is survived by her three children, their spouses and four grandchildren.

A public memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Jan. 25 in the Old World banquet hall at 7561 Center Ave. in Huntington Beach. The family asks that instead of flowers, donations be made to Performing Animals Welfare Society.

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