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Former Lakewood mayor, Joe Esquivel, dies at 89
Long Beach Aug 25, 2022
Courtesy of Debbie Esquivel
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Former Lakewood City Councilman and five-time Mayor, Joe Esquivel, has died at age 89, the city announced Thursday.
Esquivel, who served on the council from 1990 to 2011, died Wednesday, according to an announcement by the city.
“Joe was beloved by thousands of Lakewood residents for his friendliness, jovial personality and decades of service to the Lakewood community,” Mayor Steve Croft said in a statement.
“I will always remember my years with Joe on the City Council, and I’ll also remember Joe for continuing to lead an active life, including volunteer work, after retirement from the City Council.”
According to Croft, Esquivel and another former councilman, Wayne Piercy, were active in the Meals on Wheels and Project Shepherd programs well into their 80s.
“Joe will be sorely missed by those of us who knew him on the City Council and by so many residents who appreciated all that he did for Lakewood,” Croft said.
According to a city release, Esquivel’s tenure on the council was marked by such highlights as creating a team of deputy sheriffs to work with residents and merchants to target crime hot spots; preventing the imposition of federal flood insurance on Lakewood properties by advocating for completion of the Los Angeles River Flood Protection Restoration Project; modernizing the city’s system of water wells, mains and storage facilities; and starting 24/7 access to customer services through Lakewood’s early adoption of a city website.
Esquivel was also president of California Contract Cities Association from 2001-2002.
Before being elected to the City Council, Esquivel was a member of the city’s Recreation and Community Services Commission for 18 years, and was a Lakewood Youth Sports volunteer coach for 13 years.
He had also been active in the Lakewood Jaycees, the Lakewood Family YMCA, the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, the Lakewood Pan American Association, the Lakewood Regional Medical Center board of directors, St. Pancratius Church and the Rotary Club.
Esquivel was born in 1932 and grew up in Donaldsonville, Louisiana. After being discharged in Long Beach, he served in the Navy and settled with his wife Pat in Lakewood in 1963.
He worked for the American National Can Company in Carson for 35 years and served in the leadership of the United Steelworkers local district 39.
His wife predeceased him. Survivors are his children Debbie, Diane and Doug and four grandchildren. Plans for a memorial service are pending.
Edit, Nov. 17: In a previous publication, Hey SoCal mistakenly included a picture of Daniel Esquivel. It has since been updated.
