Don Roth

Don Roth



Former Mayor of Anaheim and Orange County Supervisor

August 31, 1921 - April 4, 2012

Don was the eldest of three children, which included Ralph and Marilyn, born of Charlie and Alvida Roth. He grew up in the suburbs of Chicago. As a teenager, Don loved adventure, and could be seen around town wearing a leather jacket while riding his Harley Davidson. In 1942 Don married Irene Anderson and soon after enlisted in the Navy and served as a flight engineer, based in Banana River, Florida, and Saipan in the South Pacific.

Don and Irene began their family during the war years with son Randy, and later, Scott and Patti. In the mid '50s the Roth family moved to Southern California where Don completed his 20 years of active duty at Los Alamitos Naval Air Station. It was at this time that he obtained his real estate salesman and broker license, the beginning of his second career. He was president of American Realty, and served for seven years on the Anaheim Board of Realtors Board of Directors and eight years as state director in the California Real Estate Assoc. Don's enthusiasm and community spirit were expressed by his involvement in many local organizations, from the Lion's Club and Rams Booster Club to Anaheim Beautiful.

In 1971 Anaheim's mayor and council members appointed Don to fill a vacant seat on the city council. Then he won election to the city council in 1976, the first of three terms. In 1982 and 1984, Don was elected as Mayor, serving four years. While mayor, he served on the South Coast Air Quality Board.

In November of 1986, Don was elected to the Orange County Board of Supervisors. While on the Board, he served on the Orange County Transportation Commission, hosted over 300 weekly public affairs cable television programs, and served on the Super Speed Transportation Commission advocating the building of a super train rail link between the City of Anaheim and Las Vegas.

During his retirement Don loved playing golf, fraternizing with old friends at the racetrack, and walking the nature trail with his companion, Dianne Schwartz. For the last few years of his life, Don relocated to the Bay Area to be closer to his immediate family. He leaves his three children, eight grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. A memorial service honoring Don's life and legacy will be held April 19, 11:00 A.M., at the Ballena Bay Yacht Club, 1150 Ballena Boulevard, Alameda, CA 94501. Memorial Gifts in honor of Don Roth may be directed to Faith Network of the East Bay, 2633 Telegraph Ave. #409, Oakland, CA 94612.