Remembering Mary Ann Gaido: A Life of Service
On September 6th, Irvine’s longest-serving Planning Commissioner and former City Councilmember, Mary Ann Gaido, passed away after a battle with cancer.
Mary Ann and her young family moved to the brand new Turtle Rock community in 1968, three years before Irvine officially became a City. She lived in the same Turtle Rock home for 55 years … until her death.
Soon after settling in Turtle Rock, Mary Ann joined a group of actively engaged citizens helping to shape the new City of Irvine.
Just three months after the City’s incorporation in 1971, Gaido began work on the Irvine Housing Committee. In 1973, she became an appointed City Commissioner, ultimately serving a total of 20 years — spanning five decades — as an Irvine Planning Commissioner.
Mary Ann was also an elected member of the Irvine City Council from 1976 until 1984. Her campaign slogan was “Planning As If People Mattered,” which was Mary Ann’s focus throughout her public and private life.
