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Lompoc Mayor Dick DeWees Dies
By William M. Macfadyen, Noozhawk Publisher | 
| Published on 07.31.2009
Lompoc Mayor Dick DeWees died Thursday night from “complications related to a prior medical condition,” the city of Lompoc said Friday. An exact cause of death was not reported. He was 61.
DeWees, who was elected to his sixth term as mayor in 2008, died at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. In June, he had been hospitalized at Lompoc Valley Medical Center with chest pains.
The former Goleta resident had moved his family to Lompoc in 1987.
Joe Armendariz, a Carpinteria city councilman who had served with DeWees on a number of Santa Barbara County boards and commissions over the years, said he was “shocked and sad to learn of the untimely passing of my friend and colleague, Lompoc Mayor Dick Dewees.”
“Dick was a dedicated husband and father as well as a fine public servant with a great sense of humor,” Armendariz said in an e-mail to Noozhawk. “He loved the city of Lompoc and represented the people of Lompoc exceptionally well as their elected mayor. Dick was also a sensible and effective voice on SBCAG (Santa Barbara County Association of Governments) and LAFCO (Local Agency Formation Commission) and made the meetings an enjoyable time for all of us. He will be greatly missed.”
Santa Maria Mayor Larry Lavagnino, in an e-mail to Noozhawk, said DeWees was “one of my closest, dearest friends for many, many years. We shared the same zest for life, love of family, and dedication to getting things done with common sense. He was a big man with a good head on his shoulders, a heck of a sense of humor and a big booming laugh. While he liked to make people happy, above all, he was one of those really special guys who sincerely cared about giving back to his community.”
A graduate of Eastern Michigan University, DeWees and his wife, Jane, had been married for 38 years and have two children. Funeral arrangements are pending. Starbuck-Lind Mortuary in Lompoc will handle arrangements.
— Noozhawk publisher Bill Macfadyen can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
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» on 07.31.09 @ 01:50 PM
My deepest Condelences go to the entire DeWees Family!!! We have him to thank for giving us this wonderful community to live in and enjoy raising our families in. He will be Missed. Would love to know if there is going to be a public memorial so that I may attend. Thank you Mayor for Everything… God Rest your soul.
» on 07.31.09 @ 02:12 PM
Such a nice man. A true gentleman. I am sorry to hear that he has left us.
» on 07.31.09 @ 02:13 PM
My 20 plus year radio buddy. I will miss this character
» on 07.31.09 @ 10:06 PM
He was a great person and a wonderful public servant. He will be missed. My condolences to his family.
» on 07.31.09 @ 10:41 PM
Well damn. We’ve lost a rare politcian with common sense. I didn’t know him but I heard him speak at a Tea Party. A loss for all…
» on 08.01.09 @ 05:26 PM
R.I.P. Dick, my favorite politician. I’ll miss you at SBCAG and LAFCO.
» on 08.02.09 @ 03:02 PM
Lompoc had few more energetic champions. Dick’s pride in his community and its
potential was matched only by his constant determination to try to make things better.
Knew him a long time. Because of the “north-south” political thing, we publicly
didn’t agree on very much.
But his love of family, country, community shone through all he did, and tried to do.
Many elected officials are all puffy rhetoric, but no follow-through. Dick was a roll- up-your-sleeves-and get-it-done-guy. His energy & humor were always welcome.
Hard to believe he’s moved on so suddenly. RIP.
» on 08.02.09 @ 04:35 PM
Dick and I rarely agreed on most basic transportation and planning concepts, but I always respected the man for his integrity. He will be missed. My condolences to his family.
» on 08.14.09 @ 04:43 PM
If we are lucky in this life we get to know people like Dick Dewees. I still value Dick’s hard work in Sales, and I’m sure his laughter still rings out in the hallways of Sunny Country 102. You’re one of the “Good Guys” Dick and I look forward to seeing you again one day. Blessings to the DeWees family.
Jeff Harris, former co-worker
» on 02.09.10 @ 06:31 PM
Some where around 45 years ago I was Dick’s teacher in Mount Clemens High School in Mount Clemens, Michigan, I helped direct our school musical - that year it was “THE MUSIC MAN” and he had the lead. What a fantastic person and what a wonderful role he played. Our daughter,in the 5th grade, played one of the children in the show - she remembers him well also. Several years later I managed to get in contact with him via e-mail; we had a wonderful time getting re-acquainted and talking about “old times.” Also writing about his position as MAYOR. I just learned of his death - what a tremendous shock it was to my family. We know that eventually we will be together again and able to discuss “the good ole days!” God Bless his family. Dean R Moltmaker
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