Sacramento, Calif. – Senate Majority Whip Lena A. Gonzalez (D- Long Beach) today issued the following statement regarding the passing of Former Long Beach District 9 Councilman and Veterans’ Advocate, Val Lerch:

“I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former Councilman Val Lerch,” said Senator Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach). “I offer my most heartfelt condolences to Val’s family and friends, and those who knew him through his undying passion to serve and advocate for the needs of Veterans in our community. We will never forget all of his hard work to ensure that our local Veterans were celebrated each year and that they had access to resources, job opportunities and so much more.”

Lerch, served 12 years with the U.S. Coast Guard and 30 years in the reserves. He died on Sunday evening, November 21, 2021, at his home, according to his daughter, Vicki Lerch. The former councilman had spent the last few years trying to survive cancer, but in October, he learned the cancer had spread again and was terminal. Lerch went into hospice care.

Lerch, who served two terms as a councilman from 2002 to 2010, had been a leader of the Long Beach Veterans Day Parade. About a week earlier, Lerch was honored as the grand marshal at the North Long Beach Veterans Festival. (Source: Press Telegram)

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Senator Gonzalez represents the 33rd Senate District, which includes the City of Long Beach and portions of South Los Angeles and Southeast Los Angeles including the cities of Bell, Bell Gardens, Cudahy, Huntington Park, Lakewood, Lynwood, Maywood, Paramount, Signal Hill, and South Gate. Senator Gonzalez lives in Long Beach with her family.