Longtime Cathedral City councilman Greg Pettis, who last month became the city’s first openly gay mayor, died Tuesday at the age of 63.
Pettis, the longest serving member of the city council, was hospitalized last Wednesday for undisclosed reasons and died late Tuesday afternoon, according to city spokesman Chris Parman.
The cause of death was not released.
“It is with devastating sadness that the city of Cathedral City has learned of the passing of the honorable Mayor Gregory Pettis,” a statement released Tuesday afternoon read.
City officials said Pettis “will be remembered for his progressive legislative ideas, supporting civil rights and social justice for all people, and at the same time, working hard to bring economic development to the city he loved to call home since 1979.”
Pettis joined the city council in 1994, following 15 years in the hospitality industry. He was sworn in last month to his first mayoral term.
City officials praised his work founding the Healing Field Program that honors fallen soldiers at Patriot Park, his advocacy for the LGBT Veterans Memorial at Desert Memorial Park, and his work toward developing the city’s Arts and Entertainment District, among other feats.
Funeral arrangements were pending.