SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Robbie Waters, a former Sacramento City Council Member, died on Monday from complications with coronavirus, his family told the Sacramento Bee.
Waters was elected to the Sacramento City Council in 1994 and served until 2010. He began his career in law enforcement starting with the Sacramento Police Department in 1958. In 1982, he was elected as the Sacramento County Sheriff.
“On his last day, he was struggling to breathe but he thanked the doctors. He thanked everyone," his wife Judie Waters told the Bee. "Robbie was well-loved but we also have to pray for the other people who are suffering with this horrible virus. People should be aware this could happen to everyone.”
Mayor Darrell Steinberg tweeted about Waters’ passing, saying, “Robbie was my seatmate for four years on the City Council. We shared a lot of laughs and good memories. I loved his impish sense of humor. I considered him a dear friend. He loved [the City of Sacramento.]”
Mayor Steinberg later reflected on Waters' life with ABC10.
"He was a Sacramento original," Steinberg said. "He was someone kind of from the old school. What you saw was what you got. He looked you in the eye and if he thought you a good man or woman, he'd be your friend regardless of whether you agreed or disagreed on any particular issue."
The Sacramento Library branch in the Pocket neighborhood is named after Waters.
"We used to do the Dr. Suess 'Suessical' every year at the library in his name and I was so proud of that," Steinberg said. "He loved kids and he loved the community."
Waters was 84 years old.
Read more from ABC10
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