Pete Aguilar: “Today, I rise to honor the life of someone I was lucky to call a colleague and mentor--Redlands City Council member Pat…”

“Today, I rise to honor the life of someone I was lucky to call a colleague and mentor--Redlands City Council member Pat Gilbreath. I was heartbroken to learn of Pat's passing in early October, but I will always be grateful for her countless contributions to our community. Her imprint can be seen throughout the city of Redlands and our region. She was the earliest advocate for Redlands' passenger rail, supported the Healthy Communities Initiative and Open Space Initiative to honor our citrus heritage. When I was just starting out on the city council, Pat's leadership and poise helped shape the type of public servant that I aim to be. She was pragmatic, measured, and listened intently to the public. I will always be thankful for everything that she taught me, not the least of which was how to hide the chocolate in the city council dais so we could eat it during our late night council meetings. A loving mother and grandmother, she was always proud to beam about her family. I know that when they look at her legacy and the impact she made in the community, her family can be just as proud of her. Pat will always be remembered in our region for her thoughtfulness, her dedication, and her problem-solving ability. I will always remember her for her friendship. ____________________”