Pat Gilbreath, a longtime Redlands City Council member and civic leader, died early Tuesday, Oct. 3.

She was 75.

Gilbreath, a former CPA, focused her energy on balancing the city’s budget and encouraging residents to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Her program, Healthy Redlands, debuted in 2008 and was revived in 2013 when she returned to the council after a short time away.

“Today, our community has lost a tremendous public servant and a dear friend to many of us,” Redlands Mayor Paul Foster said. “Her loss is unimaginable to me on the City Council. She has been such an integral part of the city’s operation for decades, and to my knowledge, she is the longest serving City Council member.

“She was a gracious and wonderful woman,” he added, “and we’re going to miss her terribly.”

Gilbreath served on the City Council from 1993 to 2010, when she left her seat to run for state Assembly. When Mike Morrell won the seat, Gilbreath sought re-election to one of three seats on the Redlands City Council but trailed Foster, Councilman Jon Harrison and former Councilman Bob Gardner.

She ran successfully for council in 2012 and was re-elected in November.

Gilbreath focused much of her efforts on the city’s budget. A former CPA, Gilbreath touted her experience as necessary to helping the city overcome its budget challenges.

“They say we have a balanced budget, but we don’t,” she told The Facts in 2012. “When you look at our streets and what’s going on, we don’t.”

A few months after her re-election, the city adopted a balanced budget for 2017-18.

Gilbreath was not one to back down from a challenge, and her interests ranged from flying planes to traveling across the globe to deep sea fishing.

She was born and raised in North Dakota. She traveled extensively for work before settling in Redlands and joining Eadie & Payne LLC. She told The Facts in 2016 that she became involved with the city after seeing a need for a CPA on the council.

On Tuesday, Foster emailed city employees a brief note about Gilbreath’s death. Additional information on services would be available when provided by Gilbreath’s family, he wrote.

Harrison called the news of his longtime colleague’s death “very shocking.”

Of all her work in the community, he said, the things Gilbreath loved most were the community gardens she brought to the city and the Healthy Redlands program she championed for, as well as her “razor sharp focus on making sure our budget was the best it could be.”

“That contribution will be one that will be hard to replace; her ability to keep an eye on that for us,” he added.

Rep. Pete Aguilar, a former mayor of Redlands, said news of Gilbreath’s passing took his breath away.

“This is really a punch in the gut,” he said by phone. “She was a colleague and friend, and someone I sat next to for the better part of eight years on the council.”

Gilbreath nominated Aguilar to the Redlands City Council in 2006 to fill a void left by former Councilwoman Susan Peppler, who had moved out of state. The appointment was the launch pad for Aguilar’s career in politics. He left the council when he was elected to Congress in 2014.

“I always appreciated her going out on a limb for me,” Aguilar said. “At the time, I was a 26-year-old guy who was looking to make a difference and serve his community, and she was part of that starting point.”

After news of Gilbreath’s death spread through the community, friends, family and colleagues posted condolences to social media, including San Bernardino County Supervisor James Ramos and District Attorney James Ramos.

“Saddened to learn of the loss of Pat Gilbreath,” wrote Supervisor Ramos. “She was a strong community leader who will be greatly missed.”

Saddened to learn of the loss of Pat Gilbreath. She was a strong community leader who will be missed greatly. https://t.co/UbWlap9uEH — James Ramos (@SupervisorRamos) October 3, 2017

“A true leader and friend,” said DA Ramos. “Thank you for all your work. God bless you and your family.”

A true leader and friend. Thank you for all your work. God bless you and your family. https://t.co/cafBh79X86 — Michael Ramos (@michaelramos) October 3, 2017

It was not immediately known how the council would address the vacancy created by Gilbreath’s death.

Redlands Daily Facts archives contributed to this report.