Mayor Gordo Releases Statement on the Passing of Doug Kranwinkle

[Courtesy Pasadena Rotary]

Mayor Victor Gordo on Tuesday issued a statement on the passing of longtime Pasadena resident Doug Kranwinkle.

“I’m deeply saddened to share with the people of Pasadena the passing of my dear friend, Doug Kranwinkle,” Mayor Gordo said.

“Doug was a kind soul and a brilliant mind — a man whose commitment to justice, equality, and public service left a mark not only on our city, but on this nation,” Gordo said. “He was a force — in the law, in politics, in the long march toward civil rights in America. And yet, for all his public achievements, what made Doug truly special was the way he carried himself in private: as a devoted husband, a loving father, and the kind of friend who would always show up — with honesty, clarity, and that unmistakable wit of his.”

Kranwinkle was deeply involved in the Pasadena community. He co-chaired the Arroyo Advisory Group, which led to the formation of the One Arroyo Foundation, aiming to restore and preserve the Arroyo Seco area. He also served as President of the Rose Bowl Operating Company Board of Directors and was a member of the Steering Committee for the Rose Bowl Institute.

After graduating from law school in 1965, Kranwinkle served as a law clerk for U.S. Chief Justice Earl Warren. He moved to Pasadena in 1967 and raised two children with his wife, Susan, and later enjoyed spending time with his six grandchildren.

Gordo said the country has lost a great American with Kranwinkle’s passing.

“Pasadena has lost a pillar of its civic life. And I have lost a mentor, a confidant, a wise counselor — and a loyal friend. Doug didn’t just offer support; he offered perspective. He asked the hard questions, spoke the truth with grace, and always encouraged those around him to aim higher and do better.”

“On behalf of my family — Kelly, Michael, Emma, and me — and on behalf of my Mayor’s Office family, including my longtime Deputy Vannia De La Cuba, we send our heartfelt condolences to Susan and to the entire Kranwinkle family,” Gordo said. “We will miss Doug’s friendship. We will miss his warmth, his intellect, and his humor. But above all, we will carry forward his legacy — one rooted in compassion, conviction, and a deep love for his community. May we all live a little more like Doug. And may he rest in peace.”