Ed Masry
July 29, 1932 - December 5, 2005

The people of Thousand Oaks have lost a friend

We’ve been fortunate in our community because we’ve benefited from his public service. Ed Masry will be remembered by many, at home and abroad, but nowhere did he leave a bigger legacy than in Thousand Oaks, the city he served.

He stood steadfast for his principles, but he listened to all sides before taking a position.

He was respectful of others, even his opponents. It made no difference to Ed Masry whether you were a prince or a pauper. He cared about you.

He believed in things that matter. He was a family man. He wasn’t afraid to challenge authority. Ed Masry fought diligently for the underdog and the disenfranchised.

Justice itself lost a friend when Ed Masry died. Unlike many people in powerful positions, he fought for right versus wrong. He worked for the common man, not just campaign donors.

He was fair and decent. Despite his celebrity, Ed Masry was down to earth. He was a generous and grateful person. He was never afraid to speak his mind.

He believed in fighting for environmental issues, but he also knew when to back off. If a developer held all the cards, Masry wasn’t going to squander tax dollars on lawsuits that had no chance of winning.

Masry captured votes from diametrically opposed factions. He proved that you can be an advocate of open space while simultaneously respecting the rights of property owners.

The following words aren’t nearly enough to express it, but we’re compelled to say them:

We already miss you, Ed Masry.

The forgoing is an excerpt from an Editorial in the Acorn 1/5/06