Abbe Wolfsheimer-Stutz dies

Abbe Wolfsheimer-Stutz, who served for eight years on the San Diego City Council, died of lung cancer yesterday afternoon (March 13). She had been diagnosed last July. She wanted no memorial services, but it is probable that some of the environmentalists whom she helped will plan some kind of remembrance.

"She remained a registered Republican but was one of the strongest Democrats I ever met," says activist Norma Damashek, who worked for her. Her first marriage to attorney Lou Wolfsheimer ended in divorce. She was married to Dave Stutz — the fraud sleuth who is best known for bringing down C. Arnholt Smith — until her death. "She had integrity; didn't deal in nonsense; was funny, honest, and straightforward," says Damashek.

She was perhaps best known for working diligently to create the San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy, a nonprofit environmental conservancy that stretches from Volcan Mountain near Julian to the ocean between Del Mar and Solana Beach. She was also greatly responsible for the preservation of the 902-acre Rancho Lilac, which can never be developed.