A former Democratic state senator and beloved community leader for California's Bay Area, Ellen Corbett, has passed away, according to The Mercury News.

No cause of death was revealed for Corbett, 69, who held the distinction of being the first elected woman mayor of San Leandro and previously served as Majority Leader in the state Senate.

Corbett, who was serving as head of the East Bay Regional Parks District at the time of her death, leaves behind her adult son Ryan.

A "fearless leader" and devoted public servant

The EBRPD announced the death of Board Director Corbett on Friday and revealed that flags at all EBRPD properties would be lowered to half-staff in her honor.

"Director Ellen Corbett peacefully passed away earlier today, and this news leaves me with great sadness," General Manager Sabrina Landreth said.

"Ellen was an incredible champion of our mission and a tireless advocate for communities to have access to open space, public parks, and nature," she continued. "In the last eight years, Director Corbett represented her constituents by serving on the Park District’s Board of Directors. Her time with us was the capstone to a long, decorated, and meaningful public service career in local and state government, including serving as the majority leader of the California State Senate and the Mayor of San Leandro."

"We will remember Ellen as a fearless leader for regional parks at the urban core of the Park District’s jurisdiction. May she rest in peace," Landreth added.

According to her EBPRD page, Corbett was born in Oakland but made San Leandro her hometown, and received her higher education from Chabot Community College and California State University, East Bay. She also obtained a political science degree from the University of California, Davis, and a law degree from the University of the Pacific's McGeorge School of Law.

Mayor, state senator, and community leader

The Bay City News reported that Corbett was elected as mayor of San Leandro in 1994 and served until 1998, then later served two terms in the California Senate beginning in 2006, first representing District 19 and then District 10, from where she rose to become the Senate Majority Leader from 2010 until 2014.

According to Corbett's Senate Archive page, she authored more than 160 bills and supported countless more that were ultimately signed into law, chaired several influential committees, and was known as a fierce advocate for consumers, homeowners, and the environment.

Following her time in the state Senate, Corbett made an unsuccessful run for the U.S. Congress in 2014, but two years later succeeded in being elected to the EBPRD Board of Directors in 2016 and later served as president of that board from 2020-2021, where she worked to keep parks open to the public during the pandemic.

"As the first woman to be elected Mayor of San Leandro, Ellen broke barriers and opened doors for future generations of leaders," Michael McLaughlin, the superintendent of the San Leandro Unified School District, said of Corbett. "Ellen's legacy will continue to inspire us, and we hold her family, friends, and all who knew her close in our thoughts. Her loss is felt profoundly by all of us who were inspired by her dedication and leadership."

Will be missed by her friends

Per The Mercury News, Corbett was described as "impeccably honest" and a "very strong environmentalist" by her longtime friend and colleague, former State Assemblyman Johan Klehs, whom she'd met and befriended at Cal State and later worked alongside in the San Leandro government.

"Her passing is very sad for those of us who have known her for so long," he added.