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The California Special Districts Association (CSDA) is saddened to learn of the passing of active CSDA Member E.G. “Jerry” Gladbach. He passed away on July 13, 2022, at the age of 82.

Jerry Gladbach was a pillar in the water industry, locally, state-wide and nationally, with a career stretching more than 60 years; and was a key member of the CSDA team that developed the Special District Leadership Academy (SDLA) curriculum.  

“I had the pleasure of working with Mr. Gladbach over the last 20+ years and have learned so much from his extensive experience as a district board member. At the California Special Districts Association, he was one of our main governance subject matter experts that helped develop our Special District Leadership Academy curriculum now used to train thousands of elected and appointed officials from special districts,” said CSDA CEO Neil McCormick. “His insights, experience, and leadership at the statewide and local levels throughout the years brought forward the best in governance practices to the benefit of his district’s constituents and the entire special district community.”


As a member of the National Water Resources Association Board of Directors, Mr. Gladbach helped promote the development and use of our nation’s water resources. He was also active in the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) until his passing, serving as president from 2002 – 2004, and taking roles on many of its committees. During his tenure as ACWA President, the association developed “No Time to Waste: A Blueprint for California Water,” a landmark document which articulated the water community’s call for a comprehensive solution to California’s water problems. He was the current president of the ACWA Joint Powers Insurance Authority Board of Directors.

                                                                                                     Jerry Gladbach (on right) as ACWA President with “No Time to Waste: A Blueprint for California Water" publication 

“Jerry treated everyone with respect. He was not only my dear friend, but my mentor, a confidante and a true leader who was instrumental in my success,” said ACWA President Pamela Tobin. “I will be forever grateful, and I aspire to be the person he confidently entrusted to follow in his footsteps in the water industry. We need more people like him in this world, and he left all of us who knew him better for knowing him.”