Last week, Escondido City Councilmember John Masson tragically passed away. He had been battling cancer for awhile, with his fight coming to a saddening end. Thoughts and prayers are with the friends and family of Masson in this difficult time, as they struggle to cope with the loss of a man so beloved in his community.
The somber that accompanies death is about as unavoidable as death itself, but it’s worth highlighting the kind of man John Masson was for his friends, family, colleagues, and community. Since 2012, Masson has served on the Escondido City Council, working to create the City of Choice and making Escondido a better place to live, work and play. His dedication to the Escondido community was consistently on display during his time on the City Council, but goes back much further than 2012.
A press release from the City of Escondido detailed some of Masson’s service in recent years:
“The Escondido City Council is saddened to announce the passing of Councilmember John Masson. He was appointed to the Escondido City Council in 2012 and elected in November of 2014 representing District 2 and then re-elected in 2018. During his tenure on the Escondido City Council, Councilmember Masson served as the Deputy Mayor, a representative on the Economic Development Subcommittee of the City Council, representative to the San Diego County Water Authority, and as Escondido’s representative on the League of California Cities.”
Escondido City Manager Jeff Epp added, “While there is much to say about all of the things Councilmember Masson was involved in and contributed to, I shall always remember his tremendous passion for all things Escondido, and his incredible support of City employees. John really, really cared about Escondido and doing great things for our community. He was inspirational to have on the City Council, as a colleague and as a friend to many of us. We will miss him a great deal.”
Lastly, former Escondido Mayor Sam Abed, who worked closely with Masson for several years, said “I had the great honor to serve with John Masson on the City Council.” He went on to explain that Masson “was a great leader, a man of faith, who loved Escondido so much. His passing away is a tragic loss for his family, friends and the entire community.”
It’s clear that John Masson was a man dedicated to improving his community and cultivating lifelong relationships. He unquestionably made a huge impact on countless lives, and San Diego was a better place with him.
Masson is survived by his wife of 28 years and two children, along with a wide array of friends and colleagues who will look to continue his legacy of community service.
