Former Los Angeles County Supervisor Edmund D. Edelman died Monday at the age of 85 following a long illness.
Edelman had been diagnosed several years ago with atypical parkinsonism, a neurodegenerative brain disorder that gradually impairs mobility and muscle function in those afflicted, according to Joel Bellman, who was his press deputy when he was a supervisor.
Edelman represented the board's Third District from 1974-1994 after serving on the Los Angeles City Council from 1965-74.
Edelman's signature issues included addressing homelessness, promoting public transportation, championing health and public health services, expanding parks and open-space protection, and support for the arts.
Edelman was an early and outspoken supporter of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning community and staunch advocate for AIDS services and treatment.
Edelman was particularly dedicated to protecting abused and neglected children, and led the effort to establish the county's Department of Children and Family Services, and to create a dedicated children's dependency court in Monterey Park that bears his name.
Edelman is survived by his wife, Mari; two daughters, Erica (Jeme) Edelman Benadon and Emily (Bryan) Glickman; four grandchildren, Jonah and Juliette Benadon, and Adam and Alexandra Glickman; a sister, Sandra Becker; and a brother, Raymond Edelman.
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In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Ed Edelman Endowment for Chamber Music at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, and the Ed and Mari Edelman Chamber Music Institute at the Colburn School of Music.
Funeral services will be held at Hillside Memorial Park in Culver City on Thursday at 1 p.m.
