Former Vista Councilmember Ted Cole, who died Sunday, remembered for his civic engagement

Ted Cole will be remembered not only for his eight years on the Vista City Council, but also for his generosity and caring nature. He died Dec. 14 at age 72.

“Everybody loved Ted,” said his wife of 46 years, Vicki Cole. “There wasn’t a bad bone in his body.”

Ted Cole served on the City Council from 1990 to 1998 and was widely respected for his integrity, thoughtfulness, and steadfast commitment to the well-being of the city and its residents.

“Ted Cole served Vista with integrity, humility, and a genuine love for this community,” Mayor John Franklin said. “His eight years on the City Council reflected his strong values, thoughtful leadership, and deep sense of service.”

Rita Geldert, who worked closely with Cole when she was city manager of Vista, said that she will remember him as someone who always had time to listen to his constituents.

“He always enjoyed having the council chambers packed,” she said. “Most of all, he really wanted to make Vista a better place for people to live.”

Even after leaving the City Council when his son, Pierce, was born to spend more time with family, he remained active in local issues and frequently attended meetings.

“Ted never stopped caring,” Franklin said. “Even in the final months of his life, he remained civically engaged…. That kind of commitment says everything about who he was.”

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