"Stu News Laguna" Founder Dies

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — Laguna Beach’s Stu Saffer passed away on Saturday, May 20, his business partner and friend Shaena Stabler reported in the digital publication Saffer founded, Stu News Laguna.

"Laguna Beach’s Stu Saffer, respected journalist and founder of Stu News Laguna, mentor to many, community stalwart, baseball fanatic, and 2016 Citizen of the Year, passed away on Saturday May 20, 2017, after complications following a surgical procedure that he and his doctors had hoped would improve his health," Stu News Laguna reported. "For years, Stu had battled a progressive disease that affected his lungs."

Local dignitaries have reached out, sharing their condolences.

"Stu made sure we knew what was going on [in Laguna]," Laguna Beach Mayor Toni Iseman Said. "His casual approach was disarming and helped him gracefully dig for the story. He created dedicated readers. His words started conversations and created memories. We had a pro at the helm, a visionary. Stu changed Laguna. He'll always be remembered."

Stu Saffer was born in 1942 in Washington, D.C. and grew up in Middleburg in rural Virginia, according to Stu News Laguna.

Stu valued kindness, loyalty, and the importance of giving back to the community. Read the full obituary, here.

According to Stu News, he loved and excelled at baseball, and enjoyed a multifaceted career in sales and journalism. Stu was a Little League baseball coach for many years.

"It was his enthusiasm for Little League and his deep involvement in community sports that first made him a town fixture," they said.

He served as Laguna Beach's Little League commissioner from 1995-1996 and received the Rhoads Martin Award in 1999.

A Celebration of Life is being planned for June. Further information will be provided as plans are finalized.

In lieu of flowers, Stu’s family requests that donations are made to Laguna Beach Little League or Friendship Shelter, two of Stu’s favorite nonprofits, or any nonprofit of your choice.

Patch News sends their condolences to Stu Saffer's family and friends in their time of grief.

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