Former Santa Monica Mayor Rex Minter was the passenger in a fatal plane crash that occurred just before the Christmas holiday.
The small Cessna crash-landed on Dec. 22 on the Santa Monica beach. Minter, 95, was killed.
The FAA is investigating the cause of the crash.
Minter was a lawyer and a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. He was first elected to the Santa Monica City Council in 1955 and served as mayor from 1963-67. He would later serve as city attorney for Arcadia and as a Los Angeles County judge.
“The City is grateful for Mr. Minter’s public service and we join his family in mourning his passing,” Santa Monica officials said in a statement. “Flags in front of City Hall will be lowered to half-staff and a City Council meeting in the new year will be adjourned in honor of Minter’s service.”