Mike McGrew, legal counsel for the Town of Discovery Bay, passed away suddenly this week from an apparent heart attack. He was 69.

A regular presence at the town’s Community Services District (CSD) meetings, McGrew was a longtime attorney with Neumiller & Beardslee in Stockton. His expertise was in public law, land use and environmental and water law.

Known for his quick wit and trademark bowtie, McGrew was a familiar face at Discovery Bay’s CSD deliberations, and will be sorely missed.

“In my short time working with Mike, he was a real help to me because I had such confidence in his abilities,” said Discovery Bay General Manager Rick Howard. “He was just a very professional attorney who exuded confidence. When you spoke with him, you knew you were getting good advice.”

McGrew’s resumé included a history degree in 1963 from UC Berkeley, where he also received his juris doctor from Hastings College of the Law at Berkeley in 1971. He was a member of the San Joaquin County Bar Association and the State Bar of California.

In addition to his work in Discovery Bay, McGrew has also been counsel to the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), numerous special districts including nearby Mountain House, as well as San Joaquin General Hospital, the Children and Families Commission and the Health Plan of San Joaquin.

“There were just so many good things about Mike, both personally and professionally,” said Howard. “We’ll all miss him very much.”