Dorothy Gerner Dorothy Gerner, a 41-year Costa...

Dorothy Gerner

Dorothy Gerner, a 41-year Costa Mesa resident who dedicated her

life to volunteering in her community, died Saturday of cancer. She

was 77.

Ms. Gerner was active in several local groups, including the

Mothers March during the March of Dimes. Her daughter, Kathy Mauro,

said Ms. Gerner started the practice of men accompanying the women

during that march.

Ms. Gerner was best known as a swimming instructor who specialized

in teaching disabled children.

“Doctors said she worked miracles in the water,” Mauro said.

Ms. Gerner worked with several children with disabilities from

spina bifida to cerebral palsy. She received the Henry Ford Award for

volunteers four times for her work.

Mauro said her mother was “too modest” to run for office in city

government, but she ran campaigns for several former council members,

including Jack Hammett and Dominic Raciti.

Ms. Gerner was also active in the PTA, Bluebird and Girls Scouts

and her church, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church on Baker Street.

“She crocheted altar cloths for the church and was active in the

choir,” Mauro said.

Ms. Gerner is survived by her son Michael Gerner, daughter Kathy

Mauro and sisters Violet Jahn and Elinor Liles.

A funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday at St. John the Baptist

Catholic Church.