In Mr. Lerch's typical And they came. Within hours, nearly 150 community members had voiced their heartfelt support on his Facebook page and pledged prayers for him. Just weeks ago, Mr. Lerch attended the dedication of the Pressburg Parkway (South St. @ Jaymills Ave.) for his longtime friend, fellow veteran and former Council office aide Dan Pressburg.
A North Long Beach omnipresence, Mr. Lerch was part of the North Long Beach Redevelopment Project Area Committee (Vice-Chair); North Long Beach Neighborhood Association Deforest Park Chapter (Vice-President); North Long Beach Business Association (Board Member); North Long Beach Community Action Group (Vice President); Citizen Police Complaint Commission (Commissioner); Long Beach Strategic Plan Task Force (Community Safety); Long Beach Veterans Day Parade Committee (Logistic Chair, Committee Chair.) Mr. Lerch's work on the LB Veterans Day parade from its earliest days reflected his service in the U.S. Coast Guard (June 1969 through March 1993, 12 years active duty + 12 years in the reserves.) For 15 years, Mr. Lerch provided rock solid support for his wife Janet as she battled the relentlessly debilitating effects of multiple sclerosis. They married in 1971, had two children, and Janet passed away in March 2019. LBREPORT.com extends our best wishes and prayers to Mr. Lerch and his family as they face this latest battle. |      |
(Oct. 12, 2021, 3:45 a.m.) -- After undergoing grueling tests, hospitalized treatments and two months after his doctor told him his cancer had shrunk and was going away, former Vice Mayor/CD 9 Councilman (2002-2010) Val Lerch learned the cancer had surfaced in two locations.
