PORT TOWNSEND — Dana Roberts, Jefferson County Public Utility District commissioner, remained in a coma in a Seattle hospital late Monday after suffering a heart attack early Friday morning.
“The worse part is, he hasn’t regained consciousness,” said a saddened Wayne King, PUD board of commissioners president, who has worked closely with Roberts since 2005.
“Of course, we’re worried about how long he was unconscious before he was taken to the hospital.”
Roberts, 74 and retired, was found by his wife, Carol Anne Modena, gasping for air and unconscious early Friday morning. She phoned emergency 9-1-1.
Roberts, who had suffered cardiac arrest, was flown by Northwest Airlift to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. He was listed in serious condition Monday, and is in the hospital’s intensive care unit.
Roberts was nearing the end of his first six-year term as PUD District 1 commissioner.
Roberts’ most recent public appearance was Thursday night. He was energetic and upbeat at the Jefferson County commissioners-Port Townsend City Council joint meeting.
Roberts has said he routinely jogs to keep in shape and is a vegetarian.
A strong advocate of PUD’s takeover of electric service authority from Puget Sound Energy in Jefferson County, Roberts served 24 years on the New York State Public Service Commission’s staff before he retired in Port Townsend.
Roberts’ family asks that cards and letters for Roberts be addressed to close friend Bill Hooper, in care of Roberts, 1538 NE 96th St., Seattle, WA 98115.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
