SEATTLE — Jefferson County Public Utility District Commissioner Dana Roberts remained in a coma Thursday at the Harborview Medical Center intensive care unit a week after he suffered a heart attack at his Port Townsend home.
“We’re just trying to keep him in our prayers and keep a light on him,” said fellow PUD Commissioner Wayne King of Gardiner.
“I miss the guy. I really miss him.”
King said doctors were planning to run tests on the 74-year-old Roberts next week to further diagnose his condition.
Roberts, an elected PUD commissioner for about five years, was found by his wife, Carol Anne Modena, gasping for air and unconscious early last Friday morning, and she phoned emergency 9-1-1 for help.
Flown to Seattle hospital
Roberts was flown by Northwest Airlift to Harborview in Seattle.
He was initially diagnosed as going into cardiac arrest.
King, who Modena asked to handle concerned peoples’ phone calls, said he has been fielding a calls all week.
Roberts was nearing the end of his first six-year term as PUD District 1 commissioner and was believed to be considering running for a second term.
His last public appearance was the evening before he fell ill, when he attended a Jefferson County commissioners-Port Townsend City Council joint meeting.
Roberts routinely jogged, is a vegetarian and showed no outward signs of health problems.
A strong advocate of PUD taking over 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 or items sent to Roberts be addressed to close friend Bill Hooper, in care of Roberts, at 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.
