Former Lincoln Mayor Karleskint passes away

Former Lincoln Mayor Dan Karleskint passed away Sunday, June 22. Karleskint was known as a devoted man to his family, his children, his career and his commitments. He was married to his wife Cheryl for 64 years. They had two children together, Dave and Beth. Karleskint's son said his father's devotion to his mother was number one in their household. "They they had a very blessed marriage, and they worked at it. They both said privately to me that you do the work. You know, you respect your partner, you love them. They're your best friend. But you know, it takes work, takes patience," Dave shared. Karleskint was always there for his family. "Despite everything that he ever had going on, if it was important to one of us, the three of us, he would always find a way to, like, stop everything, rearrange his schedule, and be there," his son explained. "Like always came through in the clutch, like just didn't fail." His daughter shared that he was unflinchingly supportive as a father and a man. "Generous on all accounts, we could count on him being there in a moment's notice," Beth shared. Karleskint moved to Lincoln with his wife in 2003. He finished his 40-year career in the technology industry in 2007. Karleskint retired as vice president of operations and a chief financial officer of a project management software development corporation. He designed software systems for government defense contracting. His son said Karleskint was obsessed with his work but in a controlled, healthy way. He stated that all of his accomplishments came from a slow, rock-steady manner. "Most people come home from work and they're tired, they don't want to think about it and do it anymore. He just couldn't stop doing it," Dave shared. After Karleskint retired, he became focused on city government and volunteer work. Karleskint served on the Lincoln Airport Committee, Lincoln Loan Committee, Western Placer Unified School District, Placer County Economic Development, City Select Committee, City Borders Committee, Lincoln SMD1 Wastewater Authority, Pioneer Community Energy, Local Area Formation Commission, Placer Conservation Authority, Regional Waste Authority, Western Placer Waste Management Authority, Construction Operation JPA, Nevada Irrigation District, and Placer County Waste Authority. He was on the Sun City Lincoln Hills Communications & Community Relations Committee that organized the Community Forum program. Karleskint was elected to the Lincoln City Council in November 2016 and re-elected in November 2020. He served as mayor in 2020 and 2024. Mayor Holly Andreatta said Karleskint led with integrity and wisdom. She said she depended on his deep dives into data and learned so much from him. "He was part of the team that brought Lincoln out of financial instability into a stable city," she shared. Karleskint was a part of the City of Lincoln Fiscal Sustainability Committee in 2012 that did an independent analysis of city revenues, expenses, and operations. Andreatta said that Karleskint and his wife made Lincoln a better place. His daughter shared that everyone benefited from her father's commitment to his community. "He truly was a servant to his family, friends, and his community. This suited him quite well and we all benefited," Beth said.