Longtime Newton City Councilor Brian Yates Died

NEWTON, MA — Former City Councilor Brian Yates died on March 15. Yates was a councilor in Newton for some 30 years.

“I am very sorry to inform you that our valued former colleague, Councilor Brian Yates, died yesterday from complications arising from a severe cardiac arrest he incurred several weeks ago," said President Marc Laredo in an email to councilors on Saturday.

Yates was a 1971 graduate of Boston College and received his Master's in Urban Affairs from Boston University in 1974. He went to work for the City of Lowell as an urban planner and retired in 2011. He was first elected to the city council in 1987 and after three decades in the seat, finished his final term as a councilor-at-large in December 2017. During his time in Newton he helped found the Friends of Hemlock Gorge and helped found the Echo Bridge Railings Committee.

Yates is survived by 12 cousins, according to his obituary.

Yates ran contested races for his Ward 5 seat six times between 2001 and 2017, according to a post by Sean Roche in the Village 14 blog.

And although he had many friends in the city, not everyone agreed with his point of view.

"Brian is not, to my mind, on the right side of development and transportation, how to improve village centers, and other issues. But, it’s very clear that his are thoughtful and honestly held positions," said Roche in the post.

Supporters spoke of his tirelessness, and his ability think deeply.

"His dedication to his philosophical religious belief, his exploration for change challenging status quo, and his avid curiosity for history is a recipe which draws even from the northsiders," wrote Harry Sanders of Yates on a Village 14 post in 2017 discussing his merit for reelection.

Time and again, Yates was described as an asset to the city:

"Brian’s service is a huge asset to the City of Newton. He’s approachable and down to earth. He listens to other view points and really cares about the City and his positions are always well thought out," said Peter Karg of Yates ahead of his final run for a seat on the council in 2017.

"Our condolences go out to Councilor Yates’s family and many friends. Brian was a distinguished public servant who will be sorely missed," said Loredo.

Funeral information:

The wake for Yates will be held Today, Tuesday, from 4-8 p.m, at George F Doherty & Sons Funeral Home in Needham. The funeral procession will begin from the funeral home at 9:30 a.m., Wednesday followed by the mass at 10:30 am at Mary Immaculate of Lourdes Church in Newton Upper Falls. His internment will be in St. Mary Cemetery, Needham.