Former Lincoln Mayor Coleen Seng has died at the age of 89. In a statement from the City, Seng passed away peacefully Monday surrounded by her family. Seng was born in Council Bluffs and dedicated her life to public service and to the community she called home for more than sixty years.
Seng began her public life through neighborhood advocacy and community organizing, work that shaped her enduring commitment to civic engagement. She served ton the Lincoln City Council from 1987 to 2003 and as Lincoln’s 50th Mayor from 2003 to 2007.
“Former Mayor Coleen Seng devoted decades of her life to serving the people of Lincoln, and today our city mourns the loss of a remarkable public servant, neighbor, and friend,” Current Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird said in a statement.
“Coleen’s commitment to bringing people together shaped her entire career. Her belief in open and accessible government guided her leadership and strengthened the civic fabric of our city.” Gaylor Baird says Seng championed projects that continue to benefit Lincoln today, including revitalizing key corridors and helping advance major efforts like Antelope Valley.
Gaylor Baird says her administration’s planning and community engagement efforts laid the groundwork for what would one day become Pinnacle Bank Arena and West Haymarket. “I feel fortunate to have known her as a colleague and friend, and I will always remember the kindness and support she offered to me and to so many others.”