Pat Schwartz,

the first woman elected to the Orlando City Council in 1980, died Wednesday. She was 85.

Pat Schwartz, the first woman elected to the Orlando City Council, died Wednesday, her daughter said. She was 85.

Schwartz was first elected in 1980 to represent District 4, which at the time was northeast Orlando, and served eight years on the commission. In the years that followed, Schwartz was a crucial mentor for others looking to enter public service, as well as a trailblazer for women entering politics.

“She was the example and showed the rest of us how to do it,” former Orange County Chair Linda Chapin said. “I think the time was right for a woman, and Pat was a good person to do that.”

Current District 4 Commissioner Patty Sheehan called Schwartz “a remarkable public servant,” and said years after Schwartz left the commission, her impact was still felt by her constituents.

In past elections, Sheehan said she’d been told by voters “we hope you’re half as good as Pat Schwartz.”

“By breaking through that barrier and the fact that people said she was an amazing public servant just shows that if women earn the chance to serve in public life ... they will do an amazing job,” Sheehan said.

George Stuart, who served District 4 before Schwartz, said she was an advocate for preserving neighborhoods. He said the city council at that time dealt with issues involving Orlando International Airport, the construction of the first arena and other major downtown developments.

“Pat was just a strong community leader,” he said. “As a trailblazer, where would we be without those women who served on the city council? Those were some of the strongest leaders in our community.”

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said she was a “shining example of the accepting and welcoming city we continue to strive to be everyday.”

Schwartz, who was born in Lebanon, Ind., is survived by five children: Linda Barresi, Steven Schwartz, Alice Van Westenberg, Kenneth Schwartz and Nancy Patterson.