Serna hospitalized after slipping into coma

David Sommers
State Hornet
Published November 4, 1999

CSUS professor of government and Sacramento Mayor Joe Serna Jr. entered Kaiser Permanente Hospital in south Sacramento on Wednesday night after slipping into a diabetic coma.

Serna, who fought off kidney cancer nine years ago, was diagnosed in January with a high-risk cancer that has spread to his abdomen and lungs.

City officials said Thursday that Serna has regained consciousness and is responding to treatment. It is unknown how long Serna will remain hospitalized.

Most members of the CSUS administration were away at the Statewide Academic Senate, but Joyce Longacre, assistant to President Donald Gerth, said "the thoughts of the entire administration are with Professor Serna and his family at this time."

Vice Mayor Jimmie Yee has been fulfilling many of Serna’s responsibilities since the Sacramento City Council voted last month to grant him an unconditional leave of absence.

Serna took a leave of absence from his duties at CSUS during the spring 1999.