Former U.S. Rep. Steve Horn of Long Beach dies at 79

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Steve Horn, a moderate Republican who represented Long Beach and surrounding communities in Congress from 1993 to 2003 and earlier served as president of Cal State Long Beach for nearly two decades, died Thursday at his home in Long Beach, his family announced. He was 79 and had Alzheimer’s disease.

As a Republican in a district trending Democrat, Horn decided not to run for re-election after redistricting changed the boundaries of the 38th district, which during his time included Bellflower, Downey, Paramount, Signal Hill and most of Long Beach and Lakewood.

Horn did not always follow the party line in Congress. He voted to impeach President Clinton, but he broke with most Republicans in voting against oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. And he supported abortion rights.

Born John Stephen Horn in San Juan Bautista, Calif., on May 31, 1931, he received a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University in 1953, a master’s in public administration from Harvard in 1955 and a doctorate from Stanford in 1958.

He was president of Cal State Long Beach from 1970 to 1988.

Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Nini Moore Horn; children Marcia and Steve Jr., and a grandson.

A private funeral is planned, along with a memorial service at a later date.

Horn’s family requests donations in his name to the University Library, California State University, Long Beach, c/o CSULB Foundation, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90840.

A complete obituary will follow at www.latimes.com/obits.

-- Claire Noland