Heal the Bay founder Dorothy Green has passed away, according to a release from Mayor Antonio Villarigosa's office.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa issued the following statement today on the passing of one of Los Angeles true environmental leaders:

"Los Angeles has lost a giant of the environmental movement in the passing of Dorothy Green."

"As one of the founders of Heal the Bay to her work on the Los Angeles Water and Power Commission where she authored important works protecting California's water, she brought passion, commitment and brilliance to her work to heal the environment.

"Through her long illness and to her last days, she never stopped advocating for the people and the health of our planet."

In September, the 79-year-old Green talked to LAT columnist Steve Lopez about her terminal cancer.