Lee K. Harrington, former chief executive of the Los Angeles Economic Development Corp., died Friday while surfing near his home in Santa Barbara County. He was 64.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of our colleague, friend and mentor,” Bill Allen, Harrington’s successor as LAEDC chief executive, said in a statement. “We mourn the loss of a great leader, a dedicated public servant and a giving and decent human being.”

Harrington was head of the LAEDC from 1995 to 2006. After retiring, Harrington became executive director of the Southern California Leadership Council. He also had his own business, Harrington Resources LLC, which had oil and gas drilling ventures in Oklahoma and real estate consulting services in California.

Before his tenure at LAEDC, Harrington spent 20 years at Pacific Enterprises. During that time he served as counsel to the company’s real estate development group. He also had been senior operating executive at Southern California Gas Co., a subsidiary of Pacific Enterprises at the time.

Harrington also served on numerous committees and blue ribbon task forces for several California governors and the Legislature. He was a graduate of the USC School of Law and the University of California, Santa Barbara. He also had been an officer in the U.S. Navy Supply Corps.

Survivors include his wife Margaret and son Ryan. Arrangements have not been announced.