Nancy Bush, 25-year member of parks agency, dies at 62
Five-time board chair was a founding member of Pleasant Valley district
By Daniel Wolowicz camarillo@theacorn.com

Nancy Bush

Nancy Bush, a 25-year member of the Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District board of directors, died Sun., Dec. 2. She was 62.

The cause of death is unknown; however, park district officials said it was related to a longtime illness.

The top vote-getter in the November 2006 election, Bush was the longest serving board member in the park district's history, according to park district officials. She served five times as board chair.

Her current term would have lasted until 2010.

Bush, a Camarillo resident for more than 30 years, is survived by her husband of 40 years, Hank Bush, and their two grown sons.

Paul Rockenstein, a park district board member who served with Bush for more than 12 years, said he was saddened by her death and described Bush as board member with "a real calming voice of reason."

"I very much appreciated her friendship," Rockenstein said.

Park district board member Mark Malloy said Bush was known for coming prepared to meetings and for recognizing the strengths of the park district's staff members.

"Nancy had a very strong focus toward the staff that does the everyday work of the district," said Malloy, who served with Bush for two years.

"Her enthusiasm was just infectious," park district General Manager Dan LaBrado said.

LaBrado credited Bush as one of the district's founding members and said she was the driving force behind the renovation of Crestview Park at Earl Joseph Drive and Las Posas Road.

"She had a tremendous amount of insight into the district and its history," LaBrado said.

Bush and her husband started Bush Enterprises, a home-based business which supplied costume beads, sequins and other decorations for dance outfits.

Bush Enterprises supplied all of the bead and sequins work for the television reality show "Dancing with the Stars," park district officials said.

When interviewed by the Camarillo Acorn in October 2006 as to why she sought reelection, Bush said, "I just felt as though my job isn't finished yet. I guess that's how I feel every time."

Following her reappointment, Bush said "I feel as though the people have appreciated all the work we do"

Bush said she took pride in a number of the district's accomplishments while she was a board member.

She noted the expansion of the senior center, construction of equestrian trails in Las Posas Hills, the skateboard park in Pleasant Valley Park and Freedom Park's roller hockey rink.

Most recently, the park district board was working on the Village at the Park's 55-acre sports park.

The interment will be held today at 11 a.m. at Forrest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, 1712 South Glendale Ave., A church service will follow at 2 p.m. at Camarillo Community Church, 1322 Las Posas Road.

A reception will be held in the auditorium at the Camarillo Community Center, 1605 Burnley Street. All are invited.

The park board is expected to appoint a new board member, distict officials said the search for a replacement has not yet begun.