September 2016 Bonnie Belinda Fairchild Bryan Passes Away
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www.nevadawomen.org September 2016 News Volume 21, Number 3 To provide visibility and support for the gathering and dissemination of history about the roles and contributions of all Nevada women. Bonnie Belinda Fairchild Bryan Passes Away Former First Lady 1983-1989 At A Glance: husband as he was running for student body president. The 1958 Born: 24 June 1939 (Lodi, CA) campaign was a close race. Friends Died: 30 August 2016 told Dick Bryan it might improve his (Las Vegas, NV) chances if he took a Theta to the Maiden Name: college dance. So, to lift his standing Bonnie Belinda Fairchild at the Theta house, Dick heeded his Race/Nationality/Ethnic friend's advice and asked Bonnie to Background: Caucasian the Comstock Stomp. It was a Married:1 Sept 1962 (Lodi CA) decision that forever changed both Children: Leslie, Blair, Richard Jr. their lives. Dick won the election by a Primary City and County of slim margin but, as he quickly Residence and Work: discovered, he won the prize of his life Las Vegas NV, Carson City NV in Bonnie Fairchild. Bonnie graduated Major Fields of Work: from the University of Nevada in 1961. First Lady, Community Activist She remained active in University Other Role Identities: affairs throughout her life, including Wife, Mother, civic activist serving on the Alumni Board and regularly attending University events. Las Vegas Review-Journal At the recently dedicated Richard H. Photo from the Reno Gazette Bryan Plaza on campus, a plaque was June 24, 1939-Aug. 30, 2016, Journal obituary installed that pays tribute to her former first lady of Nevada and friend significant contributions to the University. Bonnie and to all she met, died in Las Vegas Aug. 30, 2016, Dick were married on Sept. 1, 1962, in Lodi. following a valiant battle with leukemia. She was 77. Born June 24, 1939 in Lodi, Calif., to Bonnie and They lived in San Francisco for a short time as Bailey Fairchild, Bonnie was a fourth generation Dick completed his final year at Hastings Law Californian, a dairyman's daughter, and a Grape School. After graduation, they settled in Las Vegas Festival Princess who graduated from Lodi High to start a family and begin their 40-year career in School in 1957. Upon her graduation, Bonnie public life. After arriving in Las Vegas, Bonnie followed her mother's footsteps and enrolled at the immersed herself in numerous local organizations. University of Nevada. As a student, Bonnie was But, her primary focus during those early years was active in a variety of campus activities, including as a raising her young family. Bonnie and Dick were pledge of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, she made blessed with three children, Richard, Jr., Leslie and many life-long friendships, and she met her future Blair, who remained the proudest accomplishments Be sure your browser is set at www.nevadawomen.org for the new NWHP website. The website is Live! and for a while the unr.edu address will redirect you to the new website. NWHP News Volume 21, Number 3 September 2016 Page 1 www.nevadawomen.org of her life. Bonnie was the quintessential mother, Vegas and the proud recipient of its Lifetime attending various school activities, games, ballet Community Achievement Award; and she was recitals, PTA meetings and school open houses. founding Chair and Honorary Chair of the Great Even though Dick was required to be away from Basin National Park Foundation. home on occasion due to his busy law Bonnie was preceded in death by practice and budding political career, her parents; and her sister, Bette Bonnie insisted the family sit together Fairchild Albrecht. She is survived by each night for a home-cooked meal - a her husband, Richard; her son, Richard, family tradition she carried forward to Jr. (Karen) Bryan; daughters,, Leslie their time in the Governor's Mansion. In (Johnnie) Marvel and Blair (Tom) Butler; 1982, Bonnie helped Dick achieve his and the lights of her life, her six lifelong dream - his election as grandchildren, Conner, Jack, Will, Governor of Nevada. Although she was Emilee, Allison and Grace. Private already recognized by many political family service was held earlier in the observers as Dick's biggest asset in week. Celebration of Bonnie's life will each of his campaigns, as first lady, the be scheduled in Las Vegas in the near people of Nevada were introduced to a future. In lieu of flowers and in memory gracious and engaging hostess who of Bonnie Bryan, donations can be went on to became one of Nevada's made to the Richard H. and Bonnie B. most admired citizens. In 1989, the Bryan Scholarship Endowment, c/o The Bryan's left Carson City for Washington, Courtesy of Bonnie Bryan University of Nevada, Foundation, Mail D.C. following Dick's election to the U.S. Stop 0007, Reno, NV 89557. The Bryan family would Senate. During her 12 years in Washington, Bonnie like to extend their sincere appreciation to Bonnie's enjoyed all that Washington offered, including physician, Dr. Ed Kingsley, and to the physicians, observing the Senate conduct its regular business, nurses and staff at Rose de Lima, San Martin attending state dinners at the White House, joining campus, for their extraordinary compassion and care the International Club and Senate Wives' Club and for Bonnie. touring the many museums and historical sites in the area. http://obits.reviewjournal.com/obituaries/lvrj/obituary. aspx?page=lifestory&pid=181288537#sthash.jojxiVLI In 2001, Bonnie and Dick returned to Nevada. .dpuf Home again for good, Bonnie relished the time she spent with her children and their families and her many friends across the state. She attended her grandchildren's sporting and school events, enjoyed weekly lunches with her many friends, traveled the Some Thought on Bonnie Bryan world with Dick, and true to form, scarcely missed a from Jean Carbon social event in Las Vegas or Reno. Her fondest Bonnie Fairchild Bryan, Nevada's First Lady, will memories, however, over the past 16 years of her not be forgotten as her incredible legacy will be life were the annual family summer vacations which carried on through the many wonderful enabled the entire Bryan family to treasure their accomplishments she made to make Nevada a quality time together. better place to live and raise families. She touched the hearts of so many including me. Bonnie's contributions to the people of Nevada will long be remembered. During her years in public She was a pillar of strength and courage to her life, she initiated the Bonnie Bryan Brown Bag lunch husband, Richard, their children, Richard Jr., Leslie program in which Nevada pharmacists would visit and Blair and grandchildren, Nevada, the nation and homes of the elderly to provide prescription beyond. She was a superb role model to all of us. medicines to senior citizens on fixed incomes; she She was extremely kind and generous and she initiated Reno's Safe Ride program, which greeted everyone whether she was meeting with a encouraged teenagers who had been illegally foreign diplomat or a student attending the university drinking alcohol to call sober friends who would drive with kindness and appreciation. them home safely; she traveled the globe boosting tourism in Nevada earning the nickname "The She was very considerate of other people's Official Ambassador for Tourism"; she introduced the feelings and that is what made her so special. Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure to Reno; she was a 40-year member of the Junior League of Las Page 2 Volume 21, Number 3 September 2016 NWHP News www.nevadawomen.org The Board of Directors of the NWHP Thanks the Estelle J. Kelsey Foundation and its Directors Donald Bernard, Sr. and Carolyn Bernard for the $5,000 grant for the new NWHP website. The Board also thanks the NWHP members who donated $4,000 in additional funds to complete the website project. www.nevadawomen.org Profiles of Members Elizabeth “Nell” Fozard Nell, as she is better Industrial Commission (worker’s compensation) known, was recruited to and it was there she met Marcia Cuccaro. In the Nevada Women’s 1995, she went to work for Saint Mary’s History Project in 2007 Hospital as a worker’s compensation specialist by Patti Bernard and and in 2001 she began work at Physician Marcia Cuccaro. She Managed Care in Carson City doing case didn’t know what she management of worker’s compensation claims, was getting into. Since utilization and review. She retired in 2007. 2007, Nell has Nell fills her time by going to the gym 3 times participated in many a week, reading, going to movies, attending our programs – setting plays in Reno and Carson City, gardening, up, taking down, snow shoeing in the winter, visiting with friends bringing food, modeling, whatever she has been and with Nevada Women’s History Project asked to do. She has also served on the Jean activities. She is a supporter of the lymphedema Ford Research Committee for at least seven foundation as a bout with breast cancer four years – maybe more. years ago left her with this condition. She wears Nell graduated from Saint John’s School of a compression sleeve and which (depending on Nursing in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania and had the day) the various tattoo designs often cause worked in surgery for 15 years in the comments and stares when she meets Emergency Room and as a Critical Care psych someone new. That person always leaves with RN in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She then an increased understanding of the possible side worked as a psych nurse at the Woodville State effects of breast surgery.