Roma Armbrust

Roma Joy Armbrust (née Sarno, 1927–2003[1]) was an American conservationist and activist. She is best known for her work with Jean Harris to keep Ormond Beach undeveloped.

Roma Armbrust
Born(1927-09-30)September 30, 1927
Los Angeles
DiedOctober 10, 2003(2003-10-10) (aged 76)
Ventura
EducationUCLA
Occupations
  • Teacher
  • Conservationist
Known forProtection of Ormond Beach
AwardsVolunteer Leadership Award from the Environmental Law Institute

Biography

She received a bachelor's degree from UCLA in 1948.[2] Armbrust became an elementary school teacher in Los Angeles.[3] She taught for 25 years at Knollwood and Herrick elementary schools.[4] In 1959, Armbrust was part of the San Fernando YMCA "Meadow Maidens" mother-daughter group with her daughter Vikki.[5]

When she retired from teaching, she joined the League of Women Voters and became interested in environmental issues.[6] Armbrust, in partnership with Jean Harris, brought together environmentalists and government officials to ensure the preservation of the undeveloped salt marsh area of Ormond Beach in Oxnard, California. They founded the Ormond Beach Observers in 1989 to lead the wetlands protection initiative. They later continued to work with the city of Oxnard on the Ormond Beach Task Force.[6] Armbrust's activism spanned decades.[7] She was known for her non-confrontational approach to bringing people together.[3]

She was also involved in other volunteer activities including the Ventura County Living Wage Coalition, the Ventura County Open Space District Advisory Committee and the Regional Civic Alliance of Ventura County.[2] She was President of the San Buenaventura Friends of the Library from 1998 to 1999.[4]

In 2003, Armbrust was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and died a month later, on the same day that the California Coastal Conservancy announced plans to acquire and protect part of the Ormond Beach wetlands.[3]

Armbrust married William (Bill) Armbrust III in 1948.[8] They had two children.[1]

Awards and honours
  • 2003 Commendation from the California Legislature Assembly.[4]
  • 2003 Commendation from the City of Oxnard City Council.[9]
  • 2003 Commendation from the State Coastal Conservancy.[10]
  • Commemorative "Roma Armbrust Wetlands Drive" sign on Arnold Road leading to Ormond Beach.[2]
  • 2000 Volunteer Leadership Award from the Environmental Law Institute (shared with Jean Harris).[6]
  • RA! RA! Awards of the National Women's Political Caucus of Ventura County named in her honour. Armbrust was a founding member.[11]

References
  1. "Armbrust, Roma (1927–2003) | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2021-04-17.
  2. "Environmentalist Roma Armbrust dies". Malibu Times. Retrieved 2021-04-17.
  3. Saillant, Catherine (2003-10-11). "Activist Dies on Cusp of Conservation Victory". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2021-04-17.
  4. Assembly, California Legislature; Jackson, Hannah-Beth (2003-10-07). "Relative to Commending Roma Armbrust". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. "Meadow Maidens". Calisphere. Retrieved 2021-04-17.
  6. "Roma Armbrust and Jean Harris | ELI National Wetlands Awards". elinwa.org. Retrieved 2021-04-17.
  7. Covarrubias, Amanda (2014-12-02). "Great Read: A humble guardian watches over Ormond Beach". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2021-04-17.
  8. "Armbrust-Sarno Vows Repeated". The Van Nuys News and Valley Green Sheet. 1948-06-05. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
  9. Oxnard, City of; Lopez, Manuel M. (2003-10-07). "Commendation". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  10. Board, State Coastal Conservancy; Morabito, Paul (2003-10-23). "Honoring Roma Joy Armbrust". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  11. "Political group to honor Women of Jewelia for good works". www.vcstar.com. Retrieved 2021-04-17.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.