Berniece Bennett, 'Mother of Westlake,' dies at 75
Was on first City Council
By Sophia Fischer  sfischer@theacorn.com

CITY LEADERS- - In 1982, on the first anniversary of cityhood, Berniece Bennett joins Westlake Village Mayor John McDonough at the ribbon cutting for the new city hall. At right is former City Council member Franklin Pelletier. Photo is courtesy of the city.

Westlake Village residents suffered the loss last weekend of a leader credited with the formation of the city.

Following a long struggle with liver cancer, Berniece Bennett passed away at her home Sunday morning, Nov. 11. Family members were at her side. Services for the 75-year-old Bennett will be at 3 p.m. on Mon., Nov. 19 at Westminster Presbyterian Church.

Civic leaders, friends and acquaintances praised Bennett for her dedication to Westlake Village and for establishing the quality of life values the city prides itself on. Bennett served on the City Council from its inception in 1981 until 1995 and was the panel's longest-serving member. She became the first female mayor and was the city's only three-time mayor. Her involvement earned her the nickname "Mother Westlake."

Berniece Bennett

"She is considered to be the matriarch of the city," said City Manager Ray Taylor, who was hired by Bennett in 1992. "She shepherded the community along after its formation into an absolute gem in California."

It was Bennett who initiated the push for cityhood after hearing that Agoura Hills was planning to include the Westlake area within its own boundaries.

"She was the one driving back and forth, meeting with the right county people to make sure all the paperwork was filled out correctly, gathering the information necessary to prove that we could be a sustainable city," said Kris Carraway-Bowman, a longtime friend and fellow City Council member "It took an enormous amount of time, perseverance, energy and desire."

Bennett helped start several local organizations including the Westlake Joint Board of Homeowners, the Conejo Valley Chapter of National Charity League, Village Voices, Westlake Village Junior Women's Club, the Wellness Community, and the Conejo Conscience Committee.

But her interests stretched beyond the city. She was former chairman of the Los Robles Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees, and board member of the Conejo Future Foundation and two-time chair of its Youth Congress.

The Bennetts were among the first to move into First Neighborhood in 1968. Berniece Bennett became immediately involved in forming a homeowner association.

"She wanted to make sure that all of the neighborhoods that made up Westlake Village would maintain their high standards," Carraway-Bowman said.

She left a legacy of lean government and sensitivity at city hall, Taylor said.

"In many ways Berniece served as a mentor to many officials over the years. They always sought advice from Berniece about how to conduct business, or how to deal with a certain issue," Taylor said.

Her love for the city never waned.

"Even when Berniece was gravely ill over the last three weeks and in a lot of discomfort she always asked me about the city," Taylor said.

Westlake resident Bonnie Carlson met Bennett at an Agoura Hills church 25 years ago and was immediately impressed by her.

"I admired her for her accomplishments," Carlson said. "She was a wonderful lady who gave of herself so much. She always had a big beautiful smile."

Bennett was born in Morland, Kan. and raised on her grandparents' farm. After attending business school, she worked for the state of Kansas. She married Floyd Bennett in 1952. The couple moved to Las Cruces, N.M. where Bennett worked for the dean of students at New Mexico State University. The family relocated to California in 1956, eventually settling in Westlake in 1968.

Bennett is survived by her husband, Floyd, and children Stephen Bennett of Las Cruces, N.M., Lisa Bennett David of Surprise, Ariz., and Eugene Campbell of Foster City, Calif. She has a sister, stepbrother and six grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Wellness Community, 530 Hampshire Road, Westlake Village, CA 91361, or the Assisted Home Care Hospice, 468 Pennsfield Place, Ste. 100, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360.