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Former Poway City Councilman Bruce Tarzy dies

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Dr. Bruce J. Tarzy, an original member of the Poway City Council and longtime civic leader, died Monday morning at home following a three-year battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 68.

Tarzy was a slow-growth advocate and strong proponent of community planning, parks, and low-density development in the city, which incorporated in 1980.

He, along with Mary Shepardson, Bob Emery, Clyde Rexrode and Linda Oravec, were elected by voters to be members of the first council. Tarzy was reelected in 1984 and stepped down after two terms. He served two terms as the appointed mayor, in 1984 and 1987.

His death follows Emery’s death earlier this year and leaves Shepardson as the last living original council member.

“Bruce was a force of nature,” Shepardson said. “He had more energy than any three people combined.”

Former Mayor and Councilman Don Higginson said, “Dr. Tarzy was on the City Council in 1986 when I was first elected. As a new naïve councilman he always went the extra mile to show me the utmost respect. I was quickly impressed with his land use knowledge and ability to disagree with a point of view, but never in a disagreeable manner. He worked hard to place his handprints on the foundational building bricks of our city.”

Jim Bowersox, city manager for Poway’s first 25 years, added, “Bruce was the most energetic councilmember that I ever served. There was never a question of his love of Poway or his commitment towards making Poway a better place to live the rural residential lifestyle.”

Prior to being elected to the council Tarzy served on the board of the Palomar Pomerado Hospital District and on the Poway Planning and Development (PPDP) panel. After leaving the council he was active for many years in the Green Valley Civic Association and, in 2012, agreed to chair the city’s Oversight Board, charged by the state monitor the closing of the city’s redevelopment.

After retiring from his obstetrics practice, Tarzy worked as a medical consultant for the Medical Review Branch, Audits & Investigations, state Department of Health Care Services. He improved provider education at the state and national level, speaking with medical residents and established physicians about ways to prevent healthcare fraud and abuse. He also co-founded and served as chief medical officer of MediKeeper, one of the pioneers in digitizing healthcare and empowering patients.

Survivors include his wife, Beth; a son, Ryan; two granddaughters; his mother, Marie; and a brother, Dr. Neil Tarzy.

Private burial services will be held at Dearborn Memorial Park. A public memorial service will be held on Saturday, Aug. 8. Details will be posted on www.brucetarzy.com.

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