Former Council Member Himmelblau dies

Former City Council Member Betty Himmelblau, who served three terms on Council, passed away on Sept. 3 at the age of 92. After serving on the Planning Commission, Himmelblau served on Council from 1975 to 1981. She was elected in 1975 with 51.15 percent of the vote, but she became more popular as the years went by and was elected in 1979 with more than 76 percent of the vote. According to her obituary, she was instrumental in establishing Austin’s Medical Assistance Program and later served as chair of the Brackenridge Hospital board of directors. She was also the first woman to be appointed chair of a major regulatory agency in the state of Texas. In 1981, Gov. Bill Clements appointed her chair of the Texas Health Facilities Commission. Himmelblau is survived by her children and their spouses: Margaret and Donald Nellor of Austin and Andrew Himmelblau and Ellen Hurley of Bedford, Massachusetts. Although there will not be a service because she did not want one, her family will have a visitation on Sunday, Sept. 20, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Weed-Corley-Fish North, 3125 N. Lamar. The obituary and memorial guestbook are available here.