Former Chair of Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Jean Packard Dies

Longtime community and civic leader Jean R. Packard, 91, the former chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, has died. The Northern Virginia Conservation Trust (NVCT) honored Packard in 2011 at its annual “September Showcase” in Annandale. Packard received the organization’s lifetime achievement award, re-named the “Jean R. Packard Award,” for her conservation work.

Packard was on hand just last month for a groundbreaking for the Jean R. Packard Occoquan Center part of the NOVA Parks system.

On Tuesday, Chairman Sharon Bulova released the following statement:

“This morning Fairfax County lost a dear friend and indomitable community leader, Jean Packard.

Jean served as Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in the early 1970s. She served for twenty-four years on the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority, as President of the Federation of Citizens Association, and was the first woman in Virginia elected to a Soil and Water Conservation District Board. Jean was tremendously active in a number of citizens organizations, especially in the environmental arena.

In September, I was pleased to join Jean for a groundbreaking ceremony at the Occoquan Regional Park, which will be rebuilt as a major waterfront destination park during the next two years. The largest feature in the refurbished park will be The Jean R. Packard Occoquan Center. The center will overlook the river that she worked so hard to protect and will be a great asset for our community.

Jean was a true trailblazer for women leaders in Fairfax County. She was a forward-thinking, passionate steward of the County’s parks, water and natural resources, and will be sincerely missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing her.”

PHOTO of Jean Packard from 2011/Patch archive photo