Sally Ormsby, director of the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District and longtime community activist in Fairfax County died Monday, Sept. 15 as a result of liver cancer.

"She was always a very thoughtful advocate for environmental protection," said James R. Hart, Fairfax County Planning Commissioner (At-large). "She did so many things for the environment."

Hart recalled Ormsby's diligence and dedication when she came before the Planning Commission during discussions about changes to zoning regulations.

"She was one of the few people who took the time to read the proposed amendments and make constructive criticism," he said.

Ormsby’s list of community involvement stretches to the 1970s, when she began as a member of the League of Women voters and eventually rose to the board of directors and chair of the Women’s Issues and Environment Committee. She became involved in land-use over the years, working with the Fairfax County Citizens Committee on Land Use and Transportation. In 2006, the Fairfax County Federation of Citizens Associations presented Ormsby with its Citizen of the Year award.

"I’ve worked for Sally for years in [the Mantua neighborhood of Fairfax]. She really was an integral part of Mantua and Fairfax County," said John Jennison, president of the federation.

He also praised her work on the environment. "She has been instrumental in helping to protect the Occoquan."

Jean Packard, former chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, said Ormsby’s passing was a blow to community activists.

"She was the most organized person I ever knew," said Packard. "Her dedication to the environment and to the importance of citizen participation was unparalleled, and her experience in and knowledge of county and state affairs was invaluable to many individuals and organizations with whom she worked. She leaves an empty space in the public realm that will be all but impossible to fill."

One of Ormbsy's neighbors in Mantua, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerry Connolly (D-At-large), called Ormsby his "very good friend."

"Fairfax County loses the citizen activist extraordinaire," he said.

In an interview Wednesday, Connolly said that Ormsby continued to work to make Fairfax a better community to the very end. Visiting her on Sunday night, Connolly found her going through committee files to give to people to follow up.

"We're all a little less without her and all a little bit more as a community because of her," said Connolly.

Funeral services for Ormsby will be Saturday, Oct. 18, at 11 a.m., at Providence Presbyterian Church, 9019 Little River Turnpike in Fairfax.