Browse archives: 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995

Published on 07/13/1998 All articles from this issue

Finance director Lambach dies Friday in city hall office

printer friendly version

By Joanne Griffith Domingue

Town Crier Staff Writer

Sherry Lambach, award-winning finance director for the city of Los Altos and city employee for more than 31 years, died Friday in her office at city hall. She was 54.

She had attended the city planning department's annual barbecue at noon that day at History House and was "laughing and in great spirits," said Phil Rose, Los Altos city manager.

After lunch Lambach returned to her office and closed the door to make a phone call, Rose said. Later, "because she was not responding," someone went in about 2 p.m. and found her collapsed. Paramedics responded, but she did not revive, Rose said.

Lambach had a history of high blood pressure, according to friends, but it was being managed, they said.

In March 1997 the city honored Lambach and two other 30-year city employees, police Capt. Jerry Little and fire Capt. Bob Mordecai, as part of the city's employee recognition program.

Lambach became finance director for Los Altos in 1990, following Dianne Gershuny, who had been finance director before becoming city manager in 1990.

"One of the first things I did," said Gershuny in an interview at the time the city honored Lambach for her 30 years, was promote Lambach.

In 1987 Lambach was the first recipient of the city's outstanding employee award, Gershuny said.

Once Lambach became finance director, the city won "at least one award" for each budget Lambach prepared, Gershuny said. The award went to the city. But Lambach "gets the credit," Gershuny said.

Lambach, a native of Fort Riley, Kansas, graduated from Fremont High School in Sunnyvale. She attended Foothill College in Los Altos Hills and San Jose State University.

"Originally, I was going to be a school teacher," she said in a 1997 interview when the city honored her for her 30 years. But while working in a downtown Los Altos clothing store, her boss was involved in a bond issue. As she watched and helped, she said she became hooked on the workings of city government and finance.

Lambach began with the city of Los Altos Nov. 16, 1966, as a payroll clerk, earning $400 a month and "came up through the ranks," she said.

The biggest change she saw in her job during her years was "with technology." She remembered doing the city payroll on an old posting machine.

Two things she pointed to with particular pride. In her 30 years there was never a late paycheck, even with difficulties following the Loma Prieta Earthquake in 1989. And there was never a layoff of city staff, even with the belt tightening after Proposition 13 passed in 1978, limiting property tax increases to 1 percent.

Lambach said she liked the fact that the city was "not some bureaucracy."

When people came to city hall, "hopefully we could solve their problems."

Lambach was someone who "gave not just straight career time, but always above and beyond," Gershuny said on Sunday.

Whether it was work or her personal life, "she always put herself out for people," Gershuny said. Gershuny, city manager from 1990 to 1998, was not only Lambach's boss but also a close friend.

Lambach loved to travel, Gershuny said, and recently returned from a trip to Austria and Switzerland with her mother. "But the city always came first. She'd never go in a budget year," Gershuny said.

Lambach is survived by her mother, Arlyne Lambach, of Mountain View; and her goddaughter, Sheri Govens, and Govens' two children, Tianna and Thomas Govens, whom Lambach considered her family. Services will be held at 11 a.m. today in the multipurpose room of the city-owned Hillview Community Center, 97 Hillview Ave., Los Altos.

The family requests any donations sent to: Order of the Eastern Star Scholarship Fund, c/o Mary Rumzie, 12747 Camrose Ave., Saratoga 95070.