Camas mourns loss of city administrator

Camas Mayor Scott Higgins announced Monday that City Administrator Nina Regor died following complications from ongoing medical issues.

Higgins said during last night’s City Council meeting that Regor, 51, passed away Sunday night at her home in Camas, “surrounded by her family and at peace.”

Regor had been on medical leave for the past two weeks. She had last attended the Sept. 16 City Council meetings.

“This is unbelievably shocking,” Higgins said of Regor’s unexpected death. “It is amazing to realize that at our last regularly scheduled council meeting Nina was here, and today she is gone. There are lots of lessons and things to be learned from that, but that’s really not my point now.

“I want to make sure we take the time to honor somebody who gave us an amazing amount of energy and strength and information, in a time when she was fighting for her life. We didn’t even know it, and I don’t think she even knew it until the very end.”

Regor, born in Clark County, began working as the Camas city administrator at the end of January after spending five years as the city manager in Cloverdale, Calif. She succeeded Lloyd Halverson, who had served as Camas city administrator for more than 23 years.

Higgins credited Regor with being instrumental in several efforts currently underway including the 38th Avenue/20th Street road extension project and the Lacamas Lake Lodge and Conference Center project.

“Nina was a kind, thoughtful, dedicated employee and due to her illness, we never were given the time to see the best of her work,” he said. “What she did with the short time that she had has helped the organization, and we will truly miss her.”

Each member of the City Council expressed sorrow over Regor’s death.

“I also am very saddened by the passing of Nina, and wish I had the opportunity to get to know her better,” said Councilwoman Linda Dietzman. “But I appreciate the work that she did, and her courage.”

It was on Sept. 24 that the city first announced that Regor, who had been battling undisclosed medical issues for several months, would be taking immediate medical leave for an indefinite amount of time. Four days later, Higgins said due to the severity of her condition, Regor would not be able to return to work.

Regor lived in Camas with her mom, Joan, who grew up in Clark County and graduated from Camas High School. Regor is also survived by two sisters.

In addition to time spent in Camas and Cloverdale, during her career Regor had worked as the deputy city manager for the City of Spokane Valley, Wash., where she helped get the city started following its incorporation. She was also an employee of the City of Gresham, Ore., where she was the assistant city manager from 1993 to 2003, executive assistant to the city manager from 1992 to 1993, and a budget analyst from 1991 to 1992.

A celebration of life memorial service for Regor is being planned and will be held at Journey Community Church in downtown Camas. More specific details will be released in the next few days.

Higgins, who is a pastor, was asked by Regor to lead her memorial service. Regor told the mayor to communicate the importance of her spiritual life, and to also make those who attend the service laugh.

“That’s going to be a little harder,” Higgins said of the latter, “but I have been writing down some things during the past few weeks that couldn’t help but bring a smile to our faces when we were dealing with them. We’ll share that.”

In memory of Regor, a fund for donations to benefit children’s reading programs and English as a second language programs has been set up at the Camas branch of Riverview Community Bank. Donations can be made at 700 N.E. Fourth Ave., Ste. 100.

A grief counselor will be made available to city employees and elected officials to help any employees today at City Hall, and additionally if needed.