Rosalind Williams loses battle with cancer

Andrew Glazer

NEWPORT BEACH -- Rosalind Williams, who as the president and CEO of the

Conference and Visitors Bureau helped bring golf tournaments, conventions

and thousands of visitors to the town and as an activist brought hope to

dozens of cancer patients, died at Hoag Hospital early Sunday of

complications from a four-year battle with breast cancer. She was 55.

“Rosalind was the source of my strength and the strength of many others,”

said her husband, Rick John. “She had charm and dignity and respect and

boundless energy. She had a way of lighting up the whole room with her

smile.”

Mrs. Williams was Newport Beach’s ambassador to the world, using natural

sales skills -- fueled by her profound love of the city -- to make it a

world-class destination.

Under her direction, the city drew tourists and spectators for the

Toshiba Senior Classic golf tournament, the Newport-to-Ensenada

International Yacht Race and tennis tournaments. During several winters,

she helped fill hotel rooms with teams competing in the Rose Bowl and

their fans.

In April, she proudly presented a copy of a $21 million check -- revenues

drawn from tourist taxes over the year --to the City Council.

“It will be impossible to replace her,” said Mayor John Noyes. “She was

invaluable to the city.”

“Her dedication, perseverance and leadership had us all working together

to make Newport Beach a better city to visit, talk about and enjoy,” said

Medhi Eftekari, general manager of the Four Seasons Hotel, outgoing chair

of the Conference and Visitors Bureau board of directors and close

friend. “She knew what she wanted, and she got the job done.”

In 1966, after she graduated with a marketing degree from the University

of Southern California, Mrs. Williams began her career promoting

MasterCard, said Tom Williams, her first husband and father of her two

sons.

“Out of the 10 salespeople, she was the only girl,” said Tom Williams,

who said he remained close with his ex-wife. “And she outsold all of

them. Back then, they didn’t pay women as much as men, so she went to her

boss and said ‘I’m beating these guys every month.’ And sure enough, he

gave her a raise.”

Mrs. Williams became a full-time mother with the birth of her son Jeff,

now 29. But 13 years later, she saw an advertisement for a management

position at a small 18-room hotel, the St. Martin, in South Laguna Beach.

“I waited outside in the rain during her interview,” Tom Williams

recalled. “She knew she couldn’t be a manager because she had no

management experience. But in that hour, she convinced the owners of the

hotel that they needed a sales and marketing expert instead.”

Her tenacity, positivity and unwillingness to back down from a fight was

as apparent in her battle against cancer as it was in her professional

life. Despite four cancer diagnoses over four years, she was determined

to survive. Even on Friday from her hospital bed, she was on the phone

trying to bring more business to the city.

“During her entire illness, she was encouraging others, speaking on

behalf of cancer patients and searching for a cure,” John said.

“For someone who was under 5 feet and weighed just over 100 pounds, she

was one of the strongest people I ever knew,” Tom Williams said.

Mrs. Williams provided retired County Supervisor Marian Bergeson with

moral support when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1995.

“You would get a feeling of confidence with her own experience,” Bergeson

said. “She was an inspiration in a very difficult time.”

Mrs. Williams is survived by her husband, Rick John, and two sons, Jeff

and Gregg Williams.

The family has not funeral or memorial service arrangements. In lieu of

flowers, family members are asking that donations be sent to the Susan G.

Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, 3191-A Airport Loop Drive, Costa Mesa, CA

92626, or call (714) 957-9157.