OBITUARY

Nicholas Ziener, a former Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce executive

manager, died of natural causes Saturday in Santa Maria. He was 99.

Mr. Ziener, a devout Catholic who managed the chamber from 1963 to

1976, increased the chamber’s membership from about 150 to 1,500, said

former Mayor Bob Wilson, a longtime friend.

Mr. Ziener also contributed to Wilson’s book, “From Goat Hill to City

of the Arts: The History of Costa Mesa,” published last year.

“Now that I have lived in Santa Maria for a number of years, I look

back on my life in Costa Mesa and think about everything that happened to

make the city such a success,” Mr. Ziener wrote.

His friends and family say they will remember him more for his

personality than his accomplishments.

“Nick was the most optimistic person I ever met and the most

honest-to-gosh person,” Wilson said. “When he told you something, he

meant it.

“We had wonderful times together,” Wilson said. “You were on a high

around him. You just felt good around him. He made everybody feel like

they were the most important person in the world.”

Rebecca Reynolds, Mr. Ziener’s granddaughter, said the example Mr.

Ziener set inspired her to become an Iowa legislator.

“My grandfather never knew a stranger,” Reynolds said. “He was an

extremely outgoing individual who was very warm and fuzzy. Family was

very important to him and civic responsibility was also. He was a very

public, very optimistic person.”

Robert Ziener, Mr. Ziener’s son, said he will also remember his

father’s cheerfulness.

Mr. Ziener, who moved to Santa Maria in 1979, was preceded in death by

his wife, Alice.

He is survived by his twin children, Mary Beth Reynolds and Robert

Ziener, both of Santa Maria. He is also survived by his 11 grandchildren -- John Reynolds, Tom Reynolds, Paul Reynolds, William Reynolds and Clare

Barnett, all of Santa Maria; Rebecca Reynolds, Mike Stanford and Susan

Reynolds, all of Iowa; Bruce Reynolds of Huntington Beach, Constance

Copenhaver of Oregon and Daniel Reynolds of Chicago -- as well as 20

great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren.

Mr. Ziener’s funeral will take place at 1 p.m. Wednesday at St. Mary

of the Assumption, 309 S. School St., Santa Maria.

In lieu of flowers, donations are being accepted at Rosaries For Peace

and Life, P.O. Box 7809, Santa Maria, CA 93456.