We are honored to recognize the following deceased members and volunteers for their dedication to the Friends of the Thousand Oaks Library. They will live forever in our hearts and memories…

Sue Driver

It is with the deepest sadness that the Friends of the Thousand Oaks Library announce the passing of longtime volunteer and Board member Sue Driver, on August 4, 2018. After a full and accomplished career with the FBI in the Los Angeles field office, Sue continued her passion for service and helping others by working with the Red Cross, the AARP, and the Friends of the Thousand Oaks Library.

Sue and her late husband Jim Neilson served both on the FTOL Board and as volunteers, tirelessly supporting the library through their efforts. Sue was also a member of the Ronald Reagan Library and enjoyed visiting the museum and attending special events; she was also a wholehearted animal lover and spent her free time with her dogs, Mya and Kodiak.
Sue was the initiator and leader of the Friends’ online sales team, which maximized the value of donated books by selling them online, on eBay and Amazon. Within a year of beginning the program, Sue’s online sales team was meeting and then exceeding the funds raised by the FTOL daily sales, essentially doubling the amount of monies raised for the library. Many of the programs, materials, and technology that the Friends sponsor are made possible by Sue’s vision and tireless efforts.

Sue will be remembered by family, friends, and colleagues for her gentle spirit and willingness to mentor; she will also be remembered by the Friends for her cheerful, tireless work ethic and her dedication to the library. The Friends will ensure that Sue’s program, and her legacy of innovation and dedication, will remain robust and continue to serve the library.

Jim Neilson

Longtime Friends of the Thousand Oaks Library Board member Jim Neilson passed away on February 22, 2016. Jim was a devoted volunteer both at the Friends of the Thousand Oaks Library and the Ronald Reagan Library, where he was a docent and a presenter for many years. Jim is sorely missed for his lively interest in life, his dedication to the causes he served as a volunteer, and for his warm, expansive personality. As Friends’ member Eileen Kessler puts it, “He was well-loved by everyone he came in contact with; the place lit up when he walked in.”

Jim is often described by those who knew him as a Renaissance man. He entered the FBI as a special agent in 1970, and spent the majority of his career at the LA Field Office. He truly loved being an FBI agent, and when he retired in 1999, he put that same dedication, zest for life and service directly into his volunteer work and hobbies. He coached high school basketball, taught part-time at the Criminal Justice Program at Ventura Community College and at the Ventura County Police & Sheriff’s Reserve Officer Academy, and was an avid reader. He was a hardworking docent at the Reagan Library, logging over 5500 hours over his volunteer career. In his spare time he played the piano and the accordion, worked with stained glass and woodworking, and with his wife Sue, was a busy, dedicated Friend of the Library, both as a Board member and as a volunteer.

Bettie Rae Hall remembers Jim’s larger-than-life personality, saying “Jim was the greatest storyteller ever. He provided great entertainment while we were working—we never paid attention to the time, because he was so funny and kept us all so entertained.” Jim also utilized his storytelling flair in his presentations on presidents and their First Ladies—turning hours and hours of research into productions which were popular throughout the Conejo Valley.

A team of Friends’ members and library staff led by Ruth Dods, conceived the idea of acquiring a special fish for the aquarium in Jim’s honor; the team raised the funds to make the purchase possible, and acquired a Purple Tang, one of the most prized specimens of all saltwater fish due to their color. The fish was dubbed “Hoover,” in memory of Jim’s FBI service, and resides in the library aquarium today.

Jim is remembered by the Friends for his dedication to the Friends and his vivid, joyous personality, which warmed the hearts of everyone who met him. He is greatly missed, but his memory lives on, not only in the colorful presence of the Purple Tang named in his honor, but also in the stories still told about him with great affection today. Jim and Sue’s work and dedication left a lasting mark on the Friends, and we are pleased to honor their memories here.