Bert Vance; Retired Principal

Bert Vance, a retired elementary school principal who was active in a variety of San Fernando Valley causes, has died at his San Fernando home. He was 73.

Vance died Feb. 9 of cancer, said his wife, Nina Vance.

Born in New Bedford, Mass., Vance came to California as an infant and graduated from Manual Arts High School. He received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from USC. During World War II, Vance was a captain in the Army Air Forces and afterward served in the Air Force Reserves from 1946 to 1978, reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel.

After teaching elementary school in Los Angeles, Vance became a principal in the mid-1950s, working at Lankershim Elementary School, Sylmar Elementary School and Fillmore Street School, now called Hillery T. Broadous Elementary School. He retired as principal of Sharp Avenue School in 1974.

Vance served as executive director of the Assn. of Elementary School Administrators of Los Angeles from 1972 to 1983, then as executive director of Associated Administrators of Los Angeles until 1990. He also was active with the San Fernando Valley Children’s Guidance Clinic, the Latin American Civic Assn., Head Start Program and the North Valley Jewish Community Center Youth Program.

He was a board member of the San Fernando Valley Fair Housing Council and the San Fernando Valley branch of the NAACP, and campaign manager and a field administrator for the late state Sen. Thomas Carrell.

In addition to his wife of 19 years, Vance is survived by his sons, Timothy Vance of Simi Valley and Kevin Vance; daughters Shelley Laflin of Fairfax, Va., Kelly Vance of Spokane, Wash., and Casey Locke of Roseville, Calif.; sister Alice Chandler of Big Bear Lake, and 15 grandchildren.

A memorial service is planned for 2:30 p.m. today in the Satellite Building of the Student Union at Cal State Northridge, 9803 Zelzah Ave. Donations can be made in Vance’s name to the Visiting Nurse Assn. Hospice, 6180 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Suite 125, North Hollywood 91606.