William (Bill) Siverson; Aerospace Engineer

William (Bill) Siverson of Oak Park, an aerospace engineer who was instrumental in the creation of the Oak Park Unified School District, died of cancer Monday at Los Robles Regional Medical Center. He was 63.

Siverson spent 30 years as a design engineer with various aerospace firms before his retirement. His last job was with Rockwell Corp., and during his tenure there he worked on the space shuttle program.

The father of five, he was best known for his efforts to provide local education for children living in Oak Park, a small unincorporated community east of Thousand Oaks and just north of Agoura Hills.

As president of the Oak Park Civic Assn. in the mid-1970s, Siverson joined other residents in an unsuccessful effort to acquire state funds for Oak Park children to attend nearby Agoura High School in Los Angeles County.

The setback led Siverson to work with other Oak Park residents to form a new district, and he served on its board of education from 1977 to 1983, said Agoura Hills City Clerk Pat Manning.

“He was a dedicated parent who truly cared for the kids of Oak Park,” said Manning, who co-chaired the organizational drive with Siverson.

Siverson was born Aug. 22, 1929, in Buffalo, N.Y.

Survivors include his wife Margaret Siverson of Oak Park; two daughters, Lisa Siverson of Ojai and Ann Siverson of Oak Park; three sons, Bill Jr. of Simi Valley, Bob of Washington state and John of Woodland Hills; and a grandson, Christopher of Simi Valley.

A funeral service was held Wednesday at St. Jude’s Catholic Church in Westlake Village, with burial in Valley Oaks Cemetery in Westlake Village.

Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Pierce Brothers Meyer-Mitchell in Van Nuys.