Shirley J. Reigelman; Retired Tax Official

Shirley J. Reigelman of Ventura, a retired chief deputy tax collector for Ventura County, died Wednesday in a local hospital following a brief illness. She was 68.

Reigelman was born June 23, 1929, in Detroit, and was a 33-year Ventura County resident.

She started a 20-year career with the Ventura County tax collector’s office in 1970.

John McKinney, the county’s assistant treasurer-tax collector, said Reigelman, whom he knew for 15 years, was legendary for her organizational skills and her knowledge of tax law.

“She’d gotten to know more about the revenue and taxation code than most of us will ever know,” McKinney said.

Her specialty was the collection of unsecured taxes. “That means things like businesses, boats and airplanes,” McKinney said.

Upon her retirement in 1990, Reigelman had risen to the position of chief deputy in charge of unsecured collections.

“She was a fixture here forever,” said McKinney. “She’s a real sweetheart.”

Reigelman is survived by her husband of 47 years, Douglas; a son, Steven, of Ventura; a daughter, Cryste, of Ventura; a sister, Joyce Bench of Napa; four grandchildren, and one niece.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Ventura County unit of the American Cancer Society, 3737 Telegraph Road, Ventura 93003.

Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Ted Mayr Funeral Home, Ventura.