Carol Nesbitt was a visionary in some ways, says Rio Rancho Mayor Tom Swisstack, with her ability to foresee the need to help people less fortunate, even as the city was in its infancy.

Nesbitt, founded Storehouse West in 1992 and is the only executive director in the organization’s history. She died last Monday after suffering a brain aneurysm; she was 73.

According to its Web page, Storehouse West is “a nonprofit tax-exempt volunteer-staffed corporation … a community-supported agency providing food and hygiene supplies to families and individuals experiencing short-term and long-term need, providing gently-used and new clothing to children from infancy to middle-school age, special senior citizen programs and some funding for rent/mortgage/utility assistance for residents of Sandoval County.” According to Nesbitt’s assistant, Georgiana Kugle, Nesbittwas getting ready for work that day when she suffered the attack. Her husband of 53 years, Glenn, dialed 911 and she was transported to a hospital, where she died. In addition to her husband, survivors include two daughters and four grandsons.

Former city councilor Marilyn Salzman said Nesbitt’s death was shocking and the city has lost an icon.

Nesbitt, Swisstack said, “was an individual who helped at the early stages of Rio Rancho’s growth to assist people less fortunate.

“She was insightful and knew that as our community would grow, so would our social issues,” he said. “Carol helped establish the pieces for providing social services for people within our community.”

Although many people perceive Rio Rancho as an affluent community, there are others here who are less fortunate.

“The perception is that we’re upscale and, yet, that provided a niche for people who were one paycheck away from going hungry,” Salzman said. “She was just so dedicated and even-tempered — and she was just a dynamo, a dynamo. She provided a necessary niche for the community, for those that needed that kind of service.”

Tonna Burgos, executive director for Student Services in Rio Rancho Public Schools, said she appreciated Storehouse West’s help when students’ parents would call her department, needing food or clothing.

“They’ve helped in so many ways through Student Services,” Burgos said. “Lots of times, people will call and say they don’t have money for clothes and we’ll send them over to Storehouse West. They also help families with utility bills.”

“The sudden loss of Carol Nesbitt was a blow for me personally and I certainly understand the loss for our community,” said Terry Hibler, JCPenney manager and a Storehouse West board member. “Carol’s dedication and passion for her work seemed to be a result of the peace you get when you know you’re doing exactly what you should be doing. She was tireless in her passion for meeting the needs of those less fortunate. In doing so, she’d push for everything she could get and then be very pleased with whatever you were able to give.

“She’d shift gears and give you a hug and then catch up on the friendship, wanting to know how family and friends were doing. But not for too long,” Hibler said, “(because) there was work to do. The ‘thank you’ was always sincere, always from the heart, always from a friend. A wink and a nod as you drove away, as she was already in conversation with the next one in line. An inspiration to watch and a lesson to be learned.

“My life is better for having been her friend and fellow foot soldier in this community. She taught me a great deal about giving and then giving some more and then figuring out, how I could give some more. What a great lady.

“Obviously, it’s a tremendous loss for the city,” Salzman said. “She’s been an icon — the work that she’s done — from very humble beginnings, the creation of Storehouse West — expanding and growing.”

“I’m so sad,” said Debbi Moore, executive director of the Rio Rancho Regional Chamber of Commerce, which counts Storehouse West among its members. “She was certainly committed to Rio Rancho and her Storehouse West and those most vulnerable and less fortunate. We would collect food for her. She was just a great citizen and is going to be missed.”

Stewart Reinhold, chairman of Storehouse West’s board of directors, said, “This is a sad day for the whole community. Carol was definitely an asset throughout the county.”

Why did Nesbitt put everything she had into Storehouse West, he was asked.

“She was very strong in her faith and religion and she looked at it as a way of giving back to the community, the needy,” Reinhold replied. “She was extremely dedicated.

“I’ve known her about 10 years,” he recalled. “I had helped out with food drives. Years ago, she needed people to deliver food to needy seniors in Pena Blanc and Jemez Springs. She kept asking me. Finally, I didn’t have a reason to say no.

“It’s going to be extremely difficult to replace her — (she’s left) a huge void.”

By the numbers, says Kugle, in 2007, Storehouse West distributed 179,307 pounds of food to feed 8,088 people in Sandoval County.

“We also provided clothing for 2,009 children through our Kids Clothes Closet,” Kugle added.

Although Nesbitt is gone, her memory will remain.

“We lost a friend and a foot soldier in the army of Rio Rancho volunteers,” Hibler said. “Those losses are never regained and we wonder where we would be without those special people in our lives and in this community. 

“Some are still serving and others have made a difference and are now resting in peace, having done their work for the greater good of our community. Carol earned her stripes, one day at a time, one changed life at a time, on selfless act at a time.”

Funeral services for Nesbitt will be held Monday at 1 p.m., at Rio Rancho United Methodist Church, 1652 Abrazo Rd.