EXECUTIVE BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

BIO FOR NANCY ALCOCK - FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF THE SURPRISE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
 
Born: Detroit, Michigan
Education: Business Management, George Washington University
Married to Graham Alcock
Experience: Owned a Photography and Art Studio - Hosted TV Shows and Radio Music Programs
- Corporation Spokesperson - Manager of a Radio Station
Other: Served in the Peace Corps as a Small Business Advisor to the Fiji Development Bank
Traveled 50 States, lived in 6 States and 3 countries
Formerly active in the Detroit Museum of Art
Insatiable thirst for history

developed history and tour guides

Former member of:
Rotary Club
American Business Women's Association - Public Relations Director
Public Relations Society of America
Republican Women of Wisconsin - President
League of Women Voters - President
 
Member of:
 Order of the Eastern Star
Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels
 
Recepient of: 
Citation for Outstanding County Achievement
National Performance Review Citation

Bio for Doris Lanzillotti, Vice-President

I was born and raised in Israel, went to school there (French convent and then an English School).  Travelled with the family right after world war II and lived in Cali Colombia for a year.  I speak eight languages, I have travelled the world, I was a singer, an actress, a dancer, a bookkeeper, a secretary, owned my own business (such as beauty salons, part owner of a construction firm).  Lived in Italy for 25 years because I was married to a Captain who was Italian and worked for Costa Lines and Princess Cruises.  Came to Arizona eleven years ago after his death and went straight to work for Del E. Webb's Sun City Grand.  Joined the Sunsations Precision Drill Team (Marching Dance Group), also Volunteered for Del E. Webb Hospital.  I am a member of the Surprise Elks' Lodge 2833, was a member of the Surprise Lions Club, and now I am with the Surprise Historical Society.  I also work as a Tour Guide for travel agencies. 

Bio for Margaret Leon Espinoza – Surprise Historical Society, Treasurer

I moved to Surprise, Arizona in the 1950s with my parents Fidel and Ruth G. Leon. The family harvested cotton for local farms and owned Leon's Park West RV Park on Elm Street for 30 years. I worked at  Dysart School District for 28 years or so and now retired and still live in Surprise. 

Bio for Sherry Simmons Aguilar - Surprise Historical Society - Secretary

A life time resident of the area, and resident of the Original Town Site in Surprise.   I began employment with City of Surprise on January 2, 1990 and have served as City Clerk and City Historian since 1996. 

Recently received the highest  designation in the Clerk’s profession, to date, have entered the Master Municipal Clerk’s Academy.   In April 2005, I graduated from Arizona State University from the Certified Public Manager’s Program and received the designation of Master Municipal Clerk in 2008 through the International Institute of Municipal Clerk’s.       

Personal - I am married to George Aguilar and recently celebrated our 30^th anniversary and we have one son Anthony (Jennifer) and two grandchildren.  We are car enthusiasts and many weekends are spent attending classic car shows.   

NON-EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER

BIO FOR JEAN DUNCAN - I grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, and, in 1958 I moved with my husband and three small children to Phoenix, Arizona.  We had never been here before, but thought that it would be a warmer and more interesting place than Nebraska to live our lives!  In 1963 I enrolled at A.S.U. and graduated in 1968 with a major in English and a minor in Humanities.  After a year of graduate work in the same fields, I began teaching English at Moon Valley High School in Phoenix.  After ten years, I transferred to Greenway High School, where I was the librarian there until I retired in 1990. 

In 1998 my husband and I moved to Arizona Traditions in Surprise.  That summer I became a part of the newly formed Friends of the Surprise Libraries, and I am still actively involved in all aspects of this organization. The history of this group and the libraries we support, are an integral part of the history of Surprise, and give me a natural interest in being a part of the Surprise Historical Society. 

In addition to my love of literature and history, I love to travel.  When our children were young, we camped in and explored Arizona and the western states.  My husband and I have traveled by car, plane, and motor home throughout the U. S., Canada, and thirteen other foreign countries. 

BIO FOR MARGARET TAYLOR WEBB - BORN IN EASTERN COLORADO, I WAS TOLD I
WAS BORN IN A 'SODDY' WHICH IS A HOUSE MADE ENTIRELY OF SOD, BUT I
DO NOT REMEMBER THAT!  FATHER WAS A SHARECROPPER.  WE WERE
VERY POOR.  MOVED TO WESTERN COLORADO AT AGE 4.  SPENT MY
GROWING UP YEARS IN A RURAL, VERY SIMPLE LIFESTYLE.  LEFT HOME AT AGE 17 AFTER GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL---WENT OUT TO A PRETTY
SCARY WORLD TO ME TO SEE IF I COULD FIND A PLACE OUT THERE FOR ME
AND POSSIBLY MAKE SOME SORT OF LIFE FOR MYSELF-- PERHAPS EVEN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.  PRETTY BIG ORDER , AND NOT VERY REALISTIC.
HAS BEEN EXCITING ADVENTURE.

MARRIED, HAD TWO DAUGHTERS, LIVED OVERSEAS FOR TWO YEARS.
CAME BACK TO DENVER, COLORADO WHERE I WAS IN THE REAL ESTATE
BUSINESS FOR 38 YEARS.  PRESENTLY SMALL BUSINESS OWNER---OWN THREE MOBILE HOME PARKS.  HAVE SERVED ON A NUMBER OF BOARDS AND COMMITTEES, HISTORIC SOCIETIES, INCLUDING RESTORATION AND
PRESERVATION EFFORTS, ACTIVE IN SENIOR ISSUES, INCLUDING PARTICIPA-
TION IN BUILDING A NEW SENIOR CENTER IN WHEATRIDGE, COLORADO.
INVOLVED IN A NUMBER OF CIVIC ISSUES, PRESENTLY ENGAGED IN HELPING BUILD AN ORPHANAGE IN HERMOSILLO, MEXICO, INVOLVEMENT IN
HOSPICE  ENDEAVORS (DENVER)  NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MARRIAGE IN BRANSON, MISSOURI.  AVID READER, ARDENT TRAVELER, CHAMPION OF THOSE UNABLE TO HELP THEMSELVES, I AM ALSO A WRITER WITH PUBLISHED ARTICLES COVERING MULTIPLE SUBJECTS.