Reston Association President Resigns After Cancer Diagnosis

David Bobzien resigned from his position as the president of the Reston Association Board of Directors Monday evening after revealing he has recently been diagnosed with cancer.

In a statement on RA’s website, Bobzien informed residents that he has already begun chemotherapy treatments for acute myeloid leukemia.

Bobzien was elected to a three-year term on the board in 2017, as the apartment owners’ representative. He  has served on several committees, and was the board’s vice president before the board elected him president.

Sridhar Ganesan, the board’s current vice president said in a statement, “David played a strong leadership role during the last year helping Reston Association make some critical decisions. His governance approach helped bring about consensus on many matters before the board. I thank him for his service to RA during a critical time and wish him strength and success through his treatment and a speedy recovery. ”

“David will be missed as both a board member and president. His understanding of the county and its many components was a real benefit to RA,” said RA’s acting CEO, Larry Butler. “I am hopeful that his treatment is speedy and effective so that he can get back to all of the things in which he was involved in the Reston community.”

Bobzien’s departure means there are now two vacant seats on the board, as Hunters Woods/Dogwood Director Victoria White resigned her position on April 11 when she moved out of her district. A replacement for White is scheduled to be elected during the May 24 meeting.

A replacement for the apartment owners’ representative will be elected by a majority vote of apartment owners, to serve out the rest of the year until the 2019 elections.

Though he won’t be on the Board of Directors anymore, Bobzien said his love for Reston will remain strong.

“My hope is to get through this so that I can continue to enjoy the people and pathways that [my wife] Cathy and I fell in love with when we moved to Reston in 1975,” said Bobzien. “‘Reston for Life’ has taken on a new meaning for us.”