April 21, 2025, marks Ellen M. Bozman’s 100th birthday.
Bozman (1925-2009) was a community activist, politician and visionary leader who left behind a legacy which guided Arlington in transitioning from a suburban enclave to a bustling urban community while preserving the vitality of Arlington’s neighborhoods.
Bozman's Legacy Is Still Felt In The Arlington Community
Her prior planning experience gave Bozman the skills to help manage development in Metro corridors, allowing apartments, condominiums, single-family dwellings, parks and recreation areas to remain unchanged.
Her civic influence extended beyond her tenure as a board member through participation in various community organizations and governmental bodies. She advocated for controlled development, instituting services for the elderly and children and transparent government.
Ellen M. Bozman worked with former Congressman Joseph L. Fisher to get nearly 3 million dollars a year in federal funding for Arlington’s neighborhood conservation program; 1981 campaign brochure.
Photo of Ellen M. Bozman working at her seat on the Arlington County Board; 1970s.
Ellen M. Bozman, pictured to the right, attends the groundbreaking ceremony for C&P Telephone, one of the first companies to move into the new Courthouse Plaza in Arlington; 1987.
The Early Years
Bozman moved to the Arlington area in 1946 and entered civic life through the League of Women Voters, conducting public education campaigns supporting the integration of Arlington Public Schools.
She then served on several county commissions in the 1960s and early 1970s. Bozman was elected to the County Board in 1973 as an Independent, the first woman elected since 1958.
Bozman served from 1974 to 1997 on the Arlington County Board.
Bozman, a six-time board chair with 24 years of public service, is the longest serving Arlington County Board member (1974-1997).
In a time when few women held public leadership roles, she distinguished herself as a passionate leader and pioneer, effective consensus-builder and powerful agent of change.
In Her Own Words
“Since I joined the County Board in 1973, Arlington has become a community of rich diversity, expanding opportunities and ever more complex governmental challenges. I know we can meet whatever lies ahead due to the pride that Arlingtonians show for their community and their willingness to help make it better. I am privileged to have been a part of this process.”
Ellen M. Bozman
1985 campaign letter
A Tireless Advocate For Child Care & Affordable Housing
Her early initiatives included improving standards for child care, developing the first nursing homes in Arlington and advocating for tenants’ rights and affordable housing.
She also supported the first Arlington farmers market and Neighborhood Day and co-founded the Alliance for Housing Solutions, which works for affordable housing.
Bozman remained active in the county until her death on January 8, 2009.
Find more information about Ellen M. Bozman by visiting the Charlie Clark Center for Local History. (RG 333: Ellen M. Bozman Papers, 1961-2004)
ArlNow article by Scott McCaffrey (02/04/2025)