Texans treasured their ‘first lady of Houston’

Bushes were devoted to community for 60 years

HOUSTON – Barbara Bush and her husband, former president George H.W. Bush, were Houstonians at heart.

They left a lasting impact on the city they called home for the past six decades, Rice University political scientist Mark Jones said.

“If there was a first lady of Houston, it would be Barbara Bush,” he said.

Barbara Bush died at her home here Tuesday. She was 92.

A public viewing is scheduled for Friday at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, a few blocks from the home where she and George H.W. Bush lived, followed by an invitation-only service Saturday. Later, a motorcade will carry her body

90 miles northwest to the George Bush Presidential Library Center on the Texas A&M University campus in College Station, near which she will be laid to rest.

Across Houston, people mourned her passing and celebrated her devotion to Texas’ largest city. The Bushes moved

29 times during their marriage but settled in Houston in 1959, according to the National First Ladies’ Library. It was here that George H.W. Bush began his career in politics, getting elected to Republican Party chairman of Harris County in 1962.

Ever since moving here, the couple have been a regular fixture around town, shopping at grocery stores or dining at eateries.

Avid baseball fans, the Bushes regularly attended Houston Astros games, arriving at Minute Maid Park during pre-game activities and sitting next to the owners’ seats behind home plate. Barbara Bush made it a point to memorize the names of the employees who helped her to her seat or brought her peanuts, said Rosi Hernandez, a former Astros vice president who occasionally interacted with the Bushes.

Once the game started, everyone knew better than to bother Barbara: She meticulously kept score with a score- card and stayed focused on the game, Hernandez said.

Five years ago, she spotted the Bushes lunching in a cafe. She introduced her 5-year-old daughter, Andrea, who had a cast on her left arm from falling off a horse.

Barbara Bush asked Andrea if she was going to get back on that horse. “Yes!” Andrea said.

“That’s what I wanted to hear!” the former first lady told her.

At Fuzzy’s Pizza & Cafe on Houston’s west side, diners could order the “First Lady Barbara Bush’s Pizza” — chicken breast, spinach, mushrooms, artichokes and garlic.

Owner Fawaz “Fuzzy” Hajjar created the pizza as a homage to the former first lady. Barbara Bush would come — alone or with her husband — hug the owners and order her namesake pizza.

The Bushes became good friends with Hajjar and his wife, Rita. Once, they visited the Hajjars at their home, where Hajjar’s mom cooked everyone a Syrian meal of stuffed artichoke hearts and hummus (Hajjar is originally from Damascus).

“Her loss is really big for Houston,” Hajjar said. “She supported Houston. She loved Houston. This was her home.”

Bush was focused on improving others in the city. The Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, started by her children five years ago, launched initiatives to deliver affordable books to thousands of children and produced television ads raising awareness on illiteracy.

In one of the ads, Bush, dressed in football pads and eye black smeared under her eyes, attempted to recruit Houston Texans star defensive end J.J. Watt on a literacy mission. “If we’re going to tackle illiteracy here in Houston, J.J., we’ve got to get our game faces on,” she said in the video. After the shoot, a friendship ensued between the nonagenarian and the star athlete.

Tuesday, Watt tweeted his condolences: “Rest In Peace Mrs. Barbara Bush. You were a beautiful light in this world and I am forever thankful for your friendship.”