Agnese Brienza was responsible for counting heads in Hamilton County. She was so good at it, the U.S. government invited her to Washington to advise Congress on handling the 2000 Census.

        Ms. Brienza, a retired employee of the Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission, died Sunday after a long illness. The Mount Airy resident was 70.

        During her 32 years with the county, Ms. Brienza became an expert on its demographics.

        Born in Fossalto, Italy, in 1931, Ms. Brienza was in her late 20s when she moved to Cincinnati to join family members.

        In Italy, she had been a teacher. And her first job in Cincinnati was teaching and translating Italian.

        Before long, she began working with Hamilton County government and became expert at gathering and analyzing census data.

        She founded the Hamilton County Census Information Center and was nationally known for her work promoting the 1990 U.S. Census. Because of her reputation, she was called to testify before Congress during preparation for the 2000 Census.

        Ms. Brienza's retirement in 1998 didn't slow her down.

        It gave her more time to volunteer for a host of organizations, including the Cincinnatus Association, the Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency, Citizens for Civic Renewal, Leadership Cincinnati, United Way and Community Chest, the Greater Cincinnati Housing Alliance, the League of Women Voters, and Mount Airy Town Council.

        Ms. Brienza received the Cincinnatus Association's 1997 Citizen Crusader Award, the 1999 National Philanthropy Award and the Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency award for outstanding service in 2001.

        Survivors include: a brother, Domenico Brienza of Mount Airy; and two sisters, Rosina Brienza Schacknies of Centerville, Va., and Mary Columba of New York City.

        Visitation is 6-8 p.m. today at Jon Deitloff Funeral Centre, 4389 Spring Grove Ave., Winton Place. The funeral is 10 a.m. Thursday at Little Flower Catholic Church, 5560 Kirby Ave., Mount Airy.

        Memorials: St. Peter Claver Latin School for Boys, 123 E. 12th St., Cincinnati, OH 45210.

Divorce granted to dead husband
Lawmakers close in on budget deal
N. Ky. vote totals
Buckler trounces opposition
Davis wins primary for a seat in House
Few voters turn out for primary
incumbents win Newport commission primary
Missing cartridges slow count in Kenton, Campbell counties
Ousted ex-mayor finishes last
12 out of 13 win in race for Independence council
Rechtin upends incumbent Vories
Spending can't save Plummer
Two newcomers win for GOP in Boone
Adoption settlement gets OK'd
Anti-crime leaders to gather
Ex-officer sues city and county
Local theologians covered on oath
N. Fairmount man's suit claims two officers kidnapped him, dumped him in city park
Obituary: Agnese Brienza, 70, expert on Hamilton Co.
State opens abuser registry
Students: We want you on our panel
Trial of girl in bleach death begins
Tristate A.M. Report
BRONSON: Good guys
KORTE: City Hall
HOWARD: Some Good News
SMITH AMOS: Don't call me ...
Agency for mentally disabled seeks tax increase
Hamilton carves niche as 'City of Sculpture'
Home assault case is revealed
Monroe picks local resident as new high school principal
Stoker is Big D in GOP domain
Utility rates could go up by a third
Woman gets prison for rape claims
China to buy cattle, equipment from Ky.
Weinberg claims win over Barlow