Nancy Bannick wasn't one to give up on a fight, even when the odds were against her.

The local philanthropist and advocate, known for her decadeslong fight to preserve Chinatown and the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium, died in her Waikiki apartment yesterday morning. She was 81.

David Cheever, who co-authored with Bannick "A Close Call: Saving Honolulu's Chinatown," said she will be most remembered for her against-all-odds struggle to preserve historic Chinatown.

She is credited with leading an effort to declare Chinatown a historic district in 1973, saving it from redevelopment.

"It was never about Nancy," Cheever said. "She had that sense that this was something that should be kept for future generations."

Bannick, who was born in Minnesota, had been in Hawai'i since 1948 and worked for more than 20 years as the editor of the travel publication Sunset magazine. She earned a journalism degree from Stanford and worked for several years writing and editing at the Honolulu Star-Bulletin before working at Sunset.

It was during her years spent writing about and photographing Hawai'i's treasures for Sunset magazine that she developed an interest in preserving Hawai'i's history, said long-time friend Wes Kindred.

"She wouldn't give up on a cause. For the latter part of her life, that became her total occupation — doing work for the community," Kindred said.

While Bannick was instrumental in efforts to save the natatorium, Chinatown and Kapi'olani Park, she was also a supporter of numerous community organizations.

Bannick had been a generous donor to Hawaii Public Radio since its inception in 1981 and served on the board since then. She also served on the Honolulu Symphony board and was vice president for Chamber Music Hawai'i. She was a charter member of the Historic Hawai'i Foundation, a member of the Governor's Diamond Head Advisory Council and a supporter of the Kapi'olani Park Preservation Society.

"We're trying to get a fix on simply how many organizations she was involved with. It's mind-boggling. She was completely without peer as a community leader," said Michael Titterton, general manager of Hawaii Public Radio.

Bannick was certainly one of Hawaii Public Radio's biggest financial contributors, Titterton said, but she was also not afraid to roll up her sleeves and work hard.

Titterton said Bannick was known to show up for board meetings even if she wasn't well and "would never shrink from voicing her opinion.

"She was literally the driving spirit behind many organizations, including this one," Titterton said. "Frankly, if it had not been for Nancy, and one or two others, I'm not sure there would be a Hawaii Public Radio."

Bannick had no children. Family members in Seattle are making arrangements for services, friends said.