Jan. 20, 1923 — Jan. 5, 2018

Bette Anderson, age 94, passed away peacefully in the loving presence of her son and caregivers. She was born in Alabama to Buren and Vassie Farr and grew up in Florida and Michigan. Living in Detroit, she earned a Bachelor of Art and master’s degrees in English and library science.

Bette was a well-known activist in Laguna Beach, former president of Village Laguna, an author and educator. She met George Kenneth Anderson on a blind date during World War II and married soon after the war ended. Their life-long devotion to each other and marriage ended after 64 years with the passing of her husband.

She was a USO gal and flight attendant because it “was the most glamorous job available.” She enjoyed travel throughout her life visiting all seven continents.

Bette prided herself on being a fighter for losing causes and making them win. She was an educator in public school systems and was president of her local teachers union. Moving to Laguna Beach in 1986, she worked at the Newport Beach Library and was instrumental in its successful move to a new location.

While in Laguna Beach, no proposed change escaped her notice and, if she felt it harmed the community, her activism. Bette and her husband Ken were active in veteran causes and events in California and in Europe, where Ken served as a B-17 pilot.

A prolific writer, Bette started her career as a copywriter for an ad agency in the era of “Mad Men” and over the years wrote three books and published numerous short stories and poems. Her last book, the “Hidden Lives of Librarians,” continues to enlighten people in the career choice of being a librarian and the libidinous opportunities it affords. Her friends are (mostly) convinced its fiction.

Bette is survived by her son, Merrill Anderson, his wife Nancy, grandsons Aaron and Evan, and Evan’s wife Elizabeth.

Bette was preceded in death by her husband Ken, her daughter Leigh Elizabeth Anderson, and sister Francis Taber. She was loved and will be missed.

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Robert W. Sternfels, 97, died peacefully in his sleep the morning of Jan. 24.

Beloved father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Robert joins his wife Nancy and son Robert B. Sternfels. He is survived by his son Mark B. and Mark’s wife Jackie Sternfels; his grandchildren Bob, Katie, Mark J, and Ryan; as well as great-grandchildren Samantha, Thomas, Andrew, Tessa, Julia, Emma and Charlotte. Also, survived by his daughter-in-law Bobbie and her family.

After enlisting as an Air Force pilot in World War II, Robert achieved the rank of major and later was awarded the Silver Star for his role in the execution of Operation Tidal Wave, which sought the destruction of Axis oil refineries in Ploiesti, Romania, in 1943. A photograph of his B-24 Liberator “Sandman” flying low over the destruction is often associated with the occasion and was a source of pride for Robert. He cherished the Thursday morning breakfasts with his WWII friends talking about their experiences. The two things Robert loved most in the world were his country and his family.

Robert and Nancy early on settled in beautiful Laguna Beach, where they built a house on a hill overlooking downtown and the Pacific Ocean. Robert enjoyed spending time tinkering in his garage, fixing things around the house, working on their motor home, reading the morning paper, and hosting parties and holiday festivities for their friends and family.

As strong as he was prideful, a “do it myself” kind of guy, Robert was truly a prime specimen of The Greatest Generation. He was a fighter through-and-through, and had a sarcastic wit, which reminded us that no matter how much he pushed us to do better he was still our Robert, our Dad, and our PopPop.

He fought, he loved, and he lived.

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Harold John Larsson

Harold John Larsson passed away peacefully at his home on Floras Lake in Langlois, Ore., surrounded by his family.

Harold, “Hal,” was born to Cora and John Larsson in New York City where he spent his entire childhood. He attended La Salle Academy in New York. After graduation from high school, he attended Fordham University, in the Bronx, until World War II interrupted his education. Hal joined the service. He served as a medic until he saw a recruitment announcement for pilots for the Army-Air Corps, and, with a sense of duty and adventure, he signed up. As a lieutenant in the Army-Air Corp, he flew 50 missions in Europe.

After the war ended, Hal resumed his education on the Montgomery G.I. Bill attending Columbia University, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in biology. Later in life he attended Harvard University where he attained a second master’s degree in mathematics.

He met his wife, Elizabeth “Betty” Larsson, also a veteran, in an anthropology class at Columbia. They married on Sept. 13, 1949. After completing their educations, they moved to California, living in Pasadena for short time and then San Juan Capistrano. Together, Hal and Betty adopted three young siblings whom they would raise lovingly as their own; Eric, Morning Star, and Carole. In 1958, the whole family moved to Laguna Beach, where Hal and Betty would live for over 40 years.

Hal was a lifelong learner and teacher. He began his career as a teacher of biology and mathematics at San Juan Capistrano High School, before becoming a professor of astronomy at San Diego State University and Imperial Valley College. After retirement from his posts at these colleges, he taught at Vincent Memorial High School in Calexico, until he finally retired from teaching in 2000 at the age of 81. Some of his longest lasting relationships were with his former students, many of whom still called him weekly well in to his 90s.

He was a great lover of music and a practiced classical pianist. He spent most of his life as a swimmer, jogger, and cyclist. He also had a famous sense of humor: when asked what his secret to a long life was, he often replied, “luck.” He always listened with intent, making everyone he met feel heard and important. A common theme directing his life was his generosity and compassion for others.

In 1999, he purchased a retirement home on Floras Lake in Langlois, Ore. In 2012, he made this his permanent home with his daughter and caregiver, Morning Star. He loved the intimate community with neighbors, who were like family. He loved the sound of the Oregon rain on his roof at night.

He is survived by his three children, Eric Larsson, Morning Star Holmes and Carole Boaz; eight grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; and numerous friends.

The world is a better place because he was here.

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Richard Bartholomew

Richard Edward Bartholomew was born on Oct. 2, 1933 in Melrose, Mass., to Agnes Elizabeth Markland and John Joseph Bartholomew. He passed away on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017 at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach due to complications from pneumonia and Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS).

In 1944, his mother drove their 1936 Buick across the country with his four siblings and the family dog. His father followed later, and they settled in Pasadena. While a student at Pasadena City College, Dick Bartholomew studied physical education and then continued on to the University of Santa Barbara where he studied history, and was an active member of Delta Tau Delta. He played baseball, but an injury derailed his chances of playing professionally. When the Korean War started, he enlisted in officer candidate school in Washington D.C., and became a communications officer in the Navy. He travelled to Japan, and witnessed atomic bomb testing in Enewetak atoll as one of thousands of servicemen who were part of atmospheric nuclear tests. (The MDS cancer was most likely caused by these tests).

After his discharge, he moved back to the West Coast, and taught at Foothill Junior High in Arcadia. He met and married another teacher, Judith Ann Sheehan, in 1964 and his first daughter Julia Beth was born in 1965.

The Bartholomews moved to Europe in 1969 and their second daughter, Gianna Teresa, was born in Vicenza, Italy, in 1971.

In 1974 they moved to Laguna Beach. While their marriage ended in divorce, Dick and Judith remained friends and dedicated parents. Dick got a job at Santa Ana College, where he worked until 2003 as a guidance counselor for international students, and taught cross cultural communications amongst other classes. In his later years, he would gladly give his academic advice pro bono. Dick was a go-getter in life and an overall adventurous man. He enjoyed the great outdoors and travel. His VW bus was always ready to take his daughters camping and they drove across the U.S. and to the Sequoia, Yosemite, and Glacier National Parks.

A longtime resident of Laguna Beach, Dick enjoyed his long beach walks, golf, movies, crosswords, and anything about history and the immigrant experience. He was a talented and avid photographer. Spending quality time with his daughters brought him joy; he attended local events with Gianna in Orange County and travelled to see Julia in Portland and most recently, New York City. Unparalleled in his love of sports–especially college basketball–he enjoyed long phone calls with friends near and far about his favorite teams and players. He was an incredible athlete, and had a competitive spirit.

Always up for a long drive, he loved exploring and finding interesting new places. Leave it to him to find the best Italian restaurant wherever he went! Dick would strike up conversations with everyone and was genuinely interested in people, remembering details about their lives and families. His ability to keep connected with longtime friends was admirable, and his lifelong friendships were many. Richard Bartholomew: father, uncle, friend, neighbor, and educator will be so very missed by his daughters and the many people whose lives he impacted. Dick enjoyed a long and healthy life until winter of 2016, when he was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), a type of cancer that affects the bone marrow. At his request, he was cremated and family held a burial at sea.

He is survived by his two daughters Julia Bartholomew-King and Gianna Bartholomew; his son-in-law Michael King; ex-wife Judith Phaeryn Sheehan; his brother, Harold John Groody; his sister-in-law Elizabeth “Betty” Bartholomew; nephews, Jerry Miller, David Miller, Karl Zittel, John Joseph Bartholomew III, Steven Clover, Bill Clover, and James “Jim” Groody; and nieces Joanne Miller Dillahunty, Patricia Clover Sweatte, Mary Bartholomew, and Cathy Espinoza. Preceding him in death were his siblings Lillian Clover, Catherine Birdsall, Rosalie Zittel and John Joseph Bartholomew II, and many dear friends.

A Celebration of Life event for Richard E. Bartholomew will take place from 1-6 pm on Sunday, Feb. 18 , 2018, at the Woman’s Club of Laguna Beach, 286 St. Ann’s Dr.

In lieu of flowers, the family has created the Richard E. Bartholomew Scholarship Fund at Santa Ana College to gift deserving students with college tuition. Donations can be mailed to: Santa Ana College Foundation, 1530 W. 17th St., Santa Ana, Ca., 92706. Please write Richard E. Bartholomew in the memo line.

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Paul Barnard inserts himself into the void at Le Corbusier’s Notre Dam du Haut in Ronchamp, France.

Gentleman, surfer, brilliant architect, master of color —  Paul Barnard was all of these, and now he’s gone, slipping away to Mexico and beyond.

Born in Bailieboro, Ontario, Canada, on Aug. 12, 1938, Paul was creative from a young age, preferring the arts to labor on the family farm in Ontario. Attracted to the energy of Toronto, Paul attended the University of Toronto where he received a Bachelor of Architecture. After working and traveling throughout Europe, Paul moved to Boston and received his Master of Architecture in urban design from Harvard University in 1967.

He married Susan Gleave in 1966 in England and settled in Toronto where their daughter Josey was born in 1968. At the ripe age (for an architect) of 30, Paul designed his parent’s cottage at Batchewana Bay, Ontario. After becoming a partner at WZMH Architects in the 1974, he oversaw the design of projects across the U.S. and Asia.

To escape the cold winters of the east coast, Paul moved from Canada to Laguna in 1980 to practice architecture in California. Here he married Susan Whitin and had his second child, Seth, in 1987. After a career working on large scale hotels and office buildings, Paul opened up his own studio in Laguna to focus on other building typologies. The Laguna Art Museum is one of his several creative renovations in town.

An avid hiker and outdoorsman, he and family frequented wild locales across the globe to camp, hike and learn. He always believed one learned more traveling than in school. Fascinated by the ancient cities of South and Central America, he travelled to and studied the urban design practices of Incan, Mayan and Aztecan cultures. Paul’s passion for color drove him to scour Europe in search of obscure natural pigments unavailable in the U.S. Using color as a design tool, he adorned his designs with these unique pigments. He had an insatiable curiosity.

While growing up on the family farm in Ontario, Paul loved to ride horses. In Laguna, he fulfilled that passion with Streetwise, his retired racing horse stabled at Irvine Coast Stables — on land that is now Crystal Cove. Around town, you could catch Paul on his way to surf San O with his buddies, in a heated conversation at Zinc cafe, or at the dog park with his trusty dogs.

After living in Laguna for almost 40 years, Paul expatriated to his house in Sayulita, Mexico, for a change of scenery and vibes. Shortly after moving to Sayulita, he fulfilled a lifelong dream to live in the colonial city of San Miguel de Allende.

On Nov. 27, 2017, Paul died peacefully in the cacti-peppered highlands of Central Mexico amongst a loving community of friends and caregivers. His creative, friendly and quirky spirit lives on through the family and friends that love him.

Paul’s memorial will be held on Saturday, Feb. 3 at the Laguna Art Museum from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

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Grace Biggs

You can only hold onto an adventurous spirit for so long and Grace is on to her next adventure!

Grace Briggs of Laguna Beach, one of the original Lagunatics, passed away peacefully on Monday, Jan. 29, in Newport Beach at Crown Cove at the age of 92.

Grace was born in Burbank and was married to Laguna architect Fred Briggs for many years and they lived and raised their daughter Alison in Monarch Bay.

She lived in her beautiful condo behind the Cottage Restaurant for the last part of her life before moving to Crown Cove four years ago.

She has been a part of the Laguna landscape for almost 70 years.  Because she worked in the travel industry, she traveled the world and experienced so many different people and cultures throughout her life.

She was an avid art collector and volunteered at the Laguna Art Museum for many years. She was a great tennis player and led several tennis groups.  She enjoyed playing bridge with her friends in Laguna.

She had style about her that was all her own. She loved to celebrate and enjoyed many beach cookouts. She was a regular each summer at the Concerts in the Park in Bluebird Canyon.

She is survived by many close friends and family!

If you knew and loved Grace please join us in a celebration of a life well lived Sunday, Feb. 11, on the garden patio of Five Crowns restaurant in Newport Beach from 4 to 7 p.m. Wear bright colors! Come full of Grace!

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Feb. 17, 1920-Sept. 30 2017

Dorothy Krill

Dorothy Krill died on Sept. 30, 2017, at her home in Laguna Beach. She is survived by sons John Krill, of Laguna Beach, David Krill, of Atascadero, and daughter Nancy Krill of Port Townsend, Wash.; seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Son Brian predeceased her.

Dorothy Phillips was born in Hartford, Conn., and grew up in Queens, N.Y. She was the oldest of five children and the last surviving sibling. Her father died when she was 7 and she always looked after her brothers and sister. The family was active in the Salvation Army. She told stories of playing the trumpet and alto horn during the holidays. In 1939, she earned a certificate in infant care from the Salvation Army’s Brooklyn Nursery and Infants’ Hospital.

She met her husband Charles (Chuck) Krill, an electrical engineer, in Chicago and they were married in 1942. They moved to Southern California in 1947 living in Burbank and Glendale in the ‘50s and ‘60s, where she became an active member of the First Methodist Church.

In August 1964, Dorothy, Chuck, Nancy and Brian moved to Tokyo where they lived for two years. Dorothy took up flower arranging, taught English, and traveled within Japan and to Hong Kong and Cambodia. In 1966 the family returned to California via the former Soviet Union, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Britain. The travel bug had captured her sense of adventure.

In 1972 Dorothy started Krill Tours & Travel in Laguna Beach and her daughter Nancy joined her. Dorothy traveled all over the world, taking several foreign trips a year. She ran the travel agency for over 30 years. She loved to tell stories of her many travels to the delight of listeners.

Social activities were important to Dorothy. She was an active member of the Business and Professional Women, the Laguna Beach chapter of Soroptimist International, and the Laguna Beach United Methodist Church, where she sang in the choir and was involved in the missions committee and a Bible study group. Dorothy became a Democrat after Barry Goldwater’s nomination and was an active member in the Orange County and Laguna Beach Democratic clubs. She could often be found in front of the Post Office registering voters.

Music played an important part in Dorothy’s life. She began singing in her church choir in the early 1950’s and continued to do so until her death, more than 60 years later. In the late 1950’s she was part of a trio called the 3 Clubs, performing at local community and church events. She was proud of singing at the Hollywood Bowl and Carnegie Hall in New York.

Dorothy’s Bible study group has purchased a memorial plaque for her to be placed in the Laguna Beach United Methodist Church courtyard. The plaque will be dedicated on Sunday, Feb. 18, at 11:30 a.m. She was known for her loyalty to friends and will be missed by them and her family. Donations in Dorothy’s honor can be made to the LBUMC Missions Committee.

The post Laura Dorothy Krill appeared first on Laguna Beach Local News.

Doug Case

Douglas Ward Case, 61, was born on Sept. 20, 1956 in Laguna Beach and passed away on Jan. 30, 2018.

Doug is remembered by his children – Laura Ann and Charles Emerson, Daniel and Heather Case and grandson Oliver, Nicole and Jon Johnson; his parents Storm and Shirley Case; his siblings Linda Case, Scott and Laurie Case; and many nieces and nephews.

Doug grew up in Laguna Beach and was a descendent of the Thurston family. He attended the first preschool season at the Laguna Presbyterian Church. He enjoyed sports, scouting and backpacking in the Sierra mountains. Doug earned his Eagle Scout rank with Troop 35. He held the Orange County high jump record (6’ 10.25”) for several years. He graduated from Laguna Beach High School in 1974 and attended Biola University. Doug followed his grandfather Alvin Krueger into the real estate appraisal field, opening his own office in Laguna before moving to Salt Lake City. Doug especially loved adventures with his dog Bonsai and filled his free time with books, fly fishing and camping in the mountains of Utah.

Doug’s memorial will be held at the Laguna Presbyterian Church on Saturday, Feb. 24 at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Laguna Presbyterian Church, 415 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach, Ca., 92651) or the American Heart Association in Doug’s memory.

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Roberta Mace Bennett passed peacefully, at the age of 95, in her room at The Covington assisted living, in Aliso Viejo, on Feb. 1, 2018.

RobertaBennett

She is survived by her daughter, Andrea Reynolds Bennett, and by her son, Duncan Griffin Bennett and his wife Suzanne Slyman. She was preceeded in death by her sisters, Katie Stalder of Riverside and Mary Stuart of Long Beach, and by her husband, A. Norman Bennett (d. 1959), and by her parents, Arthur Mace and Margaret Reynolds Mace.

Robbie was raised in Pasadena and graduated from Sacred Heart Academy and Pasadena Junior College. To the many friends of her youth, Robbie was faithful throughout her life. Summers were spent with them at Balboa Island, and with family at Big Bear Lake where her father built a cabin.

She and Norm were married in Cambridge, Mass., in 1945, where he was in naval supply school at Harvard before receiving orders for duty in the North Atlantic in WW II. Following the war, they made their home in Pasadena and raised their children. After Norm’s death of cancer in 1959, Robbie was a single mother until her children went to college. While Andrea was in high school, Robbie re-entered the working world as a secretary in the insurance business. She was working for Pacific Mutual Life Insurance in 1972 when the company relocated to Newport Beach, and she took the opportunity to move to Laguna Beach, the arts-oriented community she had long appreciated.

She enthusiastically began her new life, settling into her home at the Top of the World, building her garden with its view out into the open space canyons that she loved so much. She also loved her neighbors and the generations of kids she befriended in her 44 years there on Nestall Road. Her joy was enhanced by the dogs she had over the decades, especially her last one, Ringo.

Her love of nature and hiking made her an active participant in the Laguna Greenbelt movement and Sierra Club. However, her primary community in Laguna was St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, where she made her closest friends. She was active in church outreach programs, the Evening Guild (ECW), and the Vestry. In her later years, she organized weekly meals for the homeless and volunteered at Friendship Shelter.

As much as Robbie loved her friends and Laguna, she was constantly drawn to her world travels and hiking trips to the eastern Sierra Nevada. The international travel was a particular joy for her to plan and read for, whether it was England, China, hiking in the Pyrenees, or her beloved Tuscany – all beautifully documented by the albums of photos that she so loved to take.

A service and celebration of her very full life will be held on Saturday, March 10, at 1 p.m., at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 428 Park Ave., Laguna Beach. In lieu of flowers, it was Robbie’s wish that contributions be given to Friendship Shelter (www.friendshipshelter.org).

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Angela Alwin

Angela Alwin of Austin, Tex., passed from this life Feb. 11, 2018. She was born Aug. 16, 1967, in Tulsa, Okla., to Ruth Ann and Gene Hodges, Jr.

She first lived in Laguna Beach while completing a Bachelors of Art in philosophy at UC Irvine, before moving to Minneapolis where she earned a Masters of Business Communications at the University of St. Thomas.

Angela was gifted with a wickedly dry sense of humor, a zest for life, and a passion for the New Yorker, New York Times, and Netflix. She was a recovering cynic, voracious reader, Spanish wine and stinky cheese devotee, bad cook, and a rule follower. Her guilty pleasures included Jay McInerney novels, chicken-fried steak, James Bond, NPR, Fritos, peonies, coffee, road trips, bacon, and calculated risk taking.

Laguna Beach provided the backdrop for the making of lifelong friends and a stint in restaurant service. After living in Minneapolis, she returned to Laguna’s beach for a year before moving to Austin. She was extremely kind and generous to the servers she encountered, missing her early work in their ranks.

Volunteering at the Texas Book Festival, Fusebox Festival, and Antonelli’s Cheese Shop and memberships in The Contemporary Austin, Austin Film Society, and Harry Ransom Center brought Angela joy.

Survivors include her mother Ruth Ann Storey Hodges; bonus mom Deborah Hodges; sister C. C. Phenix; brother Clint Hodges; nieces and nephews. Angela was preceded in death by her dad, Gene Hodges, Jr., sister Sherrill, brother James and grandparents Richard and Tommie Storey and Claire and Gene Hodges, Sr.

An Austin memorial service, Wednesday, March 7, 2018, at Gathering Venues (south location), 411 W. Monroe, 78704, will celebrate Angela’s life.

In lieu of floral offerings, the family suggests contributions to the Laguna Beach Library, MD Anderson Cancer Center, or Oklahoma City Memorial Foundation.

Condolences may be sent to: www.harrellfuneralhomes.com.

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Marthann Newton

Marthann Newton, 86, of Laguna Beach, passed away March 4, 2018, in Springdale, Ark.

She was born Nov. 15, 1931, in Auburn, Ala., to Julian Isaac Newton, Sr. and Martha Elizabeth O’Neal Newton.

She worked in the U.S.O. in both France and Germany. She received her master’s in social work from Tulane University in 1963 and worked for many years in social work in California. Marthann was a long-time active resident of her beloved community of Laguna Beach.

She was at peace with God.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Marthann is survived by one sister-in-law, Anne Cofield Newton; nieces, Caron Bennett and Martha Lester and two nephews, J.I. Newton, III and Jim C. Newton.

She was laid to rest at Wildwood Cemetery in Bartow, Fla.

Condolences may be expressed at Stockdale-Moodyfs.com

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Dec. 25, 1920 – March 6, 2018

Norma Young

Norma Young née Phillips passed away peacefully at home in Laguna Beach on Tuesday, March 6, 2018 at the age of 97.  She was born in Portland, Ore., but spent most of her life in California. She was raised in Los Angeles and graduated from UCLA, where she studied music and education. Most importantly, she was the devoted mother to four daughters and a proud MorMor to five grandchildren.

She began her career as a teacher in Bakersfield.  She was so dedicated to her job, she rode her bike to school rain or shine.  Her passion for helping others was passed on to her children and grandchildren who have followed in her footsteps by becoming teachers and public servants.

When she moved to Laguna Beach, she opened a Scandinavian import shop in Dana Point, which she operated for 14 years. After closing the store, she became interested in art education and attended many workshops and classes.  She wrote, “All my life I have met beauty in nature, music, and people. Now it’s time to share these thoughts and feelings through my paintings.”

She made friends wherever she went and loved to host parties at her home. Her positive spirit will live on through everyone she encountered.  Her friends and family would all agree that she was a kind woman with a wonderful sense of humor. She was a voracious reader. She enjoyed having deep conversations about books, politics, music, and art.  She was stimulated by a wide variety of personalities and experiences.

She was unapologetically passionate about progressive causes and especially women’s rights. She was a member of the Laguna Plein Air Painters of America, and an active supporter of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.  She cooked and donated food to the Laguna Food Pantry.

Her family owes mountains of gratitude to her faithful, loving, and skilled caregivers Nancy Okon, Rita Simanjuntak, Janet Barasa, and Bel Pretila.  You treated her like a queen and made the rest of our lives so much easier.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Stanley Young, and older sister, Frances Zvara.  She will be lovingly remembered by her daughters Karen Young (Jeff), Patti Young (Vesselin Iankov), Janis Spracher (Bill), Tina Krimmer (Matt), and grandchildren Scott Young, Whitney Young, Kevin Spracher, Laura Spracher, and Sam Krimmer.

A memorial service to be held at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 429 Cypress Dr., in Laguna Beach at noon on March 30.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Planned Parenthood (plannedparenthood.org) or The Hortense Miller Garden (hortensemillergarden.com).

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Jack Morse

Our incredible father, husband, grandfather and beloved friend, John Morse, died peacefully at his home in Laguna Beach on March 10, 2018.

John, known to his friends as “Jack,” was born April 29, 1934. He came to Laguna Beach at nine-months-old, and aside from his time away for college and his time in the Army while serving in Korea, he lived his entire life in Laguna until his passing at the age of 83. He was an extremely lucky man and he knew it!

Jack graduated from Laguna Beach High School in 1952 and continued on to receive his bachelor’s from the University of New Mexico.

He was a retired Los Angeles County probation officer of 30 years and dean of students at Santa Margarita High School, respected by his peers and loved by his students. Upon his retirement, Jack spent his time focusing on his passions of music and teaching. He was an accomplished ukulele player who continued to serve the local community teaching ukulele classes and building incredible friendships at the Susi Q Center in Laguna Beach.

Jack loved the ocean, playing and teaching the ukulele, weekly coffee gatherings with his friends, and watching his grandkids grow up, always encouraging them to do their best and reach for the stars. Nothing was more important to him than his family and friends.

Jack’s signature everyday look was a Reyn Spooner Hawaiian shirt with jeans and a ukulele. Jack loved his time as a Laguna Beach lifeguard in addition to surfing, fishing and diving. No one knew the beaches of Laguna better than he did. That is the simple life Jack loved. He was always there to greet you with a smile, offer sage advice, or provide a steady hand. Jack was one of the kindest people you could ever meet, opening his heart to many.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Susan Morse, his four children (Gretchen, Peter, Megan and Tim), and the eight grandchildren he adored.

Our incredible father, husband, grandfather and beloved friend will be missed.

A funeral service in memory of Jack will be held on Friday, March 23, 2018 at 12 p.m., at St. Catherine’s Church in Laguna Beach with a reception following at Fratello’s Italian Restaurant in Laguna Niguel from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Those who desire may make memorial donations in memory of Jack to The

Susi Q Center, (Laguna Beach Senior Center) 380 Third St., Laguna Beach, CA 92651.

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Margaret Garrard

Margaret Theresa Garrard of Illinois passed away on March 9, 2018, in Mission Viejo surrounded by family. She was 97 years old.

Margaret, known as Tess, was born in Illinois on Dec. 18, 1920. She attended school at St. Bartholomew School there. Tess married Phillip H. Garrard in September 1939. She was the mother of six children and volunteered at her church and in the PTA for many years.

Tess’ greatest love was spending time with her family, whether visiting her children or seeing or taking care of her grandchildren. She was an avid reader, and she also enjoyed playing the organ, going to movies, and travelling. She enjoyed drawing floor plans of houses and designed one of the homes she lived in. She especially loved children and her dogs, Matilda, Tara, and Tara II.

She lived in Colorado for several years to be near her younger grandchildren, but she spent most of her adult life in California—mostly in Laguna Beach, and in Nipomo, Costa Mesa, and Mission Viejo.

Tess was generous and compassionate with everyone. A loyal friend and ally, she had a ready sense of humor and fun. Her family will miss her kind presence tremendously.

Tess Garrard was preceded in death by her husband, Phillip Garrard, and their son, Dan Garrard, and all of her siblings and cousins.

Tess is survived by her son, Gary Garrard and his wife Rachel of Costa Mesa; daughters Nancy T. Johnson and her husband, Bob of Laguna Beach, Peggy Grimes and her husband, Mark of Aurora,                    Colo., Amy Garrard of Lago Vista, Tex., and Sally Garrard of Boulder, Colo. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. The 11^th great-grandchild is expected to be born in May 2018.

Funeral services were held on March 16, 2018 at Pacific View Cemetery. Her husband Phillip Garrard was buried with Tess.

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Bo Blackett

Bo Brackett, a former longtime resident of Laguna Beach, passed away in March 2018 in Encinitas, California. He was 77.

Bo was born in Richmond, Va., in December 1940 and moved to Los Angeles in 1948 when his father, Deke, accepted an assistant position coaching football at UCLA. Bo earned a bachelor’s degree from UCLA and a master’s degree from USC. While attending UCLA, Bo served as president of his fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon. He also proudly served in the United States Army as a second lieutenant for four  years during the Vietnam War era.

Bo met his wife Nancy when she was a student at UCLA and they married in 1967. Bo worked as a probation officer in Los Angeles County for 10 years.

The Bracketts moved to Laguna Beach in 1973 where Bo sold real estate with Lingo Real Estate, then partnered with Ken Kelly in their own company, Coast and Country, and later with Prudential. Nancy worked as a teacher with Saddleback Unified School District and in 1984 their daughter Catherine was born. They remained in Laguna Beach until retiring to Palm Desert in 2006 and eventually moving to San Diego in 2016 to be near Catherine and her family.

Bo was a loving, devoted husband and father who will be remembered for his outgoing and unforgettable personality. He made friends with people from all walks of life and loved to give people nicknames. If you knew him, you probably have one. He adored his daughter and was an enthusiastic participant in all her activities from weekly volunteering at Top of the World school to AYSO soccer, Indian Princesses, and “handicapping” dance competitions.

People will remember his pie and ice cream breakfasts, how he loved playing volleyball at Main Beach, and the special friendship he had with his mother in-law, Helen, who survives him at age 95.

Bo is survived by Nancy, his wife of nearly 51 years; his sister Sallye; his daughter Catherine and son in-law Travis; and his three precious grandsons, Deacon Jay, Wyatt James, and Austin Bo. The family resides in Carmel Valley in San Diego. He will be missed every day by family, friends, and his rescue dog Wiley. A military service will take place on April 5, 2018, at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego.

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Marthann Newton

Marthann Newton, 86, of Laguna Beach, passed away March 4, 2018, in Springdale, Ark.

She was born Nov. 15, 1931, in Auburn, Ala., to Julian Isaac Newton, Sr. and Martha Elizabeth O’Neal Newton.

She worked in the U.S.O. in both France and Germany. She received her master’s in social work from Tulane University in 1963 and worked for many years in social work in California. Marthann was a long-time active resident of her beloved community of Laguna Beach.

She was at peace with God.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Marthann is survived by one sister-in-law, Anne Cofield Newton; nieces, Caron Bennett and Martha Lester and two nephews, J.I. Newton, III and Jim C. Newton.

She was laid to rest at Wildwood Cemetery in Bartow, Fla.

Condolences may be expressed at Stockdale-Moodyfs.com

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Penny Steris

Penny Susan Steris, known to many as “Coach Penny,” passed away on May 5, 2018, at the age of 67 years. A California native, she lived in South Laguna for 50 years and had a positive impact on the community.
As an avid seamstress during the ‘70s and ‘80s, she made custom bikinis under the Perfect Casuals label. She also worked at El Morro Elementary School in Laguna Beach from 1988-1996 and Our Lady of Fatima in San Clemente from 1996-2001. She played a major role developing the Laguna Beach Unified School District Disaster Preparedness Program following the 1993 fires. After retiring from the school districts she returned to her creative passion and started making children’s products under the Pineapple Kid label. These products were retailed at the Laguna Beach Sawdust festival, which was a fulfilling time in her life.

Penny was a creative, kind-soul and she loved working with children.

Her greatest joy in life was family and she was always present. The Steris family home was open to all and she was a second mother to many generations of kids. Undoubtedly she dedicated her entire adult life to her children and was a caring and loving mother. Whether it was coaching little league for her son or Laguna Beach High School softball for her daughter, she was hands-on and very active. One of her favorite times of the year was during the Brooks Street Classic contest. She was a pillar volunteer for morning sign-ups and loved watching the kids rip, a surf mom at heart who loved the ocean and warm sunshine.

The motto she valued and lived by was “Live by the sun and love by the moon.” Her physical presence will be greatly missed but Penny’s aloha spirit will always be with us.

She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Daryl Steris, children Jason and Malena and grandchildren, Ava, Ollie, Colter and Cannon.

A hui hou,Penny (until we meet again).
A memorial followed by a paddle out to celebrate Penny’s life will be held Sunday, June 3, at 10 a.m. at Treasure Island Point in Laguna Beach.

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Dr. Donald Joseph Bédard died Wednesday, May 9, 2018, at his home in Seal Beach, Calif. He was 91 years old.

Donald Bédard

Don was born on July 24, 1926, in Argyle, Minn., the first born of five children to Joseph and Grace Riopelle Bédard. The family moved to Red Lake Falls, Minn., in 1936 and then to Long Beach, Calif., in 1942.

In 1953, Bédard married Rosalie Klennert at St. Anthony’s Church in Long Beach. He graduated from Loyola University in 1949 and began teaching at Orange High School where he later became a counselor and vice-principal. He served in the Army during the Korean War from 1950-1952 as a public information specialist. He received his master’s degree from the University of Southern California in 1956 and his doctorate, also from USC, in 1964. In 1959, he became principal of Laguna Beach High School.

In 1966, he helped to open up the brand new Cypress College campus in Cypress, Calif., as vice-president of student personnel services. He retired from Cypress College in 1988, known by then as “Mr. Cypress College.” He served as president of Cypress College from 1977-78 and from 1998-99. He continued to be active and involved with his beloved Cypress College as executive director of the Cypress College Foundation and other events including attending the campus’ 50^thanniversary celebration in April of 2017.

His genuine love of people, especially students, and his great love and pride in his family will forever be treasured, as well as his singing “Alouette” in front of any group on his ukulele.

He was a member of St. Hedwig’s Parish for 52 years, and a resident of Seal Beach, Calif., for the last 50 years.

Bédard is survived by his children Laurie Genovese (Raymond)of Mission Viejo, Renée Ashcraft of Long Beach, Michael Bédard (Diane)of Redlands, Dana Bédard (Pam)of Cypress, Craig Bédard of Bermuda Dunes, and Annette Davis (Al) of Murrietta, Calif. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren and two great- grandchildren (with another one on the way).  Additionally, he is survived by his sisters, Rhodyne Tappe of Ramona, Sandra Runkle of Las Vegas, Nev., and Adair Watkins of Yaak, Mont.. He was preceded in death by his wife Rosalie and sister June Putnam, and son-in-law Don Ashcraft.

Rosary/Visitation is at 11:45 a.m. Friday, May 18, at St. Hedwig’s Catholic Church in Los Alamitos, followed by a funeral mass at noon. Burial will be at All Soul’s Cemetery in Long Beach.

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Bruce Hopping

Aug. 5, 1921 – May 17, 2018

By Christy Cones, Special to the Independent

Bruce Hopping (a.k.a. “Brucey”, “Mr. B”, et al.) passed away peacefully just after midnight on Thursday, May 17. He is survived by his nephew and niece, Rick and Melissa Hopping, of New Jersey.

Hopping was a local legend. He could be seen every day walking down Thalia Street to the beach where he was a regular for the last six decades. His life story reads more like a novel than reality.

He was born in 1921 to W. Frank and Edith Hopping in Saigon, then a part of French Indo-China. His father had lumber interests in the region, and the family was on their way to Borneo. Bruce spent his early years on the islands of the Pacific, where he developed a lifelong connection with the ocean. At 13, he was sent away to Culver Military Academy in Indiana. At 18, he enlisted in the Army and was stationed at Ft. Riley, Kansas. Afterwards, he transferred to Shepphard Airfield Base in Texas, Westover Air Base in Massachusetts, El Toro in California, Kaneohe Naval Air Station in Hawaii, and Clark Air Base in the Philippines. In World War II, Hopping was a med-evacuation pilot who retrieved the wounded bodies of soldiers from various Pacific theaters and returned them to the base hospital for treatment. One day, he was sent up with a spotter in typhoon conditions to locate a downed C-47. Their Stinson plane was blown several miles off course, they ran out of gas, and crashed into the Pacific Ocean. For the next several weeks, they floated on a one-man raft in the ocean, enduring violent storms, tumultuous waves, and shark-infested waters, before eventually washing up on the Polillo Islands in the eastern Philippines. After a series of difficult setbacks, and with the help of locals in canoes, they eventually made it back safely to Manila, despite the presence of Japanese soldiers in the area.

After World War II, Hopping taught at Bainbridge Air Base in Maryland. When the Korean War broke out a few years later, he was transferred to Barbers Point in Hawaii, and then put on a minesweeper ship bound for the Korean peninsula. After the subsequent deaths of his parents, Hopping took his inheritance and created the New Jersey Foundation in 1953. Over the next decade and a half, the New Jersey Foundation sponsored numerous important aqua-athletic events and commissioned multiple notable works of art. Inspired by visits he had made to Laguna Beach in 1942 while stationed at nearby El Toro, Hopping relocated to Laguna around 1960.

In 1966, he met Dr. Ted Brunner, another Laguna Beach resident, and founder of the classics department at UC Irvine. Dr. Brunner introduced Bruce to the ancient Greek educational concept of kalos kagathos, a phrase used by classical Greek writers to describe an ideal of personal conduct which emphasizes physical distinction and nobility of mind. Inspired by the concept, Hopping renamed his foundation the Kalos Kagathos Foundation in 1968.

For 50 years, Hopping and his foundation have been recognized for numerous contributions to water sports, arts, and the environment. His cultural exchanges for swim, surf, and water-polo teams have included multiple events on every continent except Antarctica. He is an emeritus patron of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, patron of the Amateur Athletic Union, the international swimming federation FINA, International Studies Abroad, California Interscholastic Federation, and Orange Coast College Rowing, and a two-time Olympic swimming judge.

He has been formally acknowledged by various officials, governors, ambassadors, diplomats, provincial administrators, tribal chiefs, warrior clans, and others.

Since 1968, Hopping also has worked tirelessly through the Kalos Kagathos Foundation to ensure that Laguna Beach retains its historical legacy as an international destination promoting water sports, arts, and the environment.

His local contributions are too numerous to mention, but include multiple proclamations by the City Council and school board.

Very few Laguna Beach residents have left such a lasting indelible impression on this city, and nobody as much on Thalia Street Beach as Bruce Hopping.

Please join us for a celebration of his life at 4 p.m. Thursday, June 14, at Thalia Street Beach for a paddle-out and swim.

Learn more about this legendary man and the Kalos Kagathos Foundation through the words of those who knew him best. And, in his own words, “Keep the faith!”

Info on foundation is available at Kalos Kagathos Foundation, PO Box 416, Laguna Beach, CA 92652, or kaloskagathosorg@gmail.com.

The author is a representative of the Kalos Kagathos Foundation.

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July 22, 1927 – May 16, 2018

David Koontz

A resident of Laguna Beach for 47 years, David H. Koontz was born in Ottumwa, Iowa.

Koontz served in the U.S. Navy in the Philippines at the end of World War II. He graduated from Carlton College in Northfield, Minn., and did subsequent graduate work at the University of Iowa. After working for Aetna Life Insurance on the East Coast, David returned to Ottumwa to manage his family’s third generation furniture store.

In 1971, David retired from his family business and relocated to Laguna Beach with his partner Jim Brophy, a real estate broker. David was a respected investor and spent most of his time managing his stock and real estate portfolio. David has been quoted on the front page of the Wall Street Journal providing investment advice.

David was passionate about travel and music, a highlight of which was a recent private jet tour around the world. David has served as a board member of the Orange County Philharmonic Society for many years. David, a Paul Harris fellow and third generation Rotarian, served as president and was chairman of the scholarship committee for many years.

David is survived by his spouse of 47 years, Jim Brophy; niece Karen Parker and nephews Jeffrey and Craig Koontz.

In David’s own words recently, “It’s been a great run.”

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