Tag archives: RIP

Remembering Irene Hymanson
By Richard Mineards   |   October 3, 2023

On a personal note, I remember philanthropist and longtime Casa Dorinda resident Irene Hymanson, who has moved to more heavenly pastures at the age of 81. Irene was the daughter of violinist William Hymanson, a member of the Music Academy faculty from 1959to 1969. After living and working in Los Angeles as a paralegal, she […]

On a Personal Note
By Richard Mineards   |   September 5, 2023

On a personal note, I remember the delightful Irma Jurkowitz, who, with her husband Morrie, was a resident in our Eden by the Beach for more than half a century. The dynamic duo, once the owners of the Granada Theatre and the tower building above it, established the Jurkowitz Center for Community Engagement in honor […]

Remembering Carolyn Amory
By Richard Mineards   |   August 29, 2023

On a deeply personal note, I mark the passing of Carolyn Amory, who has moved to more heavenly pastures at the age of 101 after spending the last chapter of her glorious and fascinating life at Casa Dorinda. When I first moved to Montecito from my home in L.A.’s Hancock Park in 2007, I would […]

Nicholas Proctor Palonen: April 10, 1981 – May 31, 2023
By Montecito Journal   |   July 18, 2023

Nicholas Proctor Palonen, beloved son, brother, husband, and father, was welcomed into the world by his parents, Marjorie and Craig Palonen, on April 10, 1981, in Santa Barbara, California. From that day forward, he became an indispensable part of a loving family, joining his older brother, Tye, on countless childhood adventures — from explorations of […]

Michael Oliver Brayton Cherry: June 20, 1937 – March 29, 2023
By Montecito Journal   |   June 20, 2023

Michael Cherry (85) died peacefully in his home in Palm Desert, California on the morning of March 29th, with loved ones at his side.  Michael was born in Fall River, Massachusetts to Nelson and Constance Cherry (Brayton), and was raised in Bristol, Rhode Island. Michael graduated from The Taft School in Watertown, Connecticut (’55). He […]

Tatjana Patitz Remembered 
By Richard Mineards   |   January 24, 2023

On a personal note, I mark the passing of former supermodel Tatjana Patitz, who moved to Carpinteria from Malibu in 2018, and died at her home aged 56 from breast cancer. She starred in an historic video for the late George Michael’s hit “Freedom!” alongside fellow supermodels Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista, and Naomi […]

Helene Zalk Pollock
By Montecito Journal   |   June 7, 2022

Helene Zalk Pollock was born on January 8, 1919, in Duluth, Minnesota. Her parents Estelle and Louis Zalk moved to Los Angeles in the early 1930s. Her father Louis found success in the early days of the steel industry and later as a business leader when he introduced theosophy to Southern California and co-founded the […]

Kirsten Marie Donnelly August 21, 1969 – February 22, 2022
By Montecito Journal   |   April 26, 2022

Kirsten Marie Donnelly (née van Duinwyk) passed away at home on February 22, 2022 after an incredibly brave battle with cancer. She leaves behind her husband Tom, son Dembelo, parents Susanne and Peter van Duinwyk, sisters Anne-Marie Tucker (Clark) and Lisa Aviani (James), and nieces and nephew, Alison and Chris Tucker, and Clara and Juliana […]

Derek Kenneth Hunter
By Montecito Journal   |   March 15, 2022

Derek (“Derk”) Kenneth Hunter passed away peacefully February 19, 2022, at his home in Woodside, California, surrounded by his family. Born April 25, 1931, in San Marino, California, he was the son of Kenneth and Helen Hunter. He is predeceased by his wife, Fredricka (“Dricka”) Hunter, his daughter, Antonia (“Toni”) Hunter Breck, and his brothers, […]

Richard L. Kahler, M.D.
By Montecito Journal   |   March 15, 2022

Richard Lee Kahler, MD, FACC, beloved husband, cherished father and grandfather, and treasured family member and friend, died peacefully at home on February 21, 2022, at the age of 89. Dick was a longtime resident of La Jolla, Rancho Santa Fe, and Montecito, California, before moving to Colorado in his final decade. Professionally, Dr. Kahler […]

RIP, Desmond
By Richard Mineards   |   January 18, 2022

On a personal note, I remember Desmond Tutu, South Africa’s Nobel Peace Prize-winning activist for racial justice and LGBTQ rights, who died at his home in Cape Town aged 90. I met the Anglican Archbishop in 2011 at a reception at the beachfront Montecito home of the late Nancy Koppelman and found him unfailingly charming. […]

Barbara Tellefson
By Montecito Journal   |   February 4, 2021

1936-2020 Immigrant daughter from humble beginnings internalized her family’s “Lessons to Live By” and became a community hero by dedicating her life to serving people in crisis Unity Shoppe lost our matriarch and founder, Barbara Tellefson, after a brief bout with an aggressive illness. She was 84. Barbara’s singular focus and half-century of devotion to […]