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Michael M. Wong, aka Mike Wong, passed away in Shinjuku, Japan, on Nov. 28, at the age of 52 while traveling with his family. He leaves his wife and two sons.
There is a lot more to Mike’s legacy, the circumstances and cause of death that we have yet to learn. In the absence of any known funeral services, we are building a “virtual tribute” with multiple online resources to honor and remember Mike. Continue reading “Obituary: Michael M. Wong”
Steve Keh, 64, passed away from natural causes on Thursday, Dec. 26, at his home in Burbank. He was born on Sept. 5, 1955, in Santa Monica to Edward and Martha Keh. He graduated from University High School in 1973 and received his B.S. in chemistry from UCLA in 1977. Steve went on to a successful career in commercial real estate before joining his parents in the family business, Healthcare Management Services, a pioneering developer of retirement and post-acute care centers. Headquartered in Glendale, Healthcare Management Services continues to provide necessary support to a truly underserved market. For the last 30 years, Steve was pivotal in helping the family business grow to nine facilities throughout California. Both in business and in his personal life, Steve was always loyal, hard-working, generous and dedicated to giving his best at everything he did. Continue reading “Obituary: Steve Keh”
Larry passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family, on New Year’s Day 2020.
Larry was born April 2, 1932, in Bakersfield to loving parents Bruce and Louise Stone. He graduated from Flintridge Prep in 1950 and then attended USC, graduating in 1954. There he met his wife and the love of his life, Nancy Humason. Larry was very proud to have been a yell-leader for the USC Trojans and was a lifelong fan of his alma mater. He was a member through his college years — and an active adviser for decades — of the Beta Theta Phi fraternity at USC. Continue reading “Obituary: John Lawrence (Larry) Stone”
Margaret (Peggy) Reeves Jones passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on Monday, Dec. 16. Peggy was a wonderful and devoted daughter, wife, mother and grandmother who was deeply loved by her family and will be greatly missed. Peggy was born on June 24, 1931, in Glendale, where she spent most of her life. She attended R. D. White Elementary School, Woodrow Wilson Junior High School and graduated from Glendale High School in 1949. Peggy next attended the University of Arizona, where she was a member of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority and earned a Bachelor of Arts in education. Continue reading “Obituary: Margaret Reeves Jones”
Nina Benedik Thomas died peacefully at home on Monday, Nov. 18, surrounded by her family. She had been living with cancer for more than five years and had continued to live an inspiringly active and satisfying life throughout. She loved her family, yoga, gardening and the wilderness, and was an avid skier and outdoorswoman.
Nina was born in Zagreb, Croatia, to Victor and Vera Benedik in 1946 after her father survived the Holocaust. She and her husband, Duncan, were married in Philadelphia and celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in August 2019. They met at McGill University in 1969 and were married in Philadelphia soon after. They hitchhiked to Fairbanks, Alaska, for a honeymoon that lasted two years, while they lived in a log cabin that they built themselves. Following the first of several round-the-world trips, they settled in Montreal, where she gave birth to her two oldest sons, Wilder and Dave. She obtained her teaching certificate from McGill and taught in the French public-school system. Continue reading “Obituary: Nina Benedik Thomas”
Susan Marie Cox Valley Stauffer, 79, loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother and friend to many, sadly passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 20, at her home in La Cañada Flintridge.
Born June 11, 1940, to the late Wyman Morrell Cox and Frances (Emerson) Cox, Sue was raised with her sister Constance Jean on a horse ranch in eastern Washington and graduated from Clarkston High School, class of ’57. After graduation, she was crowned Miss Rodeo of America 1958. Sue remained an active supporter of the Miss Rodeo Association and served on the national board. Sue was also a volunteer and docent at the Autry Museum of the American West in Burbank, where her Miss Rodeo wardrobe is in the permanent collection. Continue reading “Obituary: Susan Marie Cox Valley Stauffer”
Dr. Floyd Anthony Ventress, 89, of La Cañada Flintridge passed away peacefully on Thursday, Nov. 28, at Santa Teresita Manor, with his family by his side. He is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Joan Louise Castellani; their five children: Michael (Rebecca) Ventress, Denise (William) Bowles, Dale Ventress, Kerry Ventress and Jonathan (Norma) Ventress; three beloved grandchildren: Kathryn Ventress, Shannon Ventress, and Kellie Ventress; his brother Milton Louis Ventress; and many nieces and nephews.
Floyd was born on Dec. 28, 1929, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to Joseph Roy Ventress and Gertrude Noelie Sigur. Continue reading “Obituary: Floyd Anthony Ventress”
⬛ From the Publisher
Years ago, I saw an advertisement in the Los Angeles Times. Its headline read, “Sometimes words aren’t enough. Even for a newspaper.”
That resonated with me. While reporting community news with articles and photographs is vital, a newspaper also has the ability to make a difference in “building community.”
We’re now in our third decade of publication at The Outlook, and covering the remarkable work of our local nonprofit organizations has been a significant mission since the day we launched our company. We’re a family-owned business and have discussed the importance of “giving back” and charity. We are keenly aware that our company is in a unique position to help make a difference, and feel not only that we are blessed, but that we have a social responsibility. Continue reading “In Praise of Pasadena’s Spirit of Giving and Serving”
Irv Noren, a Pasadena native who won five World Series rings, three with the storied New York Yankee teams of the 1950s, died earlier this month at his home in San Diego. He was 94.
Noren’s family moved to Pasadena during the 1930s. They founded Noren’s Hillcrest Swedish Bakery in Altadena. Noren became an outstanding baseball and basketball player, starring at Pasadena Junior College (now Pasadena City College) before serving in the Army and signing a professional baseball contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Although he starred in the minor leagues, winning most valuable player awards in both the Texas League and the Pacific Coast League, Noren never made the talent-rich Brooklyn lineup. Continue reading “Obituary: Irv Noren”
Eldred Calvin “Cal” Elshoff was born on July 18, 1928, to Floranz and Esther (Huckeriede) Elshoff in New Knoxville, Ohio. Cal graduated from New Knoxville High School in 1946 where he played baseball and basketball. At the University of Cincinnati in 1952 he earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture where he also played basketball for the Bearcats. He met his wife of 66 years, Irene Molnar, at UC, and they married at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Bel Aire, Ohio, in 1952.
Following his Army service in the Korean War, during which time Cal was awarded a Bronze Star, he and Irene settled in Cincinnati where Cal practiced architecture. Continue reading “Obituary: Eldred Calvin ‘Cal’ Elshoff”