Jan. 24, 2002

James Campbell Graham
Longtime Irvine resident James Campbell Graham died Jan. 18 after an eight-month battle with cancer. He was 65 and had lived in Northwood for 21 years. Services are planned for Saturday, Jan. 26, at 11 a.m. at Saddleback Chapel in Tustin. married Feb. 14, 1982, in Irvine. Each brought two children to the marriage and both thought of them all as "their" children, said his wife. Mr. Graham enjoyed doing things with the family and the couple spent much of their free time doing family things, she added. Mr. Graham began his career in accounting and went into human resources. He retired last year as manager of human resources at Ricoh Electronics after being with the company 12 years. He was an outgoing, friendly person, his wife recalled. He became a member of Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa in recent months. When he lived in Northern California, he was active in the Junior Achievement program. Mr. Graham is survived by his wife, Linda Sue Graham of Irvine; his son, James C. Graham II of Sun City; his daughters, Grace Dawson of Tustin, Lori A. Cramer of Tustin, and Lynette M. Rowles of Fullerton; his former wife, Shirley Heath of Seal Beach; his sisters, Dorothy Duncan of Walnut Creek, and Anne Mac Nicol of Perth, Scotland; and six grandchildren. The family asked that memorial contributions be made to the American Cancer Society.

Rainfredo P. Bugarin
Irvine resident Rainfredo P. Bugarin died Jan. 17. He was 64. He died of heart failure after being taken from his home to Irvine Regional Hospital. Visitation is planned for this evening, Jan. 24, at Saddleback Chapel in Tustin. A funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday, Jan. 25, at 10 a.m. at St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Irvine. Burial will be at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in Orange. Mr. Bugarin and his family lived in Northwood since July, 1979. He and his family and other friends performed for St. John Neumann Catholic Church services for about 10 years. Mr. Bugarin loved music. He arranged music for the church group. He also sang, danced and played piano, guitar, bass guitar and violin. He was also a lecturer, commentator and eucharistic minister at the church. Mr. Bugarin was outgoing and friendly. He was always smiling and telling his jokes and stories, said his daughter, Agnes Bugarin. He was born May 28, 1937, in Carcar Cebu, the Philippines. He grew up there and earned a degree in mechanical engineering at San Carlos University in Cebu City. He taught mathematics at St. Vincent College and Bonifacio College. He came to Los Angeles in 1973. He worked as an electrician after coming to the United States. Family was important to Mr. Bugarin and he enjoyed gathering with his wife, their five children and other family members, his daughter said. He is survived by his wife, Flordeliza Bugarin of Irvine; his four daughters, Lucy Quitoriano of Sugar Land, Texas, Agnes Bugarin of Irvine, Rita Masinsin of London, England, and Liza Bugarin of Irvine; his son, Paul Bugarin of Irvine; his sisters, Licy Domapias, Alita Jalosjos, and Gudy Bugarin, all of the Philippines; his brothers, Expedito Bugarin, and Nemy Bugarin, both of the Philippines; and one grandchild. The family asked that memorial contributions be made to the Rainfredo Bugarin Memorial Fund, in care of the family.

Jan. 10, 2002

Laura Anne 'Dexter' Walker
The ocean has a certain allure for everyone. Who isn't seduced by the crashing waves on the shore or the water gurgling its way into well-worn crevices in the rocks? But for Laura "Dexter" Walker, the ocean was far more than an occasional distraction at the end of a busy day. It was as essential to her soul as nourishment is to the body. She knew the ocean - its whims and follies and dangers - the way a mother knows her child. She couldn't live without it. She was the first one in the water most days - paddling out at the far end of Bolsa Chica State Beach to catch the 6 a.m. waves. Surfing was Laura's life. Laura surfed when a rare form of cancer cost her her right eye. She had to devise a water-tight patch so the sea wouldn't seep into the cavity and her sinuses and, in effect, drown her. She surfed along the coast of Baja California and Costa Rica. She caught big waves in Fiji after enduring nine months of chemotherapy. She had, her friends say, the soul of a surfer. She also had a monumental amount of grit, determination and courage. Despite her long and recurring illness, she bought tickets for another surfing trip to Fiji - one she didn't make - over the Thanksgiving holiday. Laura was 44 when she died of osteosarcomas on New Year's Day at the Irvine home of her parents, James and Elizabeth Walker. Memorial services are planned for Saturday, Jan. 12, at 11 a.m. at Bolsa Chica State Beach. The daughter of a Marine colonel, she learned to surf at age 10 while her dad was stationed in Honolulu. Laura and her three sisters were tomboys. They played ball, rode bikes and ran the obstacle courses at the Marine bases where they were living. They could skitter to the tops of ropes that the burly Marines moaned and groaned over climbing. When the occasional doll found its way into the house, the girls would look at it askance and say, "Oh, that's for when you're sick." The family moved to Irvine in 1971, and Laura graduated from University High School four years later. After a couple of years at community colleges, she earned a softball scholarship to the University of Northern Colorado at Greeley, where she majored in education and minored in zoology. She also played on the women's rugby team. She was a tough little thing, tidy, sometimes terse, stoic, reliable, direct, self-sufficient and self-contained. Her apartment, decorated throughout with surf memorabilia, was immaculate and as organized as a Marine's footlocker. On group surfing trips, Laura was always the most prepared - with tools, spare parts, a tent, just the right clothing. She earned a teaching credential but didn't like teaching. She also preferred to work nights so she could get off work then catch those early-morning waves. So she worked for Federal Express in San Diego, then for UPS in Los Angeles, lived in Long Beach and surfed at Bolsa Chica. When she caught a good ride, she would tell friends, "I was a legend in my own mind." Finally, she became a licensed steam engineer for Southern California Edison and ran steam-generating plants in Long Beach and Ventura. She loved it. It was technical and challenging. The work clothes suited her - jeans, T-shirt, hard hat and tool belt. But her heart - always - was in the ocean, on a surfboard, waiting for just the right wave. Laura had many boards over the years, but only one never made it into the water. It was made by a local shaper, Matt Bettis, and was signed by her many surfing friends. It was, she said, too beautiful to use, and hung above the bed in which she died. She is survived by her parents, James and Elizabeth Walker, of Irvine; and her three sisters, Teresa Heimann of Diamond Bar, Susan Walker of San Jose and Lisa Anne Walker of Alexandria, Va. Written for the Irvine World News by Robin Hinch, a writer for the Orange County Register.

Jan. 3, 2002

Marilyn Lois Fowler
Former Irvine resident Marilyn Fowler died Dec. 22 unexpectedly of a stroke while visiting her son, Chris Fowler, in Traverse City, Mich. She lived in Woodbridge in Irvine from 1980 and moved to Littleton, Colo. She was 75. Services in Southern California were being planned. Arrangements are by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home, Traverse City. She was born Nov. 2, 1926, in Chicago, Ill., the daughter of Gregory and Marion Crisp. She grew up in White Plains, N.Y. She graduated from the University of Michigan and was a member of Kappa Delta Sorority. She worked for Los Angeles County as a children's services worker for more than 30 years, according to her son. She loved her work and was dedicated to the welfare of children. Her work brought her in contact with Orangewood Children's Home in Orange. After she retired she continued to volunteer with the children there. She also spoke on public TV about children's welfare issues. As a single mother she raised her two sons, Chris and Gary Fowler, in Irvine. Gary played football at USC and his mother remained a dedicated football fan of the school and attended alumni events with her sons. She was also a member of the American Association of University Women in Orange County and attended Saddleback Community Church in Lake Forest. In her spare time she enjoyed gardening, traveling and her dogs. She especially loved spending time with her grandchildren, said her son Chris. Preceded in death by her parents, she is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Chris and Colleen Fowler of Traverse City, and Gary and Meagan Fowler of Highlands Ranch, Colo.; and her six grandchildren, Marcus, Andrew, Erika, Nick, Carly and Joy. Her family asked that memorial contributions be made to the American Heart Association or the Humane Society.

Christina Hadden
Irvine resident Christina "Chrissy" Hadden died Dec. 21. She was 95. She was born June 3, 1906, in Dundee, Scotland. She immigrated to the United States with her two sisters and brother in 1928 and they settled in Michigan. She met Abner "Scotty" Hadden after she arrived. He had also immigrated from Scotland. They married and settled in Michigan where he worked in the tool and die industry. In 1961 they moved to Downey to be near their daughters. They loved Southern California. They managed a 32-unit apartment complex in Downey for 30 years, which Mrs. Hadden enjoyed doing, according to her daughter, Patricia Anderson. She continued to do all the books and paperwork for the apartments until she lost her vision when she was about 80. Mrs. Hadden loved doing things with family, shopping and eating out. She was outgoing and friendly and had many friends. When Mr. Hadden died 11 years ago, Mrs. Hadden moved to College Park in Irvine to live with her daughter. She attended Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Tustin when she was able. Services were held Dec. 26 at Saddleback Chapel in Tustin. died Dec. 23 at her home in the Groves Mobile Home Park of lung cancer. She was 80. Mrs. McGallian was born Aug. 15, 1921, in the small town of Longmont, Colo. She was the middle of five siblings and her father was a house painter. When she was a young teen, the family moved to Pasadena. She graduated from high school at what was known then as Pasadena Junior College. She first noticed her husband-to-be, Kenneth McGallian, on a boat ride to Avalon, Catalina, where they were going to a dance with other dates. They both loved to dance. They married Sept. 22, 1940. Mr. McGallian served in the Army during World War II. She accompanied him to his first station in Georgia and returned to Pasadena with their daughter when he went to Italy. After the war they lived briefly in Long Beach and then settled in Pasadena. Mr. McGallian worked in the credit department of Sears. Beginning in the mid-1950s the family moved often. Places they lived included Modesto, San Mateo, Pomona, Palos Verdes Peninsula, Pleasanton and Hacienda Heights. They moved to the Groves in Northwood in 1983. While her children were growing up she was involved in many of their school and sports activities. "She was a homemaker. It was her vocation. She took joy and pride in it," said her daughter, Terry Ann Churchill. She and her husband liked square dancing and golf. She also enjoyed ceramics and was known for her ceramic Madonnas, said her daughter. Her spiritual life was important to her. She and her husband became involved with Cursillo while they lived in Northern California. It is an ecumenical movement for enriched spiritual life and a strong spiritual community. They continued to meet weekly in Irvine with an offshoot of the group. The McGallians also attended Marriage Encounter. Mrs. McGallian was an active member of the Young Ladies Institute at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Irvine. The group of women was founded with the goal of supporting the moral, mental and social advancement of Catholic women. Her local group was particularly supportive the last two years during Mrs. McGallian's struggle with cancer. Her family also appreciated the support and help of their hospice nurse. "When hospice was set up, heaven was called and God sent an angel. Her name was Toni Barry. She was Dorrie's nurse," said Mrs. McGallian's daughter. Mrs. McGallian was an outgoing person and had a wide circle of friends, her daughter added. She loved her family and friends and gave them many gifts. "Three gifts stood out. She loved unconditionally. She gave the gift of her time and she listened with an open heart," said her daughter. She was also known for her red hair and her quick wit.
Memorial services were held Dec. 29 at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Irvine. Burial was at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Covina Hills, Covina. Arrangements were by Saddleback Chapel in Tustin. Mrs. McGallian is survived by her husband, Kenneth D. McGallian, of Irvine; her daughter, Terry Ann Churchill of Fort Collins, Colo.; her sons, Daniel D. McGallian of Chino and Jeffrey L. McGallian of San Leandro; her sister, Maxine Skeffington of Longmont, Colo.; 11 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Dec. 20, 2001

Madeleine Santos Nidoy
Madeleine "Lei" Santos Nidoy died Dec. 12 in her home in San Francisco. She was 33. She grew up in Irvine. She attended Greentree Elementary School and Venado Middle School and graduated from Irvine High School. She earned a degree in philosophy from the University of California San Diego and worked with computers and in marketing in the San Francisco Bay Area. She played tennis at Irvine High. Her father, Victor Nidoy, said she was a friendly person and enjoyed her many friends. She also loved reading all kinds of books and was very good with computers, he added. She grew up attending St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Irvine. A memorial service was held there Dec. 17. Saddleback Chapel in Tustin handled the arrangements. She is survived by her parents, Victor and Evelyn Nidoy, of Irvine; her brothers, Victor S. Nidoy Jr. of Tustin Ranch and Vincent Nidoy of Irvine; her grandfather, Ven Santos, of Irvine; her grandmother, Leonila Nidoy, of the Philippines; her uncles, Albert Santos of Rancho Santa Margarita and Ray Santos of Santa Ana; and her aunts, Cindy Berlin of San Diego and Marilyn Zullig of Orlando, Fla.

Jeanette Loraine Gleinn
Jeanette Loraine Gleinn, 64, died suddenly Dec. 2 at her Irvine home. She had not been ill and was sitting on the edge of the bed putting on her shoes. Her husband, Bob Gleinn, left the room briefly and returned to find her collapsed and not breathing. He said it was determined that she died of a pulmonary embolism, a blood clot that blocked the blood to her lungs. Mrs. Gleinn was born May 8, 1937, in Los Angeles. She grew up in Highland Park and the San Fernando Valley and graduated from North Hollywood High School. She earned a degree in English from UCLA and a teaching certificate from USC. At UCLA she was a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority. She and her husband were married in August 1961 in Van Nuys after meeting as students at UCLA. They soon moved to Thousand Oaks and Mrs. Gleinn taught elementary school in Reseda for about 10 years. She loved her job and the students, whom she thought of as her children, said her husband. Mr. Gleinn worked with computers and in computer systems sales. About 1970, the couple moved to Honolulu. Mrs. Gleinn taught elementary and junior high there. In 1976, they decided to take the long way back to Thousand Oaks and spent a year traveling around the world. Mrs. Gleinn spoke three languages and always loved to travel, said her husband, " She was a true travel bug." When they returned they purchased and worked a commercial avocado grove. After a few years, Mr. Gleinn returned to the corporate world and they moved to Chicago for two years. They moved to Irvine in 1984, where they remained.
Mrs. Gleinn loved learning and took many classes. After getting her first home computer in 1986 she attended Irvine Valley College and Saddleback College and earned a certificate in data processing. As a volunteer she worked at the Women's Opportunities Center at UCI. She helped with the computer system and taught several computer classes at the center. She also served as director of the center's advisory council. In her free time she liked to sew and loved fabric. She also enjoyed cooking, said her husband. When she did things, she did them "all the way" and with determination, said her husband. She was always giving and thoughtful and willing to share the information she enjoyed finding on the Internet. Her compassion "was beyond compare," he said. A memorial service was held Dec. 6 at Pacific View Mortuary in Newport Beach. Mrs. Gleinn is survived by her husband, Robert H. Gleinn, of Irvine; and her father, Robert A. Bigler, of Thousand Oaks.

Dec. 6, 2001

Manya Hersh
Irvine resident Manya Hersh died Oct. 23 of a stroke at Kaiser-Permanente Hospital in Anaheim. Mrs. Hersh was born Feb. 4, 1927, in a small town in Hungary. She came to America in 1950 with her husband and 3-year-old daughter. A widow, she lived in Irvine 22 years and was active at the senior centers. She participated in many activities at the centers and was well known for her love of bridge. She also enjoyed gardening, reading, and walking her much-loved dog, Peppy. She especially loved spending time with her family. "A caring and graceful lady, Manya was a devoted wife, beloved mother and cherished grandmother," said her daughter, Daisy Fenton. Memorial services were held at the Woodbridge home of her daughter, Daisy Fenton. She is also survived by her son-in-law, Bill Fenton; and her two grandchildren, Jarett and Kimberly Fenton.

Nov. 29, 2001

Richard Lee Felker
The location for services for Irvine elementary school teacher Richard Felker has been changed to Saddleback Church on Saddleback Parkway in Lake Forest. The memorial service will be Saturday, Dec. 1, at 11:30 a.m. Mr. Felker, 50, died Nov. 17 of brain cancer. A lengthy obituary ran in the Irvine World News Nov. 22. Memorial donations can be made to the Richard Felker Education Fund through the Irvine Public Schools Foundation. Checks should be made out to IPSF-Rick Felker Outdoor Ed and sent to Irvine Public Schools Foundation, 4330 Barranca Parkway, Suite 235, Irvine 92604. Richard Lee Felker

Paul Elton Franklin
Irvine resident Paul Elton Franklin died Nov. 18 at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian, Newport Beach, after a long illness with a blood condition. He was 75. He was born March 3, 1926, in Long Beach. He grew up in El Segundo, then a small Standard Oil "company town." His father worked for Standard Oil in human resources. Mr. Franklin graduated from El Segundo High School and earned a degree in engineering from University of California Los Angeles in 1950. He went to work for North American Rockwell and stayed with the company about 20 years as an engineer. He and his wife Dona were married in 1953 in San Clemente. They lived most of their married life in Corona del Mar. They moved to Rancho San Joaquin in Irvine about 2 _ years ago. After working 20 years as an engineer, Mr. Franklin became a real estate broker around 1970. He was active in the California Association of Realtors and the Newport Mesa Association of Realtors, where he was president in 1981. He was a certified commercial investment member (CCIM), which was equivalent to having a master's degree in real estate, said his wife. He was active with the Southern California Chapter of CCIM. He spent much of his spare time doing various voluntary activities with his professional organizations. He loved his work and especially enjoyed working with people, said his wife. He worked until his illness forced him to slow down. "He was friendly and outgoing. He was a salesman and he loved people and his career. His resume is filled with things he's done," she said. As part of his business, he was a member of a number of community organizations in the Newport area. For the past 10 years or so he was active with Speak Up Newport (SUN), a group that supports positive planning for Newport Beach. Services were private. Arrangements were by Saddleback Chapel, Tustin. He is survived by is wife Dona Franklin of Irvine; his stepdaughter, Terry Melton of Arizona; his brother, Julian Franklin of Long Beach; and two grandsons.

Nov. 22, 2001

Richard Lee Felker
Longtime Irvine elementary school teacher Richard Lee Felker died Nov. 17 on his 50th birthday. He was at home in Coto de Caza after suffering from a malignant brain tumor for about a year. A memorial service is planned for Saturday, Dec. 1, at 11 a.m. It is tentatively planned at O'Connor Laguna Hills Mortuary in Laguna Hills. Confirmation is available by calling the mortuary at (949) 581-4300 or by contacting school officials. Mr. Felker taught mostly sixth grade at Northwood and Canyon View elementary schools since 1982. He loved teaching. He especially enjoyed the outdoor education program that takes sixth graders to camp for a week, and he attended with his students each year. "He was one of those people who was like a big brother to me," said colleague Judy Dickey at Northwood Elementary. "He was fun to teach with and he loved the kids. He was a technology wizard. He knew everything about technology. He was a really, really nice person. He was kind of quiet with friends, but in the classroom he really came alive with the kids. He gave them everything and encouraged each one to do his best. "He is really, really missed. He was a really nice all-around guy." Mr. Felker was especially known for his technical expertise.
"He was a great guy. He was teacher of the year at Northwood and they wrote a poem about him, 'Rick, Rick, please come quick'" said Steve Garretson, who taught with Mr. Felker for 15 years and now works at the school district office. "He was Mr. Fix-it and loved by everyone. They knew they could call him and he could get their computers up and running again. He was a really good guy," said Garretson. "It is very hard. We are really sad here. He was like one of the pillars of the school," said Northwood Principal Lydia Wells. Mr. Felker was born Nov. 17, 1951, in Long Beach, the second oldest in a family of six brothers. He grew up in the Torrance and Manhattan Beach area and graduated from West High School in Torrance. He attended El Camino College and then earned a degree in psychology at California State University Dominguez Hills. He earned a master's degree in education at United States International University. After college, he spent six years in the Naval Reserve and started his teaching career. He taught first and second grades in South Central Los Angeles and came to the Irvine school district in 1982. He and his wife, Patricia, were married in 1975 on the Princess Louise in San Pedro. They first lived in the Redondo Beach area. They lived in several Orange County locations, including Irvine, and most recently lived in Coto de Caza. In his spare time Mr. Felker enjoyed working with computers. He also liked the mountains and camping and fishing. He was a car buff as well and especially liked sports cars, said his wife. Mr. Felker is survived by his wife, Patricia A. Felker, of Coto de Caza; his daughters, Melissa A. Felker and Courtney E. Felker, both of Coto de Caza; and his brother, John Felker, of Trabuco Canyon. Because outdoor education was always a joy for Mr. Felker, the Rick Felker Education Fund has been established through the Irvine Education Foundation. The fund will be used to help students who would otherwise not be able to attend outdoor education in the sixth grade in Irvine. Donation checks can be made out to IPSF-Rick Felker Outdoor Ed and sent to the Irvine Public Schools Foundation, 4330 Barranca Parkway, Irvine 92604.

Martha Claretta Olund Mills
Former Irvine resident Martha Claretta Olund Mills died Nov. 10 in Parkland Village, McMinnville, Ore. She had moved to Oregon from University Park last year to be closer to family. She was 89. She was born Sept. 14, 1912, in Portland, Ore. Her father was an engineer who worked with cement and she grew up in Honolulu where he worked on some of the first modern concrete buildings in the islands. When she was growing up there was only one hotel on Waikiki Beach. Her father also worked on the San Francisco Bay Bridge when the family lived in Hawaii. She graduated from high school in Hawaii in 1931 and came to Los Angeles for two years to study art and design at Chouinard School of the Arts. She returned to the University of Hawaii for two more years and studied design and painting. In 1935, she married Andrew Nicoll in Hawaii, where they lived. She took a correspondence course and earned a degree in mechanical engineering. She went to work for the Army and was sent to Los Angeles. She and her husband divorced in 1954. In Southern California she worked as an engineer for Douglas, Hughes and finally Northrop on aeronautics projects, including the Hawk missile launcher and loader. She was one of two female senior engineers at Northrop when she first held that position. She retired in 1971. After retirement, she enjoyed painting and sculpting. She married Charles Mills in 1979. They lived in University Park in Irvine and they continued painting and sculpting together and loved to travel. After Mr. Mills died in 1994, she continued to sculpt and paint. Watercolors were her specialty and she sculpted in clay, brass and alabaster. She had a group of close art friends at Leisure World, where she also took Saddleback College emeriti courses. She was also involved with the Farmers Market in Irvine. At Mrs. Mills' request, there was no service.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Mills, and by her sister, Eloise Walker, of Portland. She is survived by her stepdaughter, Marlene Goldman, of Los Angeles; her cousins, Lois Peterson of McMinnville and Lalonnie Self of Newberg, Ore. Memorial donations can be made to Health Dynamics Hospice, c/o Macy & Son Funeral Home, 135 N. Evans, McMinnville, Ore. 97128.

Nov. 15, 2001

Raydean E. Mahler
Longtime Irvine resident Raydean E. Mahler died Oct. 23 of leukemia. He was 74. He and his wife had lived in their Turtle Rock Hills home since before there was a city of Irvine. They moved to Irvine from the Sacramento area in 1969. Mr. Mahler was born Sept. 2, 1927, in the small town of Freedom, Okla. He grew up the eldest of four brothers in Bonners Ferry, in the rural far north of Idaho. He was a lifelong outdoorsman and loved fishing and hunting. After graduating from high school he served in the military and was a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict. During his training in Santa Barbara he met his wife, Barbara, who was going to school there. They married Aug. 12, 1951, at the Mission Inn in Riverside. He then left for officer's candidate school and military duty. After he returned from his military duty, both he and his wife returned to school and graduated together from University of California Berkeley. He earned a degree in engineering and business. They moved to Carmichael in the Sacramento area. After working briefly for the Sacramento Municipal Utility District he set up an office for Mrs. Mahler's family's firm, Surveyors Service Co. The company sells and services surveying equipment. They moved to Irvine in 1969 when he took over as president of the firm, headquartered in Costa Mesa. Under his leadership the company opened branch offices in Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada. He also opened an Industrial Division to provide specially designed measuring equipment. He retired in 1994 but stayed on as chairman of the board. His son, Stanton Mahler, is CEO of the company. The company marked its 75th anniversary this year and Mr. Mahler was pleased to attend the celebration of the four-generation family business. The business was an important part of his life, said his wife. He enjoyed his work, said his wife, and was always an outgoing people person. He was a lifetime member of the American Congress of Surveying and Mapping and of the California Land Surveyors Association. The Mahlers celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this year. Aside from his family, Mr. Mahler's first love was boating and fishing. The Mahlers owned a 36-foot powerboat, which they kept in Dana Point Harbor. They were members of the Dana Point Yacht Club. He had a passion for marlin fishing and spent many summers filled with trips fishing for marlin and tuna around Catalina Island. He particularly liked to bring in the first marlin of the season, which runs from July through October. When the first marlin of the season was brought into the harbor at Avalon on Catalina, officials used to shoot a cannon, take a photo and give the fisherman a bottle of champagne. Mr. Mahler collected many a bottle of champagne for bringing in the first marlin, said his wife. "It was a longstanding joke at the yacht club that the trophy for the first marlin always belonged to Ray," she added. He also loved the mountains and trees all his life and enjoyed their cabin at Idyllwild. He was a member of the Idyllwild Cedar Glen Community Association. Mr. Mahler was a member of the University of California Alumni Association. He was also a member of the UCI University Club and the Turtle Rock Hills Community Association. His wife said he was always a very active man and did not like to sit still for long. "He was always busy doing something at home or at the office," she said. Services and burial were Oct. 27 at Pacific View Mortuary in Newport Beach. Mr. Mahler is survived by his wife Barbara G. Mahler of Irvine; his daughter and son-in-law, Constance M. and John Hansen of San Jose; his son and daughter-in-law, Stanton C. and Susan Mahler of Trabuco Canyon; his brother and sister-in-law, Lee and Peggy Mahler of Sand Point, Idaho; and three grandchildren, Rachel, Preston and Jason Mahler of Trabuco Canyon. The family asked that memorial donations be made to the Hoag Hospital Foundation for leukemia research, PO Box 6100, Newport Beach 92658-6100.

Nov. 8, 2001

Deanna Kay Mason
Former longtime Irvine resident Deanna Kay Mason of Des Moines, Iowa, died Nov. 1 at the Mayo Clinic Center. She died of a rare blood disease, myelofibrosis. She was 53. True to her giving nature, she loved being a part of medical research at the center and hoped she would be part of finding the cure for the disease, according to her daughter, Maggie Beemer. Mrs. Mason still had many friends in Orange County where she was active in issues involving children and women. She was on the board of the Children's Home Society and was instrumental in founding the infant childcare program at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Irvine. She also ran a day care business in her home for many years. A memorial service will be held Saturday, Nov. 10, at 10 a.m. at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 4400 Barranca in Woodbridge. Mrs. Mason was born Feb. 28, 1948, in Upland. She grew up in Upland and Claremont and graduated from Claremont High School in 1966. She married Stanley Ivan Mason in May 1969 in Stuttgart, Germany, where Mr. Mason was in the U.S. Army. They lived in Germany until late 1971 when they returned to Southern California. They made their home in Claremont and she worked at Simco, where she developed and tested recipes for microwave ovens. Mr. Mason had a career as a real estate appraiser. They moved to Irvine in 1977. They lived in the Irvine Groves. After leaving her job at Simco in 1979, she started a child care business in her home so she could be at home with her two daughters. She loved working with children. Her daughter remembered her mother as an outgoing, friendly person who was always concerned about making other people comfortable. She was especially interested in issues that involved children and women. She was involved in women's ministry at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, where she was a member since 1980. She also helped take Communion to people who were confined to their homes. Her daughter recalled going with her mother on several occasions to feed and visit homeless people in a Laguna Beach program. In 1994, Mrs. Mason became a financial planner. In 1997 her husband died suddenly of an aneurysm when he was 53. Mrs. Mason decided to move to Des Moines to live in a more rural area and to try something new. She had established her own small home complete with a yellow Labrador puppy named Madison. "She was full of life. She was always a cup-half-full kind of person, rarely a cup-half-empty person. When she wasn't she would realize it and bounce right back," said her daughter. Mrs. Mason is survived by her daughters and their husbands, Heather and Michael Masonjones of Tampa, Fla., and Margaret and Andrew Beemer of Des Moines; her parents, David E. and Mona L. Rahn of Upland; her sister, Donna McClure of Victorville; and her grandchildren, Sawyer, Kellerin and Graelyn Masonjones and Samuel and Jonathan Beemer.

Sally Cho Lee
Irvine resident Sally Cho Lee died Oct. 29 at Irvine Medical Center following a stroke. She was 86. Services will be held Saturday, Nov. 10, at 11 a.m. at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, 6300 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles. There will be a reception following at Pickwick Gardens, 1001 Riverside Drive, Burbank. Mrs. Lee was born in 1915 in Beijing, China. She came from an educated family and attended several Chinese universities, where she studied English. She moved to Shanghai in 1937. In 1947, she married Mong Ping Lee, who worked in the Nationalist government. They moved to Taipei in 1949 and Mr. Lee continued to work in the government. In 1956 the Lees moved to Los Angeles where Mr. Lee was the Consul General for Nationalist China. As a diplomat's wife, Mrs. Lee entertained often and was active in the Chinese community of Los Angeles. She had worked as a translator while still living in China before moving to Taipei. In Los Angeles she taught Mandarin Chinese at California State University Northridge. Mr. Lee retired from the diplomatic service in 1966 and taught at several universities in Southern California. He died in 1973. Mrs. Lee remained in Los Angeles until 1977 when she moved to Irvine. She lived in Woodbridge and Deerfield. She had a close group of friends all her life, including friends from her days at university in China. She was active at the Lakeview Senior Center, especially with the Evergreen Chinese Senior Association. In her spare time she liked to play ping pong at the senior center. Her daughter said she also enjoyed match-making and had successfully introduced more than two dozen couples among her friends and acquaintances. "She was a very social, outgoing person and had many friends from many years ago," said her daughter. Mrs. Lee is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, William and Karen Lee of Piedmont, and David and Carol Lee of Irvine; her daughter and son-in-law, Frances Lee and Robert Miller of Irvine; her brothers, Conrad Cho of Taipei and Frank Cho of Laguna Woods; her sister, Margaret Kuo of Champaign, Ill.; and her grandchildren, Jennifer Ng, Nadia Perisi, Leanne Ng, Carlin Lee, Doug Lee and Jim Lee. The family said that memorial donations may be made to Asian Pacific American Legal Clinic, 1145 Wilshire Blvd., 2nd Floor, Los Angeles 90017.

Benedict Martin Erchul
Irvine resident Benedict Martin Erchul died Oct. 1 of congestive heart failure. He had the condition for a number of years but his condition deteriorated rapidly after his wife, Mary Erchul, died in May. He died at Chapman Medical Center. He was 73. Mr. Erchul was born July 15, 1928, in Soudan, a small town in the far north of Minnesota, where his father was a miner. He grew up in Ely, Minn., the youngest surviving child in a family of 11 children. He graduated from high school there and spent time in the military. While attending college, he met Mary Joanne Brown at a dance. They married in Ely on his birthday, July 15, 1950. They made their home in Virginia, Minn. He was skilled as an electrician and worked for an artificial limb company. The company transferred him to Southern California in 1967. They made their home in La Crescenta, where they raised their seven children. Mr. Erchul worked for the Los Angeles County roads department and for the Los Angeles County Fire Department. He retired in 1990 and then moved to Northwood in Irvine. While living in La Crescenta, the Erchuls had a busy social life with the Elks Club and still had many friends from that area. The Erchuls were members of St. John Neumann Catholic Church and then St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Irvine. They also went regularly to 24 Hour Fitness gym at Culver Center. Mr. Erchul was a Jack of all trades, said his daughter Patricia Johnson. He had a garage full of tools that he loved to tinker with and used to do projects around the house. He also had a vegetable garden that his daughter described as "one of his small passions." He and his wife loved to travel in their motor home. They often visited relatives and friends in Minnesota but also went to many other places across the United States and Canada. Services were held Oct. 6 at St. Thomas More Catholic Church with the Rev. Timothy Doyle presiding. His ashes were scattered at sea. Mr. Erchul is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Dan and Mary Erchul of Rochester, Minn.; his sons, Paul Erchul of Antioch and Ben Erchul of San Luis Obispo; his daughters and sons-in-law, Patricia and Greg Johnson of Huntington Beach, and Elizabeth Erchul and Richard Milcov of San Bruno; his daughters, Katherine Erchul of Irvine, and Mary Erchul of Santa Cruz; his sisters, Marge Schmidl of Huntington Beach, Tory Bobence of Minnesota, Ag Mattson of Minnesota, and Fran Bizal of Minnesota; his brother, Joseph Erchul of Las Vegas; and his four grandchildren, Niles Wigley of Utah, Cheryl Erchul of Colorado, and Olivia and Meredith Johnson of Huntington Beach.