Monday, April 23, 2012
Richard Brown was the founder of UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. He died from a stroke.
Richard Brown, the chairman of Santa Monica's Airport Commission who was perhaps better known for his work in public health, particularly as the founder of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, died Sunday. The center's director, Gerald F. Kominski, said in a statement Monday that Brown died from a stroke while speaking at a conference in Kentucky. He was 70. "Beloved husband, father, grandfather, teacher, mentor and public health visionary, Rick touched the lives of tens of thousands of Americans with his unique blend of warmth, intelligence, tenacity and belief that public health data and information could be a powerful force for good," Kominski said. Until his death, Brown worked as a professor at the UCLA School Public of Health…
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Peter Douglas, 69, passed away Sunday following a long battle with throat and lung cancer.
Peter Douglas, executive director of the California Coastal Commission, passed away on Sunday, according to the commission's Chief Deputy, Susan Hansch. Douglas was appointed director of the Coastal Commission in 1985, and stepped down from the post in June of last year. He had battled throat and lung cancer in recent years. Read Douglas' full obituary here in the Los Angeles Times. Be sure to "Like" Venice-Mar Vista Patch on Facebook and also follow us on Twitter.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Larry Stevenson, a Venice High School graduate who invented the skateboard kicktail and helped popularize the sport with his Santa Monica-based line of skateboards and skateboard magazine, has died at age 81.
Larry Stevenson, a Venice High School graduate who is credited with creating the skateboard "kicktail" and popularizing modern skateboarding with his Santa Monica-based line of skateboards and skateboard magazine, has died. He was 81. Stevenson, who suffered from Parkinson's disease, died Sunday in Santa Monica, said his son, Curt, in a Facebook posting. Stevenson invented the kicktail, the upward bend at the back of a skateboard that allows for a wide range of tricks. He also created the first skate team in 1963 and hosted the first skateboard contest in 1963. Stevenson was working as a Venice Beach lifeguard in the 1950s and adapted the look and style of surfing to make professional grade skateboards. He started the Makaha brand of …
Thursday, March 1, 2012
The political blogger-journalist collapsed near his Westwood home and was taken to UCLA Medical Center early Thursday morning.
Andrew Breitbart, a prominent political blogger and journalist who founded several websites, died unexpectedly after collapsing near his Westwood home just after midnight Thursday. He was 43. Breitbart's father-in-law told the Associated Press that someone called 911 after they saw Breitbart collapse. He was taken to UCLA Medical Center but could not be revived. An announcement on his website BigJournalism.com says Breitbart died of natural causes. A watch commander at the Los Angeles County coroner's office told the Associated Press the cause of death is unknown and an autopsy is likely. Click here to read more about this story on our sister site, Westwood-Century City Patch.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
The latest on the singer's death.
Singing sensation Whitney Houston, 48, was found unresponsive in a bathtub of a fourth-floor room at the Beverly Hilton and declared dead by Beverly Hills police at 3:55 p.m. Saturday. Our sister site, Beverly Hills Patch has all the latest details including tributes and quotes from fans, photographs, a look at the singer's career and information on her latest movie - Sparkle - which will be released in August. Click here to go to Beverly Hills Patch to read the latest on the life, career and death of Whitney Houston. Don't forget to take our Whitney Houston polls, which you can find here.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
The Los Angeles Times and TMZ is reporting that the singer, who famously battled drug addiction, died at the Beverly Hilton. Take our polls and let us know your thoughts on the singer's death and your favorite Whitney song.
Singer Whitney Houston died today at the age of 48, the Associated Press is reporting. Houston's publicist, Kristen Foster, confirmed the death of the singer Saturday, but did not reveal how or where the six-time Grammy winner had died. According to the Los Angeles Times and the website TMZ, Houston died at the Beverly Hilton hotel. TMZ published a photograph taken Saturday of a police crime lab vehicle outside the hotel. The Hilton is hosting a pre-Grammy party Saturday evening. To read the AP report, click here. To read the Times report, click here. To read the TMZ report, click here. Click on this link to follow updates on this breaking story at our sister site, Beverly Hills Patch. Are you surprised by Whitney Houston's death? And what…
Monday, January 30, 2012
Doris Dabbs used her earnings as a maid to buy her first home in the 500 block of Brooks Avenue and later acquired more houses and became a local landlord.
Doris Dabbs, a longtime Venice resident and entrepreneur who bought property on Brooks Avenue that she held onto for decades, has died. She was 95. Dabbs died Sunday morning peacefully in her sleep in the first home that she bought in the 500 block of Brooks Avenue, said her granddaughter-in-law Maricela Morales Anderson. Dabbs moved to Venice when she was in her 20s and flourished as an entrepreneur at a time when Jim Crow was alive and well, even in Venice. She saved her earnings from working as a maid and had several unsuccessful attempts at buying property until she got a loan for that first home on Brooks, Anderson said. She managed her money well and eventually purchased both houses on either side of her first home, Anderson said. …
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Thanksgiving is just around the corner, so gather the kids and put your hands to work doing this fun holiday craft.
Thanksgiving is an opportunity to stuff our bellies, watch football and spend time with family. It's also a time to give thanks and be grateful. And what better way to help your kids remember why they are thankful than by taking the time to craft a Pine Cone Turkey together? This cute little guy can be assembled simply with gifts from nature and items you likely already have at home. Take your children on a walk to collect pine cones and seed pods, then watch their creativity shine as they assemble their turkeys. We guarantee your kids' faces will light up with pride when they see their creation on the Thanksgiving dinner table. Below you will find a list of essential items required to construct your Pine Cone Turkey, and tips and tricks …
Friday, November 18, 2011
The 50-year-old potter, teacher and activist passed away following a two-year battle with ovarian cancer.
Linda Mechanic, who owned and operated a pottery studio and gallery at Peach Tree Pottery in Mar Vista, died on Oct. 29 at Saint John's Health Center, following a two-year battle with ovarian cancer, The Argonaut reports. Mechanic, who opened her studio in 1999 taught classes to adults and children, and also featured the works of emerging Southern California artists. She also spent many years raising funds for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, the American Cancer Society, MS Society and the American Heart Association. You can read Mechanic's full bio and obituary in The Argonaut. Did you know Mechanic or take any of her classes? Share your thoughts, memories and condolences in the comments section, below.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
A round-up of local coverage of the death of the former CEO of Apple.
Palo Alto resident and former Apple CEO Steve Jobs died Wednesday at the age of 56. His death was announced by Apple in a statement, and news of his passing spread quickly throughout his neighborhood in Palo Alto. Despite the police cars and Apple security, the street was hushed as neighbors passed by Jobs' storybook home to leave flowers and messages in his honor. Meanwhile, his family released the following statement: "Steve died peacefully today surrounded by his family. In his public life, Steve was known as a visionary; in his private life, he cherished his family. We are thankful to the many people who have shared their wishes and prayers during the last year of Steve’s illness; a website will be provided for those who wish to offer …
DIck B
10:41 am on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Sad news indeed. He will be missed. He was one of the good guys fighting for justice and a true leader. more ›