Community Rallies to Celebrate Molly Steinsapir

By LILY TINOCO | Reporter

If there’s one thing Pacific Palisades knows, it’s community.

Neighbors gathered on Saturday, June 12, in Marquez Knolls to celebrate Molly Steinsapir and kick off the summer.

Molly, the 12-year-old daughter of Palisadians Kaye and Jonathan Steinsapir, died after suffering brain trauma in a bike accident earlier this year on February 15.

The idea to rally the community in her honor was from Jill Lipsky, the Steinsapirs’ friend and longtime Palisadian. Lipsky said Molly had been in school with her son Jake since preschool.

The idea to coordinate the event began after Lipsky thought to help Pacific Palisades Residents Association fund the remaining amount for a park bench to commemorate Molly.

“We all held our breath and prayed for Molly after her accident,” Lipsky said to the Palisadian-Post. “It was excruciating to imagine the pain the Steinsapir family was feeling. We are a tight-knit group of moms, we met at KI and continued our friendship through the years, our kids attended Marquez. I knew I wanted to do something to show my support.”

Lipsky shared that she felt like she wanted to begin by helping earn money for a bench PPRA agreed to have placed in town to honor Molly, so the idea of a lemonade stand at the Lipsky home was formed.

“I had a large bag of landscaping stones, and we decided it would be nice to invite the community and do some rock painting too,” Lipsky shared. “It was a wonderful day filled with friends and community in honor of Molly.”

Children and adults alike were invited to paint “Molly Rocks,” an idea that originated on social media where people from all over the world painted rocks and adorned them with the hashtags “#TeamMolly” or “#MollyRocks,” then left them in nature for others to find. Molly Rocks have reached a number of places, including Rhode Island, Canada, Chicago, New Jersey and more.

Kaye shared Molly loved to paint rocks and it has been the “perfect tribute” for her.

“It’s relaxing and beautiful, and spreads her love and positive energy,” Kaye said.

Kaye said the event exceeded all her expectations and had a great turnout.

“So many people showed up, and it was very relaxed and happy, it was great for me to get to see Molly’s friends,” Kaye said to the Post. “Her passing has affected them deeply, and because of COVID, it has been difficult to gather with people, so it was really special for me to be able to talk to her friends who had been so impacted by her life and her passing.”

She said by the time of the event, the fundraising goal for the bench was met and decided whatever funds were raised that day would be put in The Molly Steinsapir Foundation, an organization made to advance charitable causes that Molly cared about and used here in the Palisades.

Kaye also announced the approval of a mural featuring Molly on a wall at Pierson Playhouse, an idea that came from Theatre Palisades and different members of the community. They are currently in the process of working with artist Jules Muck to finalize the design, then need to obtain city approval.

“When that does happen, we’re going to have a big event, celebrating it and unveiling the mural,” Kaye shared. “It’s going to be a really special event for the community at Theatre Palisades. Molly’s really doing great things in the community, that’s for sure.”