Longtime Pacific Palisades resident Eileen Theresa Eamer passed away on September 28, 2013 at the age of 86, leaving behind a legacy of family and friends who cherished her. Her husband of 62 years, Richard Eamer; children Brian and Erin,;daughter-in-law Julie Eamer; son-in-law Richard Knowles; and grandchildren Holly Fuhrman, Jordan Eamer, Travis Heuer, Garrett Eamer, Audrey Eamer; step-grandchildren Sean Knowles, Samantha Knowles, Charley Knowles; and grandson-in-law Michael Fuhrman will continue all their lives to benefit from her unwavering devotion and fun-loving nature, which instilled in them the value of doing for others while enjoying life to the fullest.
She was born December 2, 1926 in Denver, Colorado, to Theresa Elizabeth and Judson Merle Laughlin and raised in Colorado Springs where she spent her youth ice skating in the winter and horseback riding and hiking in the summer. With Eileen Eamer, the Colorado Rockies produced what her son Brian calls “a rock solid fine cut diamond of a human being and ‘one of a kind’ beautiful daughter /sister/wife/mother and grandmother who played all her roles with equal ease.” She was raised on Colorado sunshine, ice melt, snowy mountains, horses and dogs. Her love for nature and the simple things remained with her always.
Eileen was a lifelong learner and she decided early on to share her enthusiasm for learning with others. She attended Glendale College and later Cal State Los Angeles where she received a lifetime teaching credential for which she was very proud. She taught elementary school for several years with LAUSD where she was often given the most challenging students because of her patience and dedicated nature.
When her two children, first Brian and then Erin were born, she balanced part-time work as a substitute teacher with her new role as devoted mother. Eileen returned to teaching in the mid-seventies working as both substitute teacher and tutor at Palisades High School.
In her later years, she enjoyed studying languages through UCLA Extension and when travel plans to foreign countries were in place, she made sure to know the basic phrases as a gesture of respect. She spoke Mandarin with waiters in Hong Kong and Arabic with dignitaries in Saudi Arabia, and her natural charm was received with warmth and appreciation.
Her 62-year marriage to the love of her life Richard Eamer, whom she met when she was a cheerleader and he was a track high jumper at Glendale College, began in humble circumstances and was highlighted before children by extended trips to the Rocky Mountains towing their trailer and camping, fishing and hiking.
Then later, armed with a CPA and Law Degree from USC, Richard rose to high levels of success and they were able to enjoy not only more elaborate trips to the far reaches of the globe, which they took regularly with their children and grandchildren, but they also found themselves in a position to give back to others, one of Eileen’s most enduring passions.
Eileen was a dedicated philanthropist working as benefit chairwoman for the League for Children raising funds for abused children, and maintained active membership in the Fashionettes and John Douglas French Foundation for Alzheimer Research, just to name a few. Her compassionate and dedicated effort to make a difference and improve the lives of others, both young and old, is her enduring gift to society.
Back in 1971, Eileen and Richard fell in love with a French Country home on San Remo Drive which they purchased and raised their children there along with several generations of Labrador retrievers. Eileen spent decades perfecting her flower gardens, enjoying the home’s indoor-outdoor lifestyle with her family and dogs as well as opening their home for numerous charitable events.
Eileen passed away on September 28 at home after a 10-year battle against Parkinson’s disease. Always upbeat and optimistic she set an example for all who knew her regarding the importance of resilience in the face of difficulty and continued to find joy in the simple things—encouraging her grandchildrens’ endeavors, spending time in her garden, sharing her love of old movies, caring for her dogs, and finding ways to still do for others. She was an inspiration to all who knew her.
A memorial service honoring Eileen’s life will be held at noon on Saturday, November 9 at Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, a donation could be made to the animal welfare charity of your choice.
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