Jan Rutkin Ostendorf

With heavy hearts, the family announces Jan Rutkin Ostendorf’s passing on February 11.

Jan was born August 12, 1952, and grew up in North Hollywood. She attended North Hollywood High and UC Berkeley, where she studied anthropology and proudly took part in student protests of the Vietnam War. She took a year off of college to travel around Europe, spending most of her time in Aix-en-Provence, France.

Following her time at Berkeley, she moved back to Los Angeles and completed her master’s degree in dance kinesiology at UCLA. She then worked at a healthcare clinic in Santa Monica as an exercise physiologist before moving on to Glendale Adventist Medical Center, where she ran health and wellbeing programs for corporate businesses.

Continuing her family legacy in textiles and following her budding passion for entrepreneurship, in the 1980s Jan joined Todd Rutkin, Inc., the garment cutting company her father started. Jan would eventually take over and revolutionize the business with the implementation of computerized cutting machines. Under Jan’s leadership, TR became one of the most reputable names in the apparel industry, whose customers included Patagonia, Under Armour, J Brand and many others.

In her first year at UCLA, Jan reconnected with her brother’s friend Duke whom she first met while working at the YMCA. The two fell in love after a night trespassing in Barnsdall Park and admiring Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House. They went on to build a life together around shared interests in business, architecture and design, hiking, and travel. They married at the Ambassador Hotel in 1977.

Their son Hank was born in 1986, and with the birth of their daughter Jennie in 1991, they moved into the house in Pacific Palisades where they would spend the rest of their lives. While maintaining a thriving career, Jan was a committed and loving mother, generous friend, and active member of the community. She loved yoga, wildflowers, dancing, dogs and movies.

Jan is survived by her family who are raising funds to support Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, an organization that provides accessible mental health, substance use disorder and suicide prevention services. To learn more and contribute to their important mission, please visit didihirsch.org and dedicate your gift in memory of Jan Ostendorf.

The family is hosting a memorial via Zoom on Saturday, April 17, at 2 p.m. PST. For details or to offer condolences, please contact OstendorfFamily1120@gmail.com.