Mary Lou Blackwood, a longtime resident of Sunset Mesa and former executive director of the Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce in the mid-1980s, passed away on January 12.   Mary Lou, who later served as an executive of the Malibu Chamber of Commerce, was an enthusiastic advocate of Pepperdine and its progress, serving for many years on its Crest Advisory Board. Three of her grandchildren graduated from the school: Shannon Blackwood Runyon, Christie Blackwood, and Sean Blackwood.’In 1999 she received the University’s Olaf H. Tegner Award for Service.   Honoring a life well-lived, Pepperdine will hold a memorial service for Mary Lou on Saturday, January 29, from 3 to 6 p.m. University community and friends are invited to the service, which will take place at the Villa Graziadio Executive Center on campus, across the street from the Heroes Garden. The program will officially begin at 3:30 p.m.’   The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Heroes Garden Fund at Pepperdine University or to the American Cancer Society.’   Gifts to Pepperdine should be made payable to Pepperdine University; please indicate on checks that the gift is in honor of Mary Lou Blackwood. The address is Pepperdine University, Attn: Lou Drobnick, Executive Vice Chancellor, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90263-6105.”

Gail Watson Brooks died peacefully at her home in La Quinta, California, from medical complications on December 9. Two of her daughters, Lisa and Jan, and her beloved dog, Blanco, were by her side. She was 69.”   Gail was born in Santa Monica on June 27, 1941, to long-time residents of Pacific Palisades, Louis Calhoun Wells and Gail Sperry Wells, both deceased. She attended University High School.   Around the age of 18, while working as a hostess at the Bel-Air Country Club, Gail learned to play bridge while on lunch breaks. She became a skilled, life-long bridge player and was celebrated as a crafty player amongst her bridge group friends. She was also a partner in a bridge supply company.   Gail attended Sam Houston State University, in Huntsville, Texas, where she not only studied business but also learned ballroom and swing dancing. After college she lived in Missouri and Arkansas before returning to California.   By trade, Gail was an accountant most of her life. About 2000, before retiring from the William Warren Group in Santa Monica, she moved back to the family home on Toyopa Drive to take care of her mother, who died in 2003. Gail then moved to La Quinta, where she enjoyed bridge, knitting, shopping, spending time with friends and enjoying her family.   She is survived by one brother, Eugene Hamilton Wells of Cambria, California; her three daughters, Lisa Gail Elliott of La Quinta, Jan Rae Carpenter (husband Mark) of Marine, Illinois, and Vickie Lynn Tardy of Danbury, Texas; and six grandchildren. She is also survived by her long-time friend and pet, Blanco, a six-year-old Maltese.   A celebration of Gail’s life will be held on Thursday, February 3, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Indian Wells Country Club in La Quinta. Memorial services will be held February 4 at 1:30 p.m. at St. Matthew’s Church in Pacific Palisades, with a reception to follow at Casa Escobar in Santa Monica from 3 to 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association.   The family would like to give special thanks to all of Gail’s wonderful friends that she adored throughout her life.

Clarence Allison Cosgrove, a former longtime resident of Pacific Palisades, passed away peacefully at his residence in Santa Monica on January 23. His health had declined following the recent death of his wife of 72 years, Mary Elizabeth Cosgrove. He was 94.   Born in Bisbee, Arizona, Clarence studied engineering at Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona and had a successful career as a construction engineer, estimator, designer and project manager. He worked with Phelps-Dodge, Bechtel, Anaconda Copper (in Sonora, Mexico), Del Webb and the James Stewart Company of Phoenix for 25 years, becoming a vice president.   His projects included large office buildings in Phoenix and Tucson, veterans’ hospitals in Phoenix and Denver, a Travis AFB project, a Howard Johnson hotel in Salt Lake City, an enormous warehouse in San Diego and an extensive housing development in Fairfax, Virginia, that includes shopping malls and subdivisions.   In 1970, Clarence and his wife Mary moved into a home on Arno Way, above the Bel-Air Bay Club.   Throughout his life, Clarence always placed his family first, for which his family is eternally grateful. His life exemplified a strength and energy that stemmed from his pioneering heritage.   He is survived by his son Michael of Menlo Park; his daughter Betty Ann Foster (husband Charles) of Pacific Palisades; his grandchildren Christopher Foster, Julie Ann Foster Villablanca, Stephen Foster, Dr. Kennedy Cosgrove, Dr. Erica Cosgrove Thompson, Cati Cosgrove and Jonathan Cosgrove; and eight great-grandchildren.   A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. today, January 27, at Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church, corner of Sunset and El Medio.

Rebecca C. Hall, a multi-talented local singer, actress and music teacher, passed away on January 22 at Saint John’s Health Center. She was 64.   Hall was born on December 10, 1946 in Galesburg, Illinois, where she lived until she was 14. The family moved to Chicago, where she attended Mt. Prospect High School and Northwestern University. As a music major, she sang for two years with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Chorus.   Rebecca then moved to Providence, Rhode Island, and performed for two years with the Brown University Opera Workshop. Her next move was to New York City, where she sang three seasons with the American Opera Center at Juilliard.   In 1972, Rebecca’s husband Tom was transferred to a banking position in Rio de Janeiro and then to S’o Paulo. She continued with her music career in Brazil, appearing in many productions, including leads in ‘Kiss Me Kate,’ ‘Little Mary Sunshine’ and ‘1776.’   Upon returning to the U.S. in 1977, Rebecca performed as a professional actress and singer in Chicago, Fairfield, New York City and Los Angeles. For several years in New York she performed every Monday night at Sardi’s restaurant with an improv group in a show call Murder on Broadway, while also developing her own one-woman musical presentation for such well-known supper clubs as Sweetwater’s.   Upon moving to Los Angeles, Rebecca began appearing regularly with Keith and Margo’s Mystery Event Theater, and from 1996 to 2003 was co-owner, director, producer, writer and performer with the Santa Monica-based dinner theater company Mystery Event Theatre.   Rebecca and her good friend Muriel Minot created a rich tapestry of wit and humor for guests at the mystery dinners, utilizing a strong troupe of professionals, many of whom had worked together on various projects. In addition, Rebecca’s son Ben joined the troupe during the summer, along with her daughter-in-law Sabrina Thompson.   In addition to her ambitious theatrical forays, Rebecca was active in PTA work at Canyon School, Paul Revere and Palisades High. ‘Miss Becky’ also began working with the children at Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church, teaching music at the nursery school, the Church Mice afternoon program, Sunday school, and vacation Bible school.   In 2005 she was overall coordinator of the annual Westside Children’s Choir Festival, and she earlier performed in and helped produce the Palisadian-Post ‘Citizen of the Year’ programs for awardees Kurt Toppel (1998) and Carol Leacock (2000).   Also in 2005, Rebecca moved to First Presbyterian Church of Santa Monica as director of children’s ministry, assuming the mantel ‘Miss Rebecca.’ She inherited a program of fewer than 10 kids and built it up dramatically to involve more than 100 kids throughout the year in a series of programs.   In addition to her husband Tom, Rebecca is survived by six children: Gillette Hall Balshaw of McLean, Virginia; Thomas Hall of Oxford, England; Kira Yannetta of Truckee; Hope Hall of New York City; and Peter Thompson and Ben Hall, both of the L.A. area. She was also the proud grandmother of three little boys and, finally, a baby girl.   A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 12, at 3 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 1220 Second St., in Santa Monica. Donations may be made the ‘Rebecca Hall Children’s Ministry Fund’ at the church (zip code 90401).

Jean S. Hansen, a former longtime resident of Pacific Palisades, died on January 2 in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where she had lived for the past 25 years. She was 82.   Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on August 19, 1928, Jean grew up in Chicago. She entered the Hutchins Program at the University of Chicago at the age of 16, and then transferred to UC Berkeley in 1947 to study anthropology.   In 1948, Jean married Charles Hansen of St. Paul, Minnesota. During their two years in Berkeley, she sang in the chorus with the San Francisco Opera. After a short time in Carmel, they moved in 1951 to Pacific Palisades, where they lived for 32 years, raising their three children. They moved to Fort Bragg in 1984.   Jean and Charles loved sailing in Santa Monica Bay and to Catalina Island and Ensenada. They were part owners of the Dreamer, a well-known 45-foot catamaran designed and built in a Palisades backyard. They enjoyed hiking in Temescal Canyon and the local mountains, and often attended the symphony, museums and art exhibits.   Jean was passionate about civil rights and volunteered for Head Start and the Fair Housing Council. She volunteered for the PTA, Scouting events and summer day camps. She taught swimming for years, loved horseback riding, and spent as much time as possible at the beach with her family. She worked part-time for the Tidepool Gallery in Malibu and the St. Matthew’s Church office. Jean was an accomplished dancer, skier, tennis player, pianist and singer, and she graced many parties and Christmas celebrations with her rich soprano voice.   After Jean and Chuck divorced in 1987, she moved to San Miguel de Allende, where she found a new life in the country she had fallen in love with at age 14. Jean returned to her love of horseback riding and rode nearly every day until just seven years ago. She sang with the choir at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, taught English part-time, and volunteered as an usher at the numerous concerts and events held in the city.   Jean’s exuberance and zest for life were her greatest gifts; she could light up a room just by walking in, and everyone who met her felt that spark. Her conviction and courage to live her life to the fullest will be remembered by all who knew her.   Jean was predeceased by her ex-husband, Chuck Hansen, in 2003. She leaves behind her son, Rick Hansen (wife Kathryn Anne) of Lucas, Kansas; her daughter, Carla Nichols (husband Bill, deceased) of Port Townsend, Washington; her daughter, Nina Hansen Machotka (husband Pavel) of Umbria, Italy; three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.   A celebration of Jean’s life was held on January 20 by her dear friends (and second family) at La Mansion del Bosque in San Miguel de Allende.

Dorothy Madelyn Hill, a resident of Pacific Palisades since 1948, passed away December 11, 2010, at the age of 99. She had resided at Ana’s Elderly Care Home in Culver City for the last two months of her life.   Dorothy, a member of the Pacific Palisades Woman’s Club for more than 52 years, was the longest-standing member at the time of her death.   Born April 10, 1911, in Rochester, New York, Dorothy received her B.A. in English from the University of Rochester in 1932. She worked in the Dean’s office at the Allendale Day School for Boys in Brighton, New York, and in 1938 married Jerald Hill. They had met at the University of Rochester, where he obtained his Ph.D. in physics.   The couple lived in Pittsburgh and then Oak Ridge, Tennessee, before settling in Pacific Palisades when Jerry accepted a position as a nuclear research scientist with The Rand Corporation in Santa Monica.   Upon arriving in Southern California from the cold climates of the east, the Hills vowed to never leave the Palisades.   In addition to her active role at the Woman’s Club, Dorothy was treasurer of her investment club and was a member of the Pacific Palisades Historical Society, the University of Rochester Alumnae Association and the Westside College Club. Her hobbies and passions included worldwide travel, photography, bridge, reading, crossword puzzles and volunteering (Meals on Wheels). Both of her sons attended USC and she remained an avid supporter of the USC athletic program.   Dorothy’s favorite memories included watching the town’s annual Fourth of July parade, lunches at Mort’s Deli, and the lasting friendships she made in the 62 years she lived in the Palisades.   Dorothy was predeceased by her husband Jerry in 1972. She is survived by her two sons, Stephen (wife Linda and daughter Erin) of Cupertino, California, and Douglas of Pacific Palisades. Douglas had lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico, before moving back to the Palisades five years ago to care for Dorothy so that she could remain in her home.   A private family service was held on January 11 at Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park and Mortuary. Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial service on Saturday, February 5, at 1 p.m. at the Palisades Woman’s Club, 901 Haverford.   In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Dorothy’s honor to TreePeople Los Angeles, 12601 Mulholland Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210.

Carol Jean Levy Willens, a 30-year resident of Pacific Palisades, passed away on December 27 in Santa Monica after a prolonged battle with ovarian cancer. She was 67.   Carol, the daughter of Ida and Jacob Levy, grew up in Brookline, Massachusetts, with her sister Eleanor and brother David.   She earned her master’s degree in social work at McGill University and, as Carol Weinstock, worked as a psychotherapist for decades with patients who undoubtedly benefited from her tireless dedication. As anyone who had the pleasure of knowing her will attest, Carol never did anything in half-measures. Those fortunate enough to find themselves in conversation with Carol knew they were getting all of her.   Inquisitive, caring and selfless, Carol gave everything she had to her community. Carol cherished each and every second she spent with her friends and family.   A memorial to celebrate her life will be held February 13 at 1:30 p.m. at Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Avenue, in Santa Monica.   Carol is survived by her husband, Earl P. Willens; brother David; sister Eleanor (Alan) Goldman; children Jessica Weinstock (husband Jason) Graham, and Daniel Jeffrey (Lindsay) Weinstock; stepchildren Scott (Marina) Willens and Elara Willens; and grandchildren Leo and Evan Willens, Fletcher Graham and Jocelyn Weinstock.   Please view the ‘In Loving Memory of Carol Willens’ Facebook page for more information: www.facebook.com/#!/pages/In-Loving-Memory-of-Carol-Willens/133415376719326?v=wall.’   In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Los Angeles Childhood Development Center (www.lacdc.net/donate).