Harriet Levene Axelrad, poet, writer and family historian, died peacefully at home on December 21. She was 87. Born on January 27, 1916 in Kansas City, Missouri, Harriet graduated from the University of Kansas City at age 19 and did graduate work in English at the University of Chicago. In 1938 she married Irving Axelrad, moved to Washington, D.C., and worked at the Library of Congress. The family moved to Los Angeles in 1952 and built a house in Pacific Palisades the following year. A mother of five, Harriet was president of the PTA at Paul Revere Junior High (1963-64) and Palisades High School (1966-67). She was also active in the larger community, serving as chairman of the Pacific Palisades United Crusades, board member of the Pacific Palisades Human Relations Council (1972-82) and president of the Palisades Historical Society. In 1984, she joined the PLATO Society of UCLA, and coordinated nine study groups. She was foreign press representative of Physicians for Social Responsibility in Oslo, Norway, when the group received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1985. She joined OPICA in 1991 and helped provide day care for the elderly. A founding docent at Will Rogers State Historic Park, Harriet wrote a book in 1990 called “Who Was Will Rogers?” She also served as a docent at LACMA, was president of the Organization of Art Sponsors, and worked on the Venice Art Tour Planning Committee (1982-92). She took creative writing classes at Santa Monica Emeritus College for many years and also belonged to a private writing group for over 20 years. She published poetry, haiku and several books, including “Harriet’s Harvest” (1995), “In My Time” (1997) and “Telling Tales” (2001). She excelled in ikebana flower arrangements and ceramics. Harriet is survived by her five children, Allan (wife Jill Rosenbaum), Stephen (Sylvia Impert), Karen (husband Manfred Schiedhelm), Eve and Joel; eight grandchildren, Joseph Zimring, Wendy Axelrad Kelly, Joshua Axelrad, Dov Zimring, Emily Axelrad Stuart, Florian Schiedhelm, Dion Schiedhelm and Alison Axelrad; and great-grandchild Emma Kelly. Services will be held at Hillside Memorial Park on Friday, December 26 at 11 a.m. Please visit www.axelradfamily.com for Harriet’s poetry, writing and family history-an ongoing memorial Web site. The January issue of Haiku Headlines, a monthly newsletter of haiku and senryu, will be in memory of Harriet. Contributions can be made to OPICA (Older People In a Caring Atmosphere), diabetes or cancer research.

Donald Reed McClure, former editor of the editorial pages for the Santa Monica Evening Outlook for 21 years, passed away peacefully at home on December 15. He was 72. Born on September 30, 1931, to Donald Reed and Clara McClure in Glendale, he moved to Pacific Palisades at an early age. He was one of the first acolytes at St. Matthew’s Church, where his parents were active. He attended Palisades Elementary, Emerson Junior High, University High and Santa Monica City College and graduated from UCLA with a degree in journalism in 1956. He served as a lieutenant in the Navy during the Korean War. He enjoyed his journalism career, which began while he was still in high school when he worked part-time at The Outlook. After his long, successful stint as editor of the Outlook’s editorial pages, he worked at the Daily News from 1981 to 1999 before retiring. Reed McClure was active on his high school’s reunion committee, a docent at the Santa Monica Museum of Flying and a docent at the Commemorative Air Force Museum in Camarillo. He was an avid reader, especially of history, and enjoyed making model airplanes and walking. He and his wife, Missie Dixie Heinz McClure, enjoyed traveling and writing travel stories for the Outlook. In addition to his wife of 37 years, he is survived by his sister-in-laws Gretchen Klasila (husband Jack), Diane McClure and Carollei Heinz Lamoureux, numerous nieces and a nephew. A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. on January 8 at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 1031 Bienveneda. In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation to one’s favorite charity is suggested.