Compiled by LAURA WITSENHAUSEN Associate Editor BENJAMIN PLATT, a student at the Adderley School in Pacific Palisades since the age of 3, is currently appearing in Tony Kushner’s musical ‘Caroline, or Change’ at the Ahmanson Theatre. He has been studying at the Adderley School in the Highlands for seven years. Benjamin, 11, is a sixth grader at Sinai Akiba Academy. He lives with his parents, Julie and Marc, and four siblings in Westwood. Platt plays Noah Gellman, a character roughly based on playwright Kushner as a boy, in the musical, which runs at the downtown theater through Sunday. He and Sy Adamowsky trade off sharing the role over the course of the run. ‘I can kind of relate to Noah,’ says Benjamin, ‘when he gets really mad at Caroline [the main character, played by Tonya Pinkins, who works as a maid for Noah’s family] and says things he doesn’t mean. I’m kind of impulsive like that, too.’ Benjamin likes the fact that the musical, set in 1963, is made up of pop, show tunes, R&B and ballads. ‘I love singing and acting,’ says Benjamin, ‘I like getting to be someone else and get away from reality for a few hours.’ ‘He is one of the most passionate, dedicated, selfless, gracious young actors I’ve ever come across,’ says Janet Adderley. ‘Early on, he had a huge facility for subtext. He really found his own inner voice and ability to connect with the emotions of a character’why he was doing what he was doing, and why words were not enough and he needed to break into song. He is a director’s dream and I just adore him. The sky’s the limit for him.’ Ben made his professional debut at The Hollywood Bowl as Winthrop Paroo in ‘The Music Man’ with Eric McCormack and Kristen Chenoweth and returned last summer as Young Patrick in ‘Mame’ with Michele Lee. He has appeared in two Reprise! productions, ‘Merrily We Roll Along’ (Frank, Jr.) and ‘Assassins’ (Billy) and appeared in ‘The Snow Queen’ (Alexander) at the Falcon Theatre. Ben will appear in the evening show at 7:30 p.m. Sunday for his final performance in L.A. and then go with the cast to San Francisco for a five-week run at the Curran Theatre. o o o NICOLE MARIE MELAS, a sophomore at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, was named a Sarah and James Bowdoin Scholar for being in the top 10 percent of her class the previous academic year. o o o JESSICA ESTHER SHULMAN, a junior at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is studying with the Institute for the International Education of Students (IES) program in London this year. Jessica, a graduate of Santa Monica High School, is the daughter of Terri Miller and Andrew Marlowe of Pacific Palisades and Janis and Larry Shulman of Beverly Hills. o o o SAMUEL M. MILDER, the son of Michael Milder and Maureen McGee, is spending his junior year abroad through the Bates College Junior Year Abroad program. Samuel, a Spanish major at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, is studying through Hamilton College in Madrid, Spain for the fall semester, and through Brethren Colleges in Barcelona, Spain, for the winter semester. He is a 2002 graduate of Concord High School.
Happy Holidays from the Post
ADVERTISING Eve DeVeir, advertising manager, moved to Southern California on New Year’s Day 1998 from Susanville, a town northwest of Lake Tahoe. Prior to joining the Post, she worked at the Lassen County Times for 20 years, moving up from columnist to managing editor, and helping to start two associated newspapers. For 33 years, Grace Hiney has been the Post’s restaurant writer and account executive. An avid home cook, Grace names veal piccata as her all-time best dish. A 40-year resident of the Palisades, she was the entire advertising department when she began at the Post and her children were in nursery school; she now is the grandmother of five little ones, all 8 and under. Don Oswald, account executive, has been with the Post since 1983. He grew up in Connecticut and is an active volunteer at the Palisades-Malibu YMCA. A Pasadena resident, he enjoys his power boat excursions to Catalina Island for relaxation and fishing. Kendy Veazie joined the advertising department almost two years ago. A native of Tennessee, Kendy first lived in San Diego for four years before moving to Santa Monica just over a year ago. In addition to her busy sales position at the Post, she is musical manager to singer Tracy Niles, a native Palisadian who last year won female vocalist of the year at the L.A. Music Awards. Julie Stumpus is the newest account executive in the advertising department. She brings to the Post 14 years of experience in television ad sales. A native of Santa Barbara, Julie has lived in the Palisades for five years. Six years ago, she and her husband, Milton, lived and worked in Russia helping to launch that country’s first television network. EDITORIAL Managing Editor Bill Bruns was a freelance writer and an editor at Life magazine and TV Guide earlier in his career. He and his wife, Pam, have been Palisades residents for over 30 years. This month, Bill was honored with the Community Service Award by the Community Council for his many years of devotion to local youth sports programs. He has been managing editor of the Post since 1993. Libby Motika, senior editor, grew up in Brentwood and has been hovering around the Pacific Palisades most of her life. She has been heading the Post’s award-winning Lifestyle section for 11 years. Her enthusiasms run from poetry to art and architecture, with time reserved for her early morning bicycle rides. A certified master gardener, Libby shares her green thumb with children by volunteering in the garden at a Venice elementary school. When he’s not scrambling around town covering games, Steve Galluzzo, sports editor, is playing them’his favorites are soccer and tennis. He was born in New York but has lived most of his life in Southern California, graduating from Cal State Northridge with a degree in journalism. He enjoys what he does because it combines his passions: writing and sports. Laura Witsenhausen, associate editor, grew up in New Jersey and graduated from Brandeis University. She moved to Los Angeles 13 years ago and joined the Post in November 1999. A contributor to every section of the paper, Laura is editor of the Young Palisadians and Healthy Living pages. She and her husband, John Abruscato, live in West Los Angeles. Linda Renaud, news editor, joined the Post in September 2003. A Montreal native, Linda received her B.A. from the University of Montreal (Loyola College) and worked in television as an investigative reporter before moving to Los Angeles in 1986. She became a foreign correspondent for the Canadian press and wrote television reviews for The Hollywood Reporter. A Santa Monica Canyon resident, Linda also writes a real estate column for the Post and edits the monthly ‘Real Estate News & Views’ section. Alyson Sena, staff writer, grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from Marlborough. Her family moved to the Palisades in 1996, and she started as an intern at the Post in September 2001, after earning her B.A. in English from Brown University. Alyson is currently studying journalism in the certificate program at UCLA and working part-time as an assistant to a literary agent. Nancy Smith, staff writer, joined the paper in March 2001. A transplanted Midwesterner and former programming director at The Art Institute of Chicago, she moved with her husband and daughter to the Palisades six years ago. When away from the Post, Nancy chairs an ‘Art and Creative Writing’ docent tour at LACMA and is active in the Palisades Junior Women’s Club. A native New Yorker, Rich Schmitt, who became the Post’s staff photographer almost three years ago, earned his undergraduate degree at Hofstra University and a graduate degree in TV/film at NYU. He moved to Westwood in 1992. His freelance clients include UCLA, Pepperdine and the AFP wire service. ADMINISTRATION Roberta Donohue, publisher since 1987, was born and raised in the Palisades. Her 32 years at the Post include working in virtually every area of the paper, from reception to commercial printing. During the past year, she was proud to introduce the Post’s new digital press. Active in the Chamber of Commerce for over 20 years, Roberta served as president in 2000. Cheryel Kanan has been with the Post since 1984, and has been business manager for the past 15 years. She and her husband Dan are 41-year residents of the Palisades and raised five children here. They both spend as much time as possible with their five grandchildren. She is a past president of the Chamber, and has worn many hats at the Post. Handling Post subscriptions falls in the able hands of Sharon Reynolds, administrative assistant in charge of circulation since 1988. Reynolds has the distinction of driving 42 miles each way to work, with her husband, Jim, who is the production manager. The couple have two daughters, a son and five grandchildren. Jolene Knight, office assistant, does clerical work at the Post. A native of West L.A., she attended University High, Santa Monica City College and UCLA. Jolene was a Palisades resident for 22 years and currently lives in Marina del Rey. When away from the Post, she enjoys visiting with her son, Kevin, and grandson, James, and is an avid cook. Kathryn Sennett, a familiar face to customers as receptionist and classified ads representative, celebrated her one-year anniversary at the Post in September. She is a longtime Brentwood resident with a background in sales. When she’s not helping Palisadians place ads, she enjoys running, listening to music and tuning in to National Public Radio. GRAPHICS Graphics director Ed Lowe, a Palisadian since 1969, has been working at the Post for 20 years. Ed is a major player each year on the Chamber of Commerce’s Auto Show committee, handling all the graphics and advertising. His vintage car of choice is a ’68 Camaro streetrod. In addition to cars, Ed also loves the beach, surfing, hiking and Nordic Walking. Manfred Hofer, graphic artist at the Post for 22 years, grew up in Pacific Palisades and attended Santa Monica College. Active in theater, he starred in Theatre Palisades’ most recent production of ‘Inspecting Carol’ and was named the Santa Monica Theatre Guild’s ‘Best Character Actor’ for his role in ‘Sue’o.’ He is also once again playing guitar with The Leaving Trains. Tom Hofer, Manfred’s younger brother, grew up in the Palisades and has been a graphic artist with the Post for 15 years. A UCLA graduate, Tom is a hockey fan, poet and musician, and he rejoined Manfred in the band The Leaving Trains earlier this year. Musically, he also put out a solo CD, entitled ‘Clearinghouse,’ in 2002 and plans to release another next year. PRODUCTION Jim Reynolds has been at the Post since 1978, and as production manager he’s the one who makes sure all the printing jobs and the newspaper get out on time. Jim is a NASCAR nut, and has a collection of more than 800 NASCAR toys parked in his den. Shop Foreman Joe Hernandez loves the outdoors and he can think of no better vacation than hiking in the high country. A 26-year veteran at the Post, Joe not only runs the two-color Heidelberg press, but makes sure that all the machinery is working properly. Manuel Tavarez has put in 11 years at the Post and operates both the Heidelberg one-color press and the new digital press. A native of Zapotlanejo, a little town just outside of Guadalajara, Mexico, Manuel is a spirited supporter of Mexico’s soccer team. Keith McDaniel joined the Post three years ago as press operator and is responsible for coaxing the venerable Palisadian-Post press into printing the finest color it can. He lives in Pico Rivera with his wife Carol and daughters, Katie and Kayla. Tom Aguilar, pressroom assistant and driver, celebrated his two year anniversary at the Post in September. He lives in Venice with his wife, Cynthia, and kids Vito, Alyssa, Jessica and Joel. In his spare time he plays electric guitar and repairs amplifiers. Vito Aguilar, Tom Aguilar’s son, came to the Post in September to work as press assistant. In January, he will begin his second year at Santa Monica College where he studies fine art and hopes to major in digital media and animation.
Perry Grant, 80; Impressive TV Writer, Games Creator
Perry Grant, a prolific television writer/producer of 40 years who wrote for more than 35 television shows and was also a creator of games, died of complications from Alzheimer’s disease December 12 at his home in Pacific Palisades. He was 80. A native of San Diego, Grant graduated in psychology from UCLA after serving in the Navy during World War II as an officer on a troop transport ship in the Pacific. While in the Navy he began writing humor pieces for Collier’s and Liberty magazines about Navy life, then worked as regional advertising manager for the A.O. Smith Corp. in Los Angeles after graduating from UCLA (where he wrote for ‘The Claw,’ the campus humor magazine). In 1952, Grant met with writer Dick Bensfield after they learned through a mutual friend that Ozzie Nelson needed a writer for his new television show, ‘Ozzie and Harriet.’ As later recounted in a Palisadian-Post feature, Grant and Bensfield decided to pool their talents and their courage and apply for the job. They were hired, and wrote for the show for all of its 14 years. In between this and finishing his career as executive producer of the Norman Lear sitcom ‘One Day at a Time’ (which ran for 9 years), Grant and Bensfield wrote for more than 35 shows, including the Norman Lear shows ‘Maude,’ ‘The Jeffersons,’ and ‘Good Times,’ and also ‘Lucy,’ ‘Happy Days,’ ‘I Dream of Jeannie,’ ‘The Odd Couple,’ ‘The Doris Day Show,’ ‘Love American Style’ and ‘Mayberry, RFD.’ Meanwhile, at his Palisades home, Grant maintained a workshop in his garage where he created toys and games. He also design furniture for his own personal use just because ‘I like to do things with my hands.’ Most of his designs were Early American and they became financially rewarding as he sold the patterns to magazines. Then he came up with ‘Yertle the Turtle,’ a Dr. Seuss-inspired game. It sold and became a standard along with ‘Smess,’ ‘Bash,’ ‘Hide-N-Thief,’ ‘Bird Brain,’ ‘Hang on Harvey,’ ‘Slapstick’ and ‘Whosit?’ At one point, Grant had 23 of his games (produced by Mattel, Parker Brothers and Milton Bradley) marketed in stores across the country. ‘Perry was a very talented guy in many areas’writing, inventing toys and games, making decorative pieces for his home,’ recalled Bensfield, his writing partner for almost 40 years. ‘He was a nice person and a real gentleman.’ Grant is survived by Edie, his wife of 58 years; his daughter Cheryl of Redondo Beach; and his son Rick and granddaughter Becca of Pacific Palisades.
Former PaliHi Teacher Nance Dies
Clyde Blanche Nance, a former teacher at Palisades High, died on December 13. She was 91. A third-generation Californian, Nance grew up in San Francisco and graduated from UC Berkeley as a mathematics major. She received a master’s degree from Los Angeles State and taught math for many years in LAUSD, including 17 years at PaliHi (1962-1979). Nance was a dedicated member and past president of Delta Kappa Gamma, a professional honor society for women in education. She traveled the world over, played bridge and enjoyed the L.A. scene as none other and will be sorely missed by her family and friends. She is survived by her sister, Jean Grewe; her son Roger; her daughter Susan; six grandchildren and five great-grandsons. Memorial services will be held on January 7 at 11 a.m. in Wilshire United Methodist Church, 4350 Wilshire. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Los Angeles Chapter, 1111 Arroyo Parkway, Suite 400, Pasadena, CA 91105.
Robert Beck, 83; Navy War Pilot, Insurance Executive
Longtime Palisadian Robert ‘Bob’ Beck, Sr. passed away on November 7. He was 83. Born on May 19, 1921, Beck grew up in Iowa City, Iowa, graduated from Iowa City High School in 1939 and attended the University of Iowa until he enlisted in the Navy during World War II. He served as a Navy pilot and flight instructor from 1942 to 1945 and saw action in the South Pacific as a carrier-based fighter pilot. Beck married Susan Ann Peterson in 1943, and two children were born to them’Bob Jr. in 1945 and Betty in 1947. After the war, he returned to the University of Iowa and graduated with a B.S. degree in commerce in 1947. Based in Iowa and Minnesota, Beck worked primarily in the insurance industry and rose to executive positions with Blue Cross-Blue Shield and Bankers Life during his careers with both companies. Divorced in 1968, he joined Johnson & Higgins and moved to Los Angeles where he met the ‘sunshine’ of his new life, Jan Wisman. He remained with Johnson & Higgins until retirement in 1983 and with Jan for the rest of his life. Beck enjoyed retirement immensely. He played as much tennis as he could squeeze in, enjoyed traveling, and delighted in spending time with Jan and close friends, both old and new. A memorial service was held on December 11 at the Palisades Presbyterian Church.
Alice Manion, OPICA Co-Founder
Alice Spillman Manion, a 50-year resident of Pacific Palisades and an active, longtime advocate for women and the elderly, passed away on December 3. She was 85. Born in Fon du Lac, Wisconsin, Ally, as she liked to be called, received a bachelor’s degree in education in 1946 from the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, and later in life obtained a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Counseling from Azusa Pacific University. In 1945, she began exploring the Southwest when she took a kindergarten teaching position in Globe, Arizona, for a year. Although they were good friends before the war, Alice and Brian G. Manion fell in love during World War II through letters and during his leaves. She returned to Wisconsin and married Brian on February 2, 1946, soon after he was discharged from the U.S. Coast Guard. He had been in the Pacific Theater, serving on a destroyer and troop transport ships, and was stationed in Hawaii for 18 months. After the war, the Manions lived in Denver, where Brian attended law school, and then moved to Los Angeles, settling in Pacific Palisades in 1954. Ally, a full-time mom, and Brian, an attorney, raised two children, Kate and Sean. In 1967, with the kids at Paul Revere and Palisades High, Ally started team-teaching and group counseling for women. Three years later she co-founded and was director of the Information Center for Women (now UCLA Extension Advisory Service), which administered and organized vocational information and advice. Professionals from across the nation came there for training and established counseling, advisory and vocational training for women in their own cities based upon the model design by Ally and her co-founders. In 1974, Ally co-founded, along with Dr. Yung Ho Liu and others, OPICA (Older Persons Information and Counseling Associates), one of the nation’s first and most innovative day care centers for the elderly. She worked there with passion and commitment for 21 years and built many lasting friendships with co-workers and clients. More recently, from the late 1990s into 2003 Ally volunteered at California Villa, a home for the elderly in Van Nuys, where she led support groups and did one-on-one counseling. The Manions had a wonderful 51-year marriage, and always had a circle of very close friends. As more than one friend said after Ally’s passing, ‘Life somehow seems unacceptable without Ally and Brian.’ Music, especially opera, was central in their lives. One of their personal opera highlights was seeing ‘La Traviata’ and Verdi’s ‘Nabucco’ performed in an outdoor amphitheater on a trip to Italy. In addition, she had a great love of the Southwest and especially the folk art. But she and Brian had eclectic tastes and also enjoyed paintings by abstract impressionists. And they instilled their love of life and the arts in their children. They were also longtime activists in progressive/liberal political issues and worked to save and conserve habitat in the Santa Monica Mountains. Ally was recognized far and wide as a culinary expert. She was well known for her Thanksgiving dinners and her Christmas parties with homemade cookies and other baked treats. One person would travel 500 miles just for her homemade blueberry pie. Predeceased by her husband in 1997, Alice is survived by her son Sean of Topanga, and by daughter Kate Manion-Haines (husband Tom) and granddaughters Margaret and Kelsey, who reside in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. A memorial celebration will be held on December 29. Please call the family for details at 454-3242. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Opera Buffs (P.O. Box 642647, L.A., CA 90064), the ACLU (ACLU.org), Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC.org), or Temescal Canyon Association (P.O.Box 1101, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272).
Thomas Elliott Harmon, 57
Artist and graphics designer Thomas Elliott Harmon passed away at his home in Malibu of a heart attack last Friday night, December 17. He was 57. Born in Chicago, Elliott moved to the Los Angeles area in 1960. He started in publishing as the art director with Motor Trend magazine, and later started his own business, Brochure Art and Image and Design on Chautauqua at PCH. He was a very talented artist and skilled graphics designer. He later worked with Alpine Carpet One as the president of marketing. His latest venture, Village Vignettes, combined all his many talents in producing fine miniature heirlooms displayed in a treasure chest. Elliott loved to travel. His favorite destinations included Italy, Germany and Costa Rica. He also enjoyed collecting books on art and architecture, but his greatest treasures of all were his model trains and art collection. He was known around the Palisades and Malibu as ‘Uncle Elliott.’ As the godfather to Malibu residents Jani and Charlotte Van Ierland he was a strong presence at soccer games, piano recitals and all school functions and community activities. Everyone who knew him simply adored him and once you met him he was a friend forever. Although childless himself, Elliott was beloved by all the kids who knew him. He was a joyous, loving man. Survivors include his sister Kay Trotman, his brother Charles, his dear friends Wayne Griffee and Michael Birznieks, and Malibu residents Johannes and Pamela Van Ierland and their two children, Jani and Charlotte.
Athletes of the Year
Compiled by STEVE GALLUZZO Once again, Palisadians thrilled us with their courage, amazed us with their skill and inspired us with their stories in 2004. Recounted here are some of the year’s finest athletes and their accomplishments… Cara Davidoff Cara capped off her prep career with a Post Cup Award as outstanding senior athlete at Palisades High, leading the Dolphins to second at the City finals. A three-time City champion in the 50 Freestyle and two-time City champ in the 100 Free, Cara volunteered to compete in different events this season to help the team’s chances. She clocked 1:54.54 in winning the 200 freestyle, then won the 100 butterfly in 58.71, just missing the City record in that event. Geoff Schwartz Our other Post Cup winner excelled at both football and baseball as a senior at Palisades High. He was a starting offensive and defensive lineman on the varsity football squad and the ace pitcher on a baseball squad that won the league title. Geoff played football at Oregon in the fall. Meg Norton No one’s story was as inspiring this year as that of 12-year-old Meg Norton, who recovered from a debilitating kidney ailment to win a national championship with her Sunshine Volleyball Club team. She also ran and finished the Palisades-Will Rogers 5K, was one of the leading scorers on her AYSO soccer team. Tyler Mellos A Highlands native, Tyler had a senior season to remember at Cate School. He co-captained the Rams’ varsity baseball team to the CIF quarterfinals and batted .474 with 37 hits in 78 plate appearances. In addition, he stole 13 bases in 21 games and slugged .705 with 19 runs batted in, 12 doubles and three triples. His achievements earned him a University President’s Merit Scholarship to Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. Lee Calvert Showing that age is a question of mind over matter, Lee won every event she entered at both the Canadian Open and United States National Badminton tournaments. Competing in the women’s 75-and-over division, she won the singles and mixed doubles championships in both tournaments. As an encore, she won the 120+ women’s doubles and served as an umpire coordinator at the U.S. Open Championships. D’Andre Bell A senior bound for Georgia Tech, D’Andre has had to sit out the first half of his last year at Palisades High with an injury. But no injury can diminish what he has accomplished so far on the basketball court. He averaged 25 points per game 10.8 rebounds in 2003-04 and was voted first-team All-City. Channing Grigsby Channing did it all as a junior at Brentwood School. She was a standout on the girls’ varsity soccer team and the starting setter on the Eagles’ varsity volleyball team, which reached the CIF semifinals. She also plays club volleyball for Sports Shack. Jake Meyer The Palisades High senior qualified for both the discus and shot put at the state track and field championships. Jake threw the shot 51 feet, 8 inches to finish second at the City finals. He achieved his personal-best of 53-0 at a league meet in October. He won the City in the discus with a distance of 129-5. Colette Rosenberg Practice payed off for this longtime Riviera Country Club member. Colette qualified for the United States Women’s Mid-Amateur Championships in Knoxville, Tennessee’the 10th time she has made the national cut. She has won the Riviera club championship eight times. Dylan Cohen Dylan was selected to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ junior elite team, an all-star squad for the top high school players in Southern California. He was an All-City short stop for the Palisades High varsity baseball team and the starting kicker/punter and quarterback on the varsity football team. He was chosen to Baseball Resource’s All-Southern California team for 2005-06. Hannah Wirth A senior quick hitter on the Brentwood varsity volleyball squad, Hannah was one of the Eagles’ go-to players, averaging double digits in kills and digs. She applied for early decision at Amherst College in Massachusetts, where she hopes to play with fellow Palisadian Kristin Quinn. Curt Toppel An example of how quickly things can change, Curt stood atop the volleyball world last year. He was one of the top college players in the country and had been selected to join the United States National Team to fulfill his dream of playing in the Olympics. He makes this year’s list because of his perseverance. He overcame a career-threatening injury to his foot to play in a professional league in Puerto Rico and made the league’s annual All-Star game. Alexa & Caroline Merz Caroline switched from gymnastics to fencing and took first place among Southern Californians and 32nd place overall in the Youth 14 Women’s Sabre competition at the USA Fencing Championships. Alexa won both the 50 and 100 meter Freestyle events at this year’s National Long Course Championships. She was a CIF Southern Section champion in the 50 Freestyle and competed at the 2004 Senior Spring Nationals in the 50, 100 and 200 Freestyle. Kevin Seto Excelled in both soccer and baseball his senior year at Palisades High. Kevin was co-captain and led the varsity soccer squad in points, then led the varsity baseball team to the Western League championship. He led Pali in batting average (.460), hits (29), runs scored (24) and doubles (6) and was the only Dolphin named to the All-City team. Noelle & Madeline Amos Noelle was 57th in the Division II women’s epee at the USA Fencing Championships while sister Madeline placed first in the Southern California Youth 12 women’s epee and finished sixth overall. Matt Willig A 13-year NFL veteran, Matt helped the Carolina Panthers reach the Super Bowl in January. Now, the 6-8, 315-pound right tackle is trying to help his team secure an NFC wildcard berth. Stephanie Sommer The 5-4 freshman outside hitter paced Lighthouse Christian Academy to its first CIF championship ever. Stephanie led the Saints in both aces and kills, including 10 of each in the finals against Santa Maria Valley Christian. Peter Gilmore In an attempt to qualify for the marathon at the Athens Olympics, Peter clocked a personal-record 2:15.44’almost two full minutes faster than his previous best time. Oh, by the way, he also won the Palisades-Will Rogers 5K for the seventh time’finishing in 14:12, two seconds off of his own course record. Kara Barnard Three days before her 26th birthday, Kara gave herself an early present by winning the Palisades-Will Rogers 10K for the third time’her eighth Will Rogers win overall. She ran the 6.2-mile course in 35:24, the fourth fastest time in race history and bettered her previous-best time by over two minutes. Jon Leicester The ex-Palisades High baseball player and 1997 Post Cup winner established himself as a reliable middle reliever for the Chicago Cubs. Jon made his major league debut June 9 against the St. Louis Cardinals and earned his first win June 13 at Anaheim. Lizzie Kay A sophomore libero on the Johns Hopkins University women’s volleyball team, Lizzie earned Centennial Conference honorable mention after leading her conference in digs with 640 (6.67 per game) and shattering the school single-season record which she set her freshman year. Baxter Humby The ‘One-Armed Bandit’ continued his rise to the top of the kickboxing world with a unanimous victory over Canadian champion Alex Ricci (30-8) to capture the International Muay Thai Council super welterweight championship in September. He currently wears five world title belts. Kristin Quinn A sophomore outside hitter on the women’s volleyball team at Amherst College in Massachusetts, Kristin was named to the New England Women’s Volleyball Association Division III All-New England team. She was sixth in the nation in hitting percentage (.426) and 23rd in the nation in blocks per game. Walker Kehrer Along with doubles partner Michael Lin, Walker claimed his third successive victory in a National Open doubles final, winning the 14s Division at the USA National Open in Newport Beach. In singles, he is one of the top 25 players in the nation. Over the summer, he played five national events in four states, taking two first-place, two second-place and a third-place in singles, doubles and team competition while compiling a 34-9 record. Diana Grubb A senior setter for the Palisades High girls’ varsity volleyball team, she was named to the All-City second team. A three-year starter, Grubb averaged over 30 assists a match her senior season and was the Dolphins’ team captain. She is also a starter on Pali’s women’s soccer team. Tommy Marrone A sophomore at St. Monica High, Tommy stood out in both football and volleyball. He was voted most valuable player of the Mariners’ junior varsity football team, scoring 14 touchdowns as a running back and wide receiver. He also earned first-team All-League honors as the starting setter on the varsity volleyball squad. Hannah Kogan A swimmer for Team Santa Monica, this 10-year-old Palisadian placed fifth in the 50 Freestyle at the Southern California Festival in January. Hannah and her identical twin, Samantha, both participated in the Junior Olympics last summer. Teddy Levitt Has become a master at his craft’or at least a work in progress. His sport is fencing and he attained a rank of No. 6 nationally in the Cadet (under 17) division and No. 31 in the junior division (under 19). He won all of his bouts as captain of the Harvard-Westlake High team, which won the Mission League championship, and placed sixth in his division at the Junior Olympics. Erina Digby Making our list for the fourth straight year, Erina finished her Marlborough High tennis career with a flourish, leading the Mustangs to their third consecutive berth in the CIF semifinals. She also reached the semifinals of the Individuals Tournament and played doubles with Malibu’s Kelly Stewart at the USTA National Championships.
Return to Tennis Brings Life Lessons
By GABRIELLE GOTTLIEB Special to the Palisadian-Post Being the only girl in my family with two brothers, excelling in sports was never a problem. My brothers were quite competitive in tennis. I was a different story. I didn’t like competitiveness as I knew it then. Well, you know how the story goes’children seek independence. My brothers and I lost interest in playing tennis. So tennis took a back seat. Actually the trunk. Now we’re up to speed. Two years ago I moved from Brentwood to the Palisades, bought a condo and had a ball (no pun intended) renovating and decorating it. Running was my sport of choice. I ran and still do run all over the Palisades, from El Medio to the beach, to Chautauqua. One day I decided to take a different route and venture over to the Palisades Recreation Center. Memories of my old tennis days there started creeping back. I began to think more about my parents and brothers. Since we are so busy with our own lives, I kept trying to think of ways to reconnect with my brothers. I thought tennis just might be the way to go. Around that same time a friend told me he had put himself through Harvard Law School teaching tennis. I was so impressed’maybe there was more to tennis than I remembered. I decided right then and there it was time to give it another try. Before I picked up a racket I had a list of conditions for my would-be instructor. First, I determined that they needed to be in the Palisades (I wanted no long commutes). The second condition was observing the instructor beforehand. Third was flexibility: I wanted to go at my own pace, slowly and without being penalized. Fourth was approachability: I wanted an instructor I could ask questions and talk to throughout the lesson. The fifth condition was credentials: he or she had better be good! Last but not least, I wanted an instructor with a sense of humor. Luckily, I landed a home run my first time at bat. The instructor met all my criteria and even had a few unexpected perks. When I observed this particular teacher, I knew something even bigger than tennis was happening on the court. Her name is Yuriko Knoblich. She is ranked No. 4 in the national doubles 50-and-over division and she is rated a 5.0 player by the USTA. Yuriko was self taught and has been teaching since she was 19. Yuriko started teaching because someone told her ‘You look so good, I want to look just like you.’ She teaches private lessons to women from West L.A., Malibu, Brentwood and Palisades (which she calls ‘Pacific Paradise’). Many of her students are local residents, including Barbara Travis, Helen Geller, Lisa Borja, Rikki Gordon, Sissy Vogel, Wendy Landis, Noelle Polacek and former Palisadian Joann Ralph. What I like most about Yuriko is that she uses a psychological approach to teaching that applies not just to tennis but life in general. She emphasizes being an individual and communicating well with your doubles partner. Doubles is her specialty. Being an artist, I work alone a lot, so doubles sounded intriguing. I could be out in the beautiful sun, learning and relating to others all at the same time. ‘In doubles you have to have team work,’ Yuriko says. ‘You have to like your partner. Communication is everything.’ She asks each new student to meet for coffee or lunch off the clock to get to know them, which helps her understand how best to teach that individual. Yuriko cherishes her circle of friends and students like family. I have learned many valuable tennis techniques and great tips on the game of life. Just to mention a few: Don’t hit the ball too hard because you give your power away. That goes for life as well. ‘It almost haunts you. It comes back and bites you,’ Yuriko says. ‘It’s ironic that you blame someone else when you should be blaming yourself.’ Her first rule is to see the ball for what it is. Don’t get fooled by the age, gender or reputation of your opponent, so you can execute your strokes the right way. In the beginning, I wanted to play well to impress her. ‘Your not supposed to impress me,’ she said. ‘I’m supposed to impress you.’ Then I didn’t feel pressured. The encouragement I received was perfect. Yuriko evaluated my game and said, ‘You can get the shots and return the serves. We need to work on your serve to get you to know you can do it, enjoy the process and be patient with yourself.’ I was also hitting in an open stance. Yuriko said, ‘You want to see too much. You don’t need to see unnecessary things. You want to see the right thing. You need to focus, look the part and your partner or opponent won’t see any insecurities. They only see what you perceive to see. Even though you’re scared you may want to challenge them.’ Yuriko lets her students hold the grip any way that works. ‘If you want a top spin, you may have to change it. If you want to see a life change you need to change your grip.’ Since I’m a runner, I was overrunning the ball. Yuriko encouraged me to save my energy. For example, ‘the slice will never come to you, you have to get there when the ball bounces and even then the ball dies.’ As with life, know how to relate to others. Judging does no good in the game of life or tennis. One last example that stands out is how Yuriko dealt with a situation when I wasn’t playing my best. I decided to take a break. Yuriko filled in and played for me. After awhile I went back in. I knew I might not do well, but I ended up winning. Yuriko was more impressed that I took a risk. For Yuriko, learning was the best part of tennis. She encourages her students to ‘give yourself the gift of enjoyment. Enjoy the process and have fun now. Tennis is so lively, energetic, priceless, and youthful.’ And I have learned to trust her advice. So over the holidays I’ll be playing doubles at the Palisades Park with my father, older brother, and his young son. All in all, I’m looking forward to three generations having fun and learning a life lesson. I have a lot to be grateful.
Golden Couples of the Palisades
JOHN & JANE FAHEY – 1954
(Editor’s note: (Editor’s note: Since launching our Golden Couples series in March 2002, we have featured 70 Pacific Palisades couples who have been married more than 50 years. Eligible couples who haven’t yet contacted the Palisadian-Post are encouraged to send an e-mail to Bill Bruns (editor@palipost.com) providing the date of their marriage and a phone contact. One of our reporters will call to gather information for a short profile, and a favorite photograph. Currently, George and Wilma Tauxe, married in Glendale on August 29, 1936, have the town’s longest marriage. They are closely followed by Robert and Betty Lou Frick, married March 30, 1937.) When John Fahey was an intern at New York’s Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in 1952 and Jane Bishop was a supervisory nurse on the night shift, it was inevitable that they would meet at the midnight coffee breaks in the cafeteria. Also, a fellow intern knew that both had lived previously in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, and prompted John to see if they had mutual friends and interests. Jane was a beautiful, very intelligent and talented young woman with accomplishments as artist and chef, extensive knowledge and experience in camping, backpacking and wildlife, and interests in theatre and music of many kinds (John introduced her to jazz). Together they made quite a dance pair! Cleveland was not a factor, although when they were 9 years old they had lived only two blocks apart on the same street. After John moved to Washington, D.C., to resume biomedical research at the newly opened Clinical Center at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), his colleagues in New York warned him that he had better act or lose Jane to one of the doctors now courting her there. John did, and they were married in St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York on June 12, 1954. Following a honeymoon in Jamaica and Haiti, they settled into an ancient Georgetown apartment. That was a big change from the large bachelor house in Georgetown, which John had lived with six other fellows’State Department, CIA, congressional staff lawyers and journalists, definitely not scientific or medical careerists. However, in the next two years, Jane met and became friends with the wives of the fellows, who had graduated by marriage earlier from the ‘N Street’ house. In due course the Faheys moved to suburban Chevy Chase, Maryland. Marguerite was born in 1955, James in 1956, and Catharine in 1959. In September 1959 they exchanged houses with a family in Highgate, London, and John had a year’s sabbatical at the National Institute for Medical Research in Mill Hill, England. The family explored much of England and Scotland and visited friends in Stockholm, Copenhagen and Paris. In 1971, although they were reluctant to leave the Washington, D.C., area, John took a position as chairman of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the UCLA School of Medicine, where he continues as a faculty member. The move to California was eased by finding a home in the Huntington Palisades with the help of longtime residents Bill and Jane Huntington. The Faheys have remodeled and remained at the same address near Corpus Christi Church. Jane had her first symptoms of MS in 1970 and has found the Palisades climate and people to be very congenial. In recent years, many residents see her waving greetings from her wheelchair en route to the village and Sunset West, or to the Palisades Barber Shop for John’s haircuts, to the bank, market, restaurants or Harrington’s Camera for the prints that fill their many photo albums. Jane attends the Palisades Woman’s Club meetings and participates in a Santa Monica singing group. She remembers the words to most Christmas carols and all the songs from the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s that she and John danced to. John currently travels to India several times yearly to work with the faculty at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences and other leading medical institutions. Each year, he brings half a dozen academic physicians from medical schools and research institutes in developing countries to work with him at UCLA, and learn from him about immunology and AIDS research. Jane meets and remains in contact with John’s many professional associates. They have traveled together in Kenya and Tanzania, Europe, Ireland, Canada and Alaska, the Panama Canal and Japan since Jane developed MS. Meanwhile, the Faheys enjoy the L.A. Philharmonic and opera, the new Disney Hall, UCLA basketball and occasional Dodger games. They frequent the parks, museums, gardens, good restaurants and interesting destinations in Southern California and the vineyard areas of the Central Coast. Their children organized a 75th birthday with numerous family and friends five years ago. This year’s 50th wedding anniversary in June and 80th birthdays for both in September, were smaller-scale celebrations at home. Children and grandchildren include Marguerite and her daughter, Allison, who live in West Los Angeles; James and his wife Kaoru and their two children, Cassidy and Audrey, who live in Tarrytown, New York; and Catharine, who lives in Boulder, Colorado. When asked about their long and happy marriage, Jane said with a big smile that it was certainly worth it. John said, ‘I knew that there were many unknown changes ahead, but we took them as they came.’ They agreed that imagining how and where they would be in 2004 was quite impossible until they had experienced the past three decades in the Palisades.
