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Janice M. Johnson, devoted mother, grandmother, sister, arts advocate, and community pillar passed away in Dana Point, California on May 20, 2026, at the age of 92.
Born on April 15, 1934, in West Winfield, New York, Janice lived a life marked by conviction, generosity, and a deep love of the people and communities...

Arthur David Wahl, known to all who loved him as Art, passed away on May 15, 2026. He was 88 years old.
Art was born on September 4, 1937, in Floral Park, New York, to Art and Helen Wahl. He went on to earn his master's degree in education from Colgate University, setting the course for a career dedicated to helping...

Made in Germany - Refined in America - Lived in Laguna Beach.
Richard lived in Laguna Beach for 64 years. He first moved to Bluebird Canyon in 1962 to start a family. After relocating within Laguna several times, the family settled in North Laguna in 1970. He passed peacefully on April 4th, at 1:15PM, at the home...

Former Laguna Beach Lifeguard Chief Mike Dwinell passed away peacefully in January
at 75 while traveling back from a trip to Thailand with his wife Kim. He was a 26-year
career Laguna Beach Lifeguard, a beloved husband, father, mentor, and friend, and will
be deeply missed by all who knew him.

A paddleout and...

Jean Marie Keyes was born in St. Louis, Mo.,Jeanette Marie Malkowski on September 27, 1946 passed away January 22, 2026, after suffering a long and difficult battle with Lewy Body Dementia. Jean also known as Jeannie, Mom, Grandma, Aunty, and best friend to many, is survived by her: husband Ted Keyes, brother Joseph...

Jeanine Marie Fletcher, 73, of Laguna Beach passed away on December 27, 2025 following a period of ill health. Though those left behind will miss her, we take comfort in knowing her soul has at last found peace.

Jeanine was born and raised in the San Gabriel Valley and graduated from Mark Keppel High School in...

Michael was 80 years old at the time of his passing at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula following complications from surgeries. He was a resident of both Pacific Grove and San Diego, splitting his time between the two cities he loved. Michael was an educator and administrator for more than 40 years in...

Michael Joseph Gamerl passed away at home in Laguna Beach, California on Wednesday, November 19, 2025 at the age of 89, two-weeks shy of his 67th wedding anniversary, after a courageous battle with prostate cancer.

He leaves behind his beloved and devoted wife Ko, daughter Leona, son and daughter-in-law Michael...

David Mark Reddy left his earthly body unexpectedly on September 13, 2025, giving us a surprise ending to a life that was rich with beautiful and wild stories. He would have liked you to know that every tale you've heard about him was most likely crazier than what you were told.

David was born August 10, 1948 to...

Sally Marie Davis peacefully passed away in August 2025. She is survived by her daughters Dianna Condon-Hinds (Garrett Hinds), Lisa Straube, and Kat Davis; her grandchildren and step-grandchildren Axel Straube, Karl Straube (Sage), Jack Straube, Emily Condon (Mark Sanchez), Natalie Condon, Kristina Brauer (Katie),...

Longtime Laguna Beach resident Jana Ruzicka died on January 30, 2025 at the age of 90. Jana was born in Olomouc, Czechoslovakia in 1934. She earned a degree in Landscape Architecture from Charles University where she met her husband George in the University's climbing club. Following the Soviet-led invasion of...

Harold Victor "Vic" Penna passed away at the age of 88, after a life marked by hard work, deep devotion to family and friends, and quiet generosity.

Born to Joe and Louise Penna, Vic was one of four siblings raised in Laguna Beach with strong values and a love for the land. He graduated from Laguna in 1955 and...

Long time Laguna local fondly known as 'JT' has passed. Her kindness and whimsical personality will be forever missed.

Don Knowlton Chapman was born on December 15, 1941, in Greenwich, Connecticut, to Marjorie Lee and Edwin Nesbit Chapman. In the late 1940s, the family relocated to Whittier, California, where Don spent his formative years, building many lifelong friendships.

He graduated from Whittier High School in 1959, then...

In the very same month she celebrated her 105th birthday, longtime Laguna resident, Rose Sarafian Conken passed surrounded by her beloved family.

Rose was born April 1, 1920, in Adana, Turkey. That same year, she immigrated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with her Armenian parents, brother, and sister, processed with...

Diane Summers Arnold died peacefully on December 18, 2024, in the presence of her beloved husband, John "Chimo" Arnold, in their Laguna Beach home in California. She was born Diane Marie Summers to Merrill "Bud" and Joan Summers in Rockville Centre, Long Island, New York, on October 24, 1949. As a child, she lived...

Dr. William "Bill" Roley, Jr., a pioneering environmentalist, passionate teacher, and beloved father, passed away peacefully on March 29, 2025, surrounded by his children at his bedside. He was 77.

Born on May 13, 1947, Bill made Laguna Beach his lifelong home and spiritual anchor. A proud waterman, athlete,...

Leighton H. "Tony" French Leighton H. "Tony" French, 88, a longtime resident of Laguna Beach, passed away on March 19, 2025. Tony was a man of warmth, generosity, and an effortless charm that made everyone feel like a lifelong friend. His kindness and respect for people from all walks of life earned him a special...

July 19,1932 – March 8, 2025
Lois Christensen Wilcoxen passed away peacefully at her home in Laguna Beach, at the age of 92, on Saturday, March 8, surrounded by her loving family.
A woman of warmth and resilience, Lois found joy in every chapter of her life. After the passing of her...

February 26, 1944 – January 8, 2025
Jerry Miller, 80, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, surrounded by his loved ones.
Born on February 26, 1944, in El Centro, California, Jerry spent his childhood in Anaheim, where he developed a love for horses and participated...

By Clara Beard and Jackie Connor | LB Indy
The Laguna Art Museum was packed–standing room only, with friends and family who shared close-knit and fond memories of G. Ray Kerciu, a prolific and passionate artist and longtime Laguna Beach local who died Aug. 25, just shy of his 91st birthday.
...

Longtime Laguna Beach resident Ruth Charlene (Cain) Bryson died peacefully on September 9, 2024, at the age of 96.
Ruth was born to Charles and Margaret Cain on August 30, 1928, in Cleveland, Ohio, where she grew up with her loving parents, brother Arthur and sister Lois, and where she graduated...

July 21, 1999 – September 10, 2024
Karly Peterson passed away peacefully at her home in Laguna Beach on September 10.
She was happy to spend the month surrounded by family and friends, and Laguna got to see her smile every day.
Karly found home in Laguna Beach after...

Lona Ingwerson, an inspirational speaker and Christian Science practitioner who helped thousands of people worldwide find hope, health and direction, passed peacefully in her sleep early Thursday, July 18, at her "Sea Castle" at Thousand Steps Beach. She was 90.
An actress by training, she had stage...

June 28, 1967 – June 13, 2024
John was a 35-year Laguna Beach resident who graduated from Laguna Beach High School in 1985. He was living in Florida at the time of his death. He died suddenly of a heart attack. He is survived by his father and his siblings, David Schroeder, David Schroeder Jr. and...

Phillip Winton (Phil) Good passed away peacefully and with family present on May 27, 2024, at his home in Fallbrook, Calif. at the age of 85.
Phil was born on July 8, 1938, in Oklahoma City, Okla., to Howard Winton Good and Clara Inez (Arnett) Good, who predeceased him in 2008. The family moved first...

Cynthia "Cyndy" Starr Hunter Hutchinson, 64, passed away on April 16, 2015, in the comfort of her home in San Clemente, Calif., with her daughter. She left this world peacefully after a courageous battle with brain cancer.
Cyndy was born in Rochester, Minnesota, on April 18, 1954, the second oldest...

Kirk Robert Sand of Laguna Beach passed away peacefully on March 17, 2024 at the age of 71. His family is deeply saddened to share the news of his passing with those who knew and loved him.
Kirk Sand was born on March 13, 1953, in Springfield, Ill., to parents Donald Robert Sand and Martha Jane...

Eugenia Jo Danielson, born on November 29, 1964, in West Covina, Calif, peacefully passed away on April 6, 2024, in Phoenix, Ariz., at the age of 59. She was surrounded by her loved ones in her final moments.
Genia was a vibrant and caring soul who impacted thousands of people in a positive way....

Robin Aaron Culp passed away peacefully with his family and friends by his side on March 4, 2024, at the age of 53, after a courageous 6-month battle with lung cancer.
Robin was born on Feb. 26, 1971, in the small seaside community of Carmel, Calif. Soon after, Robin and his family moved to Laguna...

Jeff was born March 9, 1943, in Redlands, Calif., to parents Clarence "Bud" and Willette Foster. He grew up and graduated high school in Banning, Calif. He attended the University of California at Santa Barbara, majoring in music education and being a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. At UCSB, Jeff met his future...

18 September 1935 – 2 March 2024
From youth and throughout his life, he was an avid fisherman, hiker and snow skier. From his earliest days, he explored dozens of trails in the Sierra Nevada. He also scuba and skin dived from the Central Coast to Baja California, creating wonderful memories of...

Marcel was born on April 1, 1937, in Belgium and peacefully departed on March 3, 2024, at the age of 86, in Laguna Beach, Calif. He leaves behind his daughters Line O'Keefe and Chantale McConnell and son Dominic Pitz, all of Laguna Beach. He was preceded in passing by his wife, Monique, and his son, Marc Pitz.
...

Ann moved to Laguna Beach in 1962 with her two young daughters. Arriving in California from Houston, the three of them got off the train in the middle of an orange grove in Fullerton. From there, they were whisked off to Laguna and the 'Tower House' on No. La Senda. Just a few months later, they moved to a rental on...

Herb moved with his single mother, Helen, and three siblings, Ben, Dick, and Mary, from Michigan to Laguna Beach in 1946. Although the Nolans lacked resources, Herb felt enriched growing up in Laguna. He thrived at diving, surfing, racing hotrods and other mischief with his Sultan "gang," and finding inspiration...

John "Greg" Seymour passed away on Oct. 18, 2023, after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was embraced with love to the very end, surrounded by his wife Willie, two sons, Scott and Justin and daughter-in-law Aubrey.
Greg was born on March 4, 1942. The second of what would ultimately be a trio of boys...

February 12, 1940 – November 25, 2023
By Danielle Purcell
Neil Purcell was born on Feb. 12, 1940, to parents Doris Marie and Neil Johnson Purcell Sr. and passed away peacefully on Nov. 25. Neil grew up in a loving family of five kids, including three sisters and one brother. At the...

Gregory L. Heneghan:(1966 – 2023)
Born in New York in 1966, he was the second of three sons born to Martin and Joan (nee Bard) Heneghan. His parents took one look at him and knew he needed to be at a beach, so the family moved to Laguna Beach, California, when he was two years old.
...

Andrea Nicol Drexelius
(Dec. 5, 1965 – July 12, 2023)
Andrea was born Dec. 5, 1965, in Laguna Beach, Calif., the fourth of five children of Dr. Richard J. "Dick" and Virginia Lorraine "Lori" (Watrin) Drexelius. She and her four siblings were raised in Laguna Beach, and all attended...

Lizzy loved the outdoors, camping, snowboarding and riding her dirt bike in the Sierra Mountains. She is survived by her husband, Dana of Truckee, her parents, Tom O'Keefe of Dana Point and Carol O'Keefe of Oak Park, Calif., as well as her brother, Peter O'Keefe of Newport Beach. Lizzy's memorial service will be...

Emily was an exceptionally talented writer and lover of all of the arts. She loved being with family, writing, drag shows, books, the ocean, animals, driving, concerts, music festivals, plays, musicals, movies, painting, drawing, the outdoors, baking with her dad and gardening with her mom. She loved gaming with her...

In the late 50s, Francine emigrated to the United States with her husband Fred, a respected professor of medicine at UCSF and UCI. Together, they built a beautiful life and family in Laguna Beach, Calif. Francine dedicated herself tirelessly to her four sons, Christophe, Francis, Alexis and Olivier, imparting her...

Feb. 14, 1945 to July 11, 2023
By Patrick Cannon
Jimmy Otto was an essential thread in the fabric of Laguna Beach's historic and creative culture. He was the curator of music that served as the background for every adventure that defined our youth.
The Sound Spectrum...

With a house full of kids, Leone went back to teaching full-time for Laguna Beach Unified School District. She began at El Morro Elementary. She was instrumental in opening Top of the World Elementary School in 1967. Leone had hundreds of students pass through her classroom over the next 34 years, where she...

May 22, 1923 – June 21, 2023
She was born May 22, 1923, in the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia and raised there. She graduated from the equivalent of community college in Teplice before attending art academies in Vienna and Munich and completing her master's degree in fine arts. She met her...

By Michele Campion
My husband and soulmate Bobby Campion has passed on to be with our Lord on April 18, 2023. It was sudden and tragic for our family, but he would want us to continue the party of life and bring love and joy to others regardless of our grief.
Robert J Campion Jr. also...

Mary lived a full, joy-filled life and was loved by many as a wife, mother, grandmother, therapist and friend. There has been an outpouring of love and support with the news of her passing after a courageous fight with cancer. Born and raised in New York, Mary moved to Laguna Beach in 1981. She primarily worked as a...

Anneliese Schools founder Anneliese Schimmelpfennig, a teacher, visionary and entrepreneur, passed away peacefully due to complications from pneumonia, surrounded by her family, on May 4, 2023.
Schimmelpfennig was born Anneliese Krempl on July 17, 1939, in the village of Tüssling in Bavaria,...

Her illustrious artistic career spanned over 75 years. Significant moments in her life included being commissioned by the Vatican to paint Pope John Paul II, along with being commissioned to commemorate the one-hundredth anniversary of the Tournament of Roses. She was commissioned to paint a commemorative work for...

Bob was a long-time resident of Laguna Beach, graduating from Laguna Beach High School in 1963. He went on to Saddleback College and then joined the US Navy and served during the Vietnam war in 1965 and 1966. He returned to Laguna Beach and attended Chapman University, graduating with a degree in Business.
...

Vivian "Sissy" Caris alias Reynders (née Thompson) passed away peacefully Wednesday, January 18, 2023 at home surrounded by her family.
Sissy was born May 22, 1954, in Midland, Texas. After both parents passed away prematurely, Sissy and her brother, Scott, at a very young age, moved to the family's...

Shortly before his graduation, Fred's father suffered a stroke. Fred returned home to San Bernardino after receiving his degree to help his mother run the family jewelry business. Over the following 55 years, Fred transformed the family jewelry business into one of southern California's finest luxury brand jewelers....

February 9, 1940 – October 31, 2022
Ronald Whitacre, loving partner, artist, and father, passed away peacefully on October 31, 2022 in his home in Laguna Beach, California. He was 82 years old. His last days were eased by calls and visits from friends and family and the loving care of his partner...

Alberto Treviño passed away peacefully on Sept. 29, with family by his side, in the home he built in Bluebird Canyon in the early 1960s.
Al was born in Inglewood, the youngest of four siblings, on Dec. 28, 1931, but spent his early childhood in El Paso, Texas. While attending high school at Saint...

Joseph Allum Briskey, Marine veteran, carpenter, a 50-year resident of Laguna Beach, a stalwart regular at Main Beach and Crescent Bay, former pitcher for the Utah State Aggies baseball team, known to hundreds of friends all over Laguna Beach as Joe or Jose, died Sept. 16, 2022. He was 78 years old.
...

(July 27, 1976 – May 16, 2022)
Sequoia Slentz, a Laguna Beach musician, promoter, and philanthropist, passed away on May 16. He was 45 years old.
Born July 27, 1976, Slentz grew up running around the Sawdust Art Festival and Shaw's Cove, a place that remained special to him...

David Paul Robbins of Laguna Beach passed away on Oct. 21, 2021.
He was 74 years old.
His son, Christopher Robbins, and daughter, Ashley Wheeler, were with him when he died. Christopher, his wife, Allison and their children Sloane and Jack live in St. Paul, Minn. His son, Hunter, in...

May 22, 1992 – May 10, 2021
Arthur Wexell—affectionately and famously known to his family and friends as Wex—passed away unexpectedly on May 10, 2021, at 28 years old with his wife by his side.
Wex was born at home naturally in Laguna Beach on Santa Cruz Street, accompanied...

It is with great sadness that the family of Nancy Miriam French announces her passing after a battle with cancer on Dec. 8, 2019, at the age of 83, at her home in Laguna Niguel, Calif. Nancy will be lovingly remembered by her children, Elainea, Ted, John, Holly (Maciej) Kmita, and Betsy. Nancy will also be fondly...

Neil F. Katz passed away at his home on Feb. 17. Neil had been struggling with several health issues through 2019, but he was confident he would survive these battles. The apparent cause of death was a heart attack.
He is preceded in death by his father and mother, Saul and Phyllis Katz. He is...

Martha Nett Marino, born on Feb. 21, 1928, a longtime resident of Laguna Beach, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Dec. 11, 2019 at the age of 91. She was an outgoing woman who was always looking forward to her next adventure. She is survived by her two sons, Claudio and Kelvin, their spouses,...

1923 – 2019
Knowlton Prentice (KP) Rice, Colonel, USMC (ret.), passed away peacefully on Dec. 25, 2019 in Laguna Beach surrounded by loved ones.
He was born in Worcester, Massachusetts on Oct. 29, 1923. His father died when KP was 2 years old, and his mother struggled to support him...