Winter 2021 /
Surgere
THE SCHOOL HAS LEARNED OF THE DEATHS OF THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY
JOSEPHINE (JO) CARTER DUFF ’39
Prior to her death on September 24, Jo had been living at Casa Dorinda in Montecito since 1998, calling it “a great place if you have to grow old.” Jo grew up in Pasadena and was president of the Athletic Association during her senior year at Westridge, where she was involved in drama, music, hockey, basketball, and tennis. Her sister Virginia Carter McLain ’36 (d) also attended Westridge. At age 24, Jo sailed to Okinawa, Japan with the Red Cross and met her husband, Elgin Gould Ingram, after returning to Pasadena. They had two sons and lived in the Bay Area where Jo continued volunteering with the Red Cross and stayed active with the Belvedere Tennis Club and the San Francisco Opera and Symphony. Following Elgin’s death, Jo spent time with Paul and Julia Child in the South of France. She then married Roy Duff and enjoyed 22 years of marriage before his death in 1998. Jo continued her travels while supporting and attending performaces at the Santa Barbara Opera and Symphony and the Music Academy. She is survived by her two sons, Whit and Carter.
AUDREY STEELE BURNAND ’40
Audrey, one of Westridge’s beloved benefactors, passed away on June 27. She was the 1998 recipient of the Mary Lowther Ranney Award (along with Polly Hunter Turpin ’45) and was recognized for her work as a philanthropist who supported the arts, the environment, and education through the Harry and Grace Steele Foundation. When Audrey was asked to support The Campaign for Westridge in 1993 she stepped forward and gave the first $1 million outright gift ever received from an alumna. A member of the Madeline Society since 2007, she was a loyal and generous donor throughout her lifetime through her bequests to numerous philanthropic organizations. As a student at Westridge from ninth through 12th grade, Audrey was involved in drama and served as senior class president. Following Westridge, Audrey attended Scripps College. She is survived by three children, nine grandchildren, and four greatgrandchildren.
JOAN NEWMAN COON ’45
Joan’s daughter, Ansley, wrote to Westridge about her mother’s passing in May at the age of 92. “She spoke
highly of her time at Westridge School and it’s clear that her education there was an element in her formation as a life-long learner. She remained always an avid reader and she shared that love of reading as a volunteer working with those for whom English was a second language,” said Ansley. During her senior year at Westridge, Joan was secretary of the Glee Club.
BRIER ANDERTON ROBERTS ’45
Brier died peacfully on March 9 in Middlebury, VT surrounded by her family. She was raised in Pasadena and was a member of Westridge’s riding club. Following Westridge, she attended Bennet Junior College in New York, then UCLA where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta. Following her marriage to Eugene C. Roberts III (d), she moved to Massachusetts where they raised their family. She worked at Mass General Hospital as a research assistant and volunteered for the American Red Cross. An avid skier, she was recognized by the National Ski Patrol for her leadership as a ski patrol and an instructor. She founded a youth ski program, was involved with the Special Olympics games as a coach, and was supporter of ski and equestrian events. She is survived by her three daughters.
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