In Memoriam

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.

CYNTHIA CRONKHITE JONES ’50

Cynthia passed away October on 12 at age 87 at her home in Pasadena. Cynthia attended Westridge in grades 11 and 12 and was involved with the equestrian team, Spyglass, Glee Club, and cheerleading. She was known for her photography skills and amateur modeling, including being selected to wear I. Magnin clothes for the Inlook tea fashion show. She earned an Associate Degree in Applied Science from Briarcliff College. She married Richard W. Jones and they had three children, Cynthia (Dudley) Jones Thatcher ’78, Dede, and Michael. Cynthia was passionate about social justice and peace, working to help start the the Foothill Free Clinic as well as working for farmworker rights in the Central Valley, protesting the Vietnam War, and supporting the work of the Global AIDS Interfaith Alliance in Malawi, Africa. Cynthia’s husband and sisters predeceased her and she is survived by her three children, seven grandchildren, including Cynthia Smith ’04, Sarah Smith ’05, and Stephanie Thatcher ’13, and many nieces and nephews.

ANNE COOLEY AMEND ’55

Anne passed away peacefully at home on June 23, seven weeks after her husband of 58 years, Howard Amend. “She often reflected fondly of her time at Westridge with her twin sister, Marian Cooley Green ’55, and her cousin, Caroline Cooley Crawford ’55,” said Anne’s daughter, Merrill Amend Marker. At Westridge, Anne was known for her interests in singing and Girl Scouts and she had the honor of spending a summer in Europe working with the Girl Scouts.

MARGUERITE WHEELER WELCH ’58

Westridge recently learned that Marguerite passed away in June of 2020. Marguerite attended Westridge through 8th grade, serving as vice president of her class that year. Her sister, Dixie Wheeler ’61, also attended Westridge.

HEATHER GOSS ’59

Heather Goss passed away in Irvine, CA on January 3, 2021. Raised in Pasadena, Heather attended Westridge for sophomore and senior year, serving as class secretary, Inlook model, Glee Club member, volleyball team captain, and equestrian team member. Following Westridge, Heather pursued art history classes and took great interest in classical music, fine wine, and gourmet food.

After attending the Schaeffer School of Design in San Francisco, she started a successful catering business, Heather’s Affairs, noted for beachside parties, lavish weddings, and dinners. She later opened The Gourmet Goose in Costa Mesa and The Heather, in Corona del Mar.

Heather served as president of the Orange County Philharmonic, on the Corona Del Mar Baroque Music Festival’s board, was a choir member and council member of the Newport Harbor Lutheran Church. In 1990 she joined the Vox Feminae singing group, performing in Europe, and in Southern California classrooms.

Finding joy in the outdoors, Heather enjoyed ride bareback in the desert, hiking with her German pointer Max, camping, tennis, skiing, and bike riding up and down the California coast. With a deep reserve of courage and faith, she pushed herself even after Parkinson’s began to take its toll. Heather is survived by her sisters Shana, Devon and Briar, and many nieces and nephews. The family has asked that gifts in Heather’s memory be made to benefit the Music Department at Westridge.

KATHLEEN HICKS ANDREWS ’63

Westridge learned of Kathy’s passing on December 8 from Freddie Baumstark Jackson ’63, who wrote to her classmates: “Kathy died after a long battle with cancer at her home in Utah with her son and daughter present. I spoke with her before Thanksgiving — she knew her time was near. We had a wonderful hour-long conversation.” In her senior year at Westridge, Kathy served on the Music Assembly Committee, was head of make-up, and known for her love of the Beach Boys and for her casual certitude. Kathy was devoted to her local Catholic church community, serving as the grief support group’s facilitator and head of bereavement. She was also passionate about immigration issues. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren in Utah and California.

TERESA OMORI HOLDEN ’63

Teresa, known as Terri, died on December 8 after a 16-year battle with metastatic breast cancer. Her husband, Jim, said that Terri did not want any sort of service in light of the pandemic, but eventually wants her ashes to be scattered near the Hawaii Ironman swim turn-around off the coast of Kailua-Kona. Terri first participated in the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon in 2000 after winning a lottery selection. In 2002, she proudly qualified on her own. Jim shared a special message with the Class of 1963, saying Terri cherished each as members of her collection of favorite “peeps” and to please raise a glass to her. Terri attended Westridge from 7th through 9th grades, and as an alumna she maintained a close connection with classmates while she lived many places including Paris, Japan, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Italy, Florida, and eventually Ventura, Jim’s hometown.

SAMARA DYER ’03

Samara sadly lost her long-term battle with cancer on December 3. She was remembered lovingly on Facebook as Samara Kimiko by many friends and Westridge classmates. She attended Westridge through 9th grade, and later studied media production at the University of Southern California and worked as a rape crisis and domestic violence advocate at the New York State Department of Health. Her family held a private graveside service at Mountain View Cemetery on December 15. Warm recollections of Samara were shared amongst alumnae and faculty members who knew about the pain of her untimely passing.

Discover

THE BENEFITS OF GIVING WISELY

Did you know there are creative ways to support Westridge School? Ways in which Westridge, you, and your loved ones all benefit? If you are uncertain about making a contribution to Westridge during this challenging time, we can help!

Such giving techniques are called “planned gifts” because with thoughtful planning, your gift can benefit both you and Westridge.

YOU CAN:

Make a gift that costs nothing during your lifetime by naming Westridge in your will or trust. Give stock and realize larger tax savings. If you would like information about making Planned gifts are recognized in the Madeline Society. We encourage you to become a a gift that will benefit the school in the future, please contact Lisa Vandergriff, member of the Madeline Society, which director of alumnae affairs, honors the generosity of all those who provide for Westridge School in their estate at 626.799.1053, ext. 244, or Lvandergriff@westridge.org plans or other deferred giving arrangement.

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage P A I D Pasadena, CA Permit No. 1986

Do you have photos of Van Halen at Westridge?

The untimely passing of Eddie Van Halen on October 6 prompted an outpouring of remembrances in the Pasadena community of the band Mammoth — the precursor to Van Halen — playing at local high schools, including Westridge at the 1977 junior prom! Fliers went out to all local high school students and the strong turnout caused a traffic jam on Madeline cul-de-sac for the packed show in Braun Auditorium. If you have photos of this performance, or of the flyer, we would love to see them! You can email them to us alumnae@westridge.org.