The Memorial Wall

It is with great sadness that the family announces the passing of David Brun January 9, 2021 at the age of 62 after a long brave battle with Parkinson's disease. David was born July 19, 1958 in Chicago but moved to Clearwater at the age of 10. He always considered himself a Florida native and enjoyed living and playing on the beautiful Gulf Coast. David graduated from Tampa College with a BA in Business Administration and Management. He worked at Eaton Cutler Hammer formerly Westinghouse from 1982 to 1999. He then worked for many years at Thasetronics in Clearwater. David is predeceased by his parents, Eleanor and Harold Brun and his brothers, Hal and Rick. He is survived by and will be sadly missed by the love of his life wife, Trina Brun and his sister, Barbara Brun of Chicago. A private memorial service will be held at a later date.

Rafael "Ray" Vega, an entrepreneur and restaurateur passed away peacefully on January 9, 2021 at the age of 86.

Ray was born on August 27, 1934 to Rafael and Maria Vega. He migrated to the US from Tijuana with his parents as a toddler. His parents had dreams of owning a restaurant in LA and were able to bring that dream to fruition. Ray grew up on Olvera Street in downtown LA, around his parent's Mexican Restaurant, Café Caliente. He attended John Boroughs High School in Burbank and continued on to study Hospitality at San Francisco State University. He came back to LA at the age of 22 to find a way to support his parents who had recently been forced to close their restaurant. In 1956, with the promise of a few months free rent and while working a few other side jobs, Ray opened Casa Vega in Sherman Oaks on Ventura Blvd. Ray's father was the first bartender and his mother was welcoming guests while keeping an eye on the family recipes coming out of the kitchen. He was very active in local LA politics serving on the LA County Housing Authority and as Commissioner of Dept. of Public Social Service in the late 1960's-1970's. In 1976, Ray married Charleen, a beautiful woman whom he had met at Casa Vega.

As a young businessman, Ray was successful in obtaining government contracts for dining services all around California and Nevada. One of those contracts, Nellis Air Force Base, took Ray and Charleen to Las Vegas in 1978. Las Vegas opened lot of opportunities with Ray's love of work, his vision, creativity, drive and willingness to take risks. Ray started and owned numerous successful businesses in Las Vegas under VEGA Enterprise: VEGA Vending; VEGA Wholesale; VEGA Bar & Concessions; VEGA Foods; VEGA Marketing; VEGA Spirits; VEGA Dairy and many others, along with buildings, warehouses and other business ventures. Ray loved being a businessman and was a trailblazer within the Latino Community. In 1996, Ray was appointed Honorary Counsel General to Mexico for the State of Nevada. He sat on more hospital (Providence Hospitals) and bank boards than we can list.

After retiring from Las Vega, Ray was happy to move back to his hometown of Los Angeles, to spend his days near his first (and favorite) business, Casa Vega. He never missed a day of work. Ray took immense pride in teaching his daughter, Christina "Christy" Vega, how to navigate in business and keep his legacy alive. This year, Casa Vega Restaurant celebrates 65 years of business in Ray's honor.

Ray is survived by his wife, Charleen; his children Kelly, Robbie and Christina; and his grandchildren Anthony, Taylor, Emillee, Lizzy, Jackson, Rafael Palmer, Ryan' Jr., Cruz and Mia.

Services are pending.

Geoffrey G. Webb left his earthly stage on November 11, 2018. He died at home with his husband and best friend of 27 years, Donald Beck, by his side. He was born in 1929 in the village of Keyworth in Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom. He was the youngest of 11 children of Sarah and William Webb.

From an early age, Geoffrey's talents as a performer were evident and shared with family and the community. At the age of 17 he joined a touring ballet company and danced throughout Europe for the next 6 years. He then performed with London's Festival Ballet Company. Geoffrey's reputation continued to rise and he had the opportunity to perform in the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden on the occasion of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. The opera was titled "Gloriana" and was a specially commissioned opera based on the life of Elizabeth I.

Geoffrey was a "triple threat" as a performer, excelling in dance, song, and acting. He worked in summer stock, movies, TV, and the legitimate stage. After many theatrical productions in the West End of London, notably "The Boy Friend" and "Chorus Line", he came to America with the Victorian Edwardian musical "Late Joys". In the US he appeared in "Chicago", "My Fair Lady", "Gigi", and "South Pacific" and others. Geoffrey also played the role of a butler in the soap opera "One Life to Live" for several years. Music and performing was a large part of his journey and he was a part of "Songshine" for ten years. He became a US citizen in 2000 and soon thereafter he was a key member of the cast of the "Fabulous Palm Springs Follies" for 9 years. He read to first graders with "BookPals" for 10 years In addition to the performing arts, Geoffrey loved to travel. He and Donald traveled to all parts of the world, making many new friendships in the process.

Geoffrey thanks everyone who touched his life on his journey; he cherished every moment. He leaves many nephews and nieces in England, friends all over the world, and the love of his life, his husband, Donald Beck.

A "Celebration of Live will be held at the upper level of Spencers, 701 W Baristo Rd. Palm Springs, on Wednesday December 5th at 1;00 clock.

PATRICK JOSEPH MURPHY, born December 1,1942, in San Bernardino, CA, made his sudden, dramatic, yet peaceful transition from a fatal fall on December 16, 2020 in Temecula, CA, with his wife Sandi Kimmel, and his children Mark and Melissa, by his side. He is finally free of his Parkinson's Disease and pain.

Brilliantly creative, ever-twinkling, lover of people, nature and beauty, Patrick devoted these past many years to his unique dimensional art and the way he looked at the world…up close and multi-layered. 

Patrick made friends wherever he went. Children followed him like he was the Pied Piper, dogs lay in wait for his footsteps, and our cat, Toesy, knew he could always get a few extra treats if he purred for Patrick.

Patrick was a magnet for kids. Because of his ever-present, cheery smile and short white beard, he resembled Santa on vacation, and he collected smiles and waves from children of all ages wherever he went. He was also more in touch with his own "inner child" than most adults, and could be seen straightening up stuffed animals in stores, talking to them as he rearranged their accommodations. Of course, he had a few of his own… In fact, Kermit the Frog was his best friend, often saying things Patrick could not.

A creative force of nature, his luminous career as the head of Patrick Murphy Advertising, a successful agency in San Diego, garnered him many industry awards. He wrote, produced and directed more than 500 commercials for financial institutions, high tech companies and medical products. He was responsible for introducing ATMs, WiFi, tympanic thermometers and dozens of other products and services, and gained a reputation for being a new product launch expert.

In addition to his advertising agency, Patrick built a house for his family in Valley Center and began a parallel career as a "gentleman rancher" with 5 acres of more than 500 avocado trees and other fruit trees. His first wife, Elizabeth, and their children, Mark and Melissa, enjoyed their country life.

In Melissa's words: "Nothing I can say can do him justice, but I am going to give you a small snippet of the type of person he was/IS: Sweet, kind, hard-working, ambitious, courageous, so creative that there weren't enough hours in the day to support his creativity, a "bottom line" type of guy, practical, a wonderful father, an adoring grandpa, a loyal friend, a teacher, a coach, a loving husband, a caring son, a problem solver, sensitive, sentimental, street smart, clever, a business man, a chameleon, spiritual, my Santa who made Christmas magical for me every year, a leader, a man who believed in "Refuse Defeat!," a fighter, proponent of justice, patriotic, tough, an artist, entrepreneur, inventor, an idea man, caregiver, a man who believed that nothing was impossible...and for him, nothing was. He loved nature, he was dynamic, stubborn, a dreamer, unbelievably inspirational, believed in rules, but that they didn't apply to him, passionate about whatever he was doing and unstoppable."

Melissa, and her husband Colin, promise to teach their toddler son, Carter, all about his grandpa, using Kermit in creative ways…just like Patrick would have done.

His son, Mark, and his family, wife Reina, and grandchildren, Samantha and Jack, were a source of pride for Patrick. He admired the family for their values, work ethic and hearts.

As Mark recalls, "My father was the greatest man I have ever known. Period. He gave me unconditional love, advice, parenting me to be the best I can become. Anyone who knew my father would agree - he has touched so many lives and has done so much to make this world a better place. "

Patrick grew up in 1940s Las Vegas, just as the town transformed into "Sin City." His memoir explores the experiences of being caught between the powers of "good and evil." He suffered under the Dominican nuns for the same reasons he was accepted by the mafia bosses - namely, his insatiable curiosity and refusal to follow rules. Patrick was completing writing his memoir, "Altar Boy" when he died.

A graduate of Chouinard Art Institute (now Cal Arts), his education included classical training in every discipline from design and color theory, to metal sculpture, life drawing, painting and photography, his greatest love. With a busy freelance career while still in school, Patrick completed his BFA on a scholarship from Disney.

While he used all of his training in his advertising agency, Patrick's art truly blossomed after his 2014 Parkinson's Disease diagnosis. It prompted him to finally embrace his passion for art. He knew if he wanted to be a fine artist, he needed to race the clock. With the support of his gifted cranio-sacral therapist, Lupita Hernandez, and his wonderful neurologists, Dr. Janice Fuentes and Dr. Ricardo Olivo, Patrick's art won awards, graced magazine covers and provided an opportunity to tell his story, "Wake Up Call: How My Parkinson's Disease Diagnosis Turned into Fine Art" to the TEDx Temecula audience. His inspiring talk is available online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFqr879TYws (Or simply go to YouTube and type Patrick Murphy Parkinsons to access the video.)

In 2003, Patrick married Sandi Kimmel, a songwriter, recording artist and writer, and their loving partnership was the foundation for, and reflected in, their many creative collaborations including the "HEART WIDE OPEN - Self-Care for Caregivers" handbook, which sold more 80,000 copies, to hospitals, hospices, caregiver support groups and individuals. The book combines their practical and experiential advice coupled with Patrick's beautiful art.

He always loved watching Sandi perform her music to audiences around the country. In fact, after each concert, someone would always say, "I want someone to look at me the way Patrick looks at Sandi…" They loved sharing and supporting each other's creativity, and their 20 years of love spread even more love in the world.

Donations in Patrick's memory are gratefully accepted by the Parkinson's Resource Organization: https://parkinsonsresource.org/ The organization's caregiver support group provided much needed support during a difficult time.

In addition, some of Patrick's unique art is available for sale in the "front room gallery" by appointment only, and online at: https://www.PatrickMurphyFineart.com. A portion of the proceeds of all art sales will be donated to the Parkinson's Resource Organization.

Patrick's special light continues to shine. His life was dedicated to showing us where to look for it…

"Some people say that the stars above are nothing but some light - but I know if I look up I'll see a new star out tonight…" ~ S. Kimmel

Lucy Roucis is a living, breathing, and tremoring example of "turning something adverse around and making it work." Her young-onset Parkinson's disease actually helped get her a part in the film, "Love and Other Drugs." Director and writer, Ed Zwick, after reading over 40 actors for the role, was so impressed with Lucy's audition that he asked her to write for the scene and add her own dialogue. Lucy portrays a woman doing a stand-up routine, poking fun at having Parkinson's, and helps Anne Hathaway's character, Maggie, begin accepting her own diagnosis.

A native of Denver, Colorado, Lucy is the daughter of a dentist and a homemaker. She and her five siblings all received a private education. She attended Loretto Heights College in Denver, receiving a B.A. in theatre, Magna cum Laude. She immediately moved to Los Angeles to start her career. There she became a long-time student of Roy London, the late acting teacher who revolutionized acting technique.

She began getting work in the film, television, and modeling world as well, being tall and slender. She had parts on "General Hospital," "Santa Barbara," the CBS pilot "Domestic Life" with Martin Mull, and on-screen in "Better Off Dead" with John Cusack and "The Party Animal." On the theatrical stage, she was a member of the Los Angeles-based Radio City Music Hall Rockettes Christmas Spectacular and the Colony Theater's "The Robber Bridegroom." She co-starred and produced the Celtic Arts Center's "A Tragedy You Can Dance To" by Ric Matheson. Several television commercials and print ads later, she was breaking ground as an actor when the Parkinson's reared its head.

She had a double diagnosis of young-onset Parkinson's disease and thyroid cancer, undergoing thyroid removal and the cancer being eradicated. But Parkinson's is incurable so, defeated, she returned home to Denver, giving up on Hollywood. She reinvented herself as an actress with a disability and found work. Denver Audiences know Lucy well and her Parkinson's is just part of her package. She's a long-time member of the world-renowned PHAMALY (Physically Handicapped Actors and Musical Artists League, Inc.) where her Parkinson's is an asset, alongside her fellow cast members who each have a disability of his/her own. The award-winning company produces quality plays at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Roucis has starred in 20 productions, winning Best Supporting Actress in a Musical from WestWord Magazine for her Adelaide in "Guys and Dolls." She was cast in the pilot, "One Step Ahead," a Washington, DC-based weekly disability news program, as its Cultural Correspondent. In 2008, Lucy received the Mayor's Award for being an Unsung Hero.

In 2008 Lucy underwent deep brain stimulation at the Cleveland Clinic. This procedure, although temporary, lessens the symptoms of her now advanced Parkinson's disease.

Like Michael J. Fox, Lucy found her voice as an advocate for Parkinson's and disability awareness. She also found an outlet for her wit as a stand-up (or sit-down) comic, working fundraisers with comedian Josh Blue