The Memorial Wall

The 36th mayor of Vancouver, British Columbia from 1993 to 2002, making him one of Vancouver's longest-serving mayors, Philip Owen died peacefully on Thursday, September 30, 2021, at the age of 88 from complications related to Parkinson’s disease, according to a family statement.

Owen was born and raised in Vancouver. He completed his education at Prince of Wales Secondary School and later New York University. In his late 20s, Owen started a textile business that later expanded to both Toronto and New York City. He became a director of the Vancouver Art Gallery, president of the Downtown Vancouver Association, chair of St. George’s School, and was involved with many other local organizations.

He entered civic politics in 1978 after being elected to the Vancouver Parks Board. In 1986 he became a member of the Vancouver City Council and served there for seven years.

Owen was elected Vancouver’s 36th mayor in November 1993 and was re-elected in 1996 and 1999, making him Vancouver’s longest-serving consecutive-term mayor.

During his nine years as mayor, the city's downtown residential population doubled from 40,000 to 80,000 and the residents enjoy a new vitality in a part of the city that continues to improve and is a model for North American cities. The city maintained a "Triple-A" credit rating as well as being rated the number one city in the world for quality of life by the William Mercer Study.

Under his leadership, the city also opened Library Square, a new downtown headquarters for the Vancouver Public Library which features an innovative architectural design by Moshe Safdie.

Owen was most noted, however, for his championing of drug policy reform.

After four years of research, Owen led the local and national debates to fight drug addiction problems in Canadian cities through a "Four Pillar Approach", a comprehensive program with provisions for prevention, treatment, enforcement, and harm reduction. An 85-page action plan was passed unanimously by Vancouver City Council in May 2001. This new policy had the support of over 80 percent of Vancouver's residents, as well as the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Big City Mayor's Caucus.

As a result of the Four Pillar Approach, Vancouver opened Insite, North America's first legal safe injection site for intravenous drug users, in 2003.

Frances Tarlton "Sissy" Farenthold died peacefully at home in Houston, surrounded by family and loving caregivers, on September 26, 2021 after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. She was six days shy of her 95th birthday.

Sissy Farenthold was born in Corpus Christi, Texas on October 2, 1926. She was the daughter of Catherine "Catty" Bluntzer and Benjamin Dudley Tarlton Jr., an accomplished attorney and campaigner for social justice. Farenthold was heir to several of South Texas' prominent settler families. Throughout her life, she exhibited their spirit of determination, defiance and fortitude.

Sissy attended Corpus Christi High School, then graduated from The Hockaday School, Vassar College (at 19) and, in 1949, The University of Texas School of Law (at 22). The University of Texas Law library is named in honor of her grandfather, Benjamin Dudley Tarlton. At a time when a legal career was unusual for a woman, Sissy was the successor to her family's legacy of legal advocacy and progressive politics.

In 1950, Sissy married Georges Edward Farenthold, a Belgian-born immigrant, linguist, and Army Air Corps veteran of World War II. During the early years of her marriage, Sissy enjoyed a hiatus from her profession, giving birth to five children in five years. She couldn't resist the lure of the law for long, however, and in the early 1960s she accepted a series of appointments and jobs, serving on the Corpus Christi (Roman Catholic) Deanery and the Corpus Christi Human Relations Commission, and as director of Nueces County Legal Aid. She also fought a legal battle to protect unobstructed shoreline views in Corpus Christi, helping to establish the Organization for the Protection of an Unblemished Shoreline.

In 1968, Sissy was invited by a group of friends and local activists to run in the local Democratic primary for the Texas State Legislature. She triumphed; and that fall, Sissy was elected as the only woman in the 150-member Texas House of Representatives.

In the Texas House, Sissy's legislative priorities included civil rights, raising the spending cap for welfare recipients, and protecting Corpus Christi's bays and estuaries. She attributed these first two commitments to the needs she saw as a lawyer with Nueces County Legal Aid, where she mostly represented poor Mexican-American women. While in the legislature, Sissy successfully sponsored the Texas Equal Rights Amendment. She held a 100% voting record from the AFL-CIO Committee on Public Education (COPE).

Perhaps Sissy's biggest impact as a legislator came with her dogged pursuit of the investigation of the Sharpstown Scandal—a sordid collection of government corruption crimes by powerful Democrats. Her insistence on transparency and her fight against special interests ended the careers of many Texas politicians, including the Speaker of the House, Gus Mutscher.

In 1972, Sissy continued to pursue anti-corruption and many of her other priorities by running for governor. In the Democratic primary, she made it into a runoff, defeating incumbent Governor Preston Smith and Lt. Governor Ben Barnes. Eventually, she lost a close runoff election to the rancher and banker Dolph Briscoe, and in the meantime, became the national face of Texas progressives for more than a generation.
At the 1972 Democratic National Convention in Miami, where Sissy led the anti-war McGovern forces from Texas, she was tapped as a potential vice-presidential running mate for McGovern. Gloria Steinem nominated her from the floor, seconded by Fannie Lou Hamer and former U.S. Rep. Allard Lowenstein. Although Sissy came in second, she was the first woman whose nomination for that position had ever been brought to a floor vote. Perhaps it was this, and her outspokenness, that earned Sissy a place on Nixon's Enemies List—twice.

In 1973, Sissy became the first chair of the bipartisan National Women's Political Caucus, whose mission was to recruit women for public office. She made Houston her home base until, in 1976, she became the first woman president of Wells College (then a women's college, founded by Henry Wells of Wells Fargo fame) in Aurora, New York. Her presence is still felt on the campus, including at the Frances Tarlton Farenthold Athletic Wing that was built during her tenure.

When Sissy was at Wells, she and two friends created the bipartisan Public Leadership Education Network (PLEN) to encourage college-aged women to embark on lives of public service. The organization continues today.

In 1980, Sissy returned to Houston. The scope of her politics broadened, as she increasingly brought her attention to international activism. She joined the board of directors of the Helsinki Watch Committee, precursor of Human Rights Watch; and alongside her cousin Genevieve Vaughan, Sissy led protests against apartheid in South Africa and against nuclear proliferation. She helped organize the Peace Tent at the 1985 NGO Forum in Nairobi, held concurrently with the Third U.N. Conference for Women; and embarked upon peace and human rights missions throughout Central America, Asia, and the Middle East. She traveled to Rio de Janeiro for the worldwide Environmental Summit in June of 1992.

Sissy taught law at the Thurgood Marshall Law School at Texas Southern University, where her students included future U.S. Rep. Al Green; and at the University of Houston, where she taught one of the nation's first classes on sex-based discrimination.

Sissy proudly served as the chair of the board of the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington; and of the interfaith Rothko Chapel in Houston, "a sea of humanism," as she called it, with which she was involved for close to thirty years. She also served on the advisory board of the Bernard and Audre Rapoport Center for Human Rights and Justice at The University of Texas School of Law. Sissy had countless friends and collaborators around the world from her more than sixty years of activism, a number of whom established the Frances Tarlton "Sissy" Farenthold Endowed Lecture Series in Peace, Social Justice, and Human Rights, co-presented each year by the Rapoport Center and the Rothko Chapel.

In 2009, Sissy was the executive producer of Quest for Honor, a documentary that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. It was short-listed for an Academy Award for best documentary.
Sissy is preceded in death by sons James and Vincent. She is survived by her sister Genevieve Hearon, by three beloved children—George E. Farenthold II (Lisa Marsh Ryerson) of Washington, D.C., Benjamin Dudley Tarlton Farenthold, and Emilie Chevalier Farenthold of Houston—and by three grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and countless friends and admirers.
To her family and friends, Sissy was the personification of righteousness, compassion, and justice. She is irreplaceable.

Burial is private. A public, in-person memorial will be held at The University of Texas School of Law at a later date, depending upon public health conditions.
 

Joyce Carol Esbensen (née Anderson), 89, died peacefully on Friday, September 24, 2021. 

She had been suffering from Parkinson’s Disease for several years. Joyce was born a die-hard Cub fan in Chicago, IL on March 9, 1932. She graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder with a BA in Education in 1954, and earned her Master of Arts degree from the University of Redlands in 1964. 

Joyce was fiercely proud of and devoted to her family, profession, and friends, and the students she taught during her long teaching career - junior high school in Denver, CO and Riverside, CA and more than 20 years teaching English at Fallbrook Union High School. She spent most of her tenure at FUHS as the English Department Chair. Outside the classroom, she spent innumerable hours inspiring, guiding and mentoring students in her roles as the Girls’ Swim Team coach, Academic Team coach, Decathlon Team coach, and as the Faculty Advisor of the school’s literary magazine, KOPA. Joyce was a dedicated member of the Fallbrook community. There was almost nowhere she went in town or the surrounding area where she didn’t come across a former student whose life she had impacted. Not only as a teacher but also as a member of the Fallbrook American Association of University Women, she was a steadfast advocate for women. 

She was passionate about F. Scott Fitzgerald & The Great Gatsby, education, correct grammar, and her rose garden. Over her life, she traveled the world with family and friends, instilling her curiosity in her eight grandchildren by taking each of them on a special trip. She inspired, mentored, praised, and was respected by those who knew her. She was lucky to live a long enough life to watch her beloved Cubbies finally win the World Series.

Joyce is survived by her sister Linda Loran, son Mark Esbensen of Fallbrook, daughter, and son-law Kristen & Bob Wagner of Colleyville, TX, and daughter and son-in-law Lauren & Matt Greenberg of Bradenton, FL, eight grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren.

Lawrence F. Bender, 85, passed away September 24, after a valiant battle with Parkinson's disease. His wife Karen and other loved ones were at his side.

Whatever the trials of Parkinson's, the enduring light of Larry's life far outshone them.

Born in the midwest, he came to San Diego as a child at the outset of World War II. His father ran a small business that catered to the Navy men who came through en route to the Pacific war. Larry liked to tell colorful tales about riding in rickety boats out to the warships to sell small items to the sailors.

Larry always knew he was to be an artist. He earned an art degree from San Diego State University, and after serving in the U. S. Army, he studied at Art Center College of Design. He expected his career to be in advertising in L.A., but a surprise call from an admired mentor pointed him to an opportunity at Fairchild Semiconductor, a pioneer company in what was to become Silicon Valley. He grabbed it, even though it meant entering what was for him the alien world of high technology. But he hit the ground running and never looked back.

After five years at Fairchild, he founded a graphic design firm, Lawrence Bender & Associates. With his ability to drill right to the heart of an issue, his dead-on sense of design and color, a perfect combination of wit, wisdom, empathy, and humor in relations with others, and his ability to foster talent in those who worked under him, Larry built Bender & Associates into a top-tier design firm. Many who thrived under his leadership went on to achieve their own notable success.

Larry is survived by his wife, Karen; children Scott (Susan), Lauren (David), Carey, and Erika; grandchildren Benjamin, Nathan, Rebecca, Elisha, Danielle, Scarlett, Andie, and Alexia; cousins David and Eve.

Dave Verdery's Service Details

David (Dave) Verdery, beloved husband, father, father-in-law, son-in-law, g-dad, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, great uncle, and dear friend, passed from this life on the evening of September 15, 2021. Dave was born in Waco, Texas. He was the first of three children born to David Paul and Ruthe McCawley Verdery.

     Dave attended Waco public schools and graduated from Waco High School in 1961. Following graduation, he attended Baylor University, first focusing on becoming a minister. While at college he had the opportunity to sit in for a friend as an announcer for local radio station KEFC in Waco. This marked the beginning of an incredible 35-year career in radio that took him to New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. He was honored by The Gavin Report as Adult Contemporary Music Director of the Year for 1992 and 1993 for his work at KBIG in Los Angeles. One of his proudest achievements was the creation of Disco Saturday Night. This weekly program of classic disco hits that he mixed together himself, helped KBIG reach #1 in that time slot. Disco Saturday Night is still running in syndication on other radio stations today.

      Dave was married to Randy Lee Mahan from 1968 to 1970 and they had a son, David Roderick (Rod) Verdery Tomlinson. Rod, and his wife, Karen, have four children, Lucas, Alexis, Elijah, and Hanna, lovingly known as the g-kids. Dave was known to them affectionately as g-dad

Upon retirement in 1997, Dave returned to Waco to help care for his mother and to discover what life’s next chapter would hold. In those next few years, he became involved with the local PBS station, KWBU, as an announcer and host for their televised fundraisers, he sat in periodically as a guest deejay for a local radio station, The Spot, and began performing in Waco and Temple Civic Theatre productions. Dave was a wonderfully gifted actor who had the opportunity to take part in numerous musicals and plays. He also went on to try his hand at directing, finding it incredibly fulfilling. Perhaps his most treasured role was that of Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof.

      In 2000 Dave met Curtis Cannon. They publicly affirmed their love and commitment for each other with a blessing in 2000, a holy union service in 2001, and, at long last, a legal marriage when that right was finally afforded to them in California in 2008. The couple reaffirmed their marriage vows in 2015 in Waco, Texas in celebration of the passage of national marriage equality.

     Dave was formally diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in January of 2007. Although this was a huge shock, he focused on learning all he could about Parkinson’s. He joined a local Parkinson’s support group in Waco (HOT PACs) and focused his time, energy, and passion on conducting weekly exercise classes (for which he mixed special thematic music), served on their board, and helped to plan informative programs and Parkinson’s symposiums.

      In 2016 Dave and Curtis decided to relocate to Southern California where they would be closer to family. Curtis left work so that he could be available as Dave’s full-time caregiver. Upon arriving in the Coachella Valley, Dave and Curtis became acquainted with Parkinson’s Resource Organization (PRO) and its many support groups, services, and programs. Dave enjoyed sharing in Round Table meetings about products that he had discovered that were helpful to him in his day-to-day living with Parkinson’s. He also enjoyed writing poems for the PRO monthly newsletter that were a window into his experience with Parkinson’s.

      Dave is survived by his son David “Rod” Verdery Tomlinson (wife Karen) and their daughters Alexis and Hanna and sons Lucas and Elijah; sister Gini Verdery Bortz (husband Garry); brother Richard Verdery (wife Beverly); nephew Ryan Bortz; nephew Brennon Bortz (wife Whitney) and their daughters Aisling and Kella and son Cavan; nephew Scott Verdery (wife Traci) and their daughters Ella and Emerson; niece Suzanne Dell (husband Nick) and their sons Jacob and Jonathan; niece Laura Edmonds (husband James) and their son Harlan and daughter Samantha Ruthe; mother-in-law Joyce Montgomery Cannon; brother and sister-in-law Chris and Laura Cannon; niece Kari Stickney (partner Brian) and Kari’s son Jason; nephew Jason Stickney (wife Brit) and their son Bennett and daughter Linden; Aunt Ruth Cannon; former wife Randy Tomlinson (husband Richard); his husband Curtis Cannon, and so, so many dear friends

      It's hard to conceive that this bright wonderful light is no longer with us. May his many loving contributions, and all the sweet, treasured memories console the many of us who grieve his passing.

      In lieu of flowers, donations to Parkinsonsresource.org/Verdery would be a wonderful honoring David’s memory

      *please consider leaving a sentiment or memory

Judith Jaffee, formerly of Boynton Beach, FL, age 86, beloved wife of the late Harold Jaffee, loving mother of Susan (David) Saltzman (Northbrook IL) and Michael Jaffee (Hollywood, FL) passed away peacefully on Wednesday evening, September 15, 2021 after a prolonged fight with Parkinson’s Disease & dementia. She was the daughter of the late David and Beatrice Van Gelder. She was born in the Bronx, NY. After receiving her master’s degree in teaching form Albany State College, she moved to New City, NY to raise her family. She lived in Boynton Beach, FL for much of the past 25 years where she made many long-lasting friendships.

Charlotte Johnson Wahl was the mother of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the former MP Jo Johnson, the journalist Rachel Johnson, and the entrepreneur Leo Johnson. She and Stanley Johnson divorced in 1979. Johnson Wahl then married American professor Nicholas Wahl in 1988 but was widowed in 1996. She was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at the age of 40.

In 2015, the Evening Standard referred to Johnson Wahl as "Left-wing", with her daughter Rachel stating that her father Stanley "tends to marry socialists." Rachel noted that her mother was "the only red in the village when we lived on Exmoor".

During Boris Johnson's speech at the Conservative Party conference in October 2019, he disclosed that his mother voted for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union in the 2016 referendum.

Wahl died at the age of 79 on 13 September 2021 at a hospital in London, according to her family.

The mother of the Prime Minister was a respected artist who had met Mr. Johnson's father when she was 18, but the couple later divorced in 1979.

She was the first female undergraduate to study at Lady Margaret Hall in Oxford.

Mr. Johnson had previously described his mother as the "supreme authority" in his family.

She had married Stanley Johnson in 1963 and the couple went on to have four children together: Boris, Rachel, a journalist, Jo, a former Tory MP, and Leo, a filmmaker, and businessman.

She married Nicholas Wahl in 1988 but was widowed eight years later.

At the age of 40, Mrs. Johnson Wahl was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and campaigned in favor of Parkinson's nurses.

In 2008, she told the Telegraph: "I try to paint every day if I possibly can, though I have to go to the hospital a lot.

"I still manage to paint, though my arm will suddenly do a movement which is completely unintentional, and that almost brings me to tears."

Her exact cause of death has not been revealed by the family.

Beloved husband of Harriet Bouvy Drake, loving father of Amy Drake Reeves (Tom), Matthew Bouvy Drake (Amanda) and Andrea Eve Hull (David) and proud grandfather of six grandchildren, McKenzie Marie Brooks (Hunter), Jason Andrew Hull, Ryan Drake Hull, Samuel Tavin Hull, Tyler Julia Drake and Jaime Mandeville Drake. Franklin celebrated living in the Pacific Northwest and sharing time together with his friends and family in homes on the Oregon coast, first in Cannon Beach and later in Gearhart. When his children were young, he enjoyed many winter weekends at the mountain cabin he built with his father and brothers in Government Camp, Ore.

Franklin attended Lincoln High School, graduating from Menlo Junior College and the University of Michigan (Engineering) in 1950. After his father passed away Franklin returned to Portland and joined his brothers Donald G. and Mitchell G. Drake to run their father's construction company. Much of his business experience involved working in the outdoors. From 1960-1995 he was President and CEO of Donald M. Drake Company, one of the Northwest's largest construction firms with numerous construction projects in Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho, and Michigan. More noteworthy projects in Portland included the Benjamin Franklin Building, the KOIN Tower, Lloyd Center, Portland Towers, the Stadium Freeway, Vista Ridge Tunnels, the East and West approaches to the Fremont Bridge, the Rose Garden Arena (now Moda Center) and in the San Francisco Oakland Bay Area, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) underground stations on Montgomery and 19th Streets and aerial links between El Cerrito and Richmond.

In 1966, Franklin and his brothers Donald and Mitchell entered a competitive bid with the US Forest Service for the proposed development of Mt. Hood Meadows, on the southeast face of Mt. Hood. His investment group won the award from the US Forest Service and Franklin remained CEO developing and managing the ski resort until turning it over to his son Matthew, upon his retirement in 2006. Preferring to keep a low profile, Franklin enjoyed working with a team of highly experienced professionals and always attributed much of his companies' successes to them. He viewed these team members as extensions of his own family.
His sense of community and business skills resulted in multiple years, serving on several Boards, including the Board of Directors of US Bancorp and its predecessor, US National Bank, Portland General Electric, and the Portland Chamber of Commerce. He was also a United Fund Group Leader and Urban Land Institute Council Executive Member. Additionally, Franklin served as Trustee of the Oregon State District Council of Laborers Pension Fund and was elected President of the Multnomah Athletic Club in 1963. Franklin challenged himself and inspired others to share his sense of adventure and his drive to succeed. Today, Franklin's legacy lives on in his children and grandchildren, as well as in the memories of those who loved him and those who worked alongside him to build many of Oregon's lasting landmarks.

The Drake family would like to express their everlasting gratitude for the compassionate and loving care given to Franklin by several Caregivers, including his youngest daughter and especially Khaden Jee, Tonya Worth, Grace Caraan and Rachel Stanton who allowed Franklin's zeal for life to continue until his last breath.

In response to the COVID 19 Pandemic, a small private funeral will be held at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral.
For more information, please contact River View Cemetery Funeral Home. A grand celebration of life will be held at a future TBD date. Thank you for your understanding.

John Merlen Allensworth, passed away on Sunday, September 12, 2021, at the age of 77. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday September 16, 2021 at First United Methodist Church with a reception to follow.

After several years of battling Parkinson's Disease, John died peacefully with his beloved wife Lynn by his side. John was born in Roswell, NM., where he lived almost his entire life. John attended Roswell High School and went on to earn a Masters in Education at Eastern New Mexico University. From there he was known as "Mr. A." or "Coach" at Valley View Elementary and Sierra Middle School. Then proceeded to become an Assistant Principal and Principal at several middle schools. John's gift for shaping the minds of Roswell's youth extended for many years and he was loved and respected by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

John was an avid outdoors man and loved to fish, golf, and hunt. Most of all he loved his family. John and his beloved wife Lynn were married for 56 years whom he adored with all his heart. His sons Todd and Scott Allensworth have blessed him with 4 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

John was born in Roswell, New Mexico on March 9, 1944, to Father Cliff Allensworth and mother Opal Edmonston. John was preceded in death by his three brothers Tom, Jerry, and Bob Allensworth and survived by his two sisters Ruth Dickenson and Nelda Doyle. He is survived by his wife Lynn Allensworth; children Todd Allensworth and Scott Allensworth; their wives Sandy Carter and Amy Allen; grandchildren Alexis Vroom, Maria Allensworth, Kassie Allensworth and Isabella Allensworth; and great-grandsons, Sebastian, Blaise and Zakai Vroom.

Johnny Allensworth, 77. Our beloved Husband and Father passed away on September 12, 2021. 

Arthur Stanley ‘Neddy’ Smith, one of the most relentless and opportunistic criminals in Australian history, has died aged 76.

Smith, who had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1981. His health really took a turn in 2008 when his medication stopped working effectively. He had been battling Parkinson’s disease for 30 years and died in Long Bay Prison’s aged care unit on Wednesday night. He had been in palliative care for a year.

The 76-year-old was serving life sentences for the murder of Sydney tow truck driver Ronald Flavell in October 1987 and the 1983 murder of brothel keeper and underworld wannabe Harvey Jones.

Arthur Stanley ‘Neddy’ Smith, one of the most relentless and opportunistic criminals in Australian history, has died aged 76.

Smith, who had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in the early 1980s, died of natural causes in Long Bay Prison’s aged care unit on Wednesday night. He had been in palliative care for a year.

The 76-year-old was serving life sentences for the murder of Sydney tow truck driver Ronald Flavell in October 1987 and the 1983 murder of brothel keeper and underworld wannabe Harvey Jones.

Smith stabbed Flavell in a road rage altercation following a drunken pub crawl with his then mate Roger Rogerson. Rogerson was not involved in the murder.

Jones’s body was found near Botany Bay in 1995 – 12 years after he disappeared. He had been shot twice in the head.

Who was Neddy Smith?

Smith was born in Sydney in 1944, as a result of his mother’s liaison with a visiting American serviceman.

He never knew his father and was raised by his grandmother in Redfern.

In the 1970s, he married Debra Bell and the couple had three children

They were divorced while Smith was in prison serving his sentence for the Flavell murder.

In 2009, Debra Bell told The Daily Telegraph her former husband was “a gentle person”.

“He’s always been a good father and provider and he has always done that for me and the kids,” Bell said.

“I respect the man, I honest to God respect him.”

Life of crime

Smith’s first conviction was at age 11 for stabbing his half brother, Edwin.

He was sent to Mittagong Boys Home, the first of numerous periods of incarceration as a juvenile and an adult.

By 19, he was in prison for housebreaking, and back again in 1967, this time for 12 years for rape and stealing.

He was released on parole in 1975.

Smith then turned to armed robbery and, later, drug dealing. By the early 1980s, he was reputedly Australia’s largest heroin dealer.

He was a career criminal and police informer and in the early 1990s, he gave evidence on his crimes and alleged police corruption to the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption.

His testimony inspired the TV series, Blue Murder.