The Memorial Wall

Elton Fessier, a World War II vet, honored teacher and coach, passed away at his Whittier home Feb. 4 at age 91. 

He was born to second generation Californians on April 8, 1923, and grew up in Southern California. 

He enrolled in Whittier College in 1941, playing basketball for Richard Nixon's former coach, "Chief" Newman, and playing lead trumpet in the college symphony orchestra and jazz bands. 

He entered Marine officer training in 1943 but, impatient to see World War II action, transferred to the Navy. He became a frogman - the precursor to the Navy SEALs -- learning to hold his breath for three minutes underwater without a wetsuit to disarm bombs. After the war, he served as an MP in China with Army Rangers in the tense days before China's 1949 revolution. Discharged as a lieutenant.

Elton graduated from Whittier College, married Barbara Ericson and began a 51-year teaching and coaching career in Whittier, culminating with Teacher of the Year honors. 

He set up one of the Southland's finest county recreation programs at Sorenson Park, leading his county champion basketball teams to exhibitions during halftime of the NBA finals. 

He helped found the Whittier City Schools credit union, taught Sunday School at Whittier Presbyterian Church and, with his wife Barbara, ran a successful family rentals business in Whittier and Joshua Tree.

His sweet but indomitable spirit also served him in his fight against Parkinson's Disease. When he lost his eyesight and ability to walk, he resumed playing the trumpet. 

His legacy was best summarized in a Whittier Daily News front page story announcing his retirement. A headline under his picture quoted him as saying, "I only want to help people." 

Besides his wife, Elton is survived by his son Bruce and his wife Jane Fessier; daughter Lori and her husband, Mark Gibson; grandsons Eitan and his wife, Hannah; Clay Fessier and Parker Fessier.

February 2, 2015  Fred, a much respected and well known interior designer in Los Angeles, was very talented, a perfectionist, and known for creating stunningly beautiful homes that his clients loved living in. He was raised in College Station, Texas. An honor cadet at Texas A&M University with a degree in architecture, he went on to become a major in the Air Force. He studied at Art Center School in Pasadena, before becoming an interior designer. He loved body surfing, camping, traveling (especially New York, Italy, and Brazil) and being in both natural and man-made beautiful places. For 40 years, he was an amazing, loving, devoted, and fun partner of Art Giser. There will be a memorial/celebration of his life Sunday, June 14. You can contact Art at 415-828-6890 or agiser2@gmail.com.

In lieu of flowers the family suggestions donations to Parkinson's Resource Organization as a means of carrying on Fred's legacy. 

Lawrence (“Larry”) Eugene Wilkey, 78, passed away peacefully at his home in Cottonwood Heights on Sunday, January 4, 2015 after a long struggle with Parkinson’s disease.  Born May 4, 1936 in Nephi, Utah to George Eugene Wilkey and Mabel Wilson Wilkey.  He married Patricia Ferre on September 15, 1955 in the Salt Lake City Temple.  Larry graduated from BYU in 1959 and was a math teacher for three years before enrolling in the engineering program at the University of Utah, from which he graduated in 1967.

Larry worked as a production engineer at the Eimac Division of Varian for more than 30 years and was responsible for manufacturing a wide array of broadcast equipment.  Larry was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving gladly in many capacities.  He was a devoted husband to his wife of sixty years and a remarkable father, friend and neighbor.  Larry was energetic and tireless worker.  He also loved to travel, had seen most continents and worked repeatedly in China.  Parkinson’s weakened and slowed his body but did not dim his wit or spirit.

Survived by his loving wife of 60 years; their children Mark (Julie) Wilkey and Kaye (Mike) Cox; five grandchildren; brothers Alex, Ralph and Rulon Wilkey; and sister, Joyce Quinn.  He will be greatly missed.

Richard Nelson Hester of Upland passed away on Sunday, November 30, 2014, with family at his side. He was born September 7, 1930, to Francis and Ruth Hester in Anaheim, Calfiornia. Richard grew up in Pomona where he became an Eagle Scout. He graduated from Chaffey High School. He is an alumnus of Chico State University where he was named to the Athletic Hall of Fame for his track performance, character and leadership. While serving in the Korean War he was awarded the Army Commendation for Meritorious Service. He taught biology, coached track and cross country at Chino High School and later moved to Don Lugo High School as a counselor. He married Barbara Fullagar in 1962 and for 52 years has been a caring and devoted husband. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; two daughters; Melissa Hunt (Vernon) of Yorba Linda and Susanna Kutches (Alex) of Bozeman, Montana; and grandchildren, Alexandra, Hayley and Faith Hunt and Kate and AJ Kutches; and many dear longtime friends. He cherished the time when family was together, especially at Lake Almanor. Memorial service will be 11:00, Saturday, December 20th at First Presbyterian Church of Upland. In additional to your memorial contribution, sentiments for the family can also be listed in the "comment" section below.

Merritt E. Van Sant, many times a Reagan appointee, died at his Newport Beach home on November 13, 2014. He was 85 years old.

Van Sant was an adviser to Ronald Reagan during his first term as governor of California, serving as Deputy Secretary of Business and Transportation. He also served in the Nixon administration from 1970 to 1971. When Ronald Reagan was elected president, Van Sant served the administration in Washington D.C. and later in San Francisco as a Regional Special Assistant to the United States Small Business Administration. These political appointments were the result of a lifetime of deeply held conservative beliefs and the lessons learned as a young lieutenant in the Marine Corps. Van Sant graduated from Beverly Hills High School in1947. He spent his college years at Stanford University where he was elected captain of the Stanford track team in 1951. He graduated from Stanford with a degree in Political Science in 1952. During his years as a civilian, Van Sant was an insurance executive for the Van Sant Company in Los Angeles. After moving to Newport Beach, he was chairman and CEO of the VSP Corporation until his retirement.

Van Sant is survived by Marilyn, his wife of 34 years, his brother, Thomas R. Van Sant, his nephew, Ryan Van Sant, his four sons, Edward C. Franks, John F. Van Sant, Barry F. Van Sant, James D. Van Sant, his step-son, Michael W. Stanley, his step-daughter, Susan E. Davidson, his god-daughter, Olivia Albrecht-Pieter, nine grand-children, five step-grand-children and five great-grand-children. Van Sant was born in Los Angeles on April 7, 1929. His parents were Merritt E. and Martha Van Sant. Merritt died, as he lived his life, with dignity and grace.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, December 2, 2014 at Saint Andrews Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach.

Merritt's wife, Marilyn, lead Parkinson's Resource Organization's Support Group in Newport Beach for 20 years. She understood, supported, taught, loved and counseled all who journeyed though Parkinson's. To honor Merritt's life, have a special memorial card sent to the Van Sants reciting your sentiments by donating to Parkinson's Resource Organization. To make a memorial donation, click below or mail a check to 74-478 Highway 111, No. 102, Palm Desert, CA 92260. Thank you for your support of Marilyn, we look forward to receiving your kind words and very special memorial donation to PRO.

Ivan Bernard Fiero, 72, of Columbia, South Carolina, passed away peacefully after an 18 year battle with Parkinson’s Disease on Wednesday, November 12, 2014 surrounded by his loving family. He received his Master’s Degree at the University of Minnesota. After graduation he worked for NASA then into the private sector for 45 years retiring from Westinghouse. He is survived by his loving wife; Rita; daughter, Rebecca Fiero of Ohio, sisters; Adeline Radermacher and husband Fritz and Darlene Rood and husband, Lester both of Minnesota and his devoted and loving support dog Napoleon. He was preceded in death by a son; Michael Ivan Fiero. 

Former Illinois Rep. Lane Evans, a Vietnam War-era Marine who fought for veterans’ rights during his 24 years in the U.S. House, has died after battling Parkinson’s disease. He was 63.

The Democrat died Wednesday at a nursing home in East Moline, Ill., said his former congressional staffer Michael Malmstrom, who also was one of Evans’ legal guardians.

“In the early days of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, Lane was one of the first members of Congress to take on issues like PTSD and TBI,” said Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America Chief Executive Paul Rieckhoff, referring to the acronym for traumatic brain injury. “He helped put our issues on the map.”

Evans joined the Marines at age 17 and had orders for Vietnam. But he served in Okinawa, Japan, as a security guard because his older brother was already deployed in the war.

As a congressman, he fought for the rights of veterans and became the senior Democrat on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee. He pushed legislation to help those exposed to Agent Orange and to give former service members rights to judicial review in pursuing benefits claims.

He also campaigned for veterans grappling with post-traumatic stress disorders and other health problems, as well as those having trouble finding employment.

Evans was born Aug. 4, 1951, in Rock Island, Ill. He was first elected from his western Illinois district in 1982, when he was a 31-year-old attorney, and went on to serve 12 terms. He worked for more than a decade after his Parkinson’s diagnosis but announced in 2006 that he wouldn’t seek reelection because of his deteriorating health.

Evans was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1995, but he didn’t publicly announce the diagnosis for three years, worried the revelation would stigmatize him. He first realized something was wrong when he couldn’t wave his left hand during a parade.

He left office in January 2007.

President Obama has credited Evans with aiding his own political rise, saying once that he wouldn’t have made it to the U.S. Senate without early support from his fellow Illinoisan.

Evans is survived by three brothers.

Dr. Leslie Moglen Dr. Leslie Moglen died Oct. 8 at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena surrounded by his children. Dr. Moglen suffered a traumatic brain injury in a fall. He was 73. Born February 25, 1941 in Brooklyn, New York, Moglen was a Navy surgeon, Ivy League tennis player, longtime Bay Area plastic surgeon, enthusiastic amateur ornithologist, lover of poetry, and Mill Valley town eccentric. He suffered from Parkinson’s disease in his final months, but Moglen’s whimsical spirit, gentle nature and easy wit endured to the end. Dr. Moglen is survived by his wife Penelope, children Amy, Benjamin, Rebecca, Samuel and Sara and grandchildren Oliver, Ivan, Siena and Eliana, his brother Leland and sister Betty Lou. His older brother Lloyd died in 2002.

Gillespie, Edgar Edgar Bryan Gillespie of Debary, 82, died Sunday, August 24. Bryan was born December 31, 1931. A graduate of Wake Forest University, he received master’s and doctoral degrees from Duke University. He was married to Annette Willcox Gillespie on August 29, 1958. He joined the faculty of Stetson University in 1966, where he taught English until 1995. Bryan served as a deacon of First Baptist Church and was a founding member of New Covenant Baptist Church, both in DeLand. Diagnosed in 1995 with Parkinson’s disease, he joined Annette in working with the DeLand Area Parkinson’s Support Group. He was a leader for many years in community organizations, and in 2009 he received Stetson’s George and Mary Hood award.Predeceased by his wife Annette, he is survived by daughters Susan Losher and Mary Stackhouse; son John Gillespie; grandchildren Rebecca, Ben, Rachel, Andrew, and Athan; and brother Royce Gillespie. He is predeceased by sister Rebecca Moore and brother Floyd Gillespie. 

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Robin Williams, one of the greatest entertainers to ever live, sadly committed suicide on Monday, August 11 2014.  Williams suffered from severe depression and substance abuse for many years of his life yet recently Williams' widow, Susan Schneider, revealed that he was suffering from early stages of Parkinson's releasing the following statement:

"Robin's sobriety was intact and he was brave as he struggled with his own battles of depression, anxiety as well as early stages of Parkinson's Disease, which he was not yet ready to share publicly. It is our hope in the wake of Robin's tragic passing, that others will find the strength to seek the care and support they need to treat whatever battles they are facing so they may feel less afraid."

Parkinson's Resource Organization helps people like Robin every day.  Parkinson's is a brain disease that often leads to depression as well other challenges that, at times, make everyday life seem almost impossible. The important thing to remember is there ís hope, encouragement, support, education and inspiration. Parkinson's Resource Organization, through its 10 support groups, numerous outreach programs, website/social media, telephone coaching sessions, webinars, monthly newsletter and "Road to the Cure" project, "Works so that No One is Isolated Because of Parkinson's".  

Help to carry on Robinís legacy so that others may find the "strength to seek the care and support they need."