Obituary

Barbara Morrison

September 10, 1949 – March 16, 2022

Courtesy of Laguna Beach Live!

Barbara Morrison

It is with great sadness that Laguna Beach Live! announces the passing of jazz and blues legend Barbara Morrison. Barbara last performed for Laguna Live! Jazz Wednesdays in March 2020, just before the pandemic lock down. She was scheduled to be part of the opening jazz series, appearing with acclaimed saxophonist Rickey Woodard on April 6.

“Along with her monumental talent and consummate professionalism Barbara Morrison was an incredible pleasure to work with. Ever gracious and sharp witted, she had the ability to awe while making you feel special in her presence. We at Laguna Live! will sorely miss her and the twinkle in her eye.”

Originally from Detroit, Barbara Morrison’s lifelong career as a performer and recording artist included appearances worldwide with some of the greatest names in jazz: Ray Brown, Kenny Burrell, Ron Carter, Ray Charles, Dizzy Gillespie, Buddy Collette, Joe Williams, Gerald Wiggins, Jimmy Witherspoon, Hank Crawford, Eddie Harris, Nancy Wilson, David T. Walker and Jimmy Smith.

She performed in such highly regarded venues as Carnegie Hall, the North Sea Jazz Festival, the Bern Jazz Festival and the Playboy Jazz Festival. Morrison also toured Europe with Ray Charles.

In addition to teaching at UCLA, Morrison was a teacher, founder and director of her own school of music in Inglewood, teaching beginning to advanced music, jazz/blues interpretation and history, acting and concert performing techniques.

Bio courtesy of UCLA Herb Albert School of Music.

Letters to the Editor

Disagree on the concerns for SB9

With your permission, I’d like to suggest an edit to the editor. If I may, I have a correction to (Tuesday’s) publisher’s note (Fair Game): 

Instead of: “One of the items on the regular meeting portion is a proposed urgency ordinance to regulate potential Senate Bill 9 issues (where residential lots can be split). SB 9 could have major impacts on residential neighborhoods, traffic and more, if left unchecked.” 

Here, I’ll fix it for you: 

“SB9 will help alleviate California’s severe housing crunch by allowing homeowners to split their lots and build needed additional housing for new neighbors who will be Stu News Laguna readers and, no doubt, contributing members of our community. SB9 means that people of less-lofty income levels, such as teachers, retail workers, and first responders just might be able to live in the community where they work — and send their children to our well-resourced schools. Added housing stock means that kids who grew up in Laguna might even have a shot at getting an apartment here that doesn’t cost their entire first-job salaries. And, there will be new faces at Laguna block parties.”

You’re welcome! 

Barbara McMurray 

Laguna Beach

Remembering Arnold Hano

Last Saturday, the community came together to both celebrate the life of, and say goodbye to, a much beloved Arnold Hano. All the accolades aside, I believe Arnold (and his wife Bonnie) rank among Laguna’s finest, like early artists Anna Hills and William Wendt, Eiler Larsen (a.k.a. The Greeter) and Skipper (“Have a home run day”) Carrillo. Each, in his or her own way, appealed to people’s better angels. The same is true for both Arnold and Bonnie. As a lasting tribute to their commitment to Laguna, I hope a statue will be erected in their honor someday.

Denny Freidenrich

Laguna Beach

Obituary

Marcia French

March 14, 1940 – February 23, 2022

Click on photo for a larger image

Photo by Curtis Lee

(L-R) Marcia French and Nancy Lee

Marcia French was born Marcia Yoko Iwasaki on March 14, 1940 in Los Angeles, California. Her early life was somewhat that of a vagabond. From her first home in Boyle Heights to a barracks in the Arizona desert as a result of Executive Order 9066 in 1942, Poston became “home” for 2-year-old Marcy, her parents Tetsuo and Michi, and thousands of other Japanese Americans. 

Marcy’s father, a Cal Tech graduate, picked sugar beets in Utah to get past the barbed wire perimeter, and ultimately to Denver and a possible job. Tets was able to get Michi and Marcy to Denver not long afterward. 

From a dry cleaning shop to production operations at Atlantic Refining Co., the Iwasakis moved to 59th Street in Philadelphia before moving to a wonderful row house in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania. Marcy started school there and began building lifelong friendships, notably one with Barbara Ann Boyer, who spoke to Marcy just a week before she passed away. 

From there, Marcy and family moved to Palmyra, NJ, where her high school years were filled with choir practice, baton twirling, cheerleading, and her dear friend Judy “Mac” McAlister. 

Marcy graduated high school in 1957 and moved west to Montebello, California. Driving her prized ’55 Chevy to Whittier College didn’t last long, because marriage brought her to Laguna Beach. Marcy learned to be a dental assistant and eventually became the dental office manager. 

Daughter Dawn was born in 1960 and son Jeffrey was born in 1963. They lived above Bluebird Park next door to Herb and Nancy Lee, and their three sons Rusty, Curtis and Robin, until 1975 when Marcy married the love of her life, Dr. Robert French. Bob and Marcy enjoyed an all-too-brief 38 years of marriage before Bob passed in 2013. 

Marcy lost Dawn to cancer in 2016, and Marcy’s dear friend Judy Mac passed shortly thereafter. Marcy found comfort and companionship among her many friends in Laguna and Blue Lagoon, spending her time playing Mahjongg and becoming a serial remodeler. The remodel projects satisfied the artist, architect, and engineer in her. Laguna and Blue Lagoon enriched her with her many close friends, Bob’s kids and grandkids, and the best of memories. 

Marcy made annual trips to visit Jeff, Stacey and Ellie in New Zealand in 2017, 2018, and 2019, but her plans to visit in 2020, 2021 and 2022 were stymied by the pandemic.

Marcia, Marcy, Mom, Gramma, Yoey, Spoild1. You left us so suddenly on February 23rd, just days before we could put 82 candles on your cupcake. So many hands of Mahjongg left unplayed with your Blue Lagoon Babes. So many of us grieving our loss, remembering the best of times shared with us. And the love that we’ve cherished and shall forever miss. 

There will a service at Laguna Beach Presbyterian Church, at the corner of Forest Avenue and 2nd Street, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 19, 2022. 

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to a local charity of your choice.

Letters to the Editor

What to do about the high cost of gas

Click on photo for a larger image

Photo by Denny Freidenrich

During his State of the State address on Tuesday, Gov. Newsom announced he is working on a plan to put money back in the pockets of Californians to address rising gas prices. Most people I have talked to in town assume this means reducing or eliminating the gas tax. 

Another way to take the sting out of the high price at the pump is for the state to immediately issue $250 checks to all 27 million licensed drivers in California. Given the Golden State’s $31 billion surplus, Sacramento easily could afford the $6.75 billion price tag. Closer to home, the cost would be $575 million for Orange County’s 2.3 million drivers. 

The impact of the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and subsequent banning of Russian oil imports into the U.S. is clear: War never is cheap. I hope to see my $250 check soon.

Denny Freidenrich

Laguna Beach

Guest Letter

A message from Providence Mission Hospital Chief Executive, Seth R. Teigen

I have great news to share…Newsweek has once again recognized Providence Mission Hospital as the No. 1 hospital in all of Orange County.  This is the second consecutive time we’ve been honored with this esteemed No. 1 recognition. 

Across the state of California, we are ranked as the No. 14 hospital and included in the top 100 distinguished hospitals across the United States. Side note…there are approximately 340 hospitals in California and nearly 6,200 hospitals in the United States. 

Everyone likes receiving awards, but what does this mean to our patients? 

It means that Mission Hospital provides the safest, most exceptional high-quality care in the region and that our patients report their hospital experiences are outstanding. 

Newsweek uses three very important criteria to evaluate hospitals: patient satisfaction surveys, patient safety data and quality treatment measures. We believe that these standards – quality, safety and patient experience, along with engagement of our caregivers and physicians – are so important, that they serve as our guiding principles for everything we do.   

This prestigious recognition is a testament to the dedication of our caregivers, physicians and volunteers, and their commitment to provide the highest level of excellence and compassion to our community. It’s also a reflection of the unparalleled support we receive from our community.

Thank you for trusting Mission Hospital to be your No. 1 partner in health. 

Seth R. Teigen, FACHE, Chief Executive, Providence Mission Hospital