Caltech Professor from Altadena Dead at Age 85

Hardy C. Martel, professor of electrical engineering, died last week at his home in Altadena.

Hardy Martel, an 85-year-old professor of electrical engineering at Caltech, died at his Altadena home last week, according to a report on the Caltech Features website. According to the Caltech story, Martel began his studies at the "dawn of the computer age" and was an early researcher on information science and communications technology. Martel was born in Pasadena in 1927 and spent nearly his whole life in the local area, according to the story. He is survived by a son and daughter and six grandchildren. For more on his life and work, please read the full story on the Caltech website.

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Funeral Set for Angeles Crest Highway Crash Victim

Andrew M. Searcy's vehicle crashed on Angeles Crest Highway. He planned to marry on March 9 and expected a baby girl on June 1.

Andrew Mander Searcy was driving back to La Mirada after visiting his family when his car plunged 300 feet off Angeles Crest Highway at Mt. Gleason Road on Monday. He was 25.  Searcy, who worked at Kaiser Permanente, planned to marry fiance Kristina Strother on March 9 and expected a baby girl on June 1, said Searcy's aunt and godmother Margaret Lunsford.  "He had such a bright smile," Lunsford said. "He wanted to become a LAPD officer. He loved the color yellow. Many family members are going to wear yellow in his memory on Saturday."  Searcy's family will hold a memorial noon Saturday at Joshua Memorial Park and Mortuary, 808 East Lancaster Blvd., Lancaster.  Searcy went missing Sunday and the crash site was found about 8:15 a.m. Sheriff'…

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Scott Wilson, Founder of North East Trees, Dies

Eagle Rock’s foremost green visionary, who had an impact on the wider environmental community, died as the result of a fall, sustained while working on a tree in his garden earlier this week.

Scott Wilson, a longtime Eagle Rock resident, retired Eagle Rock High School teacher and landscape architect who was instrumental in the greening of large parts of the neighborhood, died Monday morning from a weekend fall sustained while cutting flowers from a tree in the garden of his Olson Street home. He was 89. Shortly after the incident Saturday, paramedics rushed Wilson to Glendale Adventist Hospital, where he never regained consciousness, said his daughter Christine Richards. He passed away peacefully at the hospital, with his family present by his side, she added. In 1989 Wilson founded North East Trees, a nonprofit environmental group devoted to planting at least five trees a day for the rest of his life—more than 50,000 so far—as…

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Caltech Professor from Altadena Passes Away

Aron Kuppermann, 85, a professor of chemical physics, died on October 15 in his Altadena home.

A Caltech chemical physics professor died in his Altadena home on October 15, according to an article on the Caltech website. Aron Kuppermann, 85, joined the Caltech faculty in 1963.  According to the Caltech website, he "pioneered the use of supercomputers for predicting the cross sections and rates of chemical reactions." Kuppermann was born in Brazil, and did some of his undergraduate work there.  He received his PhD at the University of Notre Dame. He is survived by his wife and four children. For more on his life and his work, visit the Caltech website.

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Developer of Angeles National Forest Ski Area, Bar and Grill, Passes Away

Lynn Newcomb Jr., who died Monday, leaves a love for the mountains and people behind through Mt. Waterman, Newcomb's Ranch and the lives he touched.

Lynn Newcomb, Jr. left a mark in the foothills, not just by developing Mt. Waterman and Newcomb’s Ranch, but also by touching the hearts and lives of neighbors, friends, family and even lunching motorcyclists. Newcomb died Monday in Bishop, Calif. He was 91. “Mt. Waterman would be just another plain old mountain without him,” Darrell Martinelli said of Newcomb. Martinelli was 5-years-old when he met Newcomb at the mountain where he learned to ski. While a student at La Canada High School, Martinelli took his first paying job with Newcomb, running a ski lift on the slopes. More than two decades later, Martinelli works and lives at Newcomb Ranch. “Without the things he left, I would not be here. I would not be the person I am today,” …

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Guest View

Remembering Eaton Canyon Hiker (Guest Column)

A friend of hiker John Jutiyasantayanon, who fell to his death in Eaton Canyon in Aug. 6, remembers his life and recounts the search for answers about his death that led her and John's family back to the Eaton Canyon waterfalls.

This is a guest column written by Cathryn De Guzman, a San Gabriel resident and recent Cal Poly Pomona graduate who was a close friend of a hiker who died at Eaton Canyon earlier this month. John Jutiyasantayanon recently graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering and became a nuclear engineer at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. He was full of life and excited to be living on his own. He had just moved into his first apartment at Laguna Niguel and was thankful to finally be starting his engineering career. John had a good heart, beautiful smile and amazing spirit. With John’s first paycheck, he wanted to help give a percentage of his salary to his family, in order to help with household …

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Photo Gallery: South Pasadena Mourns Altadena Resident Jodi Taylor- Zens

Taylor-Zens was a long-time volunteer in the city of South Pasadena

Hundreds of admirers packed Holy Family Church Friday to celebrate the life of South Pasadena icon and Altadena resident Jodi Taylor- Zens, who passed away suddenly last weekend. She was 61. The popular figure left a legacy in South Pasadena for her involvement in many activities, and was known simply as "Jodi" by many around the city. Of those present in addition to family members were numerous city dignitaries, members of the Police Department, Chamber members, merchants, former business associates and friends. Jodi was married to Rick Zens, a longtime assistant director of ther local Bristol Farms market. Her kids, Shari and Earl (aka Buffy) eulogized her along with other family members. Jodi was originally a photographer and journalist…

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Hundreds Turn Out for Brandon Jackson's Funeral

Hundreds of people from the community showed up to grieve the loss of young Brandon Jackson on Saturday.

As snow and hail lightly fell upon Altadena Saturday morning, at least 400 people attended the funeral service that was held for 18-year-old Brandon "Franchise" Jackson at the 1st Presbyterian Church on N. Lincoln Avenue. The mourners came to show their support and love for the talented young junior at John Muir High School who was tragically taken from this world way too soon when he was shot and killed by unknown assailants after a party on Palm Street on Feb. 12. The main auditorium was completely packed, as was the overflow room that had audio speakers set up. In addition, groups of people stood outside. The atmosphere was extremely emotional, with many people unable to control their tears over this terrible loss. Most people who even …

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