Mountain Views News, Pasadena Edition [Sierra Madre] Saturday, February 17, 2018

Mountain View News Saturday, February 17, 2018 
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Mountain View News Saturday, February 17, 2018 
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REMEMBRANCE Walking Sierra Madre…The Social Side 

DONNA MAE SWITZER 

Bud; her four children, Cameron (Melinda) Switzer,
Debra (Duane) Spoelstra, Kevin (Robin) Switzer,
and Lisa Switzer; nine grandchildren and three great-
grandchildren; a sister, Val Jean Bellwood; and manynieces and nephews. Donna was preceded in deathby her parents; her brothers, Darold and Francis; hersisters, Dorothy, Hazel, and Marion; and a dear grandsonTruman Switzer. 

Viewing will be on Friday, March 2, 2018 from 4:00PM to 8:00 PM at Douglass & Zook, 600 E. FoothillBlvd. Monrovia, CA. A Memorial service will be 
held on Saturday, March 3, 2018 at 11:00 AM, at theSierra Madre Congregational Church, 170 West SierraMadre Blvd. Sierra Madre, CA, with Rev. Richard 
Anderson officiating. Interment will be Saturday,
March 3, 2018 at 1:00 PM, at Live Oak Memorial 
Park, 200 E. Duarte Rd. Monrovia, CA. 

Memorial donations may be made to Sierra MadreCongregational Church or Pasadena Christian School. 


Donna Mae Switzer, age 88, passed away at her home

in Sierra Madre on Saturday, February 3, 2018. She was 

born in Hawarden, Iowa on August 28, 1929 to Ralph

and Lottie (Brenner) Kurvink, and was the youngest of

7 children. Her mother died when Donna was 12 years

old, leaving her father and sisters to care for her. In 1942, 

Donna moved to Los Angeles along with her father and

sister Marion, and in 1946 she moved to Sierra Madre to 

live with her oldest sister and brother in law. 

On July 15, 1950 Donna Mae married Glidden Charles

“Bud” Switzer. 

On their honeymoon, Bud was called into active

duty. Donna Mae served our country as a soldier’s 

wife. In addition to caring for their four children,

Donna worked at Pasadena Christian School in 

various roles from copy clerk to playground monitor,

and also worked at Maranatha High School in the

office for a short time. She had a love for music that 

began at an early age. She started playing the drums

when she was 9, and also went on to play the violin.

Donna immensely enjoyed singing in the church

choir, and she had an amazing ability to whistle. Her 

melodies would often echo throughout the walls of

their home, one of the family’s fondest memories.

Other interests included camping as well as family

activities and gatherings. The family enjoyed many

camping trips around the country, visiting many of the

national parks, museums and monuments. She was a

mom that rarely missed one of her children’s school,

sport, musical or church events, and after raising her

children, Donna kept a busy schedule traveling near

and far to participate in those same events for all of her

beloved grandchildren. 

In spite of her own difficulties and physical challenges,

Donna Mae was always very kind and gracious to the

people around her. She had an inner spirit that shone

through brightly. Her warm smile, as well as her constant

words of encouragement and prayers, will be so greatly

missed. 

Donna Mae is survived by her husband of 67 years, 

SIERRA MADRE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION 


At the Feb. 13 City Council meeting, Sierra Madre Community Foundation presented a check to CommunityEmergency Response Team to help outfit a communications vehicle. Pictured (L to R) CERT President DennisBurton, Dr. Allison Evans, Jeff Barron and Sue Spears and CERT’s VP of Operations Robert Gjerde. 


Thanks in part to a grant from the Sierra MadreCommunity Foundation, the city’s CommunityEmergency Response Team will outfit its newlypurchased communications vehicle. The van,
originally a KABC news vehicle, and more recentlya communications center for amateur rocket 
launches, will become part of Sierra Madre’scomprehensive communications network whichwill allow for video, radio, and Internet access 
through a “mesh network” following a major 
disaster. Other partners include the Sierra MadreEmergency Communications Team. The broad-
based system will connect Sierra Madre to anetwork from Santa Barbara to San Diego. 

The Sierra Madre Community Foundation 
also recently awarded grants to two annual citytraditions: the Huck Finn Fishing Derby and CampOut and the Mt. Wilson Trail Race’s Kids Fun Run. 

“We are so excited to support the efforts ofthese local organizations,” said Michelle Keith,
SMCF Chair. “Through the generous gifts fromSierra Madre residents, local businesses and 
other caring individuals, combined with the localoversight from our board, SMCF continues to becommitted to ensuring Sierra Madre remains aunique community and valued neighborhood.
These grants are great examples of Invest Local-
Support Local.” 

by Deanne Davis 

“When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion!”
“You are always entertaining and delightful.” 


“Hear with your ears, but listen with your heart.” 
“This week, people in your life will be more 
cooperative than usual.” 
“You will soon be confronted with unlimited 
opportunities.” 
“Treasure what you have.” 


OK, I admit it, I save fortune cookie fortunes. 
How could one possibly throw away a piece of good 
news like any one of those above. Not to mention 
all the ones that say, “You will inherit a large sum 
of money!” The cashew chicken at Panda Inn is one 
of my weaknesses, as are all the steamed dumplings 
and firecracker shrimp at P F Chang’s. 

If you’re wondering what on earth my picture 
is this week, it is the hardware or something 
like the hardware which was inserted into my 
uncooperative, undependable, unreliable left 
knee last January 16th. I’m getting along fine, 
recuperating nicely, spending all my sitting time 
bending my knee to get it used to the idea that we 
are going to walk like a normal person again, not 
like Chester on “Gunsmoke.” In-home physical 
therapy with a charming young woman named 
Channing has helped tremendously and I can get 
up and down stairs, fix food, take a very cautious 
shower, make my bed, walk out to pick up the 
newspapers and do all the stuff that doesn’t involve 
driving. That’s coming soon and I’m counting 
the minutes! Daughters Leah and Patti have been 
wonderful about taking me places, i.e., a haircut 
and nails done. They’ve shopped for groceries and 
we’ve even been able to get out for lunch a couple of 
times. If I seem a little food obsessed this week, it’s 
because I’m dying to drive and get out more. 

Leah, son-in-law, Chuck, and I had lunch this 
week at Colette, which isn’t exactly in Sierra 
Madre, but just across the street on Michillinda 
in the center where Albertson’s used to be. We’ve 
driven up there a couple of times and have finally 
figured out that Colette’s is closed on Monday and 
Tuesday. We enjoyed everything we had and will 
be going back. Here are the dishes we tried: Leah 
had the Farmer’s Market Vegetable Bowl – Sauteed 
seasonal market vegetables served over parmesan 
cauliflower puree and topped with a warm radicchio 

and arugula salad. She devoured it all. Chuck went 
with the Reuben on Rye – Beef brisket, sauerkraut, 
Emmenthaler cheese and Russian dressing on 
rustic rye. This came with a really nice salad. I tried 
the Breakfast Quesadilla – scrambled eggs, bacon, 
melted sharp cheddar cheese, pico de gallo and sour 
cream. I’ve still got one piece left. That thing was 
humongous!

We want to check them out for dinner: Clam 
fettuccine – house-made fettucine, Manila clams 
and white wine; Butter basted rib eye served with 
roasted roots, grilled scallions, candied shallots and 
a classic Bordelaise sauce. Is your mouth watering 
yet? Mine is! How about The Burger – grilled 8 oz 
Wagyu beef patty served with white cheddar, onion 
jam, roasted tomato, arugula and bacon. There’s also 
a kid’s menu featuring a grilled cheese sandwich, a 
burger and penne pasta with either marinara sauce, 
cheese sauce or butter sauce. 

The service was great. They have a nice wine list 
and the entire restaurant is currently festooned 
with hearts in honor of Valentine’s Day. Colette also 
has a special Valentine’s dinner deal. Speaking of 
Valentine’s Day, it’s Wednesday, February 14th, so 
if you haven’t gotten your sweetie a card yet, there’s 
still time! The following is a perfect Valentine 
thought: 

“You’re not just my friend, you’re my love,
You’re not just my love, you’re my heart,
You’re not just my heart, you’re my life,

 You’re not just my life, you’re my everything.” 

Another dear friend has left us this past week, 
Donna Switzer, wife of Bud, the extraordinary guy 
who started the pumpkin carving on Alegria so 
many years ago. We send our love and prayers for 
God’s comfort for Bud and all the family. 

My book page: Amazon.com: Deanne Davis – 
check out Noah & The Unicorns...or maybe The 
Vuillaume Violin 

Both available there, along with other goodies!

Star of Wonder the CD is now on TuneCore! Take 
a look! 

Blog: www.authordeanne.com 

Follow me on Twitter, too! https://twitter.com/@
playwrightdd 


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com