Mountain Views News, Pasadena Edition [Sierra Madre] Saturday, December 29, 2018

5


Mountain View News Saturday, December 29, 2018 

TIM OSTI PASSES AWAY

WALKING SIERRA MADRE.. The Social Side By Deanne Davis

“So much has been given to me; I have no time to 
ponder over that which has been denied.”

Helen Keller

We’ve done it, friends and neighbors, we’ve gotten 
through another Christmas and a brand New Year 
stands panting outside our doors, just waiting to get 
this show on the road. We’ve put all the wrapping 
paper in the appropriate bin, made a list of people 
to thank and our thank you notes are sitting on the 
counter, ready to write.

“Thank you is the best prayer that anyone could 
say. I say that one a lot. 

Thank you expresses extreme gratitude, humility, 
understanding.” Alice Walker

We can leave the Christmas decorations up another 
week without feeling shame or guilt. After all, it was 
a lot of work to get them just right and, seriously, 
what’s the rush? The tree is beautiful, whether it’s 
real or not, and the “stockings we’ve hung by the 
chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon 
would be there,” (Thank you, Clement Moore for 
“A Visit From St. Nicholas) can stay up just a little 
longer.

“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like 
wrapping a present and not giving it.”

William Arthur Ward

We’ve been to lots of nice events, maybe even a memorable church service or two, where the thoughts 
expressed fit our sentiments exactly. People have invited us out for a glass of wine, or to dinner 
or breakfast and we enjoyed the pumpkin pancakes at MiMi’s Café more than once if we planned 
carefully enough.

“Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual 
experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude.” Denis Waitley

The children in our lives loved whatever it was we got them, the $25 Target Gift Card being a popular 
favourite among the younger set so they can pick out exactly what they want, rather than smiling 
grimly at what we thought they wanted. The picture is Jessie and Emily in front of their Christmas 
tree.

“Gratitude can transform common days into Thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into Joy, and change 
ordinary opportunities into Blessings.”

We’ve had a wonderful Christmas. For me, the second one without my best friend, John, was OK. I 
was surrounded by family and we had a great time together. God has been good to me and I’m sure 
He’s been good to you, too. I thought I’d pass along one more little gift to wind up the year. The easiest 
and best coffeecake ever. Give this a try New Year’s morning when you’re getting ready to watch the 
Rose Parade, or maybe a test run today.

CINNAMON COFFEE CAKE

Starting this particular day should be a delightful experience. Force yourself out the door to get a 
little exercise to get everything moving - as a friend of ours, Harvey Hyde, says, “gettin’ it done!” 
Start the brain working, and take a few thankful moments to tell the Lord you are grateful for life, 
for the ability to walk, for eyesight to see the flowers in everybody’s yard and hear the birds singing. 
Now, go back inside, make some coffee and put together this quick and easy coffee cake. It’s great 
with some fruit and you can double and triple it with impunity!

1/4 cup butter or margarine

3/4 cup sugar

2 eggs beaten

2 cups flour

3/4 tsp. salt

1 TB. baking powder

1-1/2 tsp. cinnamon (generous)

1 cup milk (nonfat works fine, or you can use orange juice if you’re out of milk).

Cream butter and sugar together, add eggs, beat till light and fluffy. Mix together flour, salt, baking 
powder and cinnamon. Add alternately with butter-sugar mixture and milk. Pour into greased 9” 
baking pan. Sprinkle with topping mixture.

Topping:

1/1-2 tsp. cinnamon (generous)

1/2 cup sugar

2 TB melted butter

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Topping melts down into coffeecake creating deliciously 
cinnamon-y valleys amongst the cake.

Take your coffee and a good sized piece out to the couch and enjoy your Christmas tree just a little 
longer. 

My book page: Amazon.com: Deanne Davis

 “Star of Wonder – A Christmas Story,” 

A Kindle Book which will fill your heart with joy is available there!

As is “A Tablespoon of Love, A Tablespoon of Laughter

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

 Just as we come to the end of the year, Sierra 
Madreans learned of the passing of another 
one of its' treasures, Tim Osti. Known 
for his love and concerns for others, Tim, 
51, was a well loved and his untimely death 
was a shock to the community. He passed 
away on Thursday, December 27, 2018 of 
natural causes while at work. He worked 
with his dad, Danny Osti in the family business, 
Osti Tree Service. He is survived by his 
wife Diane and many other family members 
and friends. At press time, more information 
was unavailable.

 Word of Tim's passing spread quickly 
throughout town and on social media. Friends quickly 
established a Tim Osti Memorial Fund on Go Fund Me 
to assist his family. The posting on the site sums up Tim 
quite well, "He left behind numerous wonderful relationships 
with everyone with whom he crossed paths during 
his life. Consistent with his devotion to Jesus Christ, Tim 
was the first person to offer whatever was necessary to 
anyone in need, if it was a smile, a word of encouragement, 
or the shirt off his back. A lifelong member of Sierra 
Madre, Tim mentored others, whether with respect to conquering 
our local trails or finding peace in The Lord." If 
you would like to donate to the Memorial Fund, go to: 
www.gofundme.com/tim-osti-memorial-fund. 

 In April, 2013, Tim, an avid runner, ran the Boston 
Marathon (right), and escaped injury from the bomb 
that was detonated on runners and spectators. In an interview 
for the Mountain Views News after he returned 
he said, “I don’t know why, but God directed me away from 
that finish line”. Osti said he had every intent of hanging 
around with other runners who had completed the run, 
but all of a sudden he just “decided to get on the bus, and 
I really don’t know why. I was directed away from the 
danger, and I am so grateful.” His first action after he 
realized what happened was to call home and let his family and church know he was ok. (Read more at 

http://mtnviewsnews.com/v07/htm/n16/index.htm). 

 Information on services for Tim were not available at press time. S. Henderson/MVNews 


REMEMBRANCES

ALMA MAYS

Alma J. Mays, who joined the Sierra Madre Woman's Club in 1996, was born October 12, 1929 in Decatur 
Illinois, and passed away December 23, 2018. She married George Mays in 1945 and had four sons 
in Illinois before they moved to the East Coast. There they raised the boys until 1961, when they moved 
the family to Sierra Madre, California. Alma worked at various jobs during her life, which gave her 
great satisfaction, also receiving a Bachelor degree from Cal State Los Angeles. After joining the Sierra 
Madre Woman's Club, she served on the Board as Auditor, and re-established our corporate registration. 
Following her more than a decade as Auditor, she was awarded Life Membership. She also supported 
the Seirra Madre Library, as well as being active in other community affairs. She is survived by 
three of her sons, John, Jim and Richard. She was very proud when Richard was named Sierra Madre 
2011 Citizen of the Year. A Celebration of her Life will be held at the Sierra Madre Woman's Club on 
Saturday, January 12, 2019 from 1 - 3 pm.

ESTHER GARCIA

Esther Garcia 97, a Sierra Madre 
resident since her parents moved 
the family here in 1942. died of 
natural causes earlier this month. 
Mrs. Garcia was a World War II 
veteran, having served in the U.S. 
Marine Corp. She was married for 
more than 60 years to Jim Garcia 
who preceded her in death. She is 
survived by two children, her son 
Steve and daughter Elizabeth, and 
many, many other family members. To read more about Mrs. Garcia’s 
remarkable life, go to: http://mtnviewsnews.com/old/mvobs/
v01/MVObs_2007_09_15.pdf.

At press time, no additional information was available.


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