Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, March 25, 2023

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Mountain View News Saturday, March 25, 2023 

REMEMBRANCE:


WALKING SIERRA MADRE - The Social Side

by Deanne Davis

REGINA ALDEN ANDREWS BURHENN

Regina Alden Andrews Burhenn born on December 15, 
1931 in Pasadena California died peacefully in her sleep 
on March 7, 2023 in Arroyo Grande, California. 

She was a third generation Californian who grew up in 
Sierra Madre. Her grandfather arrived from Connecticut 
in 1881, established a lemon packing house and one 
of the first general stores. Her parents were among the 
organizers and served on the Boards of the Friends of 
the Sierra Made Library and the Sierra Madre Historical 
Society.

Regina attended Sierra Madre elementary school, Wilson 
Junior High School, and Pasadena City College, lower 
division-- from which she received her high school diploma. 
In 1950, she entered the University of California, 
Berkeley where she was a member of Pi Beta Phi and the 
swim team. Regina received her Bachelor of Arts degree 
in Zoology from Cal in 1954. After graduation she 
taught elementary school for several years in Little Rock, 
California—where she was never far from the sounds of thousands of turkeys being raised on local 
ranches. When she married, she moved to Arcadia and raised a family. Regina was active in the 
Hugo Reid PTA and eventually became an Honorary Lifetime Member of the Arcadia Schools PTA. 
As her children grew older, she returned to school and received her Juris Doctorate in 1976. She 
practiced law as a member of several Los Angeles area law firms for more than 30 years specializing 
in medical malpractice defense. She served on local State Bar committees and was a referee for the 
State Bar Court.

In retirement Regina was a devoted volunteer at the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens, 
where she loved working in the greenhouse with the other volunteers. She was also active member of 
the Pasadena Pi Beta Phi alumnae Book club, and the LA Philharmonic Committee of Professional 
Women affiliate group.

Regina is survived by her daughter Carolyn Burhenn (spouse David Pinkernell) of Washougal, 
Washington; her son Thomas Burhenn (spouse Peggy Burhenn) of Arroyo Grande, California; five 
nieces and two nephews. 

Regina’s family requests that in lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Friends of Sierra 
Madre Library or the Sierra Madre Historical Society.


“Spring is the time of plans and projects.” Leo Tolstoy

“Blossom by blossom the Spring begins.” 

Algernon Charles Swinburne

“If we had no winter, the Spring would not be so pleasant…if we did 
not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.” 
Anne Bradstreet

“In the Spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside 
of 24 hours.” Mark Twain

The first day of Spring arrived a few days ago, but she didn’t bring 
much springiness with her. Rain, clouds, gloom. Enough already! 
The picture today is the absolute essence of Spring…Dutch Iris 
blooming in the sun and more to come. Actually, though, walking 
around, I’m seeing little hints of Spring. Fresh green on trees, buds 
on all sorts of plants, my lemon and orange trees are covered with blossoms which smell delicious. 
I think Spring will show up in a few days and be spectacular. Sunshine will make everything burst 
into bloom and we will all be surrounded by beauty. At least that’s my hope. Probably yours, too.

“When spring came, even the false spring, there were no problems except where to be happiest.”

Ernest Hemingway

St. Patrick’s Day was also just a few days ago. To celebrate, my sister made corned beef and cabbage, 
which was our Dad’s favorite dish. We celebrated by going to the movies to see Shazam! Fury of the 
Gods which is a 2023 American Superhero film based on the DC Comics character Shazam. We 
enjoyed it immensely. It was loud, funny and an absolute triumph of graphic artists. Great monsters, 
hundreds of cars flung about, buildings crushed and flattened. Helen Mirren and Lucy Liu were the 
bad sisters and Zachary Levi was Shazam. Spoiler alert: It all comes out all right in the end. How 
could it not, we’re talking superheroes here!

I don’t know if you saw this Dear Abby column on St. Patrick’s Day, but it was so filled with hope 
and joy I wanted to pass it along to you.

“May there always be work for your hands to do.

May your purse always hold a coin or two.

May the sun always shine on your windowpane.

May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.

May the hand of a friend always be near you.

May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.”

In spite of the weather, which was less than glorious last Sunday, the Wistaria Festival was a success. 
The vine has been more blossom-filled, but all the rain and gloom and lack of sunshine probably 
had a hand in that. However, weather didn’t stop a whole lot of folks from coming to take a look. 
Interestingly, instead of taking the shuttles, many people just trudged up Baldwin to visit the vine.

Friends Tom and Mary Ann O’Hara, and several other great people, volunteers from the ham radio 
groups of the Sierra Madre Emergency Communications Team, Foothill Flyers Radio Club and the 
Sierra Madre Community Emergency Response Team directed traffic, helped keep lines of people 
moving and, in general, made the flow up by the vine move more smoothly. These guys are also 
involved in the Mt. Wilson Trail Race and Alegria Halloween activities. Thanks so much for all you 
do. We appreciate you guys!

More sun and less drizzle would have been nice, but, all in all, it was a memorable day. We are so 
proud of our extraordinary wistaria. 

The Lenten Season has flown by so quickly. Next Sunday, April 2nd, is Palm Sunday and Easter 
is April 9th. Thinking about Lent made me want to review the suggestions we passed along at the 
beginning:

This Lenten season maybe we could:

Give up complaining… focus on Gratitude

Give up pessimism… become an Optimist

Give up worry… trust Divine Providence

Give up bitterness… turn to Forgiveness

Give up hatred… return Good for evil

Give up negativism… be Positive

Give up anger… be more Patient

Give up pettiness… again, be more Patient

Give up gloom… enjoy the Beauty all around 

Give up jealousy… pray for Trust

Give up gossiping… think before you Speak

Give up giving up… Hang in There!

I’ve worked on being grateful and less critical. 

In a world where you can be anything you want to be…Be KIND!

One last thought from Ruth Bader Ginsburg: “Whatever you choose to do, leave tracks…Leave the 
world a little better for your having lived.”

My book page: Amazon.com: Deanne Davis

Look there for “The Crown,” a paperback book that’s practically free!

This is a beautiful story of what might have happened to that infamous crown of thorns.

With Easter on its way, this little book is the perfect read for yourself or a friend.

THURSDAY, MARCH 30TH 5:30 PM@ SIERRA MADRE CITY HALL232 W SIERRA MADRE BLVD, SIERRA MADRECITY OF SIERRA MADRECITY HALLREGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
SCAN QR CODE, CALL CITY HALL AT 
(626) 355-7135 OR VISIT EVENTBRITE.COM 
TO REGISTER.
TOWN HALLMEETING
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