Mountain Views News          Saturday, December 28, 2013

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Mountain Views-News Saturday, December 28, 2013 

WALKING SIERRA MADRE……THE SOCIAL SIDE 
By Deanne Davis

REMEMBRANCE


Another wonderful Christmas 
has come and gone in a flurry of 
cookies, cards from all over the 
place, celebrations with friends 
and family, and a few quiet 
moments of reflection on why 
on earth we do all this stuff! We 
are so busy during this exciting 
time: shopping (again, Amazon.
com, thank you for being my 
BFF), wrapping, delivering, 
imagining the smiles on faces far 
away when our gifts arrive; that 
we might forget that it all started 
a couple of centuries ago when a 
young girl gave birth in a stable 
to a baby who would change the 
world forevermore. I hope you 
had a quiet moment or two to 
take a deep breath and rejoice.

My darling husband, the ever-
patient and observant John, 
gave me exactly what I wanted 
for Christmas: A bright red 
KitchenAid stand mixer after my 
Oster died. That Oster had been 
my constant companion through 
most of our marriage and, I gotta 
tell you, friends, diamonds are 
dandy, but when your mixer dies, 
that’s a whole other ballgame! 

Anyway! John and I walked up 
to the big barn right behind the 
pool where the Sierra Madre 
Rose Float is currently under 
construction and were astonished 
to see how big it’s going to be this 
year. And the best one ever, too! 
The Rose Parade theme this year 
is, “Dreams Come True,” and 
our float is “Catching The Big 
One.” It features a huge happy 
fish with a tail that moves up 
and down, a little rowboat that 
rocks our three Rose Princesses: 
Hannah Latham, who is a 
sophomore at Maranatha High 
Schoool, Madison Vleck, who is 
a sophomore at PHS, and Tessa 
Brandstater, who is a senior at 
PHS; back and forth as they 
attempt to land The Big One!

Our good friend, Donna 
Sutcliffe, who has been one of 
the Rose float supporters and 
volunteers for years and years, 
took us around and gave us a 
few facts you’ll be interested in 
knowing. Our float this year is 
36’ long, which put us out of the 
running for the Princess Float 
Judging as you have to be 35’ or 
under for that. However, there 
are plenty of other categories our 
float is eligible to win. Judging, 
by the way, takes place twice! 
Once right there in the barn on 
the 30th and again on the 31st 
around 11:00 a.m. in the parking 
lot by the tennis courts. And, 
yes, we’re all invited! 

Donna explained that the float base is covered in Styrofoam which provides a waterproof cover for the 
electronics that move all the animation features. The float is decorated from the top down with the first 
flower shipment arriving the day after Christmas. Volunteers have already been working for several 
weeks preparing dried items like strawflowers and statice and the actual flower application will take 
place on the 29th and 30th. Yes! Volunteers are needed and welcome from about 9 a.m. to whenever 
on those days. When all the flowers are in place, that Styrofoam base is covered with Christmas tree 
branches from our own lot here in town, talk about teamwork! About 400-500 volunteers come in to 
make our float happen in just a few hours and this year it will be such fun with so much movement; 
little fish with flapping fins, that big guy waving his tail and our Princesses hanging on for dear life in 
their little boat!

There are about 20 nice folks who work on our float year ‘round, and we got to meet Dick Sappington, 
who is the head construction guy. So! What can you do? You can buy a shirt or a pin as our float 
is supported solely by donations, remember those folks selling roses at our July 4th Parade? Notice 
Donna and Dick standing by the Donation box in the picture below! You can come in and glue on 
flowers, meet a whole bunch of splendid folks, and be proud of your part in our Sierra Madre 2013 
Rose float: Catching The Big One!

Here is our wish for all of you for this coming year:

A splendid new year is here, and it’s waiting.

Stuffed with joy for celebrating.

Each day a canvas,

Ready for painting.

Choose the colors you want to see,

All bright ones, delight ones

Yellow and orange and red and green,

Laughter and happiness, so much ahead to be seen.

Color each day with people you love,

Each one is a gift from Our Father above.

Hug them and tell them that they are so dear,

Be sure that they know it, make it perfectly clear.

Make this New Year the best one ever,

Good health, good friends, and family…

Oh! Family! Keep all of them close.

And all God’s blessings, each day and forever

Happy New Year!! 


RICHARD “DICK” 
HARRY COOPER

May 14, 1923 - 

December 10, 2013

Longtime Sierra Madre resident Richard 
“Dick” Cooper passed away in the home he 
built and shared with his wife, Lori Cooper 
on December 10, 2013 at the age of 90. 
The couple celebrated their 66th Wedding 
Anniversary at his hospital bedside on November 
1st of this year.

A WWII U.S. ARMY veteran, he met Lori 
in Giessen, Germany where she was working 
with the Red Cross. When he returned 
to the states with his new bride, they visited 
his family in Johnstown, Pennsylvania and 
her home in North Dakota. From there, the 
couple traveled to California where Dick wanted to go to the Fred Archer School of Photography 
from which he graduated. He worked for several years as a professional photographer, before changing 
careers. After graduating from Pasadena City College with a degree in business, he went to work 
for Sears,Roebuck Company where he rose through the management ranks and remained until his 
retirement.

On Christmas Eve, 1952, Dick and Lori and their young daughter Deborah moved into the home 
in Sierra Madre where he would spend the rest of his life. His wife and daughter shared many fond 
memories of Dick and the house that he built. He was very community minded, and loved Sierra 
Madre. In the 1950’s there was a fire in the hills above the town and Deborah watched from a window 
in their home as Dad went off to assist with ‘hauling hoses’ with the Sierra Madre Fire Department 
and other agencies. He was no stranger to natural disasters having survived the second great Johnstown 
Flood in 1936.

Dick was a man with many talents including professional photography, classical piano, golf and 
‘Heathkits’. At age 90, he was able to break 90 according to his daughter, Deborah. “He loved working 
with his hands”, said his wife. That included working with electronics, building a “hi-fidelity” system 
in his home, and according to Lori, building a television. He and his twin brother were experts 
on the building and use for ‘Heathkits’, a popular electronic hobbyists ‘must have’ toolkit.

In addition, Dick liked to build furniture and literally, built the home that they have lived in for more 
than sixty years. 

Dick was one of eight children, seven boys and 1 girl. His identical twin brother, Bob, preceded him 
in death several years ago.

He is survived by his wife, Lori, daughter Deborah Cooper of Santa Rosa, and a host of nieces and 
nephews including Carl and Karen Neverman of Sierra Madre.

The family wishes to acknowledge and thank VITAS Healthcare and Foothill HomeCare Partners, 
Inc. of Sierra Madre for their outstanding professional services during Dick’s final days.

A memorial service is planned for early 2014. 


WOMAN ROBBED ON W. GRANDVIEW

 On December 23, 2013 at approximately 11:30 P.M., a female resident was walking home in the 200 
block of W. Grandview Ave when two male suspects robbed her. The victim was walking while talking 
on her cell phone, when two African American males in their twenties, wearing hoodie sweatshirts 
confronted her. As the suspects attempted to steal the victim’s purse, a struggle took place and 
the two suspects pushed the victim against a nearby wall and ultimately stole the victim’s purse. 

 The two males were last seen running westbound on Grandview to an awaiting vehicle which was 
driven by a third suspect. The suspect vehicle is described as a small, dark colored sedan with possibly 
tinted windows with a headlight out. Although this type of crime is very unusual for Sierra Madre it 
is not unusual for crimes of this nature to occur during the Christmas Holiday season. Anyone that 
may have seen a suspicious vehicle in the area or witnessed this crime are urged to contact the Sierra 
Madre Police Department at 355 -1414. 

Remember “If you see something say something".


SAN GABRIEL VALLEY MUNICIPAL WATER 

DISTRICT OFFERS HIGH-EFFICIENCY WASHING 
MACHINE REBATES 

CONTACT: THINKING GREEN CONSULTANTS HOT LINE 

(855) 512-1221 

Residents have an opportunity to receive $150 rebate for purchasing a high-efficiency washing machine 
within San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District's service area. Washing machines are the 
second greatest water user in a typical household, accounting for 22% of indoor water use. High-
efficiency washing machines use nearly 40% less water and use over 50% less energy than standard 
models and you can realize an immediate savings. 

Residents who live in Alhambra, Monterey Park, Azusa and Sierra Madre are eligible. To receive your 
rebate and learn more about this rebate program, visit www.thinkinggreenconsultants.com or call 
855-512-1221. 

This program is sponsored by San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District. Hurry while supplies last!