Dana “Harvey” Tuttle, Jr. at his camera store in Bixby Knolls, circa 1947

The man for whom Bixby Knolls’ Tuttle Cameras is the namesake passed peacefully at home on March 12, 2011.
Dana “Harvey” Tuttle, Jr. was born in Wisconsin on April 14, 1921, and he moved to Long Beach with his parents when he was about 2 years old. After his mother died when he was 5, Harvey and his older brother, Richard, were moved from family to family while growing up. Later, Harvey lived with his father and stepmother in Long Beach, near the bluff on 12th Place. While they were living there, the 1933 earthquake struck the city, destroying many of the nearby homes, but the house in which his family lived is still standing.
Harvey and Richard worked for film-developing companies, but when World War II broke out, they both enlisted in the Army. During their service, the brothers, both of whom continued to work in photography, corresponded and decided that they would open a photography business after getting out of the military.
Harvey served three years in Kodiak, Alaska, and was then stationed in Oklahoma. There he met James Anna, whom he later married in January 1945, before he was shipped to Italy, where he served his last two years of duty.
After their tours of duty, the Tuttle brothers combined their wisdom, money and skills to open two camera stores– the first in Belmont Shore, managed by Richard, and the second in Bixby Knolls, run by Harvey. At one point, Harvey had all three of his children working for him at the Bixby Knolls store. 
Harvey continued in the camera store business until his 70s, when he decided it was time to retire. Harvey then sold the business to two of his employees: Eric Vitwar and Brian Johnson.
“In 1997, Harvey announced at a staff meeting that he was going to retire and try to sell the store,” Vitwar said. “When we first heard that, Brian Johnson and I decided to try to pull funds together to buy the business.” According to Vitwar, six months later the deal was done. “Harvey handed over the keys in January of 1998.” (Vitwar bought out Johnson’s interest in the business in 2002.)
“I worked for Harvey for nearly 10 years,” Vitwar said. “He was a great mentor. He treated customers and staff incredibly and was just a great boss to work for. He was never mad, never yelled.”
In addition to Harvey’s love of photography, he traveled to spend time with his
family. He and his wife, James Anna, took several trips to Alaska, where their daughter, Margie, and her family live. For a couple of years, Harvey and James Anna lived in Arkansas, James Anna’s place of birth. They moved back to Long Beach because they missed their family here.
They had three children: Edward, who would become a Long Beach council member, born in 1947; Susan, born in 1950; and Margie, born in 1954. Harvey was preceded in death by Edward, who died five years ago, and by his son-in-law, Ronald Mayo, who passed five months ago. Edward, survived by his wife, Kay, had two sons: Matthew and Joshua. Susan, widow of Ronald Mayo, has two children: Dana and Daniel. Margie has three sons: Justin, Vincent and Quentin.
Harvey was buried after a grave-site service on March 17, 2011 at Forest Lawn.  When he died, he was one month and two days shy of his 90th birthday.
When discussing the loss of his friend and mentor, Vitwar said that he felt blessed to have been with Tuttle just hours before he passed. “He changed my life,” Vitwar said. “[The business] provided for him and his family, and now it is doing the same for me and my family. It is a real loss, but I’m thrilled and tickled to carry on the legacy.”

Bill Baker

Last weekend, the city of Long Beach lost one of its leaders who, in recent months, worked diligently to protect the city’s redevelopment funds. Bill Baker, chairman of the Long Beach Redevelopment Agency (RDA), died Sunday night from respiratory problems. He was 85.
Baker had served on the city’s redevelopment board since 1999, acting as its chair in the last three years. Earlier this year, after Gov. Jerry Brown had proposed eliminating RDAs throughout the state to help close a multimillion-dollar budget gap, Baker and other RDA members voted to protect $1 billion-plus of redevelopment dollars by dedicating ten years’ worth of funds to local programs.
“I’m deeply saddened to hear about the loss of Bill Baker,” said Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster. “Bill had great love for Long Beach and its residents. He will be remembered for his hard work and the many years he dedicated to Long Beach to make this a better city. My thoughts and prayers are with Bill’s family and friends at this sad time.”
In an emailed statement Monday, former Vice Mayor and 9th District Councilmember Val Lerch expressed his condolences for Baker’s passing. “It is with great sadness that I must send this email,” he said. “Bill Baker, a lifelong resident of North Long Beach and Chair of the Redevelopment Board, passed away last night. Bill’s family was at his side. Bill was truly a great friend of Long Beach. And a champion for North Long Beach. He will be missed.”
A “Gathering of Friends” to honor Baker is scheduled for Saturday, June 18, at 2pm at the home of his son in Villa Park. For directions, call (714) 558-4832 or email wbaker@lawbaker.com.

Tom Murtaugh, a 25-year resident of Signal Hill, died peacefully in his sleep of respiratory failure on Feb. 16, 2011. Tom served in the Army and the Air Force in the Pacific during World War II and was among those preparing for the invasion of Japan when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. After his discharge, he attended Illinois Institute of Technology for his degree in mechanical engineering. He was married for 61 years to Shirley, whom he met while both were in high school.
Murtaugh was “Dad” to three sons and five daughters: Tim, Barbara, Ter, Patty, Mary, John, Clare and Liz. In 1955 the family moved to Long Beach, where Murtaugh served the foundry industry, the last 40 years as an engineering consultant and president of Tom Murtaugh Inc. After “the chicks had all left the nest” or were in college or the service, the Murtaughs bought a condominium on Hill Street and sold the homestead to their kids.  
During the early years, Murtaugh’s great joy was coaching Catholic Boys Baseball. He would often be found outdoors in the evening teaching neighborhood kids how to play catch and exhorting them to not neglect their homework. He loved to shepherd his family and a few area kids to the beach on weekends and then to a Tastee Freez for cones.  
Being an Irishman through and through, Tom would give each child a dime to buy his/her cone; if he had bought them all himself, he would have had to pay the nickel sales tax. His guidance in fiscal soundness continued as he urged his adult children to put away five to 10 percent of their earnings in a “forget it” account every payday.
According to Shirley, her husband was faithful and true, steadfast and beloved. Murtaugh leaves Shirley, their children, 17 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, with two on the way. He has been honored by the supervisors of the County of Los Angeles with a memorial in tribute and reverence.
Donations in his name to the Lakewood YMCA Strong Kids Campaign are welcome.

George Hurte’s son Brad says his father “will be remembered as a generous man with a great sense of humor.”

George V. Hurte, a longtime resident of Signal Hill, passed away peacefully on Jan. 13, 2011, surrounded by loved ones. He was 83.
A veteran of the US Navy, he was best known by generations of cadets at the Southern California Military Academy on Cherry Avenue in Signal Hill as “Major” Hurte. He served there as teacher, principal, superintendent and headmaster for the better part of four decades.
“He will be remembered for the impact he had on many young lives, instilling ‘character before career,’” said Hurte’s son Brad, referring to the Academy’s motto. “He will be remembered as a generous man with a great sense of humor.”

Brad remembers an incident at the Academy that illustrates his father’s ability to use humor to address issues. “One day, he was approached by one of the office staff who complained about confusion in the division of responsibilities in the office and requesting resolution,” said Brad. “He quietly listened, but gave no indication of action. The next day, he handed out a new operations manual for the office entitled, ‘Quit Your Bellyaching!’ That humor defused the tension and solved the problem.”
George was born on Dec. 2, 1927, in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, the son of George William and Ida Mae Hurte. On graduating from Aliquippa High School in January of 1946, he enlisted in the US Navy, serving aboard the heavy cruiser USS Chicago in Okinawa and was honorably discharged in December of 1947.
On discharge, he joined his parents in Long Beach, where his father was working at the Long Beach Naval Shipyards. George met Marie Elizabeth White, who was then attending Polytechnic High School, at the Long Beach Christian Missionary Alliance Church in 1948 and they were married on July 8, 1949.
The couple moved to Siloam Springs, Arkansas, to attend John Brown University (JBU), where they graduated in 1951, he with a bachelors degree in theology. They then moved back to Long Beach, where Marie worked for the station manager of JBU-owned Christian radio station KGER and George taught at the JBU-owned Southern California Military Academy. In March of 1961, he was appointed superintendent. He led the Academy as superintendent and headmaster until his retirement in 1983, then the couple moved to Canyon Lake in Riverside County, where they lived until his death.
He is survived by: his wife, Marie; his twin sister, Jane Pollard; sons Ron, Brad, and Geoff, who each attended and graduated from SCMA; five grandchildren; and one great-grandson. A memorial service will take place Saturday, Jan. 29 at 2pm at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 555 N. Gartel Dr., in Walnut, and he will be interred at the Riverside National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the John Brown University Scholarship Fund, John Brown University, Attn: Susan Nece, 2000 West University, Siloam Springs, AR 72761. Gifts are tax-deductible.

Photo courtesy Hurte Family

District 28 State Senator Jenny Oropeza, whose representation included Long Beach, died Wednesday night at Long Beach Memorial Hospital at the age of 53. After being diagnosed in May with an abdominal blood clot that led to a build-up of fluid in her lungs, Oropeza missed most of this year’s session. The former state assembly member, whose name will remain on the November ballot as a Democratic candidate, was pursuing a second term as senator, and she was expected to defeat Republican John S. Stammreich, her sole challenger. (If she wins, a special election will determine who will fill the position.)
Oropeza had been diagnosed with liver cancer in 2004, and, after undergoing surgery, was declared cancer-free the following year. Her cancer diagnosis had prompted her to introduce several bills that would help reduce pollution around the Port of Los Angeles. She was also known for championing other health and environmental causes, including unsuccessful legislation that would have prohibited smoking in state parks.
Oropeza launched her political career as student body president at California State University Long Beach, and she was later appointed to the university’s board of trustees. She served on the Long Beach Unified School District Board from 1988 to 1992, Long Beach City Council from 1994 to 2000 (as its first Latina member), and on the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board from 1996 to 2000. Elected to the state assembly in 2000, Oropeza chaired the Budget Committee during two of the worst deficits in state history while simultaneously campaigning to become the first female Democratic Speaker. She lost that race by a narrow margin but garnered the position of Transportation Committee chair.
She and her husband Tom Mullins had been married since 1977.

Dr. Jeanne E. Bader, Ph. D, retired gerontology program director at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), died Monday, Sept. 20.
Prior to coming to California, she held positions at the Philadelphia Geriatric Center, the University of Minnesota and the University of Oregon. Many organizations benefited from her passion, knowledge and her commitment to volunteerism, and her lifelong legacy will continue at CSULB through her establishment of the Center for Successful Aging.
The Alpert Jewish Community Center, 3801 E. Willow St., will host a celebration of Bader’s life on Thursday, Oct. 28, from 2pm to 5pm. In lieu of flowers, planting a strong tree, bush or irises, or making a donation to National Public Radio or to the scholarship funds being established in her honor, are requested.

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Rita Jennings (pictured right, with fellow volunteer Mike Karlson) devoted her time to a newsletter to help senior citizens in the area.

Five days after retiring from the Long Beach Police Department’s Senior Police Partner Program, to which she had served 10 years, Rita Jennings passed away.
Jennings had developed a quarterly newsletter for the program that was distributed to all the senior centers in Long Beach. “She worked hard to continuously improve the design and layout of the newsletter and ensured that it contained interesting and valuable safety information,” said Karen Owens, personnel administrator who oversees the department’s volunteer program.
“Rita was extremely organized,” Owens said. “She also related well with the clients and was very in-depth and thorough when trying to help people.”
Jennings had joined the program Sept. 15, 2000 and graduated from Senior Police Partners Class Number 3 the next month. Each graduate was required to complete a 53-hour block of training that included Cultural Awareness, Fraud/Bunco, Elder Abuse, County Mental Health Services, as well as other subjects that would benefit the seniors in the local community.
According to Owens, Jennings was a tremendous asset to the Senior Police Partner Program. In honor of her service to the department and the community, the program’s participants will encase her badge in Lucite as a gift to her husband, Sheldon.
Jennings’s funeral service took place last Monday at the Church of Our Father’s at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Cypress.

By Rachael Rifkin
Staff Writer

Ethel Mae McCallen, a 56-year Signal Hill resident, businesswoman, and wife of former Signal Hill Councilmember Marion “Buzz” McCallen, passed away on July 15, 2010. The 88-year-old California native will be remembered as an outspoken figure who was deeply dedicated to her community.
Born in Long Beach on July 8, 1922, Ethel Mae grew up in a strict, religious family. “She was raised real, real strict. She was a good girl,” said her daughter, Sharon McCallen. “Of course, she also grew up during the Depression, and I think that explains a lot about her personality and work ethic as well.”
Of course, that doesn’t mean she didn’t have some fun anyway. “My mother loved to dance and, boy, did she have boyfriends. There are lots of pictures of her with different young men, soldiers, etc. She loved to dance, and she loved pretty clothes. Anyone who knew my mom in the last 20 years would know that,” said Sharon.
Ethel Mae and Buzz met through his brother, whom she was dating at the time. They married in 1949. Buzz already had three daughters from previous marriages: Rebecca Lynn, Diana Kathleen, and Sharon. Sharon’s birth mother died when she was a baby. She went to live with her father and Ethel Mae when she 8.
“She was very hard on me, but she made sure I had paper dolls, playhouses, books. I had the things that made me happy. She never had children, but she liked other people’s kids,” said Sharon. “You could hear that at the testimonials at the funeral services. People who were kids then talked about their memories of her.”
During the war, Ethel Mae worked as a riveter at Douglas Aircraft, and in the 1950s she drove a cab. When Buzz got into real estate, they worked side by side. Eventually she got her broker’s license.
She also loved antiques and collectibles, and nearly opened an antiques store. In addition, she was very active in the Signal Hill community. She was a member of the Collectors Club, the Begonia Club, and the Long Beach Historical Society.
Signal Hill Councilmember Mike Noll and Ethel Mae were both involved in the Long Beach Historical Society and served on various service committees together.
“Ethel was a very unique person,” said Noll. “She was very, very direct. You always knew what Ethel’s thoughts were– good, bad, or indifferent. She was a very interesting woman.”
Sharon echoes that sentiment. “She was outspoken. You knew where you stood with her on any subject, and she was a staunch Republican. She was a character,” said Sharon. “My mother was fiercely independent. Right up to the end in her hospital bed. When I asked her if the nurses were good to her, she said, ‘Yeah, but they don’t understand.’ She pointed to her chest and said, ‘I’m the boss of me.’”

Ethel Mae McCallen is predeceased by her husband and former Signal Hill councilmember Marion “Buzz” McCallen and brother Myrle Randall. She is survived by her brother Raymond Randall and family, as well as her daughters and many grandchildren. Services took place Saturday, July 24 at Rose Hills Memorial Park Rainbow Chapel.