Civic Leader John Greenwood’s Sudden Death Stuns Harbor Area Jan. 9, 1945 - Oct. 11, 2012 By Arthur R. Vinsel, Contributing Writer John Greenwood was a former Los Angeles Unified School District board member and president of Coro, a respected foundation that grooms future Southern California civic leaders from an early age. Greenwood, died suddenly on Oct. 11, in his home in San Pedro. His death leaves a void not quickly or easily filled in many organizations to which he belonged or simply advised. He exercised and was seemingly in perfect health when he underwent a physical examination two months ago. His death was attributed to a heart attack suffered in his sleep, just as his wife Caren came to bed. She called 911. Firemen hearing his tortured gasps on the phone guided her through initial CPR efforts. “The paramedics were there in two minutes, but there was nothing anyone could do,” said the
couple’s daughter Liz, a deputy city attorney, who followed her father into public service. He was rushed to nearby Little Company of Mary Hospital, where he had served as vice president of development for 10 years, when it was San Pedro Peninsula Hospital. So widespread was his guidance, influence and gladly-lent wisdom in community affairs that people could scarcely believe such a loss. Born Jan. 9, 1945, Greenwood grew up in La Crescenta. He was an Eagle Scout. He earned a master’s degree in political science at the University of Michigan. He and his wife were partners in their real estate business. Besides serving eight years as a Los Angeles Unified School District trustee, he narrowly lost a 1981 15th City Council District run-off election to Joan Milke Flores.
City Councilwoman and now Rep. Janice Hahn also called on Greenwood, the founding president of the Northwest San Pedro Neighborhood Council, to lead a task force on the controversial Ponte Vista housing project,
which remains under study. Greenwood is also founder of the Gang Alternatives Program and a longtime member of the San Pedro Rotary Club. In 2002, he was honored as Rotarian of the Year. Among organizations he found particularly fulfilling, said his daughter Liz, was Habitat for Humanity, for when one has a home, he or she has a foundation for much more. Mourners may pay their respects on evening of Oct.18 and on the afternoon of Oct. 20. Visitation for Greenwood will be Oct. 18 from 5 to 8 p.m. at McNerney’s Mortuary, 570 W. 5th St., San Pedro. A memorial service is scheduled on Oct. 20 at 3 p.m. at the John M. and Muriel Olguin High School Annex, 2310 S. Alma St., San Pedro. Access the new campus via the driveway entrance at 32nd and S. Gaffey streets. Survivors besides wife Caren and daughter Liz include sisters Marilyn Ungaro (Savin), Kathy Jeffries (Tom), brother Peter Greenwood, mother-in-law Martha Matthews, sister-in-law Darlene Allenthorpe, plus 14 nieces and six nephews.
June 13, 1946- Oct. 10, 2012 By Arthur R. Vinsel, Contributing Writer Over her left kidney, was a bird’s eye view of Sydney. And on her back was The Union Jack, now could you ask for more...? —Lydia the Tattooed Lady
the Lakers and, as all who knew her, enjoyed a good martini now and then. Hazel supported many charities and causes, among them; the Paralyzed Veterans of America, Union Rescue Mission of L.A., Red Cross, Salvation Army, Doctors Without Borders, Cancer Research, and National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. Hazel is survived by her son, Ray and his wife Nancy (Arnée), granddaughter Krista and husband Pete, grandson Tracy and wife Laurie, great-granddaughter Haley Rae, grandson Robert McCann and wife Karen, great-grandson Christian, grandson Michael Corey McCann and wife Ingrid, and great-grandchildren Sebastien and Simone.
October 19 - November 1, 2012
He hit ‘Pedro in 1967 with a banjo, a head full of tunes and humor, got a degree in psychology, then stayed, convinced street performers do most people as much good. For 40 years, Geoff Agisim lived as a sea chantey virtuoso, in bell bottom dungarees, striped pullover and Greek fisherman’s cap atop sunbleached hair that hadn’t seen a comb since Moby Dick was a minnow. He entertained everywhere that there was a dozen people and a whiff of salt air. Agisim, 66, died Oct. 10 at home after rejecting the rigors of futile treatment for late stage pancreatic cancer, diagnosed in July. “Won’t do any good,” he declared. “I should be sad, but I can’t think of him without smiling,” said longtime friend Dirk Vandenberg, owner of Guitar Safari, in San Pedro, where Geoff played every Friday during Farmer’s Market. He always sat on a wooden box, expressly to see eye to eye with children, in whom he delighted. Something seemed to be missing that Friday and many shoppers realized it was Agisim and his merry tunes when they saw Dirk’s memorial tableau: his banjo, a Mason jar of vivid autumn flowers and a bag of oranges. “He was one of our local gems,” said Kathleen Woodfield, a tall, willowy fiddler who
accompanied Agisim on gigs in the early 1990s. “It’s a huge loss.” He generally performed solo, but was often joined at the Farmer’s Market by flutist Dennis Kortheuer, a political science instructor at Cal State University Long Beach. Agisim was loath to guess how many sea songs he knew, but they were legion from years playing on vessels of Spirit Cruises, Catalina Express, Los Angeles Maritime Institute and the old Buccaneer Queen and Princess dinner cruise boats. “I never stopped to count ‘em,” he said. “But I can play for eight or nine hours straight without ever duplicating.” He quipped that it was sometimes slim pickings, but Agisim made a living at his music, selling CDs and passing the hat. He was also talented at woodcraft and ceramic design and renowned for repair of stringed instruments. His sister Jane Agisim Odes has returned to New York, where she is a social worker, but will be back for a later formal memorial service. He also leaves a brother, Dr. Frederick Agisim, of New Hampshire and several nieces and nephews. Geoff was not the kind to have a girl in every port. Though he never married, he will be interred at Green Hills Memorial Park beside his life companion Janet Pharris, who died 11 years ago. They met at Cal State University Dominguez Hills in the ‘60s and were inseparable. Friends said she was not a musician but a merry redhead who also worked on Harbor dinner tour boats.
dro. She had reached the age of 95 and died of natural causes. Hazel Mason was born in Hamden, Conn. She graduated from Hamden High, and the New Haven School of Business. In 1940, Hazel married Raymond R. Carofano, a fireman with the Hamden Fire Department. She gave birth to their son, Raymond, in 1942. Hazel worked for the Southern New England Telephone Company for 26 years and after she and her husband retired they moved to Torrance, Calif. Hazel worked as the office manager for her son at Ray Carofano Photography, Inc. for the next 20 years. Her beloved husband died in 1984. She moved to San Pedro in 1999, joining her son and daughter-inlaw, where they lived and worked close by. Hazel was a generous person with a good heart and who loved her family above all. She had a keen wit and sharp mind, kept abreast of
“I’m not familiar precisely with what I said, but I’ll stand by what I said, whatever it was.”
Marie Carofano SP Sea Chantey Master Geoff Agisim Hazel Feb. 19,1917 – Sept. 22, 2012 Lays Down His Banjo Hazel Carofano died peacefully on Sept. 22, the news and was an avid voter. She loved with family by her side, at her home in San Pe- sports, rooted for the Yankees, loved watching
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