Bernice Park, a longtime Palisadian, philanthropist and cultural arts guardian angel, died peacefully in her sleep on April 24. She was 95. ‘Throughout her long and fruitful life, Bernice gave graciously and with love without request for recognition and most often without restrictions on use,’ said Eva Holberg, her close friend and neighbor. Park was born on May 24, 1908 in Heppner, Oregon. Very early in life she showed a talent and love for piano performance, and eventually received a bachelor’s degree in music and a master’s degree in fine arts from the University of Oregon, which she called ‘a family school.’ Her parents both taught there. While she never became a professional pianist, she shared her talents with many organizations to which she belonged. In 1928, she married Donald K. Park, who later was the coach of the swim team at UCLA. Their son, Donald K. Park II, is a retired university professor who lives in Fort Collins, Colorado. In 1958, Park’s married life came to an abrupt end when she was widowed at the age of 50. A strong advocate of education, Park served as associate director of continuing education in engineering and mathematics at UCLA for 26 years. She was also past president of the Westwood Women’s Bruin Club and one of the founders and past president of the Plato Society at UCLA. After retiring from UCLA in the mid-1970s, Park turned to Pacific Palisades community affairs. She became a member of the Historical Society, where she served as president for two years, including the year when the society published ‘Pacific Palisades: From the Mountains to the Sea,’ written by her longtime friends Betty Lou Young and Randy Young. With her generous contributions she supported the ambitious mural on Temescal Canyon Road, the Palisades Library Fund and the Swarthmore Walk of Pride with a tree donation. Her great love of cats led her to contribute to groups supporting their well being and rescue. She also believed in supporting less fortunate people in need of funds for education, to establish a business or other urgent needs. One beneficiary of her largesse was the brother of an employee at Emerson-LaMay Cleaners who couldn’t afford the fees at UCLA. Bernice paid for his education, and after he graduated he found a good job in finance, and never forgot her kindness, taking her to lunch whenever he was in town. He said that when he ‘gets ahead,’ he will set up a scholarship in her name. One of Park’s most significant contributions to the community was her generosity to the establishing of Theatre Palisades. She was a member of the early fundraising planning committee and was successful in cajoling major contributions from local organizations. In addition to raising money to help build Pierson Playhouse, she also had the foresight to help establish an endowment fund for theatre operations. She was honored by Theatre Palisades in 1997 with the Lelah T. Pierson Award. In 1999, Park was honored by the Palisades Chamber of Commerce for her long and meritorious service to the community. A year later, she received the Community Service Award from the Palisades Community Council, given to individuals who demonstrate long-term and continuing service in one of more areas of the community. Park’s first love was and continued to be music. She played the piano as long as she was physically able. She supported the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Opera in New York and the Palisades Symphony until the end of her life, and was very interested in the local symphony’s programs and Young Artist Award competitions. Palisades Symphony will dedicate the performance of Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis on Sunday, May 2 to her memory. A familiar figure in the Village with her snow-white hair and perky walk until just a few months ago, Park said in a 1992 interview with the Palisadian-Post that she felt grateful for what life had given her. ‘I have never been hungry or cold, I have had superior opportunities and I can be active in all the things I enjoy. I hope others will follow my lead in supporting our local performing arts.’ Contributions in Bernice Park’s memory may be sent to Palisades Symphony, P.O. Box 214, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272. A memorial celebration of her life will be held at the Woman’s Club, 901 Haverford, on Friday, April 30 at 5:30 p.m.
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