Obituaries - Aug. 17, 2000

Longtime Newport Beach couple Harry and Bea Lace died just days apart.

Bea Lace, 79, died Aug. 3. Her beloved husband, Harry, followed just

three days later on Aug. 6.

Harry was born July 27, 1917, in Santa Monica. Bea was born Feb. 26,

1921, in Los Angeles.

Both Harry and Bea attended Newport Harbor High School. Harry was an

alumnus of the first graduating class.

After high school, Harry managed his own gas station on a street

corner on Balboa Island. It was there that the 17-year-old Bea’s school

bus used to stop and pick her up for school. It was also there that Bea

announced to her friends that she “likes that guy,” referring to the

young man pumping the gas, and intended to marry him. Once they met,

there was no doubt among their friends and families that marriage would

soon follow.

Three years later, Bea and Harry were married in a small ceremony in

Anaheim on Sept. 7, 1941. They honeymooned at the U.S. Grant Hotel in San

Diego. They moved to the Newport Beach coast, paying $25 for rent.

On July 1, 1942, Bea gave birth to their only child, Barbara Jean

Pliska. When it was time for the Lace family to build their own home,

they bought a lot on the Newport Heights for $525 -- an amount Harry

considered outrageous at the time -- and settled in near Newport Harbor

High School. Eventually, their block evolved from the dirt roads that

surrounded their property and they remained in the same location for more

than 50 years.

Bea and Harry worked close throughout the years. Harry started working

for the Newport Beach Police Department in 1938. Bea began work as a

police matron as well.

After Harry’s retirement from the police department, he worked for the

West Orange County Judicial District as the clerk of the Westminster

Court and the assistant court administrator for South Orange County

Court.

For a short time, Harry and Bea also operated their own detective

agency in Newport Beach, Bay-Mesa Investigations.

For 15 years, Harry served as the head of security for Hoag Memorial

Hospital. During this time, Bea began to log the more than 30,000

volunteer hours that they would eventually provide the hospital.

In October 1999, Hoag Hospital presented Bea and Harry with the Vin

Jorgensen Award, the highest distinction awarded by the hospital for

service.

When Bea was diagnosed with lung cancer last year, Harry met his goal

of standing by her until the last moment. Over the next few days after

her death, he continually expressed his love and longing for Bea. He was

smiling when he gently passed away.

Harry and Bea maintained an incredible quality of life. Bea had an

talent for playing the piano by ear. Harry was a terrific golfer, who at

80, won a golf tournament. They both loved to fish together. Ten years

ago, Bea and Harry renewed their marriage vows and returned to the U.S.

Grant for one more honeymoon.

Sometime during their relationship, Bea explained to Harry that she

had never remembered any of her dreams. Harry responded by telling her

that when they fell asleep, he would “pick her up” in his dream “at the

corner” -- referring to the corner where they first met. Therefore, for

nearly 60 years they said, “I’ll meet you at the corner” every night

before they went to bed.

They were buried at Harbor Lawn Memorial, on a corner lot.

Bea and Harry are survived by their daughter, Barbara Jean, and

son-in-law Adam Pliska; three grandchildren, Linda Guerrero, Bobbie

Richter and Adam Pliska; and nine great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held today at 3 p.m. at Hoag Hospital’s

Cancer Center Auditorium, One Hoag Drive, Newport Beach. Valet parking

will be provided.