Nancy Perry Hodson

Nancy Perry Hodson, 75, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 6^th, 2008 at her home in Laguna Woods, California.

Nancy was born in Kansas City, Missouri on November 19^th, 1932 to the late Ralph Edward Perry and Juanita Youmans Jackman. She attended Pine Manor College in Massachusetts and Finch College in New York City. She became an active supporter of her local community and the arts from an early age. She was very involved with the Institute of Logopedics in Wichita, Kansas and chaired its big 30^th Anniversary Ball in 1965. She moved to Los Angeles in 1974 and promptly became involved in the community, particularly the LA Music Center. She was on the board of directors of the LA Junior Philharmonic and was a member of the LA Blue Ribbon 400. After moving to Newport Beach 1978, she became actively involved with the 1986 opening of the Orange County Performing Arts Center and was also a strong supporter of the University of California at Irvine, including founding the UCI Arboretum in 1987. As a member of Big Canyon Country Club, she was president of the Garden Club and president of the Philharmonic. She was also president of the Junior League Garden Club from 1989 to 1991. Since 1996, she was a strong supporter of the University of Southern California’s Doheny Eye Institute in Los Angeles, where she successfully underwent a new treatment for Macular Degeneration, which saved her eyesight.

In addition to her community involvement, she very successfully invested in the La Jolla and Newport Beach residential real estate markets. A very gifted interior designer; she was the owner of Nancy Perry Hodson Interior Design from 1974 to 1982.

She enjoyed life to the fullest with many interests including art, design, music, travel, cooking, gardening and her adorable Maltese dogs. In true mid-western style, she was an engaging and intelligent conversationalist and a witty storyteller. As she faced life’s challenges, she always said, “With a faith in God and a sense of humor, I can get through most anything.”

She is survived by her loving children, Frank Tyler of Fullerton, Lisa Passerby of Phoenix (Arizona) and Suzanne Desforges of Newport Beach; her six loving grandsons, Timothy Tyler, Sean Thompson, Matt Thompson, Danny Thompson, Chandler Desforges and Luke Desforges; and her new great-grandson, Cayden James Thompson. She is predeceased by her brother, Edward Perry and her youngest son, Rob Hodson.

Nancy was buried at Pacific View Mortuary in Corona del Mar on June 9^th, 2008, followed by a private family service. Donations may be made to the Doheny Eye Institute, Development & Public Affairs, 1450 San Pablo Street, DEI-3050, Los Angeles, CA 90033-4697 (or on-line at www.doheny.org/donations/index.html)