Ottocina Christensen Person

Ottocina Christensen Person-July 27, 1927-January 26, 2010-Ottocina “Toodie” Christensen was born in Upland, California to Mildred Allen Christensen and Otto Thomas Paine Christensen. Toodie was raised in Upland and Newport Beach. She attended high school at Girls Collegiate School in Claremont. She was athletic, artistic and smart with a particular love of sailing, racing her Star and appearing on the cover of Rudder Magazine in 1942. Toodie graduated in 1948 from Scripps College in Claremont with a BA in Architecture. She met her husband, Roy Hackney Person (who predeceased her in 1984) at Pomona College after WWII. They were married on August 7, 1947. She taught Biology and PE at Girls Collegiate until the birth of their first child in 1955. She volunteered many hours at Foothill Country Day School, as room-mother and Mothers Club President. Toodie sailed throughout the 1960s and 70s, representing the Newport Harbor Yacht Club competitively in the Adams Cup. She founded Mothers Sabots at NHYC- a social sailing group for women. Toodie had many other interests. She collected rare books and seashells. She loved gardening and was a gourmet cook. She designed and stitched all of her own needlepoint canvases. She was the consummate sportswoman, rising to the spirit of competition, whether it was golf or tennis, bridge or dominoes, bocce ball or croquet. Their four children Warren, Jamie, Leslie and Heidi were the focus of her marriage. They enjoyed weekends at Catalina Island and Newport Beach summers living aboard their 55’ Chris Craft, the Heidi-Ho. In the 1970s they shifted their focus from the beach and boating to designing and building their house in the Pauma Valley Country Club. They moved there permanently in 1975 where she was actively involved in many facets of the Club. Toodie was unpretentious and had a tremendous sense of humor that was enjoyed and appreciated by her many lifelong friends. The family expresses their profound gratitude to the wonderful ladies who lovingly cared for their mother, making it possible for her to live independently in her own home until she passed. She is survived by her brother Tom Christensen, 4 children & 9 grandchildren. A celebration of her life will be held at the Pauma Valley Country Club Saturday, February 6, 2010 from 2 until 5 o’clock. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to either the Newport Harbor Sailing Foundation, Scripps College, Foothill Country Day School or the Arthritis Foundation.