Obituaries: Arlene N. Anderson

Arlene N. Anderson died on April 20. Born in Pasadena on May 11, 1929, to Adeline and Arleigh Brewer, Arlene was a longtime resident of La Cañada and Pasadena.

After attending Pasadena schools and graduating from Pasadena City College, Arlene obtained her bachelor’s degree and lifetime teaching credential from Whittier College.

Arlene married Karl H. Anderson in 1951. Arlene taught at Andrew Jackson Elementary School for five years. With the addition of Gail and Janet in 1958 and 1960, Arlene became a full-time mother. As an active parent, she was heavily involved in the Oak Grove Elementary School PTA and Camp Fire Girls.

Arlene was a founding member of the La Cañada United Methodist Church and performed various capacities within the church. With many other outside interests, she particularly enjoyed her docent position at the Greater L.A. Zoo, putting her teaching skills to good use.

Arlene re-entered the teaching profession as a member of the Chandler School faculty. This 16-year period was one of great professional satisfaction until her retirement in 1997.

Arlene stayed active in retirement as an expert tutor, theater attendee, L.A. Dodgers fan and global traveler. Her trips included many European countries, Russia and Morocco.

Arlene is survived by her daughters, Gail Davis and Janet Keyte; grandchildren Hunter Davis, Kelly Davis, Taylor Keyte and Teddy Keyte; nieces Jill Baker and Vanessa Loftus-Brewer; and brother Lynn Brewer.

A memorial service will take place at 11 a.m. May 10 at the La Cañada United Methodist Church, 104 Berkshire Place, La Cañada.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either the American Cancer Society, 50 N. Hill Ave., Pasadena, CA 91106 or the Wellness Community Foothills, 200 E. Del Mar Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91105.

Charles S. Broberg

Dr. Charles Stanford Broberg died Tuesday after a five-year, courageous fight with carcinoid cancer.

Funeral services will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4550 Raymond Avenue, La Crescenta, on Saturday. Viewing will be held at 12:30 p.m., followed by funeral services at 2 p.m.

Charles, the son of Charles Wayne (Todd) Broberg and Lucy Owens Broberg, was born in Phoenix, Ariz. He graduated with honors from North Phoenix High School, where a choral director nurtured his passion and talent for barbershop, classical and all music.

He lived in Glendale while attending USC, spending 13 years in training at USC and affiliated Los Angeles County General Hospital, specializing in obstetrics-gynecology and becoming a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

In 1959, early in medical school, Charles joined 30 other students from colleges throughout the United States in the U.S. State Department’s first student exchange to the USSR. He was at Sokolniki Park for the Nixon/Khrushchev kitchen debates. He was photographed arm in arm with Khrushchev at a chance meeting in the Caucasus where Khrushchev was relaxing after his meetings with Nixon.

In 1970, following two years of ob-gyn practice as a major in the Air Force (having been stationed at Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, N.Y.), Charles and his wife Jeanne made their home in La Cañada. Charles enjoyed an ob-gyn practice at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena. By the time of his retirement in 2001, he had helped mothers welcome more than 7,000 babies into the world.

Through the years as his children grew, he coached various soccer and junior baseball teams. An Eagle Scout himself, Charles guided his five sons and scores of other scouts in achieving that honor.

Most importantly, while juggling a very busy, taxing life he always made time for his family. When he was home, he was home.

Even with the all night sessions and stamina required of a busy ob-gyn practice, Charles always accepted church callings. He served as bishop of the La Cañada 1st Ward from 1983 to 1988, having previously served as a counselor in the La Crescenta Stake (regional) Presidency, from 1973 through 1980.

Charles also spent six years in full-time service for his church. First, he spent 2 1/2 years in Denmark (1955-’58), as a young full-time missionary. In 2001 he retired from medical practice to serve in Ukraine and then Russia and throughout Eastern Europe with his wife for 3 1/2 years.

Upon returning home to La Cañada Flintridge, he encouraged his wife Jeanne to seek re-election to the La Cañada Unified School District Governing Board where she this year serves as president. Resuming his medical practice part time, he was also able to enjoy his family, further serve in his church, and spend time with his medical colleagues, his buddies in Kiwanis, on the La Cañada Community Center Board, and also with the La Cañada Ecumenical Ministerial Assn.

Seymour Eckhaiser

Seymour Eckhaiser, beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather and one who loved his fellow man, died on April 5 in San Luis Obispo County at the age of 91.

Born in 1918 and raised in Poland, Seymour moved to Paris, France, at the age of 12 and was introduced to the fine art of tailoring. While World War II was spreading, he boarded a ship with his uncle and sailed to America.

In 1941, when the United States entered the war, Seymour enlisted in the Army Air Corps, where he served as a medic for four years. It was here that he became more fluent in English and proudly earned his U.S. citizenship in December 1943.

Once again a civilian and honing his craft in Ozone Park, N.Y., he met and married Adele, and together they had three daughters. In 1954 he moved his young family to California and settled in La Crescenta, where he opened his first shop, Seymour’s Fine Custom Tailoring. He moved his location several times within the area over the ensuing 45 years. In 1999, he left the foothills, bound for Lodi. There he continued to own his own tailoring shop for six years before moving to Paso Robles, retiring there in 2009.

Area residents may remember Seymour riding his bicycle around Montrose. His small stature and big grin were often hard to resist. He was a dancer, a music lover and an enthusiastic reader. Most of all he liked to socialize with his customers, his friends. He was always delighted to engage in discussions about history and religion, poetry and current events. He was a member of Kiwanis clubs, and his story-telling skills allowed him to excel with Toastmasters.

Born into a Jewish home, Seymour later embraced and practiced Buddhism. He finished his long life comfortable with the good people of all religions and all walks of life.

He is survived by his three daughters: Mindi Anderson, Jody Bodine and Celene Erbert; seven grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

To share a story about Seymour with the family, send it to Jody Bodine at getbusylivin@hotmail.com.