Festival’s Makeup Director Dies
Joy Trent, the longtime make-up director for Laguna Beach’s Pageant of the Masters, died Friday, Sept. 16.
The Laguna Hills resident was 70 and though in failing health for the past year, Trent nevertheless participated in this past summer’s production, supervising backstage in the makeup department.
Born in Dayton, Ohio, she came to California in 1953 and worked in cosmetology and in Disneyland’s mailroom before volunteering at the Pageant beginning in 1976.
She went on to obtain certification in theatrical, television and motion picture makeup in 1981 becoming makeup director in 1990. Her responsibilities included creating the makeup design for each Pageant cast member, ordering and mixing colors, experimenting with different application techniques and coordinating a crew of nearly 50 volunteers and supervisors every night.
With casts sometimes as large as 180 volunteers, Trent looked for ways to assist her crew. She devised using Styrofoam heads as templates for every face, visual aids for her volunteers.
A daughter joined her in the makeup department as a supervisor for the past 12 years. Several of her grandchildren have also gotten involved backstage.
“We have the utmost respect and admiration for Joy, who continued to work heroically throughout her two-year illness. We are so very grateful for her friendship, camaraderie, and her countless creative contributions to the Pageant,” said Diane Challis Davy, the Pageant’s director.
Trent is survived by two daughters, Carrie Carter and Shana Padilla, and five grandchildren. A memorial service is planned for Oct. 1 at 11 a.m. in the Forum Theater on the Festival of Arts grounds, 650 Laguna Canyon Road.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Pageant’s student volunteer recognition fund. For more information, please call (949) 494-3663.
Canfield, Gwen
April 29, 1914 – Sept. 14, 2011
Gwen Canfield, 97, longtime resident of Laguna Beach, passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by family Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2011.
She was born on April 29, 1914, in Storm Lake, Iowa, to John and Anna (Coyle) Toohey.
Gwen wed Dell A. Canfield on Oct. 29, 1934, and they were happily married for 66 years before he died in February 2001.
She is the beloved mother of four children: Barbara Hillman, Don Canfield, Margie Canfield Willis, and Sue Cable (Wade). She has 15 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
Canfield was famous for her generosity, hospitality, fun loving spirit, and apple pies! She was a true “party girl” never wanting to miss out on any fun, and her mind was razor sharp to the end.
She will be sorely missed, but leaves an incredible legacy that will live on.
Services will be held on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011, at 10 a.m. at Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church, Newport Beach.
In lieu of flowers, you may make a contribution to any of these charities that have touched Gwen and her family: American Cancer Society, http://www.cancer.org/; American Diabetes Association, http://www.diabetes.org/; Arthritis Foundation, http://www.arthritis.org/; National Multiple Sclerosis Society, http://www.nationalmssociety.org/index.aspx.
Paul Alfred Wollam
April 11, 1958-Sept. 15, 2011
It is with great sadness that the family of Paul Wollam announces that he passed away on Sept. 15, 2011. Wollam, a local resident and father of three, died after a brief battle with cancer.
A resident of Laguna Beach and Emerald Bay since 1995, he was diagnosed in June with a brain tumor for which he was undergoing treatment. He slipped into a coma Wednesday and was taken to Mission Hospital where he did not regain consciousness. He was surrounded by family and friends.
Born in Santa Monica, Wollam’s mother, Anna, was a Russian immigrant who escaped in 1945 and eventually immigrated to the United States, where she married Paul’s father, Clarence. The family lived in Santa Monica where Paul attended Venice High School. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a degree in engineering where he was a member of the Theta Delta Chi fraternity. He earned an MBA at University of Edinburgh. Wollam also studied in London where he received his master’s degree in international law from UC San Diego. He was in private practice and also held a real estate broker’s license.
Wollam was an avid professional sports fan, loving the Angels, Lakers and old-time Rams. He was active as a coach in Laguna Beach and Hawaii for the Little League baseball teams on which his children, John-Paul, a sophomore at Laguna Beach High School, and Maryana and Duke, twins in second grade at El Morro Elementary, participated. Wollam was also active in the Laguna Presbyterian Church, Indian Guides, and a variety of other youth sport.
His passion was his family and friends and enjoying time with them whenever he could. He loved the ocean and always lived close to the shore to see it every day. He treasured his time in Hawaii with his family and the island lifestyle, allowing him to drop the kids off at school and then paddle out to surf Pop’s in Waikiki or hike at Diamond Head. Wollam also loved his time at Lake Arrowhead where he built family memories in their cabin. He was often taking long walks around the lake or hanging out with friends in the English-style pub he built in their cabin. Nothing made Wollam more proud than his family; he glowed when he was around them and he instilled the “aloha” spirit in each of them over the years.
Wollam is survived by his wife, Jean, of 18 years, his children, his brother Marvin and numerous nieces and nephews. Services will be held at the Laguna Presbyterian Church on Friday, Sept. 23, at 1 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to either: the Paul Wollam Scholarship Fund at Laguna Beach High School Scholarship Foundation, for LBHS students attending Berkeley, LBHSSF, P.O. Box 1569 Laguna Beach, California 92652; or, to the UC Irvine Foundations, Health Advancement, 333 City Blvd. Suite 605, Orange, CA 92868, noting memorial donation for Paul Wollam supporting cancer research by UC Irvine Medical Center physicians Dr. D. Bota and Dr. J. Jakowatz.
Paul will be missed dearly. “Aloha, Paul”
Lola Purcell
April 23, 2003-Sept. 25, 2011
Best friend to Coco and Mommy. In our hearts forever.
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