Memories of Harold Vincent Helsley | Ever Loved

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In memory of

Harold Vincent Helsley

Calabasas, CA

September 9, 1936 - April 11, 2018

Sep 9, 1936 - Apr 11, 2018

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Zev Yaroslavsky

Harold was my appointee to the County’s Regional Planning Commission for 13 years. I entrusted him to protect the county’s natural resources, especially the Santa Monica Mountains. He did a superb job. His smarts and integrity in that position were second to none.

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Robert Stedman

Singapore

Sadly, I just learned that Hal Helsley passed away last year. I knew Mr. Helsley as both a teacher and councillor at Ernest Lawrence Jr. High. During my three years there, Mr. Helsley was an inspiration and mentor. He helped me with my interest in graphic arts and photography, which set me on the career path that I continue to follow even to this day. He was kind, charming and intelligent. He had a folksy way about him that was relaxed, yet confident. In recent years, we had been in touch and I was so very much looking forward to sitting down with once more when I visited the US. Sadly, that day will never come. Mr. Helsley you were a rare individual and will be missed.

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Alex Burke

Alex Burke

2018, Palo Alto, CA, USA

I'm feeling "Halspiration" today, inspired by Hal's approach to life generally, and the goal of fusion energy that he worked towards. This hat is a gift from my dad who wore it on his and Chuck's trip to Iran that Hal and I missed out on. I've started wearing it a lot lately, and it always makes me think of Hal.

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Matthew Helsley

2017, UCLA Stunt Ranch Reserve, Stunt Road, Calabasas, CA, USA

Harold and Nancy, at home in the Santa Monica Mountains.

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Joana Coulon

Bordeaux, France

Dear Hal,
In this special day, I’m thinking about you, or should I say more than ever.
In French, we have this expression “mon oncle d’Amérique”, designating a rich far away uncle, leaving a surprising heritage. It’s usually an imaginary character. Well, I’m lucky enough to have a REAL uncle in America, rich of a culture that he transmitted me, probably without knowing it. Thanks to you, Nancy, the boys and my mom, I am rich of two nations.
I’ll always remember you having for diner a glass of wine and a glass of milk, which you can imagine was quite exotic image for the French person I am! I remember the hot Californian summers, our trip to Zion, Bryce, the cherry picking... But my most vivacious emotion comes from an odor, the smell of the Calabasas house, made of all the trees you have around the house, a mix of warm wood, menthol and sap. I some circumstances, here I France, I catch this fragrance, and it then feels like home. That’s what you, Nancy and the boys are for me, a part of home.
Love you,
Joana

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Bob McKinley

Sending condolences from Hal's boyhood home Vista, California. I have only know Hal for the last 5 years, first as his real estate broker and then as his friend. What a giant on a man. Nancy my thoughts and prayers are with you. Love, Bob McKinley

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Paul & Joan Waller

2014, San Jacinto, CA, USA

Hal with members of the Kokopelli Men's Group. We miss him.

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Judi Uthus

Hi Nancy, heartfelt condolences to you and your family. One of my fondest memories of living in Calabasas is your docent breakfast and talking to Hall while he flipped the oatmeal pancakes, which I now make too! Judi Uthus

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Tata & Masud Monfared

2014, Sacramento, CA, USA

It was a joy to meet Harold Helsley at our fundraising event for promoting a documentary movie about a child in Afghanistan. It was a highlight of a night and great pleasure to have him at our event.
I like to share a poem by Romi in his memory and to his wonderful wife Nancy;
"You mustn't be afraid of death
You're a deathless soul
You can't be kept in a dark grave
You're filled with God's glow"

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Tata & Masud Monfared

2014, Sacramento, CA, USA

Monfared Family

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Fran and Andy Pavley

Fran and Andy Pavley- " As two former middle school teachers, we salute Hal Helsley for his dedication to making our region a better place to live. He was elected multiple times to serve as a Director on the LVMWD, appointed as County Regional Planning Commissioner, and also taught at a middle school in Woodland Hills for many years. Thank you Hal.

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Jan Dougall

I loved it that Harold and you, Nancy, attended the LVMWD events I put on. Wow! A former board member coming to my little events. And such a perfectly matched couple. I'll miss Hal's Celebration of Life, but hope to see you again, Nancy. My condolences.

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Sally Gregory

It is always a stirring of the heart and memories when a classmate passes. Although I was not a close friend of Harold’s, I admire the works he has done.

Blessings to his family and close friends.

Sally (Myers) Gregory

S

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Paul Manchester

Ramona Robertson and Hal.

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Margaret (Peggy) Stackhouse

My sweet cousin Hal, I will miss you. I feel so fortunate to have had you had you in my life.

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Zev Yaroslavsky

When I think of Hal, I think of Paul Bunyon; not only in his physical appearance, but in his demeanor and commitment to our environment. When I need to fill a vacancy in the L.A. County Regional Planning Commission, I immediately thought of Hal. I asked him if he would take on that heavy responsibility. He carefully thought it over and finally agreed to do it. And, I am eternally grateful that he did so. He served for 13 years as my appointee on that commission, and he acquitted himself with great intelligence, wisdom and dignity. I rarely disagreed with any decision he made, and I never had to worry that he would make a decision that would go against our shared objectives of protecting the beauty of our county. I don't think there was every a planning commissioner in modern times who served as long as he did, and when he retired from that post the entire county family knew that it represented the end of an era. Hal protected the Santa Monica Mountains (and many other parts of the county) as though he was protecting his own first born. What a legacy he has left us!

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Jovita Pajarillo

Hal always greeted me with a big smile and an enveloping hug. Being a petite environmentalist, I indeed felt I was hugging a tree! Our shared passion was elemental: water. We swam in some of the same circles together and I was always eager to hear his ideas, thought provoking questions, and what he was up to. He was an inspiration! Another passion we had in common was working with youth--specifically, the California Envirothon, together with his beloved Nancy. I will miss his gentle and inquisitive nature. He was a quiet 0force of nature. I was fortunate to be counted among his friends. Jovita Pajarillo

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Paul Manchester

1990, Calabasas, CA, USA

I didn't really get to know Hal and Nancy, Tom, Andrew, & Matthew until I moved to Los Angeles in August of 1990. When I came to visit for dinner, the welcome was always warm and inclusive. There always seemed to be a joy of knowledge at the table. One could muse on nearly any subject and inevitably there would be someone at the table with expertise and answers.

One time there was a fellow who was an entomologist at the table who had "trained" the spiders for the film ARACHNOPHOBIA, and he shared stories about how to make bugs do what you want them to do. He was a dramatic fellow and somehow we all got on the topic of this fellow's theoretical and very artistic funeral... I have some recollection of Hal teasing him that instead he'd be buried in a plaid suit - which of course both tickled and horrified the fellow. There was often a lot of laughter around the table when I visited.

There was never any cloud of mystical thinking - there was a passion/appreciation for observable, repeatable science. Hal was a great listener - and he was curious about the experiences of others. He appreciated difference of thought and had no fear of entering a spirited discussion to explore differences of ideas. When I introduced Hal to a man that I was dating at an annual buckwheat pancake breakfast, I did not feel the slightest discomfort. I felt welcome to just be me with all my eccentricities. And that is a wonderful gift.

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Pat Modugno

Hal was a wonderful friend and colleague of nearly 20 years. His environmental and humanitarian passions were inspirational. My favorite memories were trekking around on planning commission field trips and having him pick up a piece of what appeared to be some sort of weed and passing pieces around for us to taste. He could always pick out the editables. The day I learned of his passing, I went out and picked up an acorn and planted it in the oak grove next to my office. Rest In Peace dear friend.

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Created with love by Nancy Helsley.

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