Whitney Youngs remembers Betty Evans and her civic work

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HERMOSA BEACH
'Remarkable' Evans will be missed
by Whitney Youngs
The city of Hermosa Beach lost a well-known figure in the com-
munity last week when longtime resident Betty Evans died of cancer
at the age of 78.
Evans, born Aug. 5, 1927, spent practically her entire life in town
with the exception of some years living in Rome, Paris, New York
and Los Angeles. She died at home Monday, Dec. 12.
"She was a remarkable woman with a great big heart," said City
Councilman J.R. Reviczky, who knew Evans for many years. "We
Will miss her dearly and my thoughts go out to her family, especially
Gordon."
Evans was the author of 11 cookbooks, nine of which feature
sketches from her husband, Gordon, who survives her along with
their children Bob, Suzanne and Jeanne; and their grandchildren
Gordon, Evelyn, Zachary and Alex. Evans chose titles like "Cali-
fornia," "Venice," "Paris," "Rome" and "London" that not only in-
clude recipes but travel information. She also taught cooking classes
for more than 20 years and would speak to groups like the Hermosa
Beach Kiwanis Club about her passion for cooking. The Easy
Reader newspaper published many of her recipes in her own recipe
column.
David Hunt, publisher and editor of South Bay Magazine, first met
Evans in the 1970s when he was a fledgling reporter.
(Please turn to Page 23) Betty and Gordon Evans

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Kvans remembered who had ever heard of M.F.K. Fisher. Like
Fisher, Evans wrote about food and life,
(Continued from Page 10) and insisted upon maintaining a grounded
"Betty was one of those people who re- lifestyle based on friendships and personal
ally helped to define Hermosa Beach as relationships. She was never caught up in
the kind of warm, creative, caring, won- the manic lifestyle that has taken hold in
derful community that it is," said Hunt. "I the beach cities... Hermosa Beach won't
think she knew everyone, and everything be the same without her."
that was going on. She did a lot of walk- The Hermosa Beach Chamber of Com-
ing around town (she never learned to merce named Evans Woman of the Year in
drive and she was just one of those peo- 1981, which is an annual award given to
ple who helped create a sense of commu- individuals in the community who exhibit
nity in Hermosa Beach." exemplary civic awareness. The award
Evans attended North School until her highlighted her volunteer commitment to
father, who was a sports writer for the Los the Hermosa Garden Club and the Friends
Angeles Times, moved the family to Los of the Library. She was also an honorary
Angeles. While attending Dorsey High docent for the Los Angeles County Mu-
School, she met her future husband, seum for the past 37 years.
Gordon. After graduating from Woodbury Evans was also instrumental in saving
College, Evans married Gordon in 1946 Greenwood Park, the small parkette where
when he returned from a two-year stint the Vetter windmill now stands and she
with the U.S. Marines. Through the G.I. was a member of a team that help to cre-
Bill, the couple moved to Paris after living ate the natural flora habitat at Valley Park.
in New York for a year where Gordon was Hunt remembered when he was living
able to study art. It was in Paris where their in Hermosa Beach on a meager income
first child, Bob, was born in 1950. After and would come over to the Evans home
two years overseas, the Evans family re- for their famed dinner parties, one of
turned to Hermosa Beach where they had which was an Argentinean barbecue,
two more children, Suzanne and Jeanne. In where not only was the food satisfying but
the late 1950s, the family later sold their also the conversation.
house and moved to Rome. Two years "Hermosa Beach has been extraordi-
later, they returned and bought their long- narily blessed with having many longtime
time house on Valley Park Drive where residents who have stepped up and volun-
Evans lived for the past 45 years. During teered and gotten involved in trying to
their retirement, the couple traveled to make it a better place, and she was just
China, Egypt, Mexico City, Poland and one of those people," said Hunt. "She was
Istanbul. a very dear person who always showed an
"I didn't know her well, but I knew her interest in other people in being such a
enough to know that she was Hermosa gracious host."
Beach's version of M.F.K. Fisher," stated Evans donated her body to USC for
former editor of The Beach Reporter science research. The Evans family re-
Garrison Frost, who is the founder of an quests, in lieu of flowers, donations to the
online South Bay arts journal The Hermosa Garden Club and library.
Aesthetic. "Hell, she might have been one