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Daisy Crane, recently characterized as a 'gold-medal winner of community involvement' by L.A. City Councilman Bill Rosendahl, passed away peacefully on December 9, just a day after presiding at the Palisades AARP holiday luncheon. She was 74
Crane, who had lived in Pacific Palisades for many years, burst into community activism a year ago when she began serving as president of the local AARP chapter (while also continuing to produce the organization's quarterly newsletter). She was also newsletter editor for the Pacific Palisades Historical Society. On the Palisades Community Council, she served as Area 5 alternate (the Alphabet streets neighborhood) until this year, when she became the AARP representative on the council.
On October 19, Councilman Rosendahl presented Crane with a certificate of commendation for her exemplary efforts and accomplishments, particularly for the Historical Society program she had organized on that evening, featuring the history and current organizational structure of the LAPD. Years ago, she had volunteered at the police department, where she worked on many projects, including the Hillside Strangler case at the request of Chief Daryl Gates, and the Rodney King case.
Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1935, Crane traveled extensively with her family both in the United States and internationally as a consequence of her father's career. A renowned geographer, Dr. Clifford MacFadden was a professor and head of the geography department at UCLA. Between 1950-56, he set up and organized the University of Ceylon, and in the 1960s, he assisted in the re-organization of the university educational system in Delhi, and in the Sha Tin district of the Hong Kong New Territories.
An artist, Crane started studying art as a child, and painted for two years with George Keyt, whose work was strongly influenced by Buddhist and Hindu iconography. She exhibited her paintings at the Palisades Branch Library this past September.
A survey of her paintings hints at the chapters of Crane's life, from her time in Ceylon to 15 years volunteering for candidates in local and state politics, racing hydro boats, and writing a book about the Chinese massacre in 1871 Los Angeles.
After she returned to the United States, Crane completed her undergraduate and graduate work at various colleges in the Los Angeles area, then taught math in Catholic grammar schools for a number of years.
She married Richard Takakjian, with whom she had a son, Andy, who is a professional artist living in Silverlake.
In the 1980s, Crane turned her attention to politics, running campaigns for State Assemblyman Bob Cline and City Council candidate Jim Keysor. Later, she worked at the LAUSD and the Huntington Beach School District.
In her retirement, Crane enjoyed a quiet life of research and writing at home. However, as she pointed out in a 2006 interview with the Palisadian-Post, 'My work is not placid. Things and people come to me all the time. There is a lot of excitement, something stirring all the time.'
Fellow Community Council member Haldis Toppel remembers Crane as a 'complex and many-faceted person with new personas emerging with every turn of her private and public life. Daisy was full of life and full of plans.'
Crane is survived by her son. Memorial arrangements are pending. |
