Docent Leads Tours With Language of Love

On the first Sunday of each month, Lisa Malmeth conducts tours at the Frank Lloyd Wright Hollyhock House in Hollywood. But her approach is a bit different from the other docents.

Thought to be the first deaf docent for a historical landmark in Los Angeles, Malmeth gives tours to deaf and hearing-impaired people using American Sign Language. Because more than 500,000 Los Angeles County residents are deaf or hearing-impaired, Malmeth believes it is important to provide services for them.

The former interior designer says she has a special understanding of the deaf culture and tries to reflect it.

“A tour (given) by a person who is deaf or hearing-impaired is different,” she said, her daughter acting as interpreter. “(I make) the tour more visual because sign language is a gestural language and is more symbolic than spoken English.”

The Valencia resident enjoys sharing Wright’s work and the house’s architectural history with others.

“I love the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and I admire his details of design,” she said.

Born on Staten Island, Malmeth grew up on Long Island and moved to Los Angeles nearly a decade ago with her family.

Four years ago she visited the Hollyhock House with a group of deaf artists and architects. The tour was signed by Susan Johannsen, an interpreter for the city of Los Angeles. Seeing Johannsen sign gave Malmeth the idea that she could also be a docent. After a listing appeared in The Times seeking volunteers for the Hollyhock House docent program, Malmeth jumped at the opportunity and enrolled in the training program. For the last three years she has volunteered her time and never regretted it.

“I love (doing) the tour,” she said. “It is natural for me to lead people and it helps keep me from being isolated.”

Although computer graphic design classes at UCLA take up much of her time, Malmeth said she hopes to someday volunteer at a museum.

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The Fashion Industries Guild gave its “Man of the Year” award to Larry Hansel, founder and president of Rampage Clothing Co. in Los Angeles.

Hansel, honored for his work with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other charitable organizations, received the award at a dinner Oct. 2 at the Regent Beverly Hotel in Beverly Hills.

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Malibu resident Dennis Lowe has been named the first holder of the M. Norvel and Helen Young chair of family life at Pepperdine University.

Lowe, an associate professor of psychology at Pepperdine’s Graduate School of Education and Psychology, will serve a three-year term. He has directed the Marriage, Family and Child Counseling Program at the graduate school as well as the master’s program in clinical psychology.

He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology from Pepperdine University and a doctorate in marriage and family from Florida State University.

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The City of Hope has named Joe Burg, president of Popcal Inc., to its “Gallery of Achievement.”

Burg, a longtime volunteer of the hospital, received the honor during the City of Hope’s 80th anniversary and national biennial convention in Beverly Hills.

He is a resident of Beverly Hills.

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Toostie Veprin was awarded the “Zelda White Achievement Award” by the Associates, a support group of the Jewish Home for the Aging of Greater Los Angeles.

Veprin, a volunteer with the Anti-Defamation League and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, was recognized for her dedication to helping others.

The presentation was made Sept. 29 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills.

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The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute awarded the Rensselaer Medal to three Westside high school students.

The recipients are Beverly Hills resident Maurice Garfinkel and Culver City residents Shawn Goldenberg and Lugassy Cyrille.

The medal was given to high school juniors selected by their schools as the top student in science and mathematics.