Lela ‘Jackie’ Axline; San Diego Arts Benefactor

Lela “Jackie” Axline, 88, San Diego benefactor of the arts and education. The widow of businessman Rea Axline, she gave generously to his alma mater, Caltech, as well as to UC San Diego, Scripps Memorial Hospital, the San Diego Zoological Society and the San Diego Museum of Art. But her principal philanthropy went to San Diego’s Museum of Contemporary Art, where she served as president of its Board of Trustees. Two years ago, when the museum reopened its La Jolla facility, her contributions were recognized with the dedication of its Axline Court. Born Lela Giacomini to a Swiss-Italian farming family near Santa Maria, Calif., Axline earned a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley and a master’s degree in child psychology from Columbia University. A resident of New York for much of her life, Axline taught art at Staten Island Academy and became a painter. She earned awards from the National Assn. of Women Artists and exhibited her paintings in New York and in Europe. She maintained a studio until her death in the couple’s retirement home near San Diego. On Thursday in Rancho Santa Fe, of complications from a stroke.

Vannie M. Starr; Independent Counsel’s Mother

Vannie M. Starr, 91, the mother of independent counsel Kenneth Starr. Her son’s investigation of President Clinton’s affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky led to perjury allegations and Clinton’s impeachment. Nevertheless, Vannie Starr continued to describe her son as “just an ordinary guy.” The family lived in the north Texas town of Thalia when Kenneth was young, then moved to Centerville and to San Antonio. Vannie Starr had remained in that city’s blue-collar residential area until her death. On Sunday in San Antonio of cardiovascular disease.