Evelyn Kortendick Blasiar; Entrepreneur, Executive

Evelyn Kortendick Blasiar, 74, communications and bank executive who was active in Catholic charities. A native of Burlington, Wis., she came to Los Angeles after high school to work as a flight attendant. After marrying Dusty Blasiar in 1949, she helped him establish Alert Telephone Answering Service, which was originally based in their apartment. Now known as Alert Communications Co., the company recently celebrated 50 years in business and employs more than 500 people. In 1972, Evelyn Blasiar co-founded and became chief executive officer of the California Women’s Savings and Loan Assn. President Jimmy Carter recognized her business achievements by designating her one of the nation’s top women entrepreneurs. Blasiar also became a Girl Scout leader and an active fund-raiser and officer with several assistance organizations. She was chairwoman of the board of St. Anne’s Maternity Home in Los Angeles for many years and chief planner of fund-raising dinners and other events that raised several million dollars for the facility. She headed St. Anne’s committee granting annual Angel Awards for service to the maternity home, and earned her own award. Blasiar was also active in the Mary and Joseph League, the Right to Life League, the Assistance League, the Christ Child Society, Zonta International and the Social Service Auxiliary. She was one of the earliest docents of the Pasadena Art Museum. On Monday in Pasadena of cancer.