Elaine Woo

Elaine Woo is a Los Angeles native who has written for her hometown paper since 1983. She covered public education and filled a variety of editing assignments before joining “the dead beat” – news obituaries – where she has produced artful pieces on celebrated local, national and international figures, including Norman Mailer, Julia Child and Rosa Parks. She left The Times in 2015.

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California

Tyrus Wong, artist whose paintings inspired Disney’s ‘Bambi’ and other films, dies at 106

California

Tyrus Wong, artist whose paintings inspired Disney’s ‘Bambi’ and other films, dies at 106

In the late 1930s, when few doors were open to the son of a poor Chinese immigrant, Tyrus Wong landed a job at Walt Disney’s studio as a lowly “in-betweener,” whose artwork filled the gaps between the animator’s key drawings.
Obituaries

Robert Shushan dies at 86; opened doors for the developmentally disabled

Obituaries

Robert Shushan dies at 86; opened doors for the developmentally disabled

In 1958, Robert Shushan was a Los Angeles high school teacher with hopes of joining the administrative ranks when his sister disrupted his plans.
Obituaries

Mal Whitfield dies at 91; runner won two Olympic golds in 800-meter event

Obituaries

Mal Whitfield dies at 91; runner won two Olympic golds in 800-meter event

When Mal Whitfield sneaked into the Los Angeles Coliseum in the summer of 1932, he saw an African American sprinter win a gold medal.
Obituaries

Saeed Jaffrey dies at 86; Actor exuded flair and versatility from Bollywood to Britain

Obituaries

Saeed Jaffrey dies at 86; Actor exuded flair and versatility from Bollywood to Britain

Saeed Jaffrey, a veteran Indian actor whose performances in such films as “Gandhi,” “A Passage to India” and “My Beautiful Laundrette” brought him wide notice in the West, died Saturday in London.
Obituaries

Ron Frank dies at 84; Long Beach furnishings store was on modernism’s leading edge

Obituaries

Ron Frank dies at 84; Long Beach furnishings store was on modernism’s leading edge

Ron Frank, whose knowledge and savvy marketing of modern design helped keep his family’s iconic Long Beach furnishings store in the vanguard of a powerful movement for 50 years, has died.
Obituaries

Jack Yufe dies at 82; he was raised Jewish, his identical twin as a Nazi

Obituaries

Jack Yufe dies at 82; he was raised Jewish, his identical twin as a Nazi

It sounded like a tabloid headline: Identical twins separated after birth.
Obituaries

Helen Astin dies at 83; feminist scholar, UCLA professor studied students’ spirituality

Obituaries

Helen Astin dies at 83; feminist scholar, UCLA professor studied students’ spirituality

Helen (Lena) Astin, a feminist scholar and longtime professor of higher education at UCLA, where she helped direct studies on women’s career development and the spirituality of college students, died Oct. 27 at her Brentwood home after a long illness.
Obituaries

George Barris, creator of the Batmobile, dies at 89

Obituaries

George Barris, creator of the Batmobile, dies at 89

In 1965, producers of the “Batman” television show needed a supercar that Adam West could wield to battle the Joker and the Riddler.
Mike Hammond, co-founder of computer maker Gateway, dies at 53

Mike Hammond, co-founder of computer maker Gateway, dies at 53

Mike Hammond, who helped start computer maker Gateway Inc. in a northwest Iowa farmhouse and with his partners turned it into a popular brand known for shipping its products in boxes decorated with cow spots, died Thursday at his home in Sioux City.
Obituaries

Guenter Schabowski dies at 86; spokesman’s blunder hastened collapse of Berlin Wall

Obituaries

Guenter Schabowski dies at 86; spokesman’s blunder hastened collapse of Berlin Wall

In late 1989, history took a sharp, unplanned turn.