Kimberly Tesiny

June 9, 1951-Nov. 21, 2004

Former La Cañada resident Kimberly Ann Tobey Walton Tesiny passed away Nov. 21 in Valencia.

Kim was born June 9, 1951 in Panorama City to Earl and Andrëë Tobey. Earl Tobey was a mechanical engineer for General Motors who moved his family to La Cañada in 1960. Kim attended Linda Vista Elementary School, Foothill Intermediate School and graduated from La Cañada High in 1970.

She had a love for automobiles from an early age. Her father always had a car to “tinker with” and taught Kim a great deal about vehicles. From 1980-1993, she worked at Hollywood Sports Cars, the family business of her close friend, Julie Vandagriff-Sabatasse.

For the past 10 years, she was an area manager for Life Touch National School Studios. She enjoyed her work there, photographing school children of all ages, always giving special attention to each child.

She had many hobbies, including gardening, music, crafts and jewelry-making.

Kim was married Oct. 7, 2004 to John Tesiny, whose devoted care and love gave Kim a hopeful, sunny outlook and a wonderful quality of life.

Kim is survived by her sons, Lee Walton, 23, and Tobey Walton, 16; stepchildren, Kristin, 23 and Jeff, 21; her brother, Michael, and sister-in-law, Susan, of Las Vegas, Nev. She also leaves her sister, Terri Binnion of Cypress, and nieces and nephews Gregg Tobey, Nick Binnion, Missey Binnion, and Tina and Phil Conserva.

Kim was always happy but the past six months she was the happiest, even as she battled brain cancer. She never complained, teaching all who shared her life the true meaning of courage. “We were all so lucky to have Kim in our lives, she was a great mother, wife, sister, aunt and best friend. She will be dearly missed,” said Julie Vandagriff-Sabatasse.

Services were held in Valencia on Nov. 26. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Kim’s memory be directed to: UCLA’s Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation, Box 951780, Factor Building Room 8-950, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1780.