Patricia Glaser, Tom Lanigan, Carole Ann Murphy, Solveig Traeger

Patricia Glaser

Patricia Truesdell Glaser, 61, of La Cañada, passed away on March 21, 2010. She was born in Middletown, Ohio on Sept. 20, 1948 to Clyde and Mary Truesdell.

Patricia was an elementary school teacher for more than 15 years. She taught at La Cañada Elementary School.

In addition to her husband, John, she is survived by a son, Stephen, of Istanbul, Turkey; and a daughter, Krista, an Oakland resident.

A visitation and Rosary were held Wednesday at Crippen Chapel. A funeral mass will be held today (March 25), at 10 a.m. at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church. Interment will immediately follow at San Fernando Mission Cemetery.

Tom Lanigan

Tom Lanigan, 56, left this world March 18 for his next big adventure after a three-year battle with cancer. He will be very missed by all whose lives he touched. Many will recall Tom’s laugh, his legendary sense of humor and his love of all things fun.

Tom, born Feb. 21, 1954, was a resident of La Crescenta for most of his life and lived in Meadow Vista, Calif. from 1979 to 1984. As a creative and masterful builder Tom left a legacy of dream homes. In 2001 Tom and his wife Jana relocated to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado where he avidly enjoyed snow skiing and white-water sports.

He is survived by his wife and partner in life of over 34 years, Jana (Richards) Lanigan, his son Evan and daughter Emily; his sisters and their families Gail and Mel Bannon, Karen and Dr. O. L. Puttler and many much loved nieces, nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, contributions to the Tom Lanigan Memorial Fund will be greatly appreciated. All donations will help with extensive medical debt and lost income. Tom Lanigan Memorial Fund, Alpine Bank, P.O. Box 349, Basalt, CO 81621. Share your stories and celebrate Tom’s life at www.tomlanigan.blogspot.com. The family can be contacted at lanifam@gmail.com or at P. O. Box 1184, Basalt CO, 81621.

Carole Ann Murphy

Carole Ann Murphy, a former resident of La Cañada, passed away Saturday, March 6, just shy of her 66th birthday. She died after a long battle with cancer.

Carole was a member of the La Cañada Presbyterian Church Choir and was a den mother for her two sons’ Cub Scout troops. She will be remembered fondly by all who knew her.

Carole is survived by her two sons, Jerry and Charley Murphy.

A small, private ceremony will be held for those close to her.

In lieu of flowers the family has requested donations be made in her name to the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

Solveig Traeger

Solveig Traeger, one of the initial members of the Crescenta Valley Town Council and longtime La Crescenta resident, died Friday at Verdugo Hills Hospital with family by her side. She was 78.

Traeger helped spearhead the complete renovation of the La Crescenta branch of the Los Angeles County Library and saw it to its completion in February. She served on the nine-member town council from 1994 to 1997 and during that time helped establish a scholarship fund for students at Crescenta Valley High School. She also served as council treasurer.

Born Feb. 3, 1932 in Minneapolis, then-Solveig Ronning moved from Minnesota to Glendale in 1938 with her father, Birdan Elias Ronning Sr., mother Edna “Mimi” Anderson Ronning, sister Lorraine and brother Birdan Elias Ronning Jr. She was a graduate of Glendale High School and married Rudolph Frank Traeger Jr. on May 9, 1952.

Besides raising five children, Traeger helped her husband found California Waveguide & Engineering Co. in Burbank, a welding and manufacturing business hailed in 1970 as helping create the pumps that saved the astronauts during the failed Apollo 13 moon landing.

Traeger will be recognized for her community service by Supervisor Michael Antonovich from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday during Arbor Day festivities at Two Strike Park, 5107 Rosemont Ave. in La Crescenta. Her funeral and graveside services will be at 2:30 p.m. on Monday at the Little Church of the Flowers at Forest Lawn Glendale, 1712 S. Glendale Ave.

She is survived by brother Birdan Jr. (Pat) Ronning of Tujunga, daughter Judie Shafer of Santa Rosa, sons Jon (Laura) Traeger of Truckee, Rudolph III of La Crescenta, Tim (Martha) of Sierra Madre, Tom (Daphne) of Monrovia and grandchildren Summer, Skylar and Scandia Shafer, Kate Traeger and Eric Traeger.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Crescenta Valley Town Council Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 8676, La Crescenta, CA 91224.