A List of SFV Sites and People Lost in 2013

With the 2013 year in the history books, below is a list of notable sites and people in the SFV that were lost in the 2013 year (you can review 2012 here). Its possible I missed something, so please share any notable sites and/or people and I will update accordingly. The list below is not in any specific order. 

Sites

Catalina Yachts at 21200 Victory Blvd Woodland Hills closed its doors and moved to Florida to make way for another apartment project in the ever expanding Warner Center area. You can read a blog post here. 

Image courtesy CitySearch

The Village at Westfield Topanga began construction by demolishing the few remaining businesses on site including the former Home Savings Bank that was used by FedEx and contained a Millard Sheets inspired mural by Marlo Bartels and Astrid Preston. I dont know whatever happened to that mural. You can read a blog post here and here.

The former Vans Shoe Store on 9030 Topanga Canyon Blvd Canoga Park originally closed in 2011 but the cute "circus" like building remained until this year where it was finally demolished. You can read a blog post here. 

Image courtesy Citysearch.com

The original Pinecrest School campus at 14111 Sherman Way Van Nuys closed after 62 years to make way for more housing. Some of these signs were saved by the SFV Relics team. You can read a blog post here. 

Camera Craft at 4800 Lankershim Blvd North Hollywood had been in operation since 1947 but closed its doors in 2013. You can read a blog post here. 

Image courtesy City-data.com

The Van Nuys Army Navy Surplus Store closed its doors in 2013 after first opening in 1950. You can read a blog post here. 

Image courtesy Yelp.

The old school bar and restaurant Sherman Room at 16916 Sherman Way Van Nuys closed its doors after I have no idea how long they have been in business but want to say at least since the 60's. You can read more here at LA Arts Beat.

Image courtesy Loopnet

Although most people would be happy to see a big bank close down, the Universal Studios Bank of America closed its doors after operating for more than 30 years located at 111 Universal Hollywood Drive Ste 2630 Universal City CA 91608. You can read more here at Studio City Patch. 

Image courtesy Google Maps

Image courtesy Yelp

Fortunately not lost or relocated outside of the SFV, the Rocketdyne Saturn 5 space shuttle engine was relocated from Canoga Park to Chatsworth offices which opens the door for the whole plant to be closed to make way for more.....housing. You can read a blog post here. 

Continuing with Rocketdyne, I am not sure what has happened in 2013 at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory but a lot of the old site is no longer present which I was able to visit courtesy a Boeing Bus Tour that was held for the public. As part of the cleanup efforts, the remnants of the cold war era are constantly being removed and cleaned up although there might be delays due to court rulings. At any rate, I expect more removal of the old going into 2014. You can read a blog post here. 

Another site not lost but underwent a name change which was Laemmle's Fallbrook 7 at the Fallbrook Center Mall at 6731 Fallbrook Avenue West Hills which became an AMC Theatre. You can read a blog post here. 

Image coutesy Jeff_Soffer Flickr

People

Huell Howser passed away on January 7 at the age of 67 due to complications from cancer. Although not born or a resident of the SFV, Howser was loved by all Californians and he visited many special and unique sites in the SFV that was broadcast on his popular cable TV shows that helped spread awareness. You can view the SFV sites he visited here.  

Bob Tomasino, longtime owner of Oil Can Harry's, a gay dance club in Studio City opened since the late 1960, died in November 2013 after being killed by a drunk driver. You can read more at Studio City Patch. 

Image courtsy Studio City Patch

Art Ginsburg, longtime Studio City activist and owner of Art's Deli died on July 24 at the age of 78 due to complications from cancer. You can read more at Studio City Patch. 

Image courtesy Studio City Patch

"Mouseketeer" and actress, Annette Funicello passed away on April 8, 2013 after a long battle with MS. Her longtime Encino home was damaged in a house fire in 2011 discussed on this blog. 

Image courtesy Wikipedia

Mort Medway, founder of Mort's Delicatessen in Tarzana, passed away in October after selling his deli which was in operation for 45 years to his manager who kept it running the same. 

Image courtesy Los Angeles Times

Paul Walker who became famous for playing Brian O'Conner in the The Fast and The Furious film series died in an unfortunate accident in Santa Clarita on November 20, 2013 at the age of 40. Walker was born in Glendale, raised in Sun Valley where his parents still continue to call home, and graduated from Sun Valley's Village Christian School in 1991. 

Image courtesy Wikipedia

Fred Kavli founded the Kavlico Coporation in Van Nuys and opened a plant in Chatsworth made a fortune manufacturing automative and aerospace sensors and later gave most of his fortune away to charity. He passed on November 21, 2013 at the age of 86 due to a rare form of cancer. 

Image courtesy Standord News

Lastly, on a personal note, my father passed away after a long and difficult battle with cancer on May 19. You can read a blog post here. 

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Write by: Unknown - Friday, January 3, 2014