By Mary O’KEEFE

Most who have lived in the Crescenta Valley for a while will admit that it is a pretty unique community. Volunteerism seems to come from a sense of responsibility rather than something people do to make themselves look good. There are organizations like the CV Chamber of Commerce that go beyond their work with businesses to support the youth of the area with scholarships, the CV Fireworks Assn., which keeps the family-friendly event close to home and, of course, the Montrose Search and Rescue team that patrols our mountain roads and hiking trials, ready to help, 24/7.

It may appear seamless but it takes a lot of work and organization to keep the CV community the jewel that it is. There is a small army of community members who love this area enough to devote hours and hours of time and effort volunteering at a variety of events. On July 4, CV lost one of its most avid warriors, Warren Boehm.

Warren, 81, worked and raised his family in the Crescenta Valley for over five decades. He and his wife Marilyn were married for 59 years and within that time Warren, and Marilyn, had always helped their community whenever they could. He was the guy people saw at almost every event. In the early days he was helping to set things up and lately he was in the background joking around but still helping where he could. He never called attention to himself, so few would know that he was one of the founding members of the CV Fireworks Fourth of July celebration or that he was with the Montrose Search and Rescue team during two of the team’s most difficult times.

“It was like a scene out of hell. With the roaring flames to light our way, we found 10 charred bodies here. They were all within a 100-yard area. It’s a night I’ll never forget.”  That is a quote from Warren when he was interviewed by the Herald-Examiner in 1966. He was talking about MSAR’s response to the Loop Fire in the Pacoima Canyon where 10 forestry service firefighters died. He described what he saw and how he and the team recovered the firefighters.

Warren was on MSAR for about 17 years beginning in 1966. The Loop Fire happened during his first year.

“I couldn’t wait for him to go out and couldn’t wait for him to get back,” Marilyn said of his time with MSAR.

She knew he loved serving the community and liked hearing about his MSAR call-out stories and supported him during the most difficult of times. One of the most devastating days on the team was during the “big flood” of 1969.

“Oh was it raining,” Warren said during an interview with CVW.

According to U.S. Forest Service more rain fell in the San Gabriel Mountains in nine days than New York City had in a year.

The MSAR team was helping evacuate residents in the Big Tujunga area at La Paloma Flats. The bridge was out and people were stranded at the Tujunga Wash.

Warren said the rain was so heavy at times the team could not see the other side of the wash. They only heard the sound of the river rushing past them.

Members of the team attempted to get to the other side to help the stranded people. At some point MSAR member and CV Sheriff’s deputy Chuck Rea became separated from the group. In an attempt to cross the river, Rea had slipped into the water. The rain was coming down hard, the river was rushing and the team rallied to help him. Roger Baits, one of the team’s members, tried holding Rea’s head out of the water while others worked to free him but his gear was pulling him under the water. Rea drowned and, with the rain and rapid river, the team had to leave him until the weather calmed.

“He was devastated,” Marilyn said of Warren. “[The team] all was.”

“[Rea’s] death was with me every time I went out after that,” Warren said in the CVW interview.

Years later a memorial was dedicated to Deputy. Rea and fallen CV Sheriff Deputy David Horr. Warren was, of course, in attendance. Rea’s family at that time said Warren continued to stay in touch over the years.

That was the type of man Warren was; when he was your friend he was there for you forever.

He and Marilyn had a group of friends they traveled with on vacation and worked together to help build the community. These friends had great adventures and were always playing jokes on each other. Marilyn shared a story of when the couples were staying in a Tahoe cabin. Their friend Jean Maluccio had been suffering from food poisoning, causing her to visit the bathroom often.

“I took a watermelon, cut it in half and carved a happy face on it. I then stuck it in the bottom of the toilet so when she went in she would see a smiling face,” Marilyn said. “And then one time I put Jean’s house up for sale.”

She borrowed a “For Sale” sign and placed it on her lawn. Maluccio fended off calls and questions all day as to why she was selling her home, not knowing what everyone was talking about until she got home.

 “She didn’t take down the sign that night, so the next day I put a sold sign on it,” Marilyn joked.

Playing practical jokes on each other may have been led by Marilyn’s imagination.

“Warren would say, ‘Some day you are going to go too far,’ but then he would help me,” she said.

Warren was a proud member of the CV Chamber of Commerce and led the fireworks event when it was organized by the Chamber. He was also part of the CV Fireworks Assn. after the Chamber no longer hosted the celebration.

It was Warren who had to tell the crowd at the Fourth of July fireworks celebration in 1992 that the show was canceled because the pyrotechnic operator did not show up.

But even as difficult as that was, the Fourth of July was always Warren’s favorite holiday.

“He met Hutch and they became good friends,” Marilyn said.

Robert “Hutch” Hutchinson is the pyro technician who was hired to lead the CV fireworks show after the 1992 problem and he still runs the CV fireworks display.

Friends are something Warren had in abundance. Below are just a few of the comments that have been emailed to the CV Chamber and CVW about his passing.

When Jean Maluccio heard of his death on July 4, she wrote, “The Fourth of July was one of his favorite holidays. He was part of [CV Fireworks] from its first year with the Chamber. He will be watching, just from another direction.”

“He was an institution here in our beautiful valley. It just seemed that our ‘Noah’ would always be around to prod the rest of us on.” Eleanor Wacker, former CVCOC board member

“What a great guy and forever he gave of himself.” Danette Erickson, former CV Town Council member

“I loved his stories from the good old days of the valley.” Leonard Ghazarian, former president and present board member of CVCOC

“Warren was a true patriot, friend and community supporter. He will truly be missed.” Mike Baldwin, American Legion Post 288 and CVCOC board member

 “Warren was a true gentleman who was loved and respected by everyone who knew him. In all the years I knew Warren he never said a harsh word about anyone. Warren represented everything that was good about our Crescenta Valley.” Steve Pierce, longtime friend, member of CV Fireworks Assn. and board member of CVCOC

Pierce had asked for a moment of silence for Warren at this year’s CV Fireworks Show.

He was king and a generous man. God bless his soul.” Jeero Habeshian, CVCOC board member

“God speed, Warren, you’re in good company. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and James Monroe all passed away on the Fourth of July. Warren was a patriot and devoted to community service. I’m grateful for having known him.” Rev. Beverly Craig, CVCOC board member

“Such a beautiful soul. I’ll miss his visits to the office. He always brightened my day. I love the idea of Warren watching the fireworks from the other side.” Lisa Dupuy, executive director of CVCOC

“I will always cherish those sparkling blue eyes that twinkled when he smiled. Such a grand man who loved our community from the depths of his soul. I will miss him terribly. Thank you all for sharing your kind words, pictures and thoughts. They have warmed my heart. [This was] indeed a very special Fourth of July. The skies twinkled a bit more brightly thanks to our friend Warren.” Cynthia Livingston, CVCOC board member and former Rosemont Middle School principal

“Warren was part of the foundation which the current [MSAR] team is built on. He set the bar high and we continually try to reach it.” Mike Leum, member of MSAR

“Warren was the nicest man I have ever met. He loved to help his community and served in many positions, including the Montrose Search and Rescue team. I can honestly say that there will not be another man like him.” Steve Goldsworthy, member of the CV Fireworks Assn., MSAR and former CVCOC board member

“Warren was a man of few words, but always spoke with action. Not only would he volunteer but he would be the first to show up. Warren was a person who you never had to second guess, he said what he meant and he meant what he said. This community has lost someone special, someone irreplaceable, someone with a huge heart that’s the size of La Crescenta. I had to run the legislative meeting that happens on the second Wednesday of every month … a meeting Warren has led for many, many years. I started the meeting with a heavy heart, but everyone agreed that we should carry on the tradition that Warren would want to see continued.  I will truly miss him.” Calvin “Kaipo” Chock, CVCOC president

“I knew him for over 40 years. Whenever someone or something seemed wrong or bad, he always looked at the other side. It’s fortunate people who go through life enjoying all they do, and I think he did.” Jean Maluccio, CVCOC board member and longtime friend.

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A personal note: I knew Warren because he was at every single CV event. He always had a smile on his face and a warm welcome. He joked with my kids, told amazing stories of the history of CV and seemed to know everyone. I get to see those who work behind the scenes in our community, those who make the difficult look easy. That is the person Warren was – someone who truly supported and loved his hometown.

  Mary Okeefe