Milestones

This segment will, in the future, report life events of Pacific Grove residents such as births, deaths, engagements, marriages, celebrations of life, as well as personal milestones such as retirement,  a son or daughter becoming valedictorian of their class, becoming a Rhodes scholar,  getting out of prison, becoming a lawyer, doctor, getting a football scholarship, etc.

SEND NOTICES TO:[email protected]. Photos with a Milestone post are welcome and will be printed free of charge. Photos personalize these types of postings. The Beacon will print obituaries, and we will help you create them if help is needed. There will be a reasonable charge for the obituaries unless money is an issue and in that case they will be free.  Helping with this segment would be a good job as a volunteer for one of our wonderful writers here in town.

 

Births: 

Deaths: 

Helen Lum 2-27-36 to 7-4-25

Obituary:

Last Waltz Celebrates Life Of Legendary Local Line-Dancer

by Wanda Sue Parrott

     Helena Lum, line dance teacher on the Monterey Peninsula for 30 years, was honored at a memorial service on Sun., July 20 at the Oldemeyer Center, Seaside. Her handwritten farewell greeted friends and family at the door as they filed into the community room: “Until we meet again, our next dance will be in Heaven.”

     A luscious Chinese luau-style buffet, hosted by Helena’s family, was enjoyed by around 200 guests. Highlight of the feast of chicken wings, chowmein, and broccoli were two rose-hued roasted pigs gleaming from heads to hooves.

     Helena’s husband, David, a retired pharmacist and founding partner of the former Monte Mart, their five children, and grandchildren wore multi-colored country-western scarves that were the basic costume of Helena’s extended family of line dancers in local shows and on cruises. Helena had personally gone on 77 cruises. She loved travel almost as much as she delighted in fishing. She also enjoyed her last decade as a Tap Banana, a local tap dancer from age 55 to 92.

     Helena was born in China but became a World War Two refugee with her parents and siblings, moving to London before settling in Los Angeles.  Her husband, David, who survives her along with their five children and numerous grandchildren, is a retired pharmacist and co-founder of the former Monte Mart on Lighthouse Ave.

     Greg Yamazaki, Helena’s dance partner, joined her via video to lead a final session of line dancing with about 100 line and tap dancers. Helena, clad in their traditional country western costume, led the dance from a big screen on stage in ¾ time to the tune “Waltz Me to Heaven Tonight.”  Helena was born Feb. 27, 1936, and died July 4, 2025. She was 86.

                                                         –

Line dance teachers Helena Lum with Tap Bananas’ choreographer Lois LeBlanc and dancer Wanda Sue Parrott at the City of Seaside’s older adult program’s annual country western dance at the Oldemeyer Center in 2024.

Photo by Josie Guerrero