In Memoriam Eugene Gilman Smith Eugene “Gene” Gilman Smith, husband of Margaret Smith, passed away at home on hospice on April 11. He is survived by three daughters, Barb Smith, Bev Moran and Susan Pullen, granddaughter Trinity Pullen, and son-in-laws Mike Morang and Bob Pullen. Gene was born in Dexter, Maine, and enjoyed hunting and fishing on the family farm. He was married to Margaret for almost 70 years when she passed last year. They lived in Leisure World since 2004. Gene enjoyed playing cribbage, pinochle, and working at the Friends of the Library, as well as working with the Golden Age Foundation and AARP filing taxes. Gene and Margaret were members of the Leisure World Baptist Church for many years. He loved giving hugs to all of his friends and family. He was a lifelong true blue Dodgers fan and loved Vin Scully and all of his stories. His family knew during baseball season, he would always be watching TV cheering on his Dodgers. Gene was a wonderful family man and is in heaven with Margaret. His daughters say they are they luckiest kids ever and will miss their daddy. —Bev Morang

In Memoriam Editha Elbo 83 William Dreger 91 Anupam Shukla 67 Charles Comer, Jr. 81 Silvano Hernandez 68 Dale Blome 76 Nora Borg-Breen 79 Glen Ripley 66 Gregory Maday 84 Francine Brodkin 75 Sharon Denham 83 Robert Parkin 94 Catherine Robinson 71 Dorothy Reiner 93 Jefree Hunt 77 Ngoc Joan Ly 51 Elinore Simmons 88 Patricia Watkins 89 Dolly Langan 94 Mary Jo Wohlgemuth 88 Ngoc Joan Ly 51 Elinore Simmons 88 Patricia Watkins 89 Dolly Langan 94 Mary Jo Wohlgemuth 88 John Buckingham 78 Candie Davenport 68 Lee Ann Barton 93 Otto Timmons 66 Larry Heard 75 Families Assisted by McKenzie Mortuary, 562-961-9301 —paid obituary

Obituary and Tribute to Tom Pontac by Jeanne Pontac Tom was born on April 7, 1936, and passed away peacefully on April 6, 2026, hours shy of his 90th birthday. Tom lived with Parkinson’s Disease for over 13 years and a three-time Cancer survivor. His motto was: “ADAPT AND OVERCOME,” something he did daily. Up until the last few months, Tom was very active including walking 5K races and coming in first place in his age group. He also walked with the Leisure Leggers running/walking club which he started 25 years ago. Tom’s father told him that “we were put on this earth to help others” something that was ingrained in his actions. Tom willed his body to the UC Irvine Willed Body Program and supported various charities. He couldn’t pass a person in need on the street, so he had an energy bar and $20 to give them. Tom was an extraordinary man. His neurologist said that he was “amazing” an adjective that he loved and lived up to. He is the author of “Movies in a Minute” with 100 poems condensed in a page of poetry, describing the essence of 100 movies. We have been married for 30 years and he used to say that he was glad he “found me” at the age of 60 (I was 50 years old). I told him that I wasn’t lost, and he said that he was!! Tom was the love of my life, and we spent 30 years traveling the world and completing marathons and ultramarathons. He was my coach and running partner and together we completed in over 400 races including Paris, Italy, Ireland, Canada, New York, Los Angeles, San Diego and Long Beach. In fact, Tom is a Legacy Runner for the Long Beach, having run its marathons since the inception in 1984. Tom lived by several other mottos: “It’s never too late to be what you might have been” and “Old age isn’t for sissies.” He attended California State Long Beach University at the age of 60 and earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a certificate in gerontology at the age of 64. His love for knowledge resulted in his taking over 270 college courses until he “dropped out” at the age of 77. Tom had a second career for 10 years at CSULB as community liaison between the University and Leisure World. Tom also served with me in California State Military Reserves (CSMR) for four years until 2019. We both served at the Sunburst Military Academy for at risk teenagers at the Los Alamitos Base. Tom “respectfully” had to salute me while in uniform as I was an officer. When he got out, I told him that he didn’t have to salute me or call me Ma’am but just say “YES” to anything I asked or told him to do. Tom was a loving grandfather to Ben, Cole, Luke and Fabian, and a Big Brother to Rene. My profound loss is tempered by gratitude and love that he allowed me to share his extraordinary life for 30 years. —Paid Obituary •••

In Memoriam Editha Elbo 83 William Dreger 91 Anupam Shukla 67 Charles Comer, Jr. 81 Silvano Hernandez 68 Dale Blome 76 Nora Borg-Breen 79 Glen Ripley 66 Gregory Maday 84 Francine Brodkin 75 Sharon Denham 83 Robert Parkin 94 Catherine Robinson 71 Dorothy Reiner 93 Jefree Hunt 77 Ngoc Joan Ly 51 Elinore Simmons 88 Patricia Watkins 89 Dolly Langan 94 Mary Jo Wohlgemuth 88 Christi Thomsen 74 Kwesi Sarpong 57 Jean Greyshock 100 Jean Dennis 93 Shelley Bancroft 58 James Kelly, Jr. 82 Donald Rypinski 90 Keith Yuhl 63 Families Assisted by McKenzie Mortuary, 562-961-9301 —paid obituary

In Memoriam Natalie Evans 62 Richard Pavlat 92 Michael Odom 78 Richard Wilson 75 Colleen Racine 71 Ruth Linzaga 89 Rosella Loftus 88 Angel Alvarez 80 Donald Wills 55 Nicole Soccio 50 Matthew Murillo 31 Lori Tast 68 Edwin Hill, Jr. 72 Kenneth Rausch 73 Pamela Young 83 Sarath Ngeth 63 Kristi Watson 78 Paul Sweeney 72 Candelaria Taborda De Esquiaqui 92 Rudolf Zapalac 81 Families Assisted by McKenzie Mortuary, 562-961-9301 —paid obituary

In Memoriam Michael Gerdis 84 Feral Williams 67 Yothin Jantravat 88 Cyndi Dickens 56 John Cannici 87 Randy Smith 79 Lara Thach 38 John Odom 76 George Matejovsky 84 Dennis Williams 86 Thomas Wilhelm 85 Elisabeth Moore 75 Armida Persello 95 Gregory Bowling 58 Michael Icenogle 75 Roberto Molina 60 Mary Clysdale 92 Edward Zosky, Jr. 76 Corinne Nichols 73 Roxana Barnett 94 Edith English 90 Families Assisted by McKenzie Mortuary, 562-961-9301. —paid obituary