Belinda Hawthorne

May 27, 1953 – February 9, 2008

This remembrance was written and submitted by Belinda’s mother, Peggy Ekram:

Belinda Alyse Hawthorne:
DOB: May 27, 1953, Richmond, CA
DOD: February 9, 2008, Los Angeles, CA
Sister to Brian D. Hawthorne and Alana Schmideler Linton

Belinda’s family moved from El Cerrito, California to Colorado in

1962. In 1964 they moved to Boulder where Belinda attended Washington Elementary, Casey Jr. High and Boulder High School.

She briefly attended art classes at Colorado University before moving to Los Angeles, California where she received her graphic arts training to become a free-lance artist. In 1983 she took an associate art director post at Scott Lancaster Mills Atha in Los Angeles. Eventually she became art director for the advertising agency of Dailey & Associates in L.A. In 1988 she won two CLIO Awards for the California Lottery TV/Cinema Productions titled, “It’s Quite Simple” and “Add On” that first appeared in 1987.

Belinda was diagnosed with Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis in 1988. While confined to a wheelchair, she continued to work for 10-plus years. Upon losing full use of her arms she entered a nursing home until her death from respiratory failure at end-stage Multiple Sclerosis. Belinda had joined the Jewish Faith while confined to the wheelchair and is buried at the Jewish Hillside Memorial Park in Culver City, California.

The following poem was part of Belinda’s memorial service:

FRIENDS

As we travel life’s road
And through darkness it wends, What lights the way?
The radiance of friends.

If we stumble or fall
When our courage unbends, What helps us go on?
The strength of our friends.

If we falter or fail
Or we must make amends, Who stands staunchly by? Of course—it’s our friends.

Though man may find gold Or to fame he ascends, The richest of all
Is the one who has friends!

James E. Bliss

Ilse Dunbar Wheeler shares:
I was sad when I found out about Belinda Hawthorne. She was a good and kind friend to me in junior high when I really needed a friend. What a gentle, but strong soul. I wish her peace.

Vivian Jean states:
I was so sorry to hear from Chris Elliott that Belinda Hawthorne died in 2008. I corresponded with her in the late 80’s.

Mary Sigley Brown recalls:
Belinda had a very big heart and a lot of compassion for others.