Obituaries

Galia Ann Ell
1937-2021

Galia Ann Ell was born of Russian ancestry in Kobe, Japan, on Sept. 5, 1937, to Olga and Anatoli Bendersky. She lived her early childhood years in Tientsin, China, with her family until the Japanese invasion. Her father, who was the distributor for Warner Bros. films for all of Asia, was wrongfully executed when she was around 9 years old. She and her mother fled to America with the help of her second father, Irving Layton, and they settled in Hollywood.

Ann was a graduate of Hollywood High. For her first job in 1958, she worked as a secretary at the William Esty Ad Agency, where she eventually wrote and produced “TV Technique” commercials for Winston Cigarettes with actors like Bob Cummings and Eve Drake, as well as Howard Adams and Ida Lupino for the show, “Mr. Adams & Eve.”

Ann herself acted in various Russian programs and plays in Hollywood. Talent scouts and producers, including Joe Pasternak, courted her to become a movie star. She declined in order to start her family and to raise her children. Ann married her first husband, Les Lowe, and together they had a son, Tony. She later married Victor Ell and moved to Alhambra, California, where they had their first born, Robert. One year later they moved to Hasting’s Ranch, at Greenhill Road in Pasadena, where a year later they had their second son, Craig.

Ann was an administrative secretary and teacher of Russian language during the founding years of the Gooden School in Sierra Madre in 1975. She also worked as a typesetter and secretary for the Sierra Madre News as well as for the Pasadena Community Housing Services and Head Start programs, where she mastered her computer skills, designing programs and music books.

She was an avid tennis player throughout her life, a black belt in Karate and an award winning poet. She was a member of the Pasadena Women’s Garden Club and Hastings Hens. She worked in ceramics and did sewing and sequin work. Ann most enjoyed being with her three sons, eating crab, playing Bingo and she loved going to the casinos with her friends.

“Annie” loved her time living at Leisure World Seal Beach, and she especially loved all her friends and neighbors, including the four legged ones. She will miss her time in Mutual 6.

Ann is survived by her three children, Tony Lowe, Robert Ell and Craig Ell; her first husband, Lesley Lowe; and cousins Deanna Boulton and family, Boris Mishel and family, Tyrone Estrada and family and Eric Ell and family. She is also survived by her kitty, Kelly.

Galia Ann Ell passed away due to COVID-19 related causes on Feb.14, Valentine’s Day.

Ann wished to have her ashes spread at a private ceremony at the Pioneer Cemetery in Sierra Madre, California.