Paula Kent Meehan Dead at 82 by Matt Lopez & John L
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Adopt A Pet This Sunday At Woofstock At La Cienega Park! BEVERLY HILLS VOLUME XXXXVIIII NUMBER 26 $135 PER YEAR - $1.25 PER COPY • www.bhcourier.com SINCE 1965 June 27, 2014 THIS ISSUE Courier Chairman, Philanthropist Paula Kent Meehan Dead At 82 By Matt Lopez & John L. Seitz scratch was at a Christian Science Lucy Meyer won a second Gold Medal in the Special Ask one of Paula Kent Mee- maternity facility in Beverly Hills, Olympics. 4 han’s many friends and you’ll get where she was born in 1931. Her a different answer about what father, who had previously been made her so special. an accountant for Fox Films, reset- Whether it was her loyal tled the family to Burbank, where friendship, her wide-reaching Meehan met her lifelong friend philanthropic and generous spirit Debbie Reynolds. or her reputation as a savvy, no- “Debbie actually wanted to nonsense businesswoman, it’s be a gym teacher while my aspira- Larry King was on hand to help Rite Aid re-open its clear that Meehan left an in- tion was to be an actress.” Mee- Canon Drive store. 4 domitable legacy behind when han told The Courier in 2004. she died peacefully Monday at Meehan dropped out of high her Beverly Hills home. school and became a mother The beginning of Meehan’s while in her mid-teens. While landmark life that saw her build a beauty product empire from (see ‘PAULA KENT MEEHAN,’ page 15) Daffodil, a 4-month-old See pages 2 and 3 for pictures of Paula Kent Dachshund/Papillon mix is looking for a home. 4 Meehan’s extraordinary life. Paula’s family will be accepting a commendation from Mayor Lili Bosse PaulaPaula KentKent MeehanMeehan Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at Woofstock. 1931-2014 Mark Tronstein To Lead Rodeo City Staff Prevents City The Beverly Hilton hosted the “Entrepreneur of the Drive Committee Following Council From Further 9900 Year” awards. 5 Jim Jahant’s Departure Wilshire Investigations NEW ERA ON RODEO By Laura Coleman deferring acceptance of the re- DRIVE—The much beloved Despite allegations by the port and reopening the investi- Jim Jahant said farewell to Beverly Hills Unified School gation because of a 30-day the Rodeo Drive Committee District that the City had pre- provision in the Municipal he has helmed for the past maturely accepted a “Fault Code. Beverly Hills’ Ora Kohan three years in a ceremony was named 2014 National Rupture Investigation” for “That provision has run American Miss California. 5 at the Luxe Hotel on 9900 Wilshire, on Tuesday City and passed,” he said. “We can- Wednesday. Mayor Lili Manager Jeff Kolin told the City not do what was asked of us.” •Fashion 8 Bosse declared the day Council it was prohibited from (see ‘CITY STAFF,’ page 19) •Active Retirement 10 “Jim Jahant Day” in his •Letters To The Editor 31 honor, saying: “You are such a big part of what Bosse, Mirisch, Krasne makes Rodeo Drive so spe- cial.” Jahant said: “When you do something you love, Protect Taxpayers From you don’t call it work.” Pictured (from left): Jahant Rising Employee Costs with incoming Rodeo Drive President Mark Tronstein. By Victoria Talbot reading of five proposed Mem- George Christy, Mayor Lili Bosse and oranda of Understanding be- councilmembers John Mirisch tween the City of Beverly Hills Page 6 By Laura Coleman exclusive Beverly Hills shopping and Nancy Krasne took a ma- and the Municipal Employees “The Staff’s Excited In anticipation of Mark Tron- destination. jor stand against rising Beverly Association, Safety Support As- About The Liquor stein taking the reigns of the Rodeo The Courier: Who is Mark Hills City Employee costs on sociation, Management and License For Trattoria Drive Committee, which his father Tronstein? Tuesday. Professional Employees Amici, Which We helped co-found, The Courier Mark Tronstein: Probably first On the second formal Won Through The caught up with Tronstein over cof- and foremost, I am a father and (see ‘PROTECTING TAXPAYERS,’ page 16) Lottery,” says ON THE GO GUY — Prince Michael Owner-Chef Gelber fee from Bouchon Bakery at the husband. Family is very important Beverly Canon Gardens, across the to me. Especially given that I lost Jackson mingled with the crowd at the Tovar. Bartender Los Angeles Premiere of HBO’s Tr ue Martin Lee Promises street from where he oversees the my father and a brother early. As I real estate activities at Andell Hold- look at my kids, and spending time Blood season 7, the final season, at the The Best New TCL Chinese Theatre. Drinks From Europe ings. The Committee, which annu- with my kids, it makes it more Editorial from ally lights the City up with holiday meaningful. It’s important to me. For more photos, see George Christy’s Rabbi Pressman decor, puts on the Concours d’Ele- The Courier: How did you get column on page 6. AND MORE gance on Father’s Day, is known for involved with the Rodeo Drive CLASSIFIEDS 25 the Rodeo Walk of Style, and re- Committee? • Announcements cently held the biggest bash the Tronstein: I moved back to Los • Real Estate City has ever seen with the Centen- Angeles in 2006, and at that time, I • Rentals nial Celebration. It also represents was looking to get more involved in • Sales most of the 70 businesses on the (see ‘TRONSTEIN,’ page 7) • and More Celebrity Photo Agency Celebrity Photo Page 2 | June 27, 2014 BEVERLY HILLS Paula Kent Meehan 1931-2014 "What does one say when “Paula Kent came from "She was one of the self- “Paula Kent Meehan was “Paula Kent Meehan, one asked to write a tribute for nothing and with great initia- made businesswomen. A very an incomparably savvy busi- of the greatest icons of the pro- their best friend? It seems too tive became one of the fore- generous human being. I was nesswoman, an inspirational fessional beauty industry, has little to say that we've all lost a most and acclaimed interna- thrilled with the way Paula philanthropist and most impor- left her earthly body, after real- great friend and a great hu- tional business women. stepped to the plate with her tantly one of my dearest and ly enjoying her human manitarian, as Paula was so Her loyalty to her friends generosity toward opening The truest friends for more than 30 life…and rejoined her spiritual much more than that. I am in- and associates was astounding Wallis in Beverly Hills. years. With her desire to excel realm. May we celebrate her deed most blessed to have as were her contributions to I had known her as having in all that she did, I feel fortu- life with peace, love and hap- lived long enough to be able to their charitable causes. the most wonderful Koi pond nate to have learned from her piness.” say that I am her oldest friend. Paula was born with an where she hosted and served what dedication, enthusiasm –– John Paul Dejoria, As children, young girls, and active generosity gene that these marvelous Japanese-style and commitment can bring co-founder of Paul grown women, we saw each never failed in her life or even dinners. you. Simply put she was bril- Mitchell other through many of life’s in death. Her charitable and Those are some of the liant. She was unyielding in glorious moments, as well as civic contributions are leg- nicest memories I have of her compassion and made every- “Paula Kent Meehan was a some of life’s rougher mo- endary, as is her love of ani- or anyone for that matter. " one feel exceptionally loved. trailblazer for women in busi- ments. Fortunately, glory won mals and through her generous –– Wallis Annenberg With her passing a tremendous ness leadership positions. She the race, and we had many planning, that will continue for void is now present not only in was an incredible entrepreneur conversations about how "I could ask her anything my heart, but also in our com- and role model for everyone years to come. and she always came through. blessed we felt about that. Whether you knew her munity at large.” through her generous support Paula was truly an incredible Paula was a real friend and my –– Candy Spelling of so many worthy causes. personally as I happily did, or race track buddy. " businesswoman, achieving the through her wonderful beauty She established a lasting impossible, and doing it so –– TV legend Dick Van bond with President and Mrs. products, Paula Kent Meehan Patten brilliantly. We were two little put amazing color into all our Reagan that spanned many girls from Burbank with such lives…. It will live on through “She was so sweet and decades. Paula was a generous dreams, we didn’t even know future generations that will unassuming. For instance, supporter of the Ronald Rea- how big! Paula loved God continue to enjoy her contribu- once at The Thalians, I noticed gan Presidential Library and more than anything, and it tions and her legacy. her necklace, and asked ‘Is that personally traveled to attend brings me comfort to know I love you forever Paula.” real?’ She looked apologetic, the international events sur- that we can all celebrate her –– Ruta Lee, shrugged her shoulders and in rounding the celebration of graduation to Heaven. Chairman of the Board of a little girl voice, said ‘yes.’ “ Ronald Reagan’s Centennial in It goes without saying that The Thalians –– Pat Van Patten 2011.” she will be missed. I will think –– Fred Ryan, Chair- of her every moment of every "What she did for The Wal- man of the Board of the day.