Community mourns loss of Lesley Devine

Lesley Devine Lesley Devine, a founding member of the city of Calabasas and longtime advocate for the community’s parks and open space, passed away on Jan. 5 folowing a long bout with cancer. She was 63.

Until last year, Devine had served on every city council since incorporation in 1991 and was perhaps known best for her leading role in the fight against the controversial Ahmanson Ranch development. Devine also helped in the effort to transfer ownership of Soka University into the public trust.

She was mayor of the city twice.

Her determination to preserve the city’s quality of life earned respect and praise from friends and colleagues.

“One thing that stands out is she was never afraid to be a lone voice no matter what,” said Michael Brockman, Devine’s longtime companion.

“When she set her target on something she never let anything get in her way.”

Devine lost her only election in 2005 and retired from elected politics. Her defeat in the March city council election might have been due to concerns about her health, some observers said.

“She had physical limitations, but we were working under the assumption that she was going to be okay,” Brockman said. “We had long talks about the election and the fascinating thing is that when she decided to run it was to be full bore.”

While many celebrated the changing of the guard on the Calabasas City Council—newcomers Jon Wolfson and Mary Sue Maurer replaced Devine and fellow incumbent Michael Harrison— Devine felt hurt that voters shunned her for the first time in her career.

“Of course there was disappointment,” Brockman said. “She ran to win.”

Devine previously served as an advisory board member for the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and on the executive board of the San Fernando Valley Economic Alliance. She led the city’s Open Space and Public Safety task forces, and prior to serving on the city council she was an elected director of the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains. She was president of the resource district for five years.

Devine was passionately committed to the community—and also keenly aware of the city’s role in history. Among other things, she helped push for the preservation of Old Town Calabasas, a popular destination in the heart of the city.

“I truly believe that the last of the Old West—Calabasas—is the best of the new west,” Devine was quoted as saying in 2005.

After stepping down from the council she devoted time to Spotlight the Arts, a grass-roots effort to raise funds and awareness for a new community theater in Calabasas. “She was an activist,” said Toby Keeler, Spotlight co-chair. “She knew what she wanted and she always had the best interests of the city at heart.” Devine was active in the Democratic Party and was a founding member of the National Women’s Political Caucus, San Fernando Valley Chapter. She also served four terms as president of the Greater Mulwood Homeowners Association and was on the board

of the Las Virgenes

Homeowners Federation. Rarely was there a move made politically in Calabasas and surrounding Los Angeles County in which Lesley Devine didn’t play a role.

“She leaves a legacy of being one of the giants of Calabasas history. She was there from the very beginning,” said friend and City Councilmember James Bozajian. “She will be greatly missed by the city.”

Memorial service and burial was Monday at Mt. Sinai Memorial Park in Los Angeles. Devine is survived by Brockman and by her grown children, daughter, Beth, and son, Michael.

Brockman said one of Devine’s most gratifying moments was witnessing the 1999 opening of the Calabasas Klubhouse Preschool at Creekside Park.

In lieu of flowers, tax deductible donations are requested for the Calabasas Klubhouse Parent Participation Group, which helps children in need of tuition assistance. Mail donations to: 3655 Old Topanga Canyon Road, Calabasas, CA 91302.