If you live in the South Bay area of Los Angeles, you have probably heard the surname Vanderlip. Financier Frank A. Vanderlip bought 16,000 acres of undeveloped land on the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 1913 with the dream of creating a community not unlike the Italian Riviera. In 1924 he built his own home, Villa Narcissa, and that’s where his son Kelvin’s widow, Elin Brekke Vanderlip lives to this day. She turned 90 last weekend.
Mrs. Vanderlip also released a book his past year about her life and the history of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. It is called “Eccentric, Obstinate and Fabulous” and on Sunday, June 14, we had a tea in her honor, as well as a discussion and book signing at the historic Malaga Cove Library. She has indeed had a very colorful life and her memory for names and places are still sharp as ever.
I was photographing the event for the Malaga Cove Library to put on our Friends of the Library weblog, but following are a few photos of her.
Daily Breeze columnist John Bogert wrote a wonderful article about Mrs. Vanderlip’s birthday party on Tuesday, June 9, which you can read at “Age hasn’t reduced RVP woman’s stature.” You can also see photos of Mrs. Vanderlip and her home, Villa Narcissa, by Daily Breeze photographer Brad Graverson in his online Capture Gallery. They are well worth looking at. Her home is a landmark high above Portuguese Bend and you can get the feeling of it by clicking above.
Though I am not and will never be a local legend, it's nice sometimes rubbing elbows with those who are.
