The quintessential civically active and influential leader of the community for decades, one half of what today would be called a power couple, Andy Alexander died Wednesday morning at 7:15. Her three daughters, Karen, Deborah and Kim, were in her presence.
The widow of Richard Alexander, only four-term, 16-year mayor in Culver City history, Ms. Alexander was perhaps the best known in here later days as a founding member of the Culver City Youth Health Center, on the campus of Culver City High School.
The Alexanders moved to Culver City in1968, and six years later he began setting mayoralty records.
Strongly animated politically, Ms. Alexander opened her home to campaign events for ladies or gentlemen running for the School Board or City Council.
The diminutive, peppery and always pleasantly outspoken Ms. Alexander was a proud political liberal.
Very proud.
One afternoon a few years ago in downtown Los Angeles, the editor of this newspaper was passing through when he noticed Ms. Alexander on a street corner, appearing to be waiting for transportation. It was nowhere in sight.
The editor offered her a ride, believing she would say thanks and leap aboard.
Hardly.
She hesitated. And hesitated.
Remember, she was foremost an ardent liberal.
The editor was unabashedly conservative.
Could they co-exist peacefully in his car for the length of the drive back home to Culver City?
She was skeptical. He was not.
This was the first time the two persons with muscular political beliefs had been together in such a confined environment.
At the start, the temperature was 32 degrees. In a few blocks, it rose to 70. A few more blocks, and the conversation between two almost-chums had elevated again. Now it was 90 degrees by the time the almost-friends reached Ms. Alexander’s longtime home across from Culver City High School.
A recent biographical sketch sought to capture the essential Ms. Alexander, whose almost exclusively used nickname was drawn from Ann D.
“For Andy, being connected to her community is very important. She worked as a teacher at a variety of levels since 1957, and despite having retired 15 years ago, she continues to make education a key component of her activities. She has been a docent at the Skirball Cultural Center and still teaches composition and writing two mornings a week at West Los Angeles College.”
Services will be at Temple Akiba.
Andy and Richard were an exceptional couple. Richard died approximately 11 years ago. It was mentioned at the memorial service that while Andy was Jewish and Richard was a Christian when they married, though Richard eventually converted, they still remained a mixed couple. Each held firmly to his or her political beliefs; she was a Democrat and he was a Republican.