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DLANC Volunteer Lesley Taplin Killed in Car Accident

By Eric Richardson
Published: Wednesday, April 15, 2009, at 10:05AM

Don Garza []

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Longtime DLANC volunteer Lesley Gilb Taplin was killed in a freeway accident early Tuesday morning. Taplin was involved in DLANC from its formation in 2002, and more recently was a driving force in the neighborhood council's Education committee and its work on Skid Row.

Taplin split her time between Los Angeles and the Bay Area, where she and her sister ran , a small publishing company founded by their mother, Dr. Corinne Lathrop Gilb. She was an intrepid traveler, and spent a good deal of time in the U.S., Europe and Morocco.

She is survived by two children. Her daughter, Blyth Taplin is a lawyer in New Orleans, and her son, Nick Taplin is a Los Angeles recording engineer.

According to an email sent out late last night by Qathryn Brehm, details of a remembrance are being worked out.

Conversation

Eric Richardson () on April 15, 2009, at 10:10AM – #1

Having known Lesley for pretty much my entire time Downtown, news of her passing was quite the sad way to start my morning. It would be hard to understate how important Lesley has been to DLANC's work with Skid Row. She was a tireless volunteer, even when it meant flying in from exotic locales for an event, and more than that was simply just a kind-hearted, giving person.

() on April 15, 2009, at 10:20AM – #2

This is horrible news. Lesley was a wonderful woman and a huge supporter of Downtown, Skid Row and the Skid Row Photo Club. RIP.

Guest 1

Penelope Bullock on April 15, 2009, at 10:30AM – #3

So devastating to hear what has happened. Leslie was frequently present at the Skid Row Photography Club galleries and she will be missed! My condolences.

Guest 2

Jonathan Jerald on April 15, 2009, at 10:42AM – #4

What a loss! Lesley's encouragement to artists and art groups, her selfless efforts on causes ranging from low income housing to the creation of Gallery Row and the downtown art walk -- too numerous to recall. She was always enthusiastic, upbeat, with remarkable patience. Beautiful, kind, generous . . .

Guest 3

Bert Green on April 15, 2009, at 10:46AM – #5

I am so sorry to hear this. Lesley was one of the first people I met downtown. She was at every meeting I went to for the first 5 years I was here. She was instrumental in this strong downtown community and will be sorely missed.

Guest 4

kelly thompson on April 15, 2009, at 11:03AM – #6

So sorry to hear about this. Condolences to her family.

Dawna Nolan on April 15, 2009, at 11:12AM – #7

This is such sad news. No one who's part of DLANC could help knowing how much Lesley contributed, and what a positive person she was. It's a terrible loss for our community, and for the world.

Qathryn Brehm on April 15, 2009, at 11:20AM – #8

Thanks Eric, I just talked with her son Nicholas and he wants to do a Downtown life celebration for Lesley. Lesley was one of them most vibrant people I have ever known. That is the way she would want it. Will keep you posted with details as we know them.

() on April 15, 2009, at 11:40AM – #9

Please keep me informed about the life celebration, I can speak for myself and the Skid Row Photo Club and say we all want to be a part of it.

Guest 5

Christian Martinez on April 15, 2009, at 12:45PM – #10

IN MEMORY

Downtown LA Life Magazine

Ginny-Marie Case on April 15, 2009, at 01:29PM – #11

This is horrible. Lesley was such an amazing person, with great energy. We just saw her during Artwalk, she was rushing around to show her son the galleries, and what Downtown had become.

This is a huge loss to our neighborhood.

Guest 6

Ashley Zarella on April 15, 2009, at 01:31PM – #12

When I first met Lesley, I asked her about her involvement Downtown. She told me she simply wanted to volunteer. Lesley was committed to ACTION in support of her values - education, social equity, community participation, etc. - and was an inspiration to many of us. We will miss her very much.

Don Garza on April 15, 2009, at 02:38PM – #13

Many of us in skid row are sick right now at this loss. I am holding it in as much as I can.... Others are also in a lot of emotional pain as we deal with our loss. We loved Lesley like a mother Theresa. She was everything to many of us. The neighborhood council would not have a artists seat, skid row residents seat or a downtown at large homeless seat on the board. There would have not been neighborhood council elections without her. I was so glad she had just recently moved to Los Feliz and I was looking forward to spending lot's more time with her, because she was close by. Now my soul is missing a piece something fierce. Her energy is now being shared with the rest of the world and we can't be selfish with her presence anymore. I am just plain sick as are many of us in Downtown Los Angeles..... I know she was a positive person , but I and others will take this very hard..... Allow us this.....

Guest 7

Hal Bastian on April 15, 2009, at 02:38PM – #14

My prayers are with Lesley's family and friends. She was always so kind to me and to all of us on DLANC.

Guest 8

joseph on April 15, 2009, at 03:07PM – #15

What an awful loss of such a wonderful person.

Guest 5

Don Noyes-More on April 15, 2009, at 03:20PM – #16

I've known Lesley since 2004. We talked many, many, times in person and by phone. She was the most positive, caring and insightful person I've come to know in Downtown.

Look up in the night sky, she's the brightest star looking down on her Downtown.

God Bless you Lesley and thank you for so many uncountable kindnesses to myself and many others.

Don Noyes-More

Guest 9

Kent Gibson on April 15, 2009, at 04:12PM – #17

Lesley has a clean clear spirit that lighted up the world. She will be with all of us in paradise.

Guest 10

Wendy Bruget on April 15, 2009, at 04:12PM – #18

My deepest sympathy for her family, she emanated love & kindess, a tremendous loss to downtown.

Guest 11

Nic Cha Kim on April 15, 2009, at 04:35PM – #19

I don't even know what to say to this... Lesley Taplin was one of the first people I met when I joined DLANC in 2004. Always smiling and uberpleasant, she attended practically every AAC meeting as Gallery Row was being born back in the day. Frankly, she was one of the few people that made volunteering precious time to Downtown not just tolerable, but a real joy. My condolences to her family.

Please inform this group of her life celebration.

Guest 12

Amanda Karam Rohrbach on April 15, 2009, at 04:52PM – #20

Lesley Taplin was a friend, mentor, co-worker, and surrogate mother to me years ago when I was brand-new to L.A. and desperately in need of guidance. We shared a tiny office and many wonderful conversations about life and the Universe.

She was a Shining Star - one of the truly beautiful souls on this Earth - and her light will be felt forever, though she will be dearly missed.

Explore the Cosmos, Lesley...

Guest 13

Russell Brown on April 15, 2009, at 06:25PM – #21

Lesley was a founding member of DLANC, before I was downtown or involved with DLANC. She created the foundation and vision that so many others built their projects on.

Lesley almost single-handedly started the DLANC Education committee. One of the first projects was to create a booth at Project Homeless Connect event, to do a used book give away at the event. It sounds so strange now, but we had no idea how we would be received or involved but Lesley pushed to make it happen. For years, the participation by the social service agencies and the CCE/ Skid Row community in DLANC and a broader part of the community had been minimal or adversarial.

Lesley loved education and books, and wanted to bring that to the community. I remember folks saying that the books would go to waste, be thrown away or sold for drugs. Lesley knew otherwise, and pushed forward. Lesley’s intent was “If I am wrong we tried, but if I am right, they can read, learn and we can help things change, even if just a little.”

That day at Project Homeless Connect was intended to help the lives of those who needed housing, care, services and a path out. We never realized as volunteers, it would change ourselves.

Project Homeless Connect is a one day, one stop shop of departments, services, connections and presentation of options to connect those in need. It serves a few thousand in a 6 hour period.

Lesley had organized donations of 50 cases of books. She had spent weeks collecting, moving and sorting all the books. As we set up the booth, we had decided that a 2 book limit would help us serve all, and also prevent a few from taking all the books and selling them.

What we did not expect was that since we had set a 2 book limit, many folks took a long time to specially select the books. In the process, they told us the stories of their lives, what they hoped to change and asked for legal books and travel books and foundational tools to change their lives.

And dictionaries.... So many folks said that when they read and wanted to apply for jobs and try to better themselves, there were words they did not know. So dictionaries for adults and kids and Spanish language books became a big part of the giveaways. Three years in a row now.

Many people said they read because it was an escape. Reading allowed them to travel, to imagine and to see a different world then the present that surrounded them. It passed the time, and there is so much time when you are not working or are alone.

We realized that day, that the differences between those of us involved downtown- in LoftLand- often just getting by, was really not that much different than those who were recently homeless. A job loss, a failed business,a medical emergency, a bad relationship or a drug or alcohol issue had taken those like us to another place that was so different from our lives. We found out that so many folks had talents, energy, ability to work and a passion for their lives. We left understanding that we were all part of that great diverse community called humanity. Not separates.

Many stay in Skid Row because it is their choice, their home, their family. The place where they have friends, history and can make a difference.

We realized that what we knew about downtown being such a great place because of the close knit community of neighbors, artists, activists and a business community willing to step up and get involved also existed in Skid Row. The leaders of OG Man, Don Garza, General Jeff, Wendell Blessingham, Melvin, Ron Crockett and many others and the service providers were very willing to work with those willing to help them also.

Skid Row Photography Club, support for Skid Row Brigade, support for Skid Row 3 on 3 basketball, neighborhood clean ups and other projects all came from that project Homess Connect booth and Lesley starting and working all the time to be the bridge, the mediator, the leader, the hard working volunteer and the friend to so many.

Lesley, we will miss you. So so much.

Thanks for making us so much better than ourselves.

Russ Brown

Guest 14

Conor Hunter on April 15, 2009, at 09:34PM – #22

I am incredibly sad to hear this news. I've talked with Leslie at various Skid Row Photo Club meetings and functions in the past and she was always incredibly kind and giving. I'm so sorry.

Guest 15

Purple Haze on April 16, 2009, at 01:57AM – #23

From hundreds of miles away and years ago came her messages, at the time that she was sorting and sifting through mountains of her mother's effects.

I never met her. But from those few messages and all of these encomiums, I sit here wondering: who or what had led her to such a life in Downtown L.A.?

Michael Blaze on April 16, 2009, at 02:08AM – #24

Just about a year ago I laid in a hospital bed at USC County Hospital forty pounds thinner having died and come back several times as I am told, right out of an operation in a comatose state I regained consciousness to this tall blond angelic form that as time went bye I was able to realize I had not died and that it was my friend Lesley Taplin holding my hand looking down literally willing me back to life. I kept wondering what was it that had brought this worldly accomplished dignified woman to the bedside of a man that lives in skid row, what could it be? I couldn’t understand or see what she saw when she looked at me but if she could believe my life was valuable then I could begin to fight back and live, and though I had known her well for several years, that was the first time I really saw and truly came to know the inner beauty and unconditional Love of the late Lesley Taplin, may she rest in peace.

Guest 16

Oscar on April 16, 2009, at 11:05AM – #25

My prayers condolences to her family and friends.

Guest 17

Julie Swayze on April 16, 2009, at 11:48AM – #26

Lesley was such a sweet and kind person. When we opened the bookstore, she was one of the first people to welcome us to the community. She had been working on a literacy program in the neighborhood and was excited that there would be a new resource for books. She dropped by the store on Art Walk night to promote the Skid Row photography club, it's very sad to think that was the last time I would see her. She will be missed in our community.

Guest 18

Walter Melton on April 16, 2009, at 06:22PM – #27

This news just rocked me. Lesley was very kind to me when I landed on Skid Row. She embraced me with her special warmth, encouraged me with her soft and effective style of cheerleading. She always smiled and brought a smile to the face of many who believed they had nothing about which to smile. She was a saint.

It is a great loss to all of downtown and Skid Row has lost a tireless friend and advocate. She championed the causes of the people who live in the community and did so selflessly. I will miss her

Guest 19

Benjamin Pezzillo on April 16, 2009, at 10:29PM – #28

I don't have words for this news. I have posted her favorite photograph of mine to my homepage. A long overdue print of it sits on a nearby shelf.

Guest 20

Reverend Billy Talen on April 17, 2009, at 02:07PM – #29

Thank you Lesley for your compassion, laughter and vision.

Orlando Ward on April 17, 2009, at 03:50PM – #30

A more soulful, caring person could not be found. We will miss her and have been blessed to know her.

Guest 21

Kristine McKenna on April 18, 2009, at 01:23PM – #31

Lesley was the best friend I've ever had and, like everyone who knew her, I adored her. The enormity of this loss is beyond words. Lesley, I hope you're alright. I'll do my best to do the things I know you'd want me to do to help your friends and family. You gave me so much. What a privilege it was to know you. I send you my deepest love. Kristine

Guest 19

Benjamin Pezzillo on April 19, 2009, at 11:16PM – #32

An idea: the Lesley Taplin Adult Learning Center

Guest 22

Tyra Gilb on April 22, 2009, at 04:42PM – #33

I have been deeply moved, reading these messages about my irreplaceable sister Lesley. Thank you so much to everyone who has written in this space, for it is through all of your testimonials that I have come to truly learn how deeply Lesley touched so very many people.

I would like to share something, below, that Lesley wrote to me in an email on March 2, 2009. I was worried at the time about things that now seem totally unimportant in the grand scheme of Life and Death. Lesley of course had a much deeper, wiser perspective, and sent me these thoughts about how she chose to live. May we carry her words in our hearts as we move through these painful days and honor her immeasurable spirit and love.

Tyra Gilb

"For several years now I have been "operating" on the principle that the future is unknowable, but my obligations to the future are to be as "present" every day as I possibly can be. To do what I can in the areas I've defined as ones I can contribute to for the betterment of this world, to stay as genuinely happy as possible, to help those nearest and dearest in need, to read a little and think a little and dream a little, and never give up on Love. And if I do that every day, then I will have done whatever I can to insure the best possible future for not only myself but those around me. That's what I personally intend to continue doing, those are my own "marching orders", and none of that really depends on money.

What's the worst that can happen, really? In 10 months I have to give up this lovely home, put everything in storage once again, and rent a small apartment (in this new neighborhood!) for myself and maybe Nick, and just carry on, pared down. And I know that if that happens, that I'll be in a better mental place to handle it all because I will have lived fully in the meantime. Living fully is money in the spiritual bank, you can draw on it later when things take a turn..." -Lesley Gilb Taplin, March 2, 2009

Guest 23

Bruce Rosen on April 23, 2009, at 08:24AM – #34

Lesley is a childhood friend who was always a lively spark: compassionate, conscious, creative and loving. These qualities have always been hers, though they developed over the years and contributed to her amazing luminosity. It was a privilege and a great pleasure to share some time with her on this planetary ride. Condolences to Tyra, Nick and Blythe and to the community in downtown LA.

Guest 24

Melvin Ishmael Johnson on April 23, 2009, at 12:25PM – #35

Lesley was a very important supporter for Dramastage-Qumran. She made it possible through Mr. Tom Gilmore for us to use the Regent Theater for a celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday last year and she supported our production of "Catch The Tiger", a play about Marcus Garvey and informed me that she had written a screen-play on Marcus Garvey. Last week at Dramastage performance at the Church of the Nazarene, Ms Earlean Anthony read a poem written for Lesley. Here is the poem.

"A POEM FOR LESLEY TAPLIN"

Like a long distance runner. Lesley passed the baton. The harvest are plentiful. The workers are few. Oh timeless traveler. It's just a journey. Just passing thru. Helping yourself by helping others. Helping the community. Helping the families. Helping the little children. Helping those to help them self. Like Lesley did. Those that know. Teach those that don't. Give of yourself and volunteer some time. And watch your life change. It's about giving. That's where it's at. Extend a helping hand. Share your blessing and make things better. Love books. Love knowledge. And love each other. Like Lesley did. Eternal life. The Eternal Spirit. Be born again and live forever. The baton has been passed. And now it can be told. Lesley reached out to all of us. And touch our souls.

Melvin Ishmael Johnson April 17, 2009

Dramastage-Qumran loved Lesley very much

Guest 25

Jim V. on April 26, 2009, at 12:27AM – #36

The accident that killed Lesley happened just a short distance from me on the 101 freeway that night. I saw her moments after the accident. I'm so sorry she passed away. My condolances to her friends and family. Please drive carefully, folks.

Sandy Handsher on April 26, 2009, at 02:33PM – #37

I just read the obituary in the Marin IJ and have spent the last hours remembering Lesley, who took my screenwriting class at the College of Marin a decade ago. Lesley was a multi-talented woman, driven to live up to her creative potential and to bring those around her with her.

Tyra, I have a small email Lesley sent me after the class was over in December, 1998.
I'd like to send it to you.

I am so sorry for your loss.

Guest 26

Jason Waters on April 27, 2009, at 09:18PM – #38

Condolences to Lesley's family during this tragic time.

Kindly,

Jason Waters ArtistSalon

Guest 27

Douglas and Francoise Kirkland on May 28, 2009, at 03:26PM – #39

How terribly sad. Douglas and I just found out today. Leslie was such an interesting intellectual person. I remember meeting her for the first time when she was very pregnant with Blythe. She was a beautiful person. Our heart goes to her family and children Blythe and Nicholas. Douglas and Francoise Kirkland

Guest 28

Christopher on July 30, 2009, at 04:11PM – #40

For many of us she will forever be 'Lemora' in the cult classic LEMORA--A CHILD'S TALE OF THE SUPERNATURAL. This kind and intelligent woman will be very much missed. RIP.

Guest 29

Guest on April 15, 2010, at 03:28PM – #41

God rest your soul. We'll never forget you and all your kindness.

Howie on the Hill

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