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BORN
1972
DIED
2017
Tess Damon Obituary
Born in Honolulu, Tess grew up in Kaneohe and Kailua. Hours spent exploring beaches, tide pools, streams, and woody trails nurtured her love of the natural world and developed her curiosity, patience, and keen observation, all of which served her well as an artist. A year in Austin, Texas enhanced her ability to spot and capture fish, geckos, anoles, turtles, skinks, crayfish, snakes, and even a tarantula.
In 1984 her family moved to West Hollywood where she attended Bancroft Junior High. In 1985 the family moved to Northridge. Tess graduated from Sutter Middle School and Cleveland High School Humanities Magnet. While at Cleveland and Pierce Community College, Tess worked at TCBY, Petco, Buddies’ Diner, and Mesquite Ranch Barbeque.
Tess graduated from UC Santa Cruz with a bachelors in psychology. She then studied art at Pierce, became a substitute teacher, and earned her K-12 teaching credential in ART at National University. This June she completed her Moderate/Severe Special Education Credential.
She taught art at Patrick Henry Middle School for five years, establishing an art program there, before teaching ESL in Japan for a year. She toured Thailand before returning home to LA.
After a long term special education assignment at Sutter Middle School, Tess was rehired by the LAUSD as an itinerant visual arts teacher in the elementary arts education branch. She taught hundreds of students in multiple schools over a seventeen-year span. She loved her students and her work, believing in the importance of arts education to stimulate creativity, thinking, self-expression, and confidence in her students. She shared her love of nature with her classes to imbue them with a sense of wonder, empathy, and humanity.
Tess’s passion for art and nature shaped her life. Her home was a tasteful minimalist oasis of art and plants, welcoming her beloved hummingbirds, phoebes, alligator lizards, and all living creatures. Her special connection with her nieces Leilani and Lorelei Galles delighted her.
Tess was generous, compassionate, sensitive, helpful, intelligent, resourceful, and fun. With her Japanese cat Nichiobi, she lived an independent life of quiet beauty and enriched the lives of all who knew her, loved her, and now mourn her passing.
A celebration of Tess Jerusha Damon will be held on Saturday, November 4, 2017 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Preserve at 6100 Woodley Avenue, Lake Balboa, CA.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the San Fernando Valley Audubon Society or the Burbank Animal Shelter.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Tess Damon
Sponsored by Los Angeles Daily News.
Shawn
February 27, 2022
Shawn
February 27, 2022
Shawn
February 27, 2022
I literally just saw this. I'm upset. Tess was great. A wonderful person.
Shannon B
August 6, 2021
Not a day goes by...I miss you, my friend.
Shannon B.
December 10, 2019
Many days have slid into the next...and not a single day goes by without you rambling through my mind. Some days you gently nudge my heart other days you dance with my spirit. Often you come through with the most brilliant smile. A reminder I suppose that I could do more of the same. I miss you my beautiful friend.
Inna Arzumanova
January 30, 2018
Tess,
You were one of the most genuine people I came across working at the framing shop you often visited. Thank you for bright light you left behind.
nell
December 25, 2017
I love you my sweet sister. I'm always missing you. You are in my dreams and my thoughts. We will hold you in our hearts today.
November 29, 2017
My staghorn fern put out a new shield leaf. I miss you.
nell
November 29, 2017
My staghorn fern put out a new shield leaf. I love you.
Nell
November 24, 2017
Thanksgiving was lovely here in New Mexico. I kept remembering all of our wonderful times here. I am so thankful for every day I had you in my life. I love you.
nell
November 20, 2017
I'm keeping my days busy and full but still can't stop thinking of you. I think about your strength. You fought so hard. You lived your life with purpose and passion. Thank you for shining the light for the rest of us.
nell
November 9, 2017
Good morning sweet Tess. I love you. Some of the red leaves are still on the trees. Fall is in full swing. I wish you were here to marvel at the colors. I love you so much. You are always in my heart.
Tess 10/13/80
Deborah
November 5, 2017
I drew this portrait of Tess when you came to Connecticut in 1980. I am at a loss for words.... but I treasure this moment I shared with Tess and wanted to share it with you.
Donald Miller
November 4, 2017
My condolences to the family.
November 4, 2017
Tess, every time I saw you or spoke to you my heart was filled with light. Thank you for your presence and gift to this world. I am so sad to hear you have left us.
Dr. Steven J. McCarthy
November 4, 2017
Tess, You were a beautiful soul. Thank you for the love you showed to your students and colleagues. Dr. Steven J. McCarthy
Diana Taylor
November 4, 2017
I am so glad I had the pleasure of meeting Tess. I didn't know her very well but she made a deep impression on me. This past year she came in for acupuncture treatments and I work for the acupuncturist she saw. My interactions with her were so real, meaningful and you could feel the love and her spirit emanating out of her. She inspired me. I will miss seeing her and I am deeply sorry for the loss of this gentle, courageous spirit. The world needs more Tess Damon's. So very sorry to the family for your loss. She is truly an angel.
nell
November 4, 2017
Today is your memorial. You are with me every day, but today I will honor you with every step I take. I look forward to seeing and speaking with friends who loved you so much. You are amazing, my sister. You are beautiful. I love you with every breath. ❤
John
November 3, 2017
My Sweet Tess,
You wore your heart on your sleeve and always gave your all to those you loved. Love brings out the best in us and binds us forever. Love is also sacrifice and heartache. Yet, you chose me to be her soulmate. An honor that has stayed with me ever since. Not a day goes by since our last, that I have not thought of her lovingly and whispered to myself, I love you, Tess.
Always,
November 3, 2017
I knew her in school. At a time I was the sad loner girl, she went out of her way to talk with me and be kind to me every day. Sometimes she was the only person I really talked to. Her openness and generosity stay with me today and I still remember her well.
Rob Kosakoski
November 3, 2017
My sincere condolences to Tess' family and loved ones. It's been almost 28 years since I last saw and spoke to Tess back at Cleveland HS. She always was a sweet, thoughtful, and beautiful, caring free spirit. I still remember those days like they were only yesterday. She is gone too young, but her spirit touched so many along the way. Cheers to you Tess...
Stacie Hrabe
November 2, 2017
Such a beeautiful tribute. I wish I had known her better. I see so much of her described ,radiant soul in her sister, Nell, and nieces, Leilani and Lorelei. May you each honor her memory uniquely and personally. May peace be with you all. All my love, Stacie
nell
November 2, 2017
We hiked in Chatsworth park today. I had so many memories of climbing boulders with you. Of being crazy and running on the train track. It was drizzly and lovely. I saw an Anna's, several phoebes and some warblers. It smelled like sage and wet dirt. I wish you were there.
nell
October 31, 2017
In a few hours I'm flying to Los Angeles to honor and celebrate you. I love you so. I feel you with me every day.
nell
October 30, 2017
Leilani wore the beautiful blue silk blouse you gave her to her piano recital yesterday, along with those darling black coclico sandals. Every time she comes out wearing something you gave her I think of you. ❤
nell
October 29, 2017
Tess, I dreamed of you last night. I was talking about you in the dream, and suddenly you were sitting right in front of me. You were so real--your laugh, your smile, the sound of your voice. I could reach out and touch you. I immediately woke, thinking it was real. But you were still gone. I miss you so much. I hope I have that dream again, even though it broke my heart.
October 28, 2017
I would like to express my sincere condolences to the Damon family. May the God of all comfort strengthen your entire family during this time of sorrow. A comforting thought is knowing that God keeps in His memory those whom we lose, because they are precious in His eyes.
(Psalms 116:15)
nell galles
October 25, 2017
My beautiful Tess, I miss you so much. Today I remembered coming upon the pond full of rough skinned newts on a hike in Moran State Park in Orcas Island. I remember your beautiful smile--how excited you were to discover the sweet little creatures. So many memories. A lifetime full. I think about you all the time. I love you my dear sister.
Jeanette Silvia-Stanek
October 23, 2017
I am so very sorry to hear of the passing of Tess. We worked together at Buddie's Diner. She was a wonderful, caring, free spirited woman. I remember how much she talked about and loved her sisters. My condolences to her family.
October 23, 2017
I am so sorry for your loss. May you find comfort in knowing how much God cares for you and He will help you during this time. (1Pet. 5:7)
October 23, 2017
My condolences to you all. May your hearts find comfort in reading Matthew 5:4 in this time of sorrow.
william fischer
October 22, 2017
never having known tess j damon... in reading about her life and contributions to this world.. I am in awe of her accomplishments... what a beautiful tribute you sharred with us of her life... it inspires me to be a better person... to do more... and to never stop until the day someone lights a candle for me. I know you are filled with her absence in your lives... she is just sharring a different presence with you... may all who love her be at peace not by her passing in peace... in her continuing on to a greater place in the kingdom of god to continue her labors of love.. sincerely... william
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