Helen L. Boltinghouse

1924 - 2021

October 22, 1924 - June 19, 2021 Wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, lifelong teacher, and friend, Helen Boltinghouse passed away from natural causes at the age of 96. She was born in Huntington Park, CA, the younger of two children of Greek immigrants, James and Euphrosyne Limneos, and was raised in Los Angeles. She earned a BA in Music from UCLA and a Masters in Education from USC. In 1954, Helen met Joseph Boltinghouse, a mechanical engineer for North American Aviation. Helen and Joe were married in 1955 and together raised a family in Whittier, CA.Helen's professional world revolved around music and teaching. In the early 1950s, she became the Chief Music Consultant for the Montebello Unified School District. She helped establish the curriculum for classroom instrumental and vocal instruction for all the district's elementary schools. She positively influenced countless young people and their appreciation of music. Helen retired in 1960 to spend more time with her family and then returned in 1974 to teach English as a Second Language (ESL) to adults. Fluent in English, Greek and Spanish, she touched hundreds of lives, mostly women, desiring to learn English and assimilate into American society. The California Council for Adult Education presented her with its CALCO award for excellence in teaching. Helen and Joe created a family home full of warmth, learning, listening, and curiosity. Dinner time included unwinding, talk of bridge hands, family spelling or geography games, and plenty of wonderful food. Helen was an excellent cook. Joe was an inventor who held patents for the key instruments used in two nuclear deterrent weapons systems: the gyroscope for the Minuteman Missile guidance system and the Electrostatically Supported Gyro Navigator for the U.S. Navy's ballistic missile submarine fleet. The ESGN is the world's most accurate inertial navigation system. Joe Boltinghouse was called the nation's "Mr. Deterrent", so Helen was rightfully "Mrs. Deterrent". At an early age, Helen exhibited exceptional artistic talent, singing and playing multiple stringed instruments. At age 11, Helen began her musical career at the Paramount Theater in Los Angeles. Later, she joined the San Carlo Opera Company. A natural alto, Helen learned all the choral parts for "Carmen", "Cavalleria Rusticana", and "Aida". At UCLA, she sang with the university's top-rated madrigal vocal ensemble and joined the professional music fraternity Mu Phi Epsilon. During World War II, she served in the USO to provide live entertainment at Camp Roberts. After the war, Helen joined the American Guild of Musical Artists and was an in-demand alto chorister. She performed at the Hollywood Bowl and Shrine Auditorium and worked under Leopold Stokowski, Eugene Ormandy, Robert Shaw and Franz Waxman. Helen was a lifelong Christian, baptized in 1925 at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation ("San Julian") in LA, and was a member of St. Sophia Cathedral since its consecration in 1952. She also joined St. Anthony Greek Orthodox Church (Pasadena). Memorable trips abroad included a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and traveling to Havana to attend the consecration of the first Greek Orthodox church in Cuba.Helen loved family events, socializing, playing bridge, painting, traveling, and attending concerts and plays. She was an accomplished seamstress. She was elevated by LA Phil and Coleman chamber music concerts.Helen and Joe were married 54 years upon his passing in 2009. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Jim (Debbie) Boltinghouse, daughter and son-in-law, Susan Boltinghouse (Jeff Cook), grandchildren Mollie (Raymond) Basconcillo, Daniel (Mercedes) Cook, and Evan Cook (fiancé Samantha Merino), great-grandchildren Calista Basconcillo and Emerson Basconcillo. She will be missed and forever in the hearts of her family.The Trisagion service will be held at 7PM on Wednesday, July 7, 2021 at St. Sophia Cathedral (1324 S. Normandie Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90006). Funeral services will be held at 11AM Thursday, July 8, 2021, also at St. Sophia Cathedral. Interment will be at Rose Hills Cemetery. Donations may be made to St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church, St. Anthony Greek Orthodox Church (778 S. Rosemead Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91107), American Association of University Women (1310 L St. NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005), or The Mu Phi Epsilon Foundation (1611 County Road B W Ste. 320, Saint Paul, MN 55113-4053).