Laura WINSTON

WINSTON, Laura
85, Passed away peacefully, Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010, at Cedars Sinai Hospital after a short, pain free bout with advanced pancreatic cancer. Born Mary Grace Hertz in 1924 in Cleveland, the only child of Emil & Mary Hertz; she won the 1942 Ohio Miss Cinderella National Dance Competition placing high in the Finals in New York & joined a national dance troupe, toured cities across the country, ending in Los Angeles late that year where she lived for the rest of her life; she danced in movies in the 1940s & married Ed. Reed of Bev. Hills; in the 1950s had her only child, by a brief 2nd marriage, Linda Osborn, who died accidentally at age 4. From 1959 to 1974 Laura was the closest friend, & partner in life, with real estate magnate, Mr. Ben Weingart. In 1974 Laura became known publicly for her extraordinary 15 year legal battle to fight, for the first 6 years, for Ben's personal freedom from an unlawful conservatorship, brought by unscrupulous business associates, to keep him from marrying Laura. For the next 9 years, after Ben died in 1980, Laura defended herself pro per against the conservators continuing to fight her in court, by exposing what they had unlawfully done, and finally, in 1987, beat them, representing herself, in the California Court of Appeals. Laura Winston lived a life of grace and kindness. She is survived by her goddaughter, Ms. Laura Gottlieb; her god-granddaughter, Elizabeth (Ellie) age 9, both of Malibu; her closest friend of 20 years and partner in life, James Burt of Los Angeles, and by a very large extended family, including the Gottlieb family and friends; Mary Levin Cutler & family and friends, all of Beverly Hills; plus many others including members of Laura's cherished The Dolls charitable organization.
Services and burial will be at Forest Lawn, Glendale, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010 at 1:30 P.M., in the Wee Kirk o 'The Heather Chapel.