Former OC Weekly art reviewer dies

• Tyler: Your Mom's passing made me feel very sad but made me think of what a beautiful, strong, classy lady she was with an incredible spirit. I was back in Massachusetts when she passed away and didn't return to California until a week after her Memorial. All these months it has bothered me that I did not get to pay my respects to you. I don't know if you remember me but I worked at Neiman Marcus and that's how I met your Mom. I dressed her for years and we became friends. I visited with her and Ed at the home in Turtle Rock several times. She invited me along on an art installation she was doing at Pia Zadora's home in Malibu. Pia never showed and Doree and I ended up spending the day in Santa Monica, had lunch, shopped and had such fun talking while we ate at a restaurant along the boardwalk. We shared some other fun experiences. She was so, so proud of you. I would love to have lunch with you or just meet to talk. I have a funny letter that Ed had mailed to me about your Mom's shopping and about an Armani jacket I had gotten for your Mom. Ed wanted the same one and it was my "mission" as he called it, to find out if Armani made it in his mens'line. Ed was great and also had a wonderful wit and sense of humor. I was always so touched about how much in love he was with your Mom. I hope that you receive this. I would love to hear what you are doing. I think you were about 11 years old when I met you. Please give me a call at 949-859-1838. I am hoping that a memorial celebration will be held in October because I would love to attend. I hope to hear from you. My email address is bobpolo@juno.com. Sincerely, Cheryl Polopek

• I fell in love with Doree in the 4th Grade at Marquez Elementary. I have never felt quite that way about a woman since. :( .ms

• I just found out today of the news of her passing and I�m so sad I missed her memorial. Doree was my teacher starting in 1996. She took myself and a few other under her wing and we took every class she had to the fullest extent. Because of her I started to work on the computer as she taught the first Painter 4.0 class and it was the beginning of my career as a graphic designer. The last time I saw her she was off to Rome to work in the Vatican Library. I was mixed with both sadness as she was leaving with pride on the magnitude of the accomplishments ahead of her. She was definitely someone who stood out, challenged you and made you feel special. Some teachers are larger than life and she exemplified that trait. We had so much fun in her life drawing and illustration classes, that it was almost like a big art party. I remember her sayings like: �Get those Ferrari�s on your hands�, �This is a hot pose coming at you�, and things like �Its all about structure guys, the rest is smoke and mirrors,, or cake frosting� . And I will never forget the time she called me out in class and said firm but respectfully � You are drawing like someone else. Someone�s in your head and get them out. Draw like Maria�. I was taken back but she was absolutely right. I loved hearing her talk and tell us stories about meeting Andy Warhol , Jane Fonda, Meg Tilly, Cheryl Ladd. I remember her talking about the articles she wrote for you at the OC Weekly about illustrator Gary Kelly. She had a great sense of story telling as well as an amazing gift for drawing and illustrating. She talked the talk and walked the walk . It has broken my heart to hear this news and I owe her a lot as she was an inspirational teacher, a classy woman who never forgot her sense of humor. She will be truly missed. My sympathies go out to her children that she commonly spoke of. I�m so sorry for your loss. She was an amazing person and her spirit lives on. Maria Perez

• Doree wrote one of the most beautiful art pieces I ever read, about sifting through drawers of her grandmother's as a girl, looking at the drawings her grandmother kept there. I don't think it's online; it was a very early piece, probably before our web site. Doree was a real lady. Becca

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