In Memory of…

Deborah Lynn Vaaler

Deborah Lynn Vaaler

Deborah Lynn Vaaler-Jones, Born May 10, 1950. passed awa y November 24, 2008 after a 31/2 - year fight with breast cancer. Deborah was the youngest child of Bernhard and Eileen Vaaler and was born and raised in Long Beach, CA. She attended Minnie Gant Elementary, Stanford Middle, and Millikan High schools; graduated from CSULB with a BS in communication and worked as an information technologist at Unified Grocers for 29 years.

Deborah studied classical voice with Mrs. Henny Werner. Her beautiful voice was appreciated by all who heard her, especially the members of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church of Long Beach, where she was a long-time choir member.

Deborah lived in Long Beach most of her life but retired to Santa Barbara with her husband, Robert Jones, in 2007. She is survived by husband Robert; son, Graham Hein; and brother, Bernhard Vaaler, Jr.

Deborah made the world a more beautiful place in many ways and will be greatly missed by her family and friends. A memorial service was held at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church on Saturday, December 6, 2008

Published in the Long Beach Press-Telegram from Dec. 5 to Dec. 6, 2008

If you have any memories of Debbie, please post a comment below.



 
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04/20/18 07:25 PM #1    

Carol Elaine Shor (Harrison)

Debbie and I met standing in line at registration at LBCC. I had seen her in Brigadoon, and thought she was fantastic. I'd also saw her singing "Hey Jude" at school event, and thought she was the best there was.  Standing and talking, we found we had so much in common, certainly in the way we saw the world, our senses of humor. We became good friends, best friends, and that extended to Kathy Rowland, another former Millikan student. We laughed at the same things, went everywhere together. Her parents brought me on a family vacation, her mom made me dramatic outfits to wear to evenings at the LBCC theatre department events. I went to her recitals, and sat in awe at her voice, even though I heard it often. Eventually, I introduced her to the boy I'd had a crush on when I was 13.. They started dating, and when Debbie moved on to Cal State Long Beach, we grew apart. They married, and we lost touch, but I never forgot this golden young woman. A few years before she died, I somehow saw her father's obiturary. I sent a card to their home address, and Debbie responded by mail. She didn't want to talk on the phone, but was happy to have heard from me.  I waited a while to get back in touch, sending her a card. It was returned to me, unopened.. My heart broke, and it still hurts to know I missed seeing her again, if only to tell her how much she meant to me. She was truly a blithe spirit. 


04/21/18 10:11 AM #2    

Scott Noble

What a beautiful "memory" beautifully written by Carol as tribute to Debbie.  Brigadoon was a blast our senior year made truly special with Debbie's amazing voice!


04/21/18 10:29 PM #3    

Gilbert John Gould

Debbie sang like an angel.  All us guys in the cast of Brigadoon were secretly in love with her and it killed us to see Don Wigton doing the love scenes with her.  I sang with Debbie in all the choirs, madrigal groups and musicals all through our years at Stanford and Millikan.  She had such a great talent  She was such a wonderful person. I was so sad to see her name on this list.  I will never forget her.  May she rest in peace.


04/23/18 07:54 PM #4    

Linda Greb (Green)

Amen to all your comments. She was a true talent and a very sweet girl...so sorry to learn she is gone 💔

04/25/18 03:18 PM #5    

Rob Reid

So sad to hear she is no longer with us.  We had many classes together and sat next to each other in our math class Junior year.  The teacher made a comment to me that she seemed to be a distraction for me (which she was in the most positive sense).  Her response to me was, "Wow, I've never been called a distraction before." Made me smile. I was in the pit orchestra for Brigadoon and like Gil Gould's comment about the cast, I think most of us guys in the pit had a crush on her, as well.


07/29/18 11:21 AM #6    

Dorothy Korber

Seeing Debbie's name on this list makes me so sad and nostalgic. Like the rest of you, I remember "Brigadoon" very well, but from backstage. I was pitching in on the prop crew -- you would never call my raucous singing voice angelic! -- and I made a point of watching all of Debbie's solos. She was amazing! But my memory here involves her sweet spirit rather than her sweet voice. Once, as I stood watching in the wings, someone came up behind me and linked her arm through mine. Yes: Debbie. We stood arm-in-arm and watched the rest of the act together. For 50 years, this loving ittle gesture has remained with me. Rest in peace, dear girl.


08/18/23 09:09 AM #7    

Pauline Kellogg (Walker)

Debbie was a childhood best friend and she sang at my wedding in 1972.  After that I kept in contact for a few years and then like all of us lost contact.  I had no idea Debbie passed until I joined the Ramhi-68 Alumni website.   

Debbie did have a beautiful voice and I got to hear it a lot while she would practice during the day for church choir. I was very proud  and excited when Debbie said " yes" when I asked her to sing at my wedding.

My best memory of our friendship was swimming everyday during the summer, then have a snack of M & M's and Dr. Pepper. I also enjoyed playing many board games with Debbie and the neighborhood gang.  We would play till our parents would come looking for us in my parents garage in the summer.  Our parents knew where we were all time.

Debbie's parents were the best.  Her mom was the one who encouraged me to sew. as I remembered Debbie's mom was an excellent seamstress. 

Miss you Debbie! May you rest in peace.


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