by Peter Weinberger

Over a year has passed since Jan Wheatcroft last blessed us with her rambunctious way of living life. On Sunday, October 27, friends and family gathered to reminisce and appreciate how she touched their lives. The well-organized memorial at the Garner House was filled with those who loved her deeply.

The service brought together people who had not seen each other in years, even decades. That was especially true for myself, where keeping in touch is not a strength. But the distance really didn’t matter because we all had a strong connection: we knew Jan Wheatcroft.

Close friend, Los Angeles Times staff photographer and former Claremont Courier photographer Genaro Molina, presented a photo slideshow of Wheatcroft posing with various murals on the streets of Los Angeles called “She walks in so many ways.” The Courier was able to borrow several images for publication to give readers a sense of Jan’s unique personality.

“One Mother’s Day, Patty and I gave her a tour of some of LA’s murals,” Genaro said. “She would spontaneously interact with each mural. I made these images that really captured her sense of humor, curiosity, and fun. And as the song says, ‘She walks in so many ways.’ And Jan did,” he recalled. “Long may Jan stroll through our memories and in our hearts.”

This image, shot in downtown LA by her friend Genaro Molina, captures the wild, playful side of the late Jan Wheatcroft. Photo/by Genaro Molina

Travel Tales

Courier readers will no doubt remember Jan’s column, which graced the Courier’s pages for more than two decades. Courier Editor Mick Rhodes captured her writing style in his May 4, 2023 column, “A most unique voice travels on,” published shortly after her death:

“Jan’s ‘Travel tales’ columns were usually the most interesting — and always the most steamy! — stories in the Courier,” Mick wrote. “Over the years she gifted us with dozens of recollections and observations from cultures around the world. A recurring theme was her appreciation for the sun, wine, and romance of the Greek islands, where she had lived for a time. These columns were revealing and full of passion. It was refreshing to hear a woman in her 70s, and later her 80s, talk about love, sex, and desire, along with art, travel, food, and nature.”

Genaro Molina and wife Patty Housen console each other after Housen spoke to the group about their adventures with Jan Wheatcroft during Sunday’s memorial service at the Garner House. Courier photo/Peter Weinberger

Back in the day

Molina, Patty Housen, and Jan all worked at the Courier in the mid-1980s. Jan did several jobs, including office manager and classified salesperson, before venturing out in the business world and forming “The Gypsy Sisters” with Helen Feller. “She just took it and ran. And I’m proud to be part of that,” said Helen.

At the Courier, Genaro, Patty and Jan became instant friends and close colleagues who stayed in touch for almost four decades. Jan wrote in a September 2021 Courier column, “Genaro bunked at my house and became close friends with my younger son. And over the years Genaro has become like a son to me. He and Patty eventually moved together into a wonderful partnership after years of life and work changes.” Eventually, Patty and Genaro asked Jan to marry them, but she had to become a minister first. And so she did!

Jan was ecstatic to be part of their lives. “That is just the way it is supposed to be. Love and time and commitment wrapped together, creating strong bonds. A long and happy life to you both, Genaro and Patty, and to me for being included in it.”

Jan’s final column, “The road most traveled,” appeared in the November 26, 2021 edition of the Courier.

The late Jan Wheatcroft in downtown Los Angeles. Photo/by Genaro Molina

So many stories to tell!

Genaro’s and Patty’s connection to Jan lasted long after their Courier years. And Genaro remembers those unusual, Jan like adventures like they happened yesterday.

“I love the memory of my wife, Patty Housen, and I taking Jan to see the movie, ‘The Crying Game,’ with its surprise twist, when it came out,” he recalled. “It was a sold out screening. Halfway through the movie Jan stated loudly about one of the characters, ‘There’s something strange about this woman.’ A few minutes later she said more loudly, ‘There’s definitely something wrong with this woman.’ We shushed her. After several more minutes Jan shouts, ‘I think she’s a he.’ The whole audience moaned as a row of faces turned to show us their displeasure. It was a challenge at the end of the movie trying to exit through a gauntlet of unhappy movie goers. Fun. Always an adventure with Jan.”

Another one of Genaro’s Jan stories came, appropriately, from an art exhibit.

“I remember going to the annual Scripps College student art show with Jan,” recalled Genaro. “We visited with one of the students in his studio. Jan stated that the paintings looked freshly painted. She reached out and ran two fingers through the artwork. Her fingers were completely covered in paint. She then preceded to put the paint back onto the canvas. Our mouths fell wide open, and the artist was horrified. But upon a closer examination the artist conceded that it was a nice addition to his painting. Jan was always leaving her mark on things.”

Allison Martin (center) tells a warm story about how Jan Wheatcroft impacted her life at Sunday’s memorial service at the Garner House. Laura Cappello, partner of Wheatcroft’s son Zac, is at right. Wheatcroft died April 23, 2023. Courier photo/Peter Weinberger

The appropriately bright, handmade sign outside the Garner House Sunday. Courier photo/Peter Weinberger

More good reading

Rhodes described Jan’s column concisely in “A most unique voice travels on”: “Reading Jan’s stuff is like having a great conversation with your most interesting friend. I encourage readers to pour a cup of coffee, or better, a glass of wine, and search up ‘Jan Wheatcroft’ on the Courier’s homepage, claremont-courier.com … Goodbye to the spicy and brilliant Jan Wheatcroft. The world is a little less fun, interesting, and cheeky without you in it.”