Elaine Reeves peacefully passed at home in Altadena on January 8th, with her three children by her side. Born July 10, 1936, at Kaweah Hospital in Visalia, California, Elaine was the only child of Betty and William Stewart.
Elaine grew up in San Luis Obispo, and attended Mills College to study music. She then transferred to the University of Southern California, where she earned her bachelor’s degree and became a lifelong Trojan. During her time at USC, she was elected president of the Pi Beta Phi sorority and began dating the love of her life, Roy Reeves. In 1958, she and Roy were married in San Luis Obispo, and soon settled in Pasadena.
Elaine’s lifelong passion for music led her to join the choral group Pasadena Pro Musica as a contralto, and the choir at Pasadena Neighborhood Church where she sang for more than 25 years. She was also an active volunteer in her community, devoting many years to the Pasadena Junior Philharmonic Committee (later the Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts) and National Charity League.
Elaine loved Pasadena and was a dynamic leader, serving as President of The Chandler School’s Board of Trustees, the first President of Chandler Family Associates, and spearheading the inclusion of girls’ softball into Pasadena Southwest Little League. After raising a family with three children, she made up her mind to go back to USC to earn her MBA. After receiving her master’s degree, she co-founded TTG Consultants, a full-service human resource consulting firm in Los Angeles.
In 1992, Elaine was hospitalized with a severe medical event and was expected to have a very limited future. But true to her positive mindset and resolve, she worked hard to recover and continued to live a very full life: attending grand tailgates and football games of her beloved Trojans, traveling the world with Roy and her close friends, celebrating her children’s weddings, spoiling her grandchildren, and “stopping to smell the roses” everywhere around her.
Elaine is survived by her three children, Roy (Lori), Stewart (Christine) and Leslie (Phil Lindholm), and her nine grandchildren (William Reeves, Conrad Reeves, Sophia Kelmar, Miles Kelmar, Joshua Renz, Benjamin Reeves, Kayley Reeves, Henry Lindholm and Kelly Lindholm).
Elaine was dearly loved by all who met her. She lit up every room she entered and was always genuinely interested in connecting with people and making everyone feel special. She was an all-star mother to her children (and her children’s friends), and always found time to be closely involved with their passions and pursuits — Carpool Mom, Team Mom, Girl Scout Leader, Resumé Consultant — she was always there to encourage and assist, and she did it all so well. Compassionate, generous, sophisticated, and the epitome of perseverance with grace, Elaine was a beautiful and dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and friend, an outstanding businesswoman, and a respected leader in her community.
We will forever miss her magnetic smile, lovely singing voice, charming sense of humor and irresistible spirit. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Elaine’s memory to Pasadena Pro Musica at pasadenapromusica.org/donate. Inquiries about Elaine’s service should be directed to elainereeves2023@gmail.com.
