Tracy Ann Klane

Tracy Ann Klane was born on April 6, 1966 in Patchogue, Long Island, NY to Robert and Linda Tesh Klane. She came home to meet her two older brothers David and Jon on Easter Sunday surrounded by jelly beans and chocolate eggs. She lived first in Flushing and then, in Great Neck, NY. In 1969, the family moved to Los Angeles and she started school in Woodland Hills. She graduated with honors from Cal Prep High School and Humboldt State University with a major in Theater Arts and a minor in Philosophy.

Tracy loved horses, cats, skate-boarding, surfing, cooking, entertaining and spending time with friends. Her grandmother Flora Lee Tesh said of her, “That child never met a stranger.” By the time she ended any encounter with a fellow human, they were fast friends. After college, Tracy worked in many arenas. She spent a lot of time in the restaurant industry, cooking, serving, catering and making the patrons feel at home. She was a professional organizer with an uncanny desire for symmetry and balance in her surroundings. She liked to call herself a “clutter counselor” and was very good at it. She managed to help her clients organize their belongings into three piles, “throw-away”, “give-away” and “put-away” without judgment of them for having all that “stuff” to begin with. She loved music, going to concerts and singing. She was so proud of her half-sister Caitlin’s music career and went to as many of her concerts as she was able. Her step-mom J.C.Scott kept her up to date with Caitlin’s new gigs.

Tracy was married to Jim Scott and lived with him in NJ and VT. After their divorce she returned to California. She worked in the education field as a teacher’s aide for children in a special education setting. She was always able to access her “child within” and enjoyed her time with the young ones in her classes. She was a giving and compassionate champion of those in need and provided a broad shoulder and hugs of encouragement to many. She had hard times of her own and knew just what to say and how to be helpful at the right moment. When her grandparents Ed and Adele Klane grew too old to care for themselves, Tracy became their chauffer, shopper, cook and companion. She had a special relationship with both of them, with lots of love flowing in both directions. She helped keep Uncle Larry and Aunt Bonnie in Mass. current on Nana and Pop.

Tracy loved to go to Magic Mountain on her birthdays to ride the newest, scariest roller coasters. She enlisted the help of her nieces Maxine and Liza to make it even more fun. She looked forward to sharing some of the same with nephews Tom, Jack and Ian. Tra had a special camaraderie with her Uncle Phil and his wife Marilyn. She lived with them in San Diego when their daughter Blythe was away in the Army. Her sense of humor and her timing was a perfect match for Phil and they laughed well and hard together. She and Marilyn enjoyed cooking and talking and poking fun at Phil. Tracy was so sad when Phil passed away last year and was happy to receive his hat collection which she shared with Maxine and Liza.

With the help of her sisters-in-law Laura, Petra and Cyndi Klane, Tra met the love of her life Dan Milnor Gonzales. Their first date was chaperoned by Maxine and Liza and they have not been apart since. Dan is a fine artist and sculptor and teaches first grade at Vena Avenue School. He gave Tracy the happiest times of her life, recently moving them into their new home in Sherman Oaks with their cat Candy. She was putting the finishing touches on their garden and patio, looking forward to the end of Dan’s school year so they could entertain around the fire pit with food, song and good friends.

Tracy died of natural causes on June 14 at home in Sherman Oaks and will be cremated. Her passing leaves an unimaginable void for those who loved her most, Dan, her family, and friends across the country. We will gather later this summer to celebrate her life the way she lived it, with good food, music, song and laughter sprinkled with tears. In lieu of flowers, friends are invited to contribute to Humboldt State University, memo: “Theater Dept., Memory of Tracy Klane”. The address is HSU, c/o GPC, 1 Harpst St., Arcata, CA 95521