Meet Dee Hardison
Delores (Dee) Grinton Hardison has come to live with us at Caring House. We’re honored.
Dee was born and raised in Bellingham, Washington, the oldest daughter of nine children of Walter James Grinton and June Lenora Arntzen.
Dee was fortunate as young woman to be able attend Western Washington University, in order to pursue teaching. Early on, she understood the value of hard work, being raised in a large working class family. Dee worked at the local movie theatre in Bellingham selling tickets to help pay for her college expenses.
During her time in college, Dee met Lowell Hardison — her husband to be. They dated throughout her college years, marrying soon after she graduated in 1960. Dee and Lowell love snow skiing, and spent many weekends doing that in the local mountains.
Later Dee landed a teaching job at Lincoln High School in Seattle, Washington. Ironically, Lowell’s sisters were attending the same high school at the time. Lowell and Dee raised their first son Mark in Seattle with the help and assistance of grandparents and Lowell’s sisters.
Work took Lowell and the family to Reno, Nevada. So Dee took on the first of many adventures in her life, moving far away from family. It was in Reno where Brad {their second son} was born. The arrival of Brad meant the departure of the sports car that Dee and Lowell enjoyed in their road rallies in the mountains outside of Reno. A more practical station wagon became the family car.
Lowell’s job opportunities that brought the family to Southern California and Torrance in the early 1960s. Dee and Lowell purchased their home in Southeast Torrance, where they still reside today. Dee took some time out of full time teaching to be home with her two sons. Dee’s teaching background is in Physical Education, and she earned a Master’s Degree from California State University, Long Beach.
Teaching and raising a family was not enough for Dee. It was not long before she got involved in her community. In the beginning it was the local PTAs at her sons’ school and then later the Homeowners’ Association.
Dee is one who sees something to be done and she does it. In one case, that something was a vacant lot at the corner of her street. The neighborhood did not have a park and there sat property that had been previously used for oil extraction. Dee’s goal was to establish a park so the neighborhood children could have a safe place to play. It took time and a lot of effort, but eventually Sur La Brea Park was dedicated for the enjoyment of the community.
Through her work with the park Dee became an appointed member of the Torrance Parks and Recreation Commission. Dee saw more work and contributions she could give to the City of Torrance. Concerned that the city could lose the character and neighborhood feel it had, she turned her attention to the Torrance Planning Commission and was added as a member.
Dee realized that to get even more done she would need to run for Torrance City Council. She ran a grassroots campaign and was elected in 1986 — serving two four-year terms. In November 1992, she announced she would run for Mayor in the 1994 election. Dee was not persuaded against the idea with an already-announced challenger. Hard work made Dee even more determined and she won the election and served two four-year terms as Mayor.
While she has been recognized and honored by countless organizations over the years, her drive and her passion is the work and what it can accomplish for others. Dee retired as Mayor in 2002. She had previously retired from full time teaching with her last assignment in Special Education for the Torrance Unified School District. Even when Dee “retired,” she continued to be involved and volunteer for organizations such as St. Mark’s Presbyterian Church and the Torrance Education Foundation.
A strong sense of family and her spiritual guidance are at her core. She’s always been the mentor and supporter for her brothers and sisters when they confronted challenges in their lives. Dee always wants to be there for everyone. Her immediate family includes her son in law Nicolás, her daughter in law Gretchen, and her grandchildren Alisa and Ryan.
Dee loves to read and to travel with Lowell. They have travelled to Asia, South America and Europe and many parts of the U.S.
We’re glad that Dee is with us at Caring House. We look forward to caring for her as she has cared for so many others.
In Memoriam
Dee died on September 30, 2017. Honor her. Remember her.
Steve
September 29, 2017 @ 7:39 am
Very nice story.
Karen Hooper
September 29, 2017 @ 8:12 am
Auntie Dee NEVER forgot my birthday, I got a card every year including this one. I admire her feistiness and confidence.
Mary Hoffman
September 29, 2017 @ 11:42 am
Wonderful article about a wonderful lady!! She is an integral part of the City of Torrance and has been a guiding influence for many with her involvement in a wide variety of areas in the City, including 40 consecutive years of decorating the City of Torrance Rose Parade floats!!
Henry and Carol Bison
September 29, 2017 @ 11:45 am
Dee was always one to take on any job that had to be done,meet it head on and see it to completion. We look with admiration on the strong marriage and sense of family she exemplified and Lowell and Dee set a standard for all of us in the family.
Barbara Barker
September 29, 2017 @ 1:44 pm
Dee is my inspiration for serving the community. Her grace in listening and consideration of impacts has led her to successful leadership in so many areas. On any drive around the South Bay, you will see or be touched by her loving work. Love and thanks to the Hardison family.
Terese Condon-Yost
September 29, 2017 @ 2:21 pm
Dee was a wonderful person to work for. It was very evident that she love Torrance and would support what was going to make it better. She was there for me with the Farmer’s Market. She help so much with relations with the school district. She was a strong supporter of Emergency Services. I was very lucky!
Donna Belitz
September 29, 2017 @ 3:07 pm
The day I met Dee, she was so full of energy and reminded me it was my duty to Torrance and my family to become involved. She took me by the hand when I first started teaching and as a substitute always requested me. We raised our families here and she has always been an integral part of my life. A true leader who is respected by all. Thank you Lowell for posting so many of the wonderful things she has accomplished. Am blessed to have her in my life and especially in our community.
Marcia Cribbs
September 29, 2017 @ 4:34 pm
I really enjoyed serving with Dee during the Eight years she was mayor. We had fun and she kept us all going in the same direction in her dedication to the citizens of Torrance. Her great sense of humor gave everyone on the council the ability to listen and even if we did not share in the other council members view we kept our civility toward one another
Mike Wilson
September 29, 2017 @ 5:10 pm
I had the pleasure of working with Dee many times in my capacity as a City employee. It was obvious to me how much she cared and was involved with the community of Torrance. It seemed that she was at every civic event which caused me to question her one day asking if she had a twin sister! That’s how much she gave of herself and now, Dee, we are privileged to give back that care and devotion.
Cindy Shields
September 29, 2017 @ 5:27 pm
I’ve come to know and dearly love Dee beginning with PTA events these past several years and then her support of Torrance Theatre Company. Thank you, Hardison family, for “lending” her to us in her many capacities of devoted service to PTA, Torrance City Council, and TEF(and beyond!) Since she finally got “off the hook” from attending Torrance Council of PTAs meetings, I sure miss her enthusiasm and warm hugs. Thinking of all of you at this very tender time with prayer and much, much love.
Carolin Keith Wade
September 29, 2017 @ 6:01 pm
Dee’s love for her family, her commitment to service, her honesty and integrity, her loyalty and willingness to actually “do the work” are traits that have set her apart from the crowd and made her the type of woman I wanted to emulate. I truly count it a privilege to have been able to have worked with her over the years. Her presence in the community is already missed; her contributions are irreplaceable. Prayers continue for her and Lowell and the entire family. May His peace comfort you. John 13:27
Sheryl Du Somme
September 30, 2017 @ 5:57 am
I knew Dee, having worked for the City of Torrance, but came to know her better from our time at St. Marks Presbyterian Church. A lovely woman inside and out. She has a true heart for people, and that is what ultimately counts.
Linda Barnett
September 30, 2017 @ 7:07 am
Dee’s love for community is indescribable. She was a person you always knew would keep the City of Torrance first in both community matters and educational needs. She’s an excellent listener and gives very solid advice. I, for one, cherish her candid advice, sense of humor and wonderful friendship. Love this lady – a very special person.
Bob Wade
September 30, 2017 @ 10:47 am
I will always treasure my time working with Dee on community projects, through my time in Toyota Public Affairs, on the Torrance Education Foundation and especially on the Toyota TEF Scholarship Program. Her tireless energy and passion to serve others was, and is, an inspiration to all. What an honor and privilege it is to know and work with this lady!
Hunter Johnson
September 30, 2017 @ 9:44 pm
One aspect of Dee’s life that hasn’t been highlighted above is her knowledge of, and support for, providing housing for all members of her community. In that role, she served on the board of LINC Housing, a nonprofit housing developer originally founded by the Southern California Association of Governments.
While I was CEO of LINC, she was on our board, including two years as Chair; during this time, she was essentially my Boss. Somehow, along with all of her many other commitments, she found time to be an effective Chair and to provide thoughtful guidance and direction to me. I will always remember and revere her for that. She regularly attended grand openings, ground breakings, and other ceremonial occasions that celebrated the hard work of LINC’s staff. I particularly recall her willingness to get off the road from the RV trips she took with Lowell and dial in for LINC conference calls.
LINC and the world are better today because of Dee’s commitment and passion. I hope her family and friends will take comfort from her efforts that have provided better housing for many, many Californians.
Marla Shwarts
October 1, 2017 @ 7:04 am
It was my pleasure to be a teaching colleague of Dee’s in the TUSD where we shared our skills in working with special needs students. I also was fortunate to work with Dee while she was the TEF Scholarship liaison with the school district. It was always my good fortune when she came into the Counseling Office at the high school and we would begin our annual work on the scholarship program. It has been an honor to know Dee; she is a blessing.
Sue Herbers
October 1, 2017 @ 2:12 pm
Dee was a very special person who was a teacher in so many different ways. I had a the great privilege of having her as a model of how an elected official worked in the community from PTA and Southeast Torrance Homeowners and beyond.
She was a caring mentor and patient mayor who helped me along my way as a rookie city clerk during her first term as mayor.
Her ability to listen to all sides encouraged us all to see beyond the words.
She will be sorely missed.
Jerry and I send our thoughts and prayers for Lowell and the family.
Vicky Garcia
October 1, 2017 @ 3:34 pm
When thinking of Dee’s life, I go back to when our children were growing up and we worked together in PTA as well as establishing Sur La Brea Park. She was the ultimate person for inspiring others. At that time I had no idea that our paths would follow the same direction to Torrance City Hall. What a joy it was to be able to work with her and call her my friend. She was a special lady and will be missed. Prayers go out to Lowell and the rest of her family.
Barbara Graham
October 1, 2017 @ 4:00 pm
I will always hold Dee close to my heart as a great woman and a wonderful mentor and role model. I fondly remember serving with her on the Torrance Education Foundation Board and always enjoyed working on the scholarship dinner together. She was always kind to share lessons learned with me, which helped me to better understand our Torrance community. I’ll always remember our Starbucks coffee dates and the times she shared her family stories. I feel very blessed to have the great honor of knowing such a remarkable woman.
Dana Cortez
October 2, 2017 @ 7:00 am
Dee Harrison was an incredible yet humble woman who always gave more than she ever received. You were lucky to know her and even luckier if she took you under her wing to mentor you……I was blessed that she saw something in me and decided to share herself with me. She taught me how to give to Torrance. She had great love for this community after Lowell and her family. We are a better community because she was part of it. We love you Dee. We will miss you always..
Lory
October 2, 2017 @ 7:23 am
L my love and prayers to you and your family, Lowell. Dee is such a lovely, lovely woman and will be very missed. Xxoo
Hope Witkowsky
October 2, 2017 @ 9:13 am
I can’t believe that Dee will not be at all the public events that we both attended. I will so very much miss her smiling welcome to me.
Dee was my “Mentor” as was Katy Geissert. It was in those early years that I stood before them at a City Council meeting asking them to vote for me as a Commissioner of Human Service. Through the years I decided to run for Torrance City Council and it was Dee who gave me advice that she gained through her years of service. I served the last 2 years of her tenure as Mayor of Torrance. I saw first hand how this amazing woman got great things done. I carry her words in my mind forever.
I can’t leave out how wonderful her husband, Lowel became to both my husband and I as we worked the downtown Historical Society “Rock Around The Block”.
My heart goes out to the whole community and her family on her trip to heaven and not being here with us. Her legacy will go on FOREVER.
Kerry Cababa
October 3, 2017 @ 6:24 pm
I feel privileged to have known Dee even a little. She was a wonderful example of a caring leader who grew to be so respected in our community. Loving thoughts to Lowell and to the entire Hardison family. She was a treasure and we were lucky to have had her here.
Carolin Keith Wade
October 10, 2017 @ 12:57 pm
Dear Lowell and other readers…I’m so, so sorry. In my haste I listed the wrong scripture…it should have been John 14:27 where Jesus promises “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” A wonderful promised, not to be missed!