Lepska Warren
Lepska Warren nee Janina Marta Lepski
March 23, 1923 – July 18, 2017
Our mother was born in Poland, lived on a farm near Zabno, northeast of Krakow with her parents and younger sister. The family came to the U.S. in 1930, settling in New Jersey; in Passaic, Oak Ridge and Garfield.
Mother earned a scholarship to Bryn Mawr and enjoyed the academic life. She met our father, Henry Miller, a writer, while he attended Yale. They married and moved West to live in Big Sur. They had two children, Val and Tony. When our parents divorced mom moved down to the L. A. area. She was on her own and became a teacher, first in grade school then up to the Junior college level. She taught math then progressed to eastern and oriental studies. She made a fine career and loved teaching.
Mother and her husband Robert Warren lived in two Frank Lloyd Wright houses. One in Altadena and one up in the hills of Santa Barbara. They travelled all over the world, taking groups of students on tours in the summers when school was out. They went to China, India, Russia, and Europe, bringing back many treasures. Mom’s last big trip was to Japan, doing it on her own. Mother had an affinity for languages; spoke Polish, French and learned Spanish in her 80’s. She also learned to use a computer.
Mother loved all the arts; classical music, ballet. theater, opera and films and was a patron of the Santa Barbara Museum. She read voraciously, joined a book club in S.B. Mom was a volunteer at Recordings for the Blind for many years. She served on the board of the Siff Foundation, granting educational scholarships. Mom donated to the S. B. Symphony, KCET, CARE, NOW, Alpha Thrift, Amnesty Int’l, and the Nuclear Peace Foundation.
Mother enjoyed her community at Valle Verde, participating in the many activities offered there.
She loved to entertain, was always happy to share in life’s experiences. Mom had many friends throughout her life, kept in touch faithfully.
Mother is survived by her two children and beloved granddaughter Tesia. She planned to have theNeptune Society arrange her final voyage. STOLAT