Obituary of Ethel Scar

Ethel Scar, of Casa Dorinda, Montecito passed away on June 20, 2018 in the Casa Dorinda Medical Center. She was 80 years old and had been fighting cancer courageously and gracefully for 25 years. 

Born in Brooklyn, NY, her parents, Rose and Philip Schechter, moved with Ethel and her younger sister to a small chicken farm in Malaga, NJ when she was nine.  After graduation from Clayton High School in 1955 she moved to Philadelphia and worked for the United Jewish Appeal.  She married Howard Scar of Moorestown, NJ in 1958 and they moved to the San Fernando Valley the same year.  Her son Michael was born in 1959 and her daughter Susan in 1960.  Always eager to learn, Ethel went back to school and earned a Bachelor’s degree at Cal State Northridge. When her children started school she returned to work as a social worker. For many years, she worked at the Motion Picture and Television Fund.  She had been star struck all her life and was thrilled to be able to meet and help actors and film professionals who were in financial need.

Upon retirement Howard and Ethel moved to Montecito in 1994, and to Casa Dorinda in 2010.  They made many good friends at the Newcomers Association and became active in the community. Ethel took acting lessons and realized a lifelong goal when she appeared in several local productions, including a two person play at Casa Dorinda.  Ethel was a member of Vistas Lifelong Learning, a docent at both Casa del Herrero and the Santa Barbara Courthouse where she conducted tours.   She organized and participated in several book clubs and salons, walked daily with the Walkie Talkies, traveled extensively, and loved to dress up for costume parties.   She enjoyed playing Shanghai and was always up for a dinner with friends.

Ethel was proud of her childrens’ success in business.  She willed herself to live long enough to see her grandson receive a law degree and her granddaughter a master’s degree in education,  which they did just weeks before her passing

Ethel had a big heart and a beautiful smile.  She had that rare combination of kindness, intelligence and keen interest in the world that attracted all who knew her.                 

She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Howard Scar, her son Michael, daughter Susan, daughter-in-law Suzanne, granddaughter Madison Scar, sister Myrna Walton, nephew Zachary Walton, and nieces Diane Scar and Nancy Scar.

Her life will be celebrated at Congregation B’nai B’rith, 1000 San Antonio Creek Road,  Santa Barbara on August 26 at 3pm.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Santa Barbara Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care.  Funeral Services provided by McDermott Crockett Mortuary.