SEARCHING FOR A LOST CANARY

About the Book

About the Author

Biography Dorothy Marie Jean (née Pharis) was born on May 6, 1937, in East Saint Louis, Illinois, eldest of four children of Charles and Elvira Pharis. She relocated to Downey, California, where she graduated from Saint Pius X High School and met and married Jean-Paul Jean in 1955. Together, they raised five children and eventually moved to Huntington Beach, California. Diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus in 1968, Dorothy was active in the Arthritis Foundation, cofounding the City of Hope Lupus Group (now the Lupus Foundation of America), and initiated the annual Grand Prix at the Oaks event in San Juan Capistrano. A prolific writer and activist, Dorothy earned the National Arthritis Foundation Russell L. Cecil Awards for a lupus article published in Liberty Chronicle magazine (1987); her cable television program Seniors: The Changing Scene (1995, 1997), and received awards from the Orange County Press Club, the Mature Media Awards, the March of Dimes and Writer’s Digest, and Woman of the Year from the Soroptomists of South Orange County (1986). Dorothy was a correspondent for Money magazine between (1990–1996), a columnist for the Costa Mesa Daily Pilot, published an article in the Orange Coast magazine, and authored The Last Canary, a big band era mystery/romance. Her professional career included being vice president of Business Development and Marketing, JPJ Corporation; assistant managing editor, CME, Inc., Medicine and Behavior Journal; and PIO/medical writer for University of Irvine Campus Communications and UCI Medical Center. Specializing in senior housing, Dorothy was designated as member of Institute of Residential Marketing (IRM) from the National Association of Home Builders and the Certified New Home Marketing Professional (CMP) and Senior Housing Marketing Specialist (SHMS). Passionate for music, Dorothy sang tenor in the Pacific and Orange County Catholic Chorale, performing in Italy and Australia. As member of the Orange County Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, she played and sang at Saint Anthony of Padua Church in Gardena, California, and at Saints Simon and Jude Catholic Church in Huntington Beach, California. Dorothy attended Saint John Vianney Chapel in Newport Beach and Saint Martin de Porres Church in Yorba Linda. Dorothy’s greatest joy was found in family and friends. Jean-Paul’s and her “chicks” included Susan Bass, Paula Jean, Catherynne Jean-Riddlesperger, Christopher Jean—all of California—and LTC Robert F. Jean, serving a third tour of duty in Iraq and stationed in Wahiawa, Hawaii. Their families have produced nine beautiful grandchildren. Sister Barbara Ybaben of Seal Beach, California, and brother Paul Pharis of Rochester, Michigan, are her surviving siblings. She passed away on Friday, December 26th, 2008 one week after she had finally made arrangements with Xlibris to publish her book.