Ellen Vukovich Honored at SOHA Meeting

Los Angeles City Attorney Carmen Trutanich, as well as representatives for Councilman Tom LaBonge and Assemblyman Mike Feuer, joined current and former Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association board members at Wednesday's SOHA meeting to remember Ellen Vukovich, who died on August 27 after losing her battle with colon cancer.

Vukovich, 61, a longtime Sherman Oaks resident and member of SOHA, was known as "the voice of Sherman Oaks" due to her her outspoken personality and passion for writing.

“I just learned Ellen passed away two minutes ago and I'm still recovering from that," Trutanich said. "I was good friends with her. What a great lady."

Vukovich, during her time on the board, fought against developers seeking to build large structures on Ventura Boulevard and throughout Sherman Oaks, according to SOHA president Richard Close. 

"She was very active in the association for 20 years," Close said. "When she passed recently, my thought was that this person worked so hard. She must have spent 20 to 30 hours a week for many years to protect Sherman Oaks."

"She was a key person in preotect quatlity of life in the Sherman Oaks community," Close added. "She will be sorely missed by everybody that knew her."

Joan Pelico, on behalf of Councilmember Paul Koretz's office, shared a poem she wrote for Vukovich, and called Vukovich "feisty and passionate."

SOHA board member Elke Heitmeyer told the crowd in attendance that Vukovich taught her valuable lessons in dealing with men.

“I worked with her for many months on this board and she showed me how to stand up to this gang of men," Heitmeyer said, drawing laughs. 

LA County Supervistor Third District Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, who was on hand to speak of his decision not to run for mayor and the affects of Measure J, also addressed Vukovich's passing. 

"She was a persistent defender of the quality of life in Sherman Oaks, and she did it with so much class and gentility," Yaroslavsky said. "She was a very pleasant human being to deal with. I was so sad to hear of her passing. We will adjourn in her memory at the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday."