December 22, 2016
When Elaine Trogman passed away Oct. 8, the Sierra Club community lost a dear friend, and the environment lost one of its strongest advocates. Elaine, 74, who served for many years as editor of the San Fernando Valley Sierra Club Group's newsletter Vall E Vents, was involved in countless environmental causes. hese included clean water issues, anti-nuclear causes, wildlife protection, and the conservation of wild spaces. She was also active in the United Nations Association and cared passionately about women's rights.Elaine was a Southern California native who spent her childhood in North Hollywood. She attended Valley College and UCLA, but decided early on that she wanted to "see the world," so she backpacked through much of Europe, returned to Los Angeles for a bit, then set off for an extensive backpacking tour of Third World countries. After completing this world tour, she settled in Van Nuys and began a life of environmental activism.
Elaine joined the San Fernando Valley Group in 2001 and in 2002 took over editorship of the group's newsletter. Immediately she made some dynamic changes in the publication. The original Vall E Vents was a modest six-page newsletter which arrived by mail every month at our homes. Elaine brought it into the 21st century, transforming the tiny newsletter into a giant electronic publication of some 45 pages. This new publication was a virtual electronic almanac filled with timely stories about issues and activities.
Elaine's personality was warm and outgoing. She had many friends. With these friends she hiked in Descanso Gardens, went to environmental conferences and meetings, and tended to the trees in her yard. Her enthusiasms weren't all confined to environmental issues: Elaine delighted in watching ice skating events on TV, and loved Christmas lights and Christmas trees and Christmas carols. One of her favorite December activities was driving through Candy Cane Lane in Woodland Hills to admire the lights and decorations.
Elaine is survived by her sister and brother-in-law Maxine and Les Asimov, and of course by her countless friends in the environmental community. She will always be remembered as a dear friend, a fine editor and a passionate proponent of clean air, clean water, wildlife protection, and preservation of wildlands.