Patricia Soteras, a former columnist for The Malibu Times, died of a heart attack on Oct. 26. She was 75.
Soteras raised her three children, Alex, Nickoletta and Anthony, in Trancas with her husband, Solon Soteras. She wrote a column for The Malibu Times called “Wild Wild West Malibu.” She also worked at Pepperdine University for 10 years in the school’s Finance Department.
Soteras took over as executive director of the Agoura/Oak Park/Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce seven years ago when there were 150 members and no money in the bank. With the help of her son, Alex, who served as president of the Chamber for four years, it now has more than 1,500 members.
Most chambers receive an average of more than $100,000 in city support. The Agoura Chamber receives no funding or support from Agoura Hills and is self-funded.
Soteras was the only chamber executive who allowed nonprofit charities membership for one dollar.
“She wanted the charities to be able to meet the business owners and have the ability to raise funds and support for their causes,” Alex Soteras said.
Soteras was born in Parkersburg, W.Va. on June 9, 1931. She moved to Hollywood at age 5 to become an actress. As Patsy Lee Parsons, from 1937 to 1956, she performed in several movies and television shows, including “Yankee Doodle Dandy.”
Soteras was an active member of the Conejo Optimist Club and the Westlake and Conejo Valley Republican Women’s clubs.
The Agoura Chamber has set up a scholarship fund in Soteras’ name to benefit a student who wants to attend Pepperdine University and study public relations and business. Checks can be sent to the Agoura Chamber at 30101 Agoura Ct. 207, Agoura Hills, CA 91301