Phyllis Weinstock Beckstead died suddenly and unexpectedly on May 3. She was 43.
Beckstead was born in Miami, Fla. on Dec. 2, 1962. Her family moved to Malibu in the 1970s, and she spent her younger years riding horses. Friends and family said Beckstead had a passion for the animal.
She attended Webster Elementary School and Malibu Park Junior High and went to high school in Santa Monica.
Beckstead married Kirk and moved north to Ventura, where her daughter Hanna was born in 1991. Her passion for animals prompted a move to Ojai in 1995. In Ojai she found the space she was looking for to house all the animals she hoped to have. Beckstead and her daughter gathered a collection of animals, including goats, chickens, a pot-bellied pig, rabbits, and numerous cats and dogs.
At the time of her death, Beckstead and her family were in the process of relocating to San Francisco.
Beckstead is survived by her husband and daughter; mother Janet del’Giudice, stepfather Henry del’Giudice, brother Steve Weinstock and his wife Cyndie, sister Lesley Weinstock, sister Lonnie Galate and her husband Chris, nephews Brett, Jared and Michael, niece Sophie and many other relatives and friends.
A memorial gathering will take place on Saturday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Point Dume Club, located at 29500 Heathercliff Road. Those wishing to attend should contact lonnie90265@yahoo.com so that one’s name can be placed on the list at the gate.
In lieu of flowers, a college fund has being created for Beckstead’s daughter. Checks can be made to Hanna Morgan Rae and sent to Bear Stearns, 1999 Avenue of the Stars 33rd floor, Los Angeles, CA. 90067. Inquires regarding donations should be sent to lonnie90265@yahoo.com.