Ann Connolly Fulton, a longtime Malibu resident and community volunteer, died at her Malibu Colony home last Thursday after a seven-year battle with lung cancer. She was 69.
“I remember her as someone who supported me 150 percent with unconditional love and support,” said Fulton’s daughter, Monica. “Now that she’s gone, so many people have told me what a big part of their lives she was.”
Monica continued, “Someone said to me that the foundation of Malibu has lost another piece because she had been here for so long. She exemplified Malibu loyalty, and added stability to the city, especially now that there are so many new people here.”
The city of Malibu recognized Fulton for her community involvement in 1991 when it named her Malibu’s Citizen of the Year, which Monica said her mother was honored to receive.
Born in Los Angeles on Sept. 5, 1938, Fulton moved to Malibu in 1940. Her family was one of the original homeowners in Malibu Colony. Although Fulton rarely mentioned it, her father, screenwriter Myles Connolly, threw parties at the colony house that were attended by such luminaries as Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks.
Monica recalled her mother describing 1950s Malibu as being “more about the people who were around. There were more families, it was more of a year-round, remote community.” Growing up on the beach, Fulton enjoyed volleyball and bodysurfing. The beach continued to be among her favorite things throughout her life.
Fulton attended Marymount High School, UCLA and Marymout College. She received many awards and honors during her academic career. She later moved to New York and had a successful career in advertising. Fulton returned to Malibu in 1971, continuing her advertising career in Los Angeles. She later became a Realtor in Malibu.
Among the groups with which she was active were Our Lady of Malibu Catholic Church, the Malibu Republican Women’s Club and the American Heart Association. She also served for many years on the Malibu Colony Board of Directors and helped with city projects. City Councilmember Sharon Barovsky and Fulton knew each other for many years, but got to know each other well during the past five years through City Council meetings and Malibu events. “I doubt we agreed on much politically,” Barovsky said. “But I respected her intellect and her community involvement. If you needed help with an event, Ann was always there. She was very supportive with Legacy Park and helped set up meetings with the Malibu Colony to dispense it.”
Barovsky also said she will remember Fulton as somebody one could have a strong disagreement with, but who did not take it personally. “She never attacked people personally,” Barovksy said. “She attacked the issues. We respected each other.”
The Malibu Times co-publisher Karen York said Fulton was instrumental in the creation of the newspaper’s annual Dolphin Awards, which recognizes community volunteers. Fulton helped to choose the candidates and made sure they were worthy. “It was something dear to her heart and her participation was dear to ours,” York said. “Ann was a very caring person who was involved in the community and knew what was going on.” York said Fulton was a person who had high standards.
“She wanted things to be wonderful and we worked hard to make them wonderful,” York said. “Because she held us to a high standard we were better than we would have been than if we hadn’t known her. She was a wonderful mother to her daughter, Monica, and was an opinionated, terrific Malibu citizen.” Monica said her mother was “a very stylish, very smart, very tenacious, outspoken person who, once she set her mind to something, couldn’t be swayed.”
Monica, who produces photo shoots for advertising, also said her mother taught her to have a strong work ethic. “She always encouraged me to aim higher and do whatever it took to help me get the job that I wanted,” Monica said. “She used her writing skills to help me write resumes and letters and was always extremely organized. I learned from her to let people in, to trust, and to accept the love of other people.”
In addition to her daughter, Fulton is survived by her caregiver, Ruth Matias. A mass to celebrate Fulton’s life will take place at 5 p.m. on Sept. 4 at Our Lady of Malibu Catholic Church, located at 3625 Winter Canyon Road. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The City of Hope, in memory of Ann Connolly Fulton (for lung cancer research) attention central processing, 1500 East Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010. The phone number is 800.535.7119 ext. 62023.