Longtime Malibu resident Sabrina “Bina” Mason Rouse, 85, died on Nov. 10.
Bina grew up in New York City. Her youth was spent with her sister Patty and involved summers at Sacandaga Lake in upstate New York. Bina attended Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School and worked part time at Bloomingdales. Bina met her husband, Marty, in an elevator, and after a short walk together to the subway, a lifelong connection was sparked. Bina relocated to Santa Monica as did Marty soon thereafter. They were married on Oct. 10, 1952, at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Westwood.
After living in Pacific Palisades with four young boys, the family moved to Point Dume in 1963, then to Corral Canyon in 1976.
“In addition to caring for her family and enjoying a life filled with many friends, Bina worked at St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church and School, the office of Dr. Roger Wolk and Hughes Research Laboratories,” a loved one shared.
She also participated in the St. Aidan’s altar guild and choir, served as a Cub Scout den mother, fundraised for the Malibu Library and Malibu Park swimming pool, and created a fun-filled, family-run summer watermelon stand at Westward Beach. She also was an accomplished runner, running both the LA and NYC marathons.
Bina and Marty retired to Westlake Village, teaching Sunday school at Westminster Presbyterian Church, volunteering at Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center and enjoying many trips to our national parks.
“There had extraordinary family gatherings with their beloved 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren,” a loved one shared. “Bina and Marty enjoyed a peaceful retirement until Marty’s passing in 2008. Bina was later tenderly cared for by the staff at Meadowbrook Senior Living and Assisted Hospice Foundation as she moved into the later stages of Alzheimer’s disease.”
Bina is survived by her four sons and their wives: Marty (Jane); Jim (Carolyn); Bill (Jenny); and John (Kelly). She is additionally survived by her sister Patty (Don) and brother Tom Detienne.
The funeral will be held on Saturday, Nov. 25, at 11 a.m. at St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church (28211 Pacific Coast Highway).
In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the Santa Monica Mountains Fund at samofund.org.