Malibu has lost Maggie Luckerath, known by many as ‘Mama Bu’
She was instrumental in helping locals enjoy concerts and charitable events in the city
By Barbara Burke
Special to The Malibu Times
Short in stature, but long on kindness and amiability, Maggie Luckerath was always ready to lend a helping hand to others and to make Malibu a better place. Luckerath passed away at the age of 78 on April 5 surrounded by friends and family after valiantly battling leukemia.
Every town has one — a person who exemplifies the spirit of camaraderie shared only by those who have lived in the area for a long time and who deeply love their town and its residents. Malibu had Luckerath, whom many would describe as a force of nature — and a force of good for Malibu. Knowing her as “Mama Bu,” several grieving neighbors and friends recalled that she was the hostess with the mostess as she coordinated weekly buffets at the Summer concerts that locals treasure on Trancas lawn and that she was so generous.
“Maggie was a force to be reckoned with. She loved her ‘Bu’ community with all her heart,” Wailani O’Herlihy shared. “She could be outspoken because of her German heritage, but you always knew where she was coming from because she didn’t hide her feelings. Malibu loved her. Maggie would organize potluck dinners for the Vintage Summer Series and we had gourmet food.”
Reflecting further, O’Herlihy added, “Even though Maggie was sick at the time, she quickly donated medical supplies for Lahaina, Maui, when the fire hit. She was selfless like that — Maggie had a special Aloha for Malibu and we’ll all miss her dearly.”
Born Magadelina Anna Frey, Luckerath began her life in Pennsylvania Dutch Country. She was the youngest daughter of nine children born to two German immigrants, the late Frederick C. and Anna Huber Frey. Maggie and her siblings lost their father in a tragic accident when she was only 5. Perhaps that reality helped to shape her independent, fair-minded, charitable nature that endeared her to many in Malibu. No doubt such a tragedy and its consequences also helped to inform and define Luckerath’s sense of fairness and the incredible kindness that she often extended to strangers who were down on their luck and in need of a helping hand.
Like most farm families facing such obstacles, Luckerath, her siblings, their mother and the extended family remained a tight-knit group. Luckerath’s older brother, Fred took over the reins and, with the help of siblings, he built the farm into a thriving business, assisted a little by Amish neighbors whom they employed to lend a hand. Such resilience taught Luckerath frugality — which she stated was a key secret to successful relationships and lives — but it also ingrained in her a common sense and kindness.
Malibu was not Luckerath’s next stop along her life’s pathway. Rather, right after high school, she went to Washington, D.C. where she worked for the federal government, using her people’s skills and learning her life-long skill sets and perspectives that focused on having not only a local, but a global, perspective.
“Looking back, I guess it was my roots in Southern Lancaster County and being a farm girl who learned hard working ethics at home that gave me the foundation on which to build my later years,” Luckerath once told this journalist. “Straight from the plowed fields of my family’s farm — Twin Oaks Farm near Quarryville, Pennsylvania, I ended up in Washington D.C., working for the Veterans Administration where I was the receptionist at their Administrative building just opposite of Lafayette Park and near the White House.”
Luckerath said that “she loved money and saving,” but that she also “bought a brand new Mustang out of the showroom.” But, most of all, she was adventurous. After a few years in Washington, she traveled overseas, first to visit her father’s family in the Black Forest, and her mother’s family in Rosenhein near Munich. Then it was on to Geneva, Switzerland, where she landed a job at Chrysler — that was a long way to go for a young American farmgirl, especially so many decades ago.
However, it was a trip that helped to chart her life’s course. Hubert Luckerath, a successful young German banker, saw a good thing when he encountered it. Attracted by Maggie’s vivacious personality, humor, and good looks, Hubert soon proposed and, ultimately, two children blessed Maggie’s and Hubert’s life.
It wasn’t until their later years that Hubert and Maggie blessed Malibu — and bless it, she did. She loved to walk on the beach. Locals would stop to chat as Maggie seemed to know everything that mattered in the community. Her doing so resulted in many Malibuites feeling that Maggie mattered to the community — she was a key contributor to the many wefts that locals continue to weave as they create and update Malibu’s colorful tapestry.
“Losing Maggie is such a loss for the community — she was a woman with a big, big heart,” Pastor Erin Stenberg of Malibu Methodist Church said. “Maggie had a great knack for pulling people together and for creating a welcoming community.”
Grieving over Maggie’s body right after she passed, O’Herlihy kindly and sadly bid her friend adieu, saying, “We’ll see you again soon, firecracker!” referring to Luckerath’s vivacious and industrious nature. As those grieving someone lost know, it’s a solace when there is a symmetry to memories of the departed. In Luckerath’s case, being characterized at the end of her life by a good friend evinced that she always had her essential, ebullient nature — Luckerath once shared that her nickname in high school was “Live Wire.” Both descriptors aptly characterize her and, as friends and family are grieving the loss of Maggie Luckerath, many are wistfully wishing that locals will carry on her energetic, empathetic, charitable legacy.
Luckerath is survived by her loving husband of 55 years, Hubert; her daughter, Tanya; and son, Peter. She is also survived by siblings Anita Barthelson, John Frey (Mary), and C. William “Willie” Frey (Joan). She was preceded in death by siblings Frederick “Fred” Frey, Adolf “Pete” Frey, Ernst “Ernie” Frey, Siegfried Frey, and Maria Frey.
Services to honor Luckerath will be private at the convenience of family and close friends. In lieu of sending donations or flowers, readers can honor Luckerath’s wish that they take the time to enjoy Malibu’s beaches and, most importantly, to be kind to one another.
A night in ‘Monte Carlo’
Our Lady of Malibu’s annual signature gala delights attendees and raises funds for the school
“Ooooh!” exclaimed attendees as they entered the exquisite setting at Calamigos Ranch on April 20. “Ooh la la!”
With luminescent chandeliers glowing above the beautiful lawn area and elegant table settings, the scene evoked the Boulevard des Moulins and, of course, the event included a place to make wagers in a perfectly curated space evoking the famous Place due Casino.
The gathering began amidst lively camaraderie with delicious hors d’oeuvres and libations followed by a delicious dinner.
The occasion: Our Lady of Malibu’s annual gala, the school’s signature fundraising event.
The attendees: Elegantly dressed ladies in shiny sequined gowns adorned with fancy, fascinating fascinators accompanied by gents sporting velvet jackets.
The goal: To raise enough money to help support Malibu’s oldest private school. OLM has served this community for 65 years and has educated and nurtured many of the town’s leaders by providing an academically rich, inspiring education.
Indeed, school parent Gina Longo, the current president of the parent guild and member of the team of dedicated parents and teachers who painstakingly and lovingly ensured that the event was memorable and successful, once graced the school’s halls and, predictably, she was full of fun and grace as she warmly greeted attendees.
Mary Grace, who offered one of the most intriguing auction items, shared how she thoroughly enjoys helping schools and other nonprofits fundraise.
“With the Zulu Nyala African Safari that is on bid tonight, I have raised more than $9 million in the last nine years!” Grace said enthusiastically.
However, nothing was more cherished — and nothing garnered more competitive bidding in the live auction — than the priceless, one-of-a-kind artworks created by the schoolchildren.
Proud parents vied for the delightful opportunity to bring home creative works made by their childrens’ class. Ultimately, a custom handprint quilt made by the transitional kindergarten (TK) class commanded the highest bid of $4,000, an amount that goes quite far in covering the unparalleled academic experience enjoyed by every OLM student.
There were, of course, grateful recognitions of those who contributed greatly to the OLM community — teachers who work assiduously to ensure that students receive quality academics, parents who nurture students and volunteer in classes as well for fundraising events, and, most importantly, the children.
“The 2024 OLM GALA ‘Shining Star Award’ goes to the Mitnick Family!” Longo announced enthusiastically, while also acknowledging the multitudinous contributions of time, energy and funds that made the evening unforgettable.
Longo noted that David Tutera and his spouse, Joey Toth, parents of two students at OLM, wanted to find a way to help raise funds for OLM.
Tutera, a celebrity wedding planner and host of the TV show “My Fair Wedding,” provided custom crystal candelabras in a soft lavender hue with pink candles. The base candelabras were surrounded with aromatic and gorgeous roses, complements of Passion Roses.
“We wanted to elevate the evening so we added stunning linens for the dining room and we included glass-colored votive candles in white, blush and soft pink.” Tutera said, describing the spectacular venue he curated. “It was fun to help our school and most importantly, all of our children who learn there.”
Longo also sincerely thanked emcee Crystal Sparks and singer Brenna Whitaker, who sang lovely tunes, including George Gershwin’s “Summertime” and “Sway.”
Longo emphasized that the entire parent community contributed, as did the wider community, but she especially recognized the tireless event organizational efforts of Lisa Hall, Greer Brath, Larken Cumberland, the So family, Jen Hardy, Charlie Solomon, Joey Amini, Courtney Macker and Anna Gorby, as well as all members of the parent guild, the room representatives and all who donated the fun and impressive auction items.
At the event, speakers also expressed gratitude to outgoing Principal Rich Nambu, whom Father Matt Murphy praised highly, to those who donated and those who bid, and bid, and bid yet more, and also to Father Matt, who led the group in prayer and who, to the delight of those assembled, also actively bid on the many experiences, services, artworks and jewelry items on offer.
After delicious dining and a raucous roup, attendees began to gamble at the roulette tables and play blackjack. They thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
“Roll the dice!” One participant said, “Roll the dice again.”
Easy come, easy go — all funds collected benefitted the school.
“A Night in Monte Carlo” was one of those wonderful, exciting and joyous events, and attendees lingered under chandeliers and a beautiful starscape on a lovely Malibu evening.
“We had a very successful fundraiser bringing together our community and school to raise funds for OLM,” Longo said. “It takes a village!”
Malibu teen volunteer travels to Guatemala with MUSE School and Mending Kids
Axel Polito also helps developmentally disabled youth learn to surf in Malibu and Lakota youth in South Dakota
By Barbara Burke
Special to The Malibu Times
From the shores of our panoramic Pacific in Malibu, to volunteering at the Cheyenne River Youth Project in South Dakota to help Lakota youth, to supporting small patients facing big surgeries in Guatemala, Malibu’s Axel Polito, 14, lives a life of service, caring, and sharing, and he revels in helping others.
“Axel is my hero! I admire his fortitude as I’ve seen him come up against every obstacle and get beyond it,” Tim Hazelip, president of the Mighty Underdogs, said about Polito and his volunteering. “Axel is precious — he’s my favorite person in Malibu!”
MUD is a group of dedicated surfers who understand the healing power of surf therapy and of the ocean.
“I’ve helped a couple of little ones to get used to the water,” Polito said. “One of the kids who I helped refused to get in the water, but after a while, I finally got her in with a promise of orange chicken. All the kids are super fun there and no matter if they fall once or twice, they just get back on and then want you to take them back out.”
As he discusses the benefits to volunteering, school and his future, Polito is unassuming and engaging. Clearly very intelligent, he carefully deliberates before he speaks, and he analyzes issues with a maturity and global perspective that far exceeds his years. Polito simply likes to help others. In a phrase, he feels called to do so. And, importantly and impactfully, he does so joyfully.
“I think that volunteering can open a new lens into other people’s lives and hardships,” Polito said. “My mom and dad always drive the point home that whenever you can, leave something better than when you first found it. MUSE, the school I go to, also provides great input with regard to how I view volunteering.”
Most recently, Polito and other MUSE students, chaperoned by human rights teacher Jeffrey Martin, traveled to Guatemala with Mending Kids, a local organization that provides free life-saving surgical care to sick children worldwide by deploying volunteer medical teams and supporting communities to become medically self-sustaining.
“My experience in Guatemala was like no other,” Polito said. “Seeing all those different kids with conditions and playing with them was cool in and of itself, because, when you do something like that, you notice how similar everyone is in the grand scheme of things.
“Also, after playing with some of the kids, and then going into the surgery rooms and seeing the same kids getting a tumor cut out or a tumor sucked out from their mouths, it really drives home how we are all the same inside and outside and that no matter how big or small you are, good things can happen for you.”
As with any cross-cultural exchange, especially when such a trip is one’s first international trip, there were small hiccups, most notably that Polito is not Spanish-fluent and the kids he worked with in Guatemala and their parents did not speak English. That was not a communication barrier for long. Soon, Polito learned that people find other ways to communicate.
“All the kids and parents were super welcoming and we drew with the kids and made pipe cleaner animals,” He said. “I became proficient in making bears and hearts.”
Clearly, Polito’s big, giving heart has endeared him to Hazelip and Martin, his mentors regarding volunteering.
“Axel has the heart of a lion!” Hazelip said. “He’s a great asset to MUD.”
Agreeing, Martin notes that MUSE’s service learning trips have shown that Polito is ingrained with the gifts of empathy and patience.
“Axel is one of those quiet people who is a steady force and he’s very easy to travel with because he’s flexible,” Martin said. “Moreover, on our pediatric ENT mission to Guatemala, he displayed a careful patience when playing with the patients and their siblings. He worked with them tirelessly — he never took breaks, and the Guatemalan children were drawn to him.”
Polito also enjoyed helping with the Cheyenne River Youth Project, a South Dakota-based organization dedicated to helping Lakota youth.
“At the Cheyenne River Youth Project we help with their community center.” Polito explained.
Specifically, the MUSE student volunteers worked hard at the center, under the careful eyes of Martin and with guidance from project Executive Director Julie Garreau — whom Martin says has done wonders in Eagle Butte, South Dakota, to serve Lakota youth and their families.
Every evening when students are on volunteer travel, Martin sends parents an update. An example letter for the South Dakota trip was entitled, “Day #4-Taking Initiative, Contributing and Taking Care of each other!” The list of tasks were vast, including working all day and getting ready for time with the younger kids who come for the afternoon program and meal. The parents’ letter informed that “Volunteers packed shampoo, soap and body lotions, made a board game for the afternoon time and arranged for prizes, cleaned rust and gunk off pans, cleaned bison blood out of a large freezer,” and they prepared for Taco Tuesday. Such rudimentary tasks teach volunteers the value of giving to others and of having a greater perspective beyond their own community. Such opportunities empower students to support one another while pursuing a common goal, as well as to gain the skill sets to make sure that they tend to their own needs, while all the while helping others meet their needs.
“Axel is an example of what the program is all about,” Martin said. “Students return from our service trips with a little more maturity and a new appreciation for all of their educational opportunities.”
When asked what his long term goals are, Polito responds, “During adult life, I would love to keep helping anyone that needs it, no matter how big or small the community is. Every Summer, I work at MUD so I think that continuing that for a while would be amazing.”
What else is possibly on the horizon for Polito?
“After high school, I’m hoping to get into a good college like Yale and get a master’s degree in engineering,” He said, adding, “If I get that far, then I hope to get a job in either computer generated imagery or aerospace engineering. I also would love to get into something like neurosurgery as that is something I’ve wanted to do since I went to Guatemala.”
Letter to the Editor: Broad Beach
Dear Editor,
What is the status of sand replacement on Broad Beach? Having lived on Carbon Beach for a span of 16 years, I had a front-row seat to the gradual disappearance of a once thriving shoreline located approximately a quarter mile south of the pier. Despite the passage of time, the beach hasn’t resurfaced as it once was. Instead, it seems to have transformed into a perpetually “wet” area. This evolution raises questions about the effectiveness of previous mitigation efforts and the long-term sustainability of the coastline in the face of natural influences.
Bill Keldsen, Ex-Malibu
Remembering and honoring Matt Rapf
Hundreds attend paddle out at First Point before celebrating his life in an SRO memorial service
By Barbara Burke
Special to The Malibu Times
“Matt always loved the rain and he loved going down to the ocean when it rained,” a tearful, grieving, shocked Jill Rapf said days after unexpectedly losing her wonderful husband and best friend, Matt Rapf, 61. Rapf died suddenly of a heart attack on Feb. 4, while paddling out at Zuma Beach in honor of Lyon Herron. When his family, friends, and our community lost Rapf, he was surrounded by his tribe as he transitioned in his absolute favorite place — the ocean.
So, it was fitting that on April 13, a dreary Malibu morning with rain impending, Rapf was again surrounded by his tribe of hundreds of friends and family who gathered to honor him with a paddle out at First Point, the very place that he grew up and made many friends and memories.
“How can he be gone?” a devastated Jill posted a few days after Matt passed, juxtaposing her post with the image of a brawny, smiling Matt in the ocean, the very picture of health and optimism, the image of him that many Malibuites will always recall.
“It was an epic paddle out in Matt’s honor,” Skylar Peak said. “He loved the rain piercing the ocean’s surface and our hills above beautiful Malibu.”
Andy Lyon, Rapf’s childhood friend, agreed: “The paddle out was amazing. We really lucked out because the forecast was for horrible weather and that freed up the whole beach and everyone could park.”
First Point was where Lyon and Rapf surfed for decades, Lyon noted, adding, “We could see Matt’s house from the paddle-out circle which was about a quarter of a mile from where he first surfed.”
Touchingly, Lyon recounted, “I was honored to take Matt’s ashes out on a big board with a wreath of leis. I took him on his last go out and took him around the circle so everyone could see and honor him. Jill was able to spread his ashes and it was beautiful.”
Another of Rapf’s friends, Greg Beaton, described the entourage’s energy as family and friends embraced one another within the circle of love, honor and remembrance. “This is what surfing is all about – Having your friends around you, energy from the ocean and conversations that are as deep as the ocean,” he said.
Matt loved us and we loved him back.
After the paddle out, those celebrating Rapf’s life proceeded to Malibu Gathering Church, where attendees honored him further, recalling how he befriended and helped so many in the community, his sometimes dark sense of humor, and his love of family.
“The memorial service was cathartic, emotional, and moving, and everyone felt Matt there with us,” Jill Rapf said. “It was not just somber or emotional because there was so much joy in it and the standing-room-only gathering was such proof of Matt’s life well lived and that he had touched so many people — there was such a great community response and it was a melding of all those who knew him, including people who he grew up with, who he surfed with, his real estate community, and his recovery community.”
Pastor Brian Kelly recalled how giving Rapf was, noting that just last December, he and five other dads took a trip to the Dominican Republic to learn about how Mission of Hope is helping Haitian children.
“Matt was part of the Gathering Church for the last 15 years and God’s grace changed Matt’s life,” Kelly said. “Matt knew how important it was to remember that what changes your life is knowing that despite being more flawed than you know, God loves you more than you know. Matt was a great example of how God helps you be a better person, husband, father, and friend.”
Tracy Stoker, who grew up with Rapf and attended church with him, shared, “I had the opportunity of watching Matt from the age of 10 through his teenage years and as a 20-to-30-year-old, and then, the transitions he made as he matured into life and its limits.”
Barry Kearson, Rapf’s Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor, spoke of his giving nature: “Matt was generous, sometimes to a fault, and he was a caring human being who did so many things for people struggling with alcohol and addiction — our sponsor-sponsee relationship was very intimate and like many who are grieving his loss, I still cannot believe that he is gone.”
Dale Rhodes also spoke about Rapf’s sobriety journey and his extensions of deep friendship.
“I have known Matt since we were 18 years old,” Rhodes said. “I was a competitive surfer, a kid from the valley who sometimes clashed with local surfers back in the ’80s, but Matt and I became friends and ultimately, he has been my AA sponsor for the last 10 years.”
There were so many sharing reflections about Rapf’s friendship connections.
“Matt loved us and we loved him back,” Jill Rapf said.
Beaton shared, “Matt lived his life with passion and expression with family first and service above self inside and out of Alcoholics Anonymous.”
“At the end of his life, the life none of us knew would be cut so short, Matt was truly a beautiful soul who loved his family foremost and his community of Malibu, and especially, his church family,” Stoker said. “His legacy lives on through his sweet wife, Jill, who continues to embody the love and devotion that Matt held dear.”
Jill Rapf and Lyon both commented that at the end of the day after the memorial, the rain subsided and a double rainbow emerged right where the paddle out had been and there were other rainbows as well, all seemingly helping to ensure that Matt Rapf would want those grieving him to also feel and share joy.
And now, as the Rapf family and Matt’s friends carry on in life, they are embraced by his tribe, buoyed by his love, and they will always honor him. 
“Matt was a kind man — a family man,” Peak said. “His honorable soul left us too early — Malibu is a better place because of him — Long live Matt Rapf!”
City holds sea level rise workshop
Coastal vulnerability discussed; another workshop on Zoom scheduled for Tuesday, April 30
The City of Malibu is taking steps to plan for predicted sea level rise and mitigate potential associated coastal erosion with a Coastal Vulnerability Assessment (CVA) and series of public workshops. Concerned residents and developers attended the second meeting held April 18 at Malibu City Hall. A summary packed with information was presented and then the public was invited to share concerns that will be incorporated into a final report.
A public survey of 76 respondents revealed 67 percent live along Malibu’s coast. A majority of respondents said they enjoyed beach activities such as surfing, walking along the beach, ocean swimming, and wave watching. However, 76 percent said they thought sea level rise and coastal erosion are issues in Malibu and cited loss of sand, increased erosion, rising tides, and wave runup, that they would like to see addressed.
Adaptation measures that could be taken include artificial reefs, submerged rock breakwaters, edging, dredging, revetment, dam removal, and beach dune and lagoon restoration.
The city’s Environmental Sustainability Director Yolanda Bundy reiterated, “A majority of the survey responders have stated that they are seeing changes along Malibu coastline. This is possibly due to sea level rise, coastal erosion, sea water flooding, and other coastal hazards and are interested in what can be done to mitigate the effects of sea level rise.”
Some local areas have been identified by Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors as possible targets for adaptation measures. Zuma Beach and Point Dume were singled out as coastal areas that could benefit from adaptation plans. Mitigation could include beach nourishment, living shorelines such as dunes and other measures to increase the resilience of the county beaches and public amenities. According to the CVA, Caltrans is also prioritizing sea level rise and climate change adaptation efforts for roadways throughout the state. Caltrans District 7, which covers Malibu, designated high priority for adaptation assessments for several bridges, small culverts, and roadway segments in Malibu for individual adaptation assessments.
Coastal engineer James Jackson of Environmental Science Associates (ESA) addressed the meeting, saying the CVA “evaluates coastal hazards, existing conditions, future sea level rise” including flooding and erosion. It’s predicted that sea level rise will impact critical infrastructure, including wastewater treatment and the Pacific Coast Highway.
ESA predicts 2.5 feet of sea level rise to occur between 2070-75. It gets worse with a projected 6.6 feet rise by 2100-30.
“Sea level rise science is ever-changing and evolving as the scientific community understands and models the effects of sea level rise,” Jackson explained. “These projections are precautionary by design … It’s important for communities to plan ahead.”
Jackson stated low-lying areas are subject to coastal storm flooding and tidal inundation, which makes PCH vulnerable “as you can observe a number of reaches of the highway that are armored with revetment.” He added a sobering prediction: “Beaches in Malibu are primarily narrow under existing conditions. Five percent of the coast has little to no beach in high tides. If sea level rises by 2.5 feet, over 40 percent of the coast could be without a beach and nearly 80 percent of the coast could be without a dry sand beach with 6.6 sea level rise.”
Community input is sought before the Coastal Vulnerability Assessment is finalized.
Another public workshop on Zoom will be held on Tuesday, April 30, at 3 p.m. to provide your feedback and discuss the next steps on the projected impacts of sea level rise. Visit the virtual link to access the meeting. A recording of the first virtual workshop presenting technical results is available at Virtual Workshop Recording. Access the draft Coastal Vulnerability Assessment report, interactive GIS map, and additional information on the Malibu Coastal webpage (malibucity.org/859/Coastal). For inquiries, call (310) 456-2489, ext. 390, or email mbuilding@malibucity.org.
Malibu’s Dick Van Dyke earns historic Daytime Emmy nomination
Malibu’s Dick Van Dyke has made history as the oldest performer to win a Daytime Emmy Award nomination.
The legendary actor and entertainer was nominated Friday for his guest performance on the Peacock network soap opera “Days of Our Lives.” The 98-year-old Van Dyke portrayed an amnesiac in a four-part plot line on the daytime drama series last September. Van Dyke becomes the oldest-ever Daytime Emmy nominee.
The late producer Norman Lear, at age 100, was the oldest person to receive a Primetime Emmy nod in 2022. The legendary Van Dyke has already earned five Primetime Emmys. Three were won for his 1960s classic TV sitcom “The Dick Van Dyke Show.” The entertainment icon has also won a prestigious Tony, Grammy, and Kennedy Center Honor. The Emmys telecast will be held June 7.
Homeowner accuses Malibu West of bias in civil rights lawsuit
Royce Clayton in dispute with homeowners’ association over rebuild of house destroyed in Woolsey Fire
Royce Clayton’s dream home sat in a cul-de-sac in the Malibu West neighborhood.
The one-story house with a pool was a residence where Clayton, his wife Samantha, and their four children could rest their heads and enjoy the benefits of living in Malibu.
“My kids could be outside,” said Clayton, a 54-year-old Malibu resident for over two decades. It was such a neat place for kids to grow up. It was perfect—a dream home for raising kids.”
That dream was burnt down in November 2018 when the Woolsey Fire ripped through Malibu and destroyed 1,500 buildings, claimed three lives, and forced the evacuation of 260,000 people including the Claytons, who went to a friend’s home in Manhattan Beach.
Now, the Claytons, who rent a house in Westlake Village, are rebuilding their home of five years on Paseo Canyon Drive. However, according to a lawsuit, the Malibu West Swimming Club homeowners association and two of its board members — Tim Biglow and William David Little — are attempting to dash that renewed dream.
In the lawsuit, Royce and Samantha say the homeowners association’s board is selectively enforcing the homeowners association’s “Architectural Guidelines” and threatened legal action to prevent them from constructing a new home on their property. The Claytons claim the board’s position isn’t in line with other homes in Malibu West and is only being enforced against them. The board has demanded changes to the height of the home’s roof, the square footage of the residence, and the forward move of the house pad, the area on which the home will sit.
The lawsuit alleges that Biglow and Little, who are white, made racially charged comments against the Claytons, who are black, during the debate about how their residence should be constructed.
The Claytons claim they are targets of the discriminatory, harassing, and retaliatory housing practices and have suffered mental anguish and emotional distress. They are seeking compensatory and punitive damages. The lawsuit was originally filed in 2021 and featured a litany of activities, but a court date has yet to be set. According to Anahita Sedaghatfar, the Claytons’ lawyer, arguments on a demurrer filed by a homeowners association will be held in front of a judge in June.
Royce Clayton, the head baseball coach at Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village and a former Major League Baseball player, said the homeowners association is treating him differently than other members of the Malibu West.
“The only reason I’m left with is that I’m the only African American in this community,” he said.
Clayton said the board began stymieing his family’s proposed home design in 2020 after they received the proper permits from the city.
“The Claytons have been a moving target as to why their plans have not been approved,” Sedaghatfar noted.
Chief among the points of contention is how high can home’s roof can be, she said. The Claytons’ planned roof height of almost 12 feet is lower than their original home’s roof and is already within the association’s guidelines, which allow a residence’s roof to be up to 14 feet. The board is demanding the roof be lowered another two feet because they the say if the roof is higher it will block the view corridor of one of Clayton’s neighbors, Elizabeth Howland, has from her two-story home. Sedaghatfar said she and her clients have confirmed that to be untrue by measuring the desired height of the roof on the property.
“They want that two-feet reduction — that would render the Claytons’ roof height to be that of a garage,” she said. “You could stand there and touch it with your hand. We have proven in this case there is not a view obstruction. There is a house to the right of Royce’s that blocks the view anyway, so no matter what Royce did he couldn’t technically block anything.”
The Claytons began construction of their new home in March without the board’s approval. Sedaghatfar said the board threatened to file an injunction to stop the building. If the association issues an injunction, she said they will hold any board member who voted for it personally liable.
The board previously rejected the Claytons’ proposed size of the home of approximately 3,364 square feet — 164 square feet over association’s guideline limit of 3,200 square feet, according to the lawsuit. The family’s original home was around 3,102 square feet. The lawsuit notes that the home on the right side of the Claytons’ house, constructed within the last few years, was approved for up to 4,800 square feet and a two-story build but was built to be a single-story home of 4,011 square feet.
“The Association and Board claim the neighbors’ home approvals were agreed to only after the neighbors filed a lawsuit,” the lawsuit reads. “Nevertheless, the result is that a home of 4,011 sq. ft. is being built and the Board cannot, in good faith, reject the Claytons’ request for an additional comparatively negligible 164 sq. ft. over the Guideline limit. Moreover, the development has many other homes that exceed 3,2000 sq. ft.”
The board denied the Claytons’ request to move their home five feet forward to be in compliance with the city and Malibu Fire Department’s requirements. The Claytons state the house pad must move forward to render the pool compliant with city codes, and because the original home was 3 feet too close the neighboring property line, so the city said the home must move three feet farther away from the boundary.
Additionally, city ordinances require homes like the Claytons’ to be built a certain distance from unimproved hillsides. The board contends that moving the house will negatively impact the views of Little, who lives across the street from the Claytons, and Howland. The board’s description of the Claytons’ home as a “nuisance” because of the homeowners’ request to move the home forward “is a malicious, unreasonable and exaggerated statement, though it further evidences the bias and racial prejudice the Board has against the Claytons,” the lawsuit reads.
The lawsuit notes that several people told the Claytons their home design plans would be approved if they allowed businesses aligned with Biglow, who works in the construction industry, to be involved in the rebuild. When the Claytons mentioned Biglow’s conflict of interest his attitude toward the Claytons soured.
“Biglow stated ‘[y]ou people [a triggering phrase for African-Americans] need to follow the rules’ on several occasions,” the lawsuit states. Additionally, Biglow was once asked to leave the Claytons’ property after he made comments with racial undertones toward the Claytons in the presence of other board members.
Little is accused of going on their property without their permission and harassing workers, who were removing weeds and building debris, at least four times. According to the lawsuit, Little said he became a board member “to specifically prevent the Claytons from building their proposed home and prevent the pad of the home being approved for being moved forward.”
According to the lawsuit, during a site inspection of the Claytons’ property, Little yelled that he didn’t want the Claytons’ home moved forward because he didn’t want Royce Clayton, a father of two teenage daughters, looking at his teenage daughter sunbathing.
“Mr. Little thus blatantly accused Plaintiff Royce Clayton of being a pedophile and a sexual predator with knowledge of the falsity of said statement,” the document reads. “Indeed, the racist stereotype of African American men as sexual predators to be feared by Caucasians, harkens back hundreds of years.”
Sedaghatfar said it is shocking how boldly biased the actions against the Claytons have been.
“It is not even an attempt to do it in a way that would be covered,” she said. “It is a rare case where you have a situation where someone is blatantly making racist comments. We have explicit racial comments that were made and the HOA has done nothing to reprimand or say, ‘We don’t like those comments.’ How can the HOA argue that this is not discriminatory? How can you make that argument when at a minimum you have not denounced those comments of your members.”
Jennifer E. Newcomb, the attorney for Biglow, Little, and the board, wrote in an email “The Association denies all of the allegations. The Association has no further comment and will not be litigating this dispute through the media.”
Clayton, who grew up in Inglewood, said he has experienced racism throughout his life. He recalled a time in his youth when the n-word was written on the exterior of his home.
“We are not victims,” Clayton stated. “I refuse to be a victim of anything. I’m a person that preservers through anything that is ignorant.”
He is disappointed that his children, all teenagers, are going through this experience.
“They are never going to live in that house,” Clayton said. “That is the truth. Its persisted that long where they have taken away what I wanted for my children to be raised in this home. You aren’t God to make those decisions.”
The board, he said, is overextending their influence.
“Who does this to a family that has lost everything in a fire?” Clayton mused. “These are not my neighbors. Neighbors don’t treat you like that.”
Sedaghatfar said Jason Riddick, Malibu West board member, and his wife have taken legal action against the Malibu Planning Commission in court so they can build an accessory dwelling unit on their property. She said Riddick has stated that several people in Malibu West have ADUs on their property without city approval, but no one in the community has complained.
“So that’s okay?” Sedaghatfar asked. “The Claytons have city approved plans that are within in the guidelines, yet six years later their plans are not approved. This is discrimination.”
“These are fire victims, Sedaghatfar. “You have two people on the board who are admittedly trying to find every reason to not let them rebuild.”
Pepperdine tennis teams capture WCC titles
The men’s and women’s squads were a combined 13-1 in conference matches
The Pepperdine men’s and women’s tennis squads are both champions of the West Coast Conference.
The Waves women’s team capped an undefeated season in the conference with a sweep of Saint Mary’s on April 20 at Pepperdine’s Ralphs-Straus Tennis Center to win the WCC regular-season crown. The men’s team defeated Pacific in Stockton to secure a share of the regular-season conference title with San Diego on April 21.
The Pepperdine women’s team, ranked eighth in national polls, defeated Saint Mary’s 7-0. Before the match, the Waves honored senior team members Anna Campana, Nikki Redelijk, Janice Tjen, and Lisa Zaar during a senior day ceremony. Then, the Waves dominated Saint Mary’s. All six of the Waves won in straight sets in singles after Campana and Zaar grabbed the doubles point with a 6-1 victory.
The Waves received their first singles point when a Saint Mary’s player retired due to an injury during the first set of competition against Tjen. Pepperdine took a 3-0 lead when freshman Vivian Yang won the first 10 games of match before her opponent notched a game en route to a 6-0, 6-1 win.
Junior Savannah Broadus won her matchup 6-0, 6-0. Campana won her match 6-3, 6-0. Redelijk jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first set of her match and went on to a 6-2 triumph. She won the next set 6-0.
Freshman Jasmine Conwy won the first set of a tight matchup 6-4. Conway was down 4-3 before stagging a comeback and winning the second set, 6-4.
The Pepperdine men’s team, ranked 43rd, beat Pacific 4-3 to clinch a share of the WCC regular-season top spot.
Waves head coach Adam Schaechterle said the victory was a special experience.
“For my own guys, I’m so proud of how they play for each other,” he said. “We started the season 1-5, and we lost one of our best players for the season, but these guys love each other and it shines through in how they compete.”
Schaechterle said Pacific played tough.
“Huge respect for how they battled, and for their success this season,” he said.
The contest began with both teams winning matches in doubles play. Then, the Waves duo of sophomore Linus Carlsson Halldin and graduate student George Davis rang up three consecutive points to break their matchup open and secure the doubles point with 7-6 (4) win by way of a forehand hit from Davis.
The squads went back and forth in singles play also. Both bunches grabbed three first sets apiece and three matches needed three sets to decide winners.
Pacific grabbed the first singles point. Waves senior Pietro Fellin then won a contentious match 6-4, 6-3 to give his team the lead again. It was Fellin’s team-leading eighth straight win.
Freshman Zach Stephens seized his fifth WCC singles win at the fifth position with a 6-4, 7-5 victory. Pacific won the next two matches.
Freshman Edward Winter then staged a comeback in the second set. He was behind 5-3 after losing the first set 4-6. However, in the ninth game, Winter tied the match at 5. The game then entered a tiebreaker, which Winter won 7-6 (4). The Wave gained a 3-0 advantage in the last set and went on to a 6-1 triumph.
The men’s team finished the regular season with a 13-10 overall record and 7-1 record in the conference. The Waves have won their six last contests — a WCC-best winning streak this year. The squad has first-round bye in the WCC Tournament at Aztec Tennis Center in San Diego. Their first match will be in the event’s semifinals on Friday at 10 a.m.
The women’s team finished the regular season with a 15-6 overall record and a 6-0 record in the WCC. The team has eight straight unbeaten seasons in the conference. The Waves didn’t surrender a single doubles point or singles match to conference opposition this season — a Waves team last did that in 2017.
Pepperdine women’s tennis has won 41 WCC titles including 12 regular-season championships. The group is the top seed in the WCC Tournament in San Diego.
The Waves have a first-round bye and will begin play in the semifinals on Friday at 1:30 p.m.
Pepperdine men’s tennis won a share of the WCC title with a 4-3 win over Pacific on April 21. Photo Couresty of Pepperdine Athletics.
Pepperdine women’s team is shown on Senior Day. The Waves went undefeated in conference play for the eighth straight year in 2024. Photo by Morgan Davenport.
