Heart Disease

When 57-year-old Thomas Kiser’s wife died in his arms of a heart attack just outside of their condominium on the day after Christmas three years ago, he was stunned. They had been married for 33 years and she was only 52. Ever since then, Kiser has dyed his hair red in her memory, but also as a conversation starter. Friday morning he had it done for the third time at Paul Mitchell the School in Costa Mesa, along with about 60 others. Kiser’s wife could have quit smoking or paid more attention to her diet, he said, but neither of them knew how dangerous and prevalent heart disease was in women or how to identify the signs.

An Irvine bicyclist who died more than a week after getting hit by a car in Newport Coast, and who underwent multiple surgeries during his recovery, died of natural causes, coroner officials said Thursday. Daniel Crain, 65, died of heart disease Sunday at Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo. An autopsy performed Wednesday determined that his death was unrelated to the crash, authorities said. Newport Beach police said that, on Aug. 3, Crain was steering to the far right of southbound Newport Coast Drive at the Corona del Mar (73)

The Paul Mitchell School in Costa Mesa was awash in a sea of red Friday. Red balloons, flowers, clothing and hair were symbolic of public support for the American Heart Assn.’s National Wear Red Day. Clients dyeing and spraying their hair red, or sporting bright red polish on their fingernails, included heart attack and stroke survivors, and family members participating in memory of someone they had lost to heart disease. St. Joseph’s Hospital representatives provided free health screenings and raised public awareness about the risk factors involved with heart disease, the No. 1 killer of women in America.

There were seven of them, once laid low by heart disease and stroke, but now walking tall on the runway in the Island Hotel ballroom. Wearing stylish red dresses from numerous designers, the survivors strutted their stuff Thursday in a fashion show as part of the “Go Red for Women Luncheon,” an event put on by the American Heart Assn. to raise awareness of heart disease. Throughout the day, attendees raised money for heart health, learned about healthy eating, and heard from keynote speaker and actress Cloris Leachman.

COSTA MESA — Janice Shepherd celebrated her life Friday by cutting off her long ponytail and coloring her new short hairdo red at the Paul Mitchell School on Adams Avenue and Harbor Boulevard. But she really wasn't trying to make a fashion statement. About five years ago, Shepherd had a heart attack while swimming in Corona del Mar. She subsequently needed to have stents put in to allow better blood flow, which has required bypass heart surgery. Shepherd, 49, was one of about 45 people men and women who elected to dye their hair red Friday to help increase awareness for heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in women, according to the American Heart Assn.

February was "heart healthy" month for women across America, with Valentine's Day offering a natural way for the American Heart Assn. to bring attention to the seriousness of heart disease in women. At the Paul Mitchell salon in Costa Mesa, 60 people dyed their head red to bring attention to the cause, and a major luncheon was held at the Balboa Bay Club & Resort. The ballroom of the Balboa Bay Club & Resort was filled to capacity, with some 500 donors gathering to hear the latest medical information on women and heart disease.

Judy Voltmer quit her “glamorous” smoking habit 13 years ago, adopted a healthy lifestyle that included daily exercise, and took her high cholesterol medication religiously. When a doctor discovered elevated cholesterol levels and possible blockage in some arteries during routine blood work, Voltmer was referred to a cardiologist who suggested a treadmill stress test to determine her heart’s health. Voltmer wasn’t worried about running on a treadmill.

Mary K. Swain Services for Mary K. Swain, a 30-year Newport Beach resident, have not been set. Ms. Swain died Saturday of cancer. She was 82. She is survived by stepdaughters Robin, Beth and Barbara Swain; and two grandchildren. Cleome Dovey Services for Cleome Dovey, a 40-year resident of Newport Beach, will be held at Arlington National Cemetery. Mrs. Dovey died Jan. 28 of natural causes. She was 87. She is survived by sons Lee Baker and Douglas Dovey; 10 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

John McEnary Private interment will be held for John McEnary, a longtime Orange Coast College music professor who lived in Irvine. Mr. McEnary died Sunday of cancer. He was 50. He is survived by his parents and sister. OCC's foundation has set up a John McEnary Scholarship Fund that will benefit OCC music students. Those interested in contributing can call (714) 432-5749. Dorothy Ann Spicer Mass for Costa Mesa resident Dorothy Ann Spicer will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.

Deirdre Newman A one-time director of the Central Orange Coast YMCA in Newport Beach died Saturday. John Sumner Provost, 59, was described as a "true humanitarian" by his sister-in-law, Janet Sederquist. Mr. Provost died of heart disease. He served as director of the YMCA in Newport Beach for six years until 1999. He was born in Lima, Ohio, and played basketball and baseball at Bowling Green State University. His athletic prowess impressed the New York Yankees, which offered him a catching position.

NEWPORT BEACH — Working against the clock (a.k.a. the lunch bell), senior Abby Michaelsen walked around the circle of booths with a camera crew in tow, making sure everything was ready for the hundreds of students who would soon fill up the area. Michaelsen, 18, was the catalyst behind the creation of Newport Harbor High School's Health Fair last year and oversaw her brainchild again at lunch Thursday. The Health Fair was sponsored by the school's Health and Heart Club she also founded in honor of her father, who died of a heart attack when she 9. "I thought having a health fair would be a fun way for kids to learn about being healthy," she said.

An Irvine bicyclist who died more than a week after getting hit by a car in Newport Coast, and who underwent multiple surgeries during his recovery, died of natural causes, coroner officials said Thursday. Daniel Crain, 65, died of heart disease Sunday at Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo. An autopsy performed Wednesday determined that his death was unrelated to the crash, authorities said. Newport Beach police said that, on Aug. 3, Crain was steering to the far right of southbound Newport Coast Drive at the Corona del Mar (73)

Submitted by Jayce Yamagishi Can breast cancer can be a preventable disease? Absolutely, says Kevin Morton, the founder of the Irvine-based new non-profit organization the Foundation for Breast Cancer Prevention. Morton is a former medical device inventor who is now focusing his efforts not on developing technology but on prevention. Why is breast cancer prevention so important? Morton cited the 182,460 new cases of invasive breast cancer diagnosed in women in the U.S., with approximately 40,480 deaths.

When 57-year-old Thomas Kiser’s wife died in his arms of a heart attack just outside of their condominium on the day after Christmas three years ago, he was stunned. They had been married for 33 years and she was only 52. Ever since then, Kiser has dyed his hair red in her memory, but also as a conversation starter. Friday morning he had it done for the third time at Paul Mitchell the School in Costa Mesa, along with about 60 others. Kiser’s wife could have quit smoking or paid more attention to her diet, he said, but neither of them knew how dangerous and prevalent heart disease was in women or how to identify the signs.

There were seven of them, once laid low by heart disease and stroke, but now walking tall on the runway in the Island Hotel ballroom. Wearing stylish red dresses from numerous designers, the survivors strutted their stuff Thursday in a fashion show as part of the “Go Red for Women Luncheon,” an event put on by the American Heart Assn. to raise awareness of heart disease. Throughout the day, attendees raised money for heart health, learned about healthy eating, and heard from keynote speaker and actress Cloris Leachman.

Judy Voltmer quit her “glamorous” smoking habit 13 years ago, adopted a healthy lifestyle that included daily exercise, and took her high cholesterol medication religiously. When a doctor discovered elevated cholesterol levels and possible blockage in some arteries during routine blood work, Voltmer was referred to a cardiologist who suggested a treadmill stress test to determine her heart’s health. Voltmer wasn’t worried about running on a treadmill.

The Paul Mitchell School in Costa Mesa was awash in a sea of red Friday. Red balloons, flowers, clothing and hair were symbolic of public support for the American Heart Assn.’s National Wear Red Day. Clients dyeing and spraying their hair red, or sporting bright red polish on their fingernails, included heart attack and stroke survivors, and family members participating in memory of someone they had lost to heart disease. St. Joseph’s Hospital representatives provided free health screenings and raised public awareness about the risk factors involved with heart disease, the No. 1 killer of women in America.

COSTA MESA — Janice Shepherd celebrated her life Friday by cutting off her long ponytail and coloring her new short hairdo red at the Paul Mitchell School on Adams Avenue and Harbor Boulevard. But she really wasn't trying to make a fashion statement. About five years ago, Shepherd had a heart attack while swimming in Corona del Mar. She subsequently needed to have stents put in to allow better blood flow, which has required bypass heart surgery. Shepherd, 49, was one of about 45 people men and women who elected to dye their hair red Friday to help increase awareness for heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in women, according to the American Heart Assn.

February was "heart healthy" month for women across America, with Valentine's Day offering a natural way for the American Heart Assn. to bring attention to the seriousness of heart disease in women. At the Paul Mitchell salon in Costa Mesa, 60 people dyed their head red to bring attention to the cause, and a major luncheon was held at the Balboa Bay Club & Resort. The ballroom of the Balboa Bay Club & Resort was filled to capacity, with some 500 donors gathering to hear the latest medical information on women and heart disease.

Students at St. John the Baptist school shoot hoops and jump rope to raise money for American Heart Assn. in honor of boy with heart defect. Tommy Council is only 3, but he's already been a familiar presence at St. John the Baptist Catholic School for most of his life. Even if he's just a face in a photograph. Tommy, the son of a former St. John student, was born with a heart defect and required his first surgery just days after his birth. His mother, Anna Marie Rotonda, had graduated from St. John years earlier, but as soon as the school heard of her child's condition, it jumped behind his cause.