NOTABLE PASSINGS

NATHAN WINDSOR

United States Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Nathan Windsor was killed in combat in the Al Anbar province of Iraq March 11.

The 20-year-old Windsor spent most of his childhood in Huntington Beach, moving to Oregon in his sophomore year at Marina High School. He joined the Marines at age 19.

Windsor was an infantryman who trained at Camp Pendleton. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.

Windsor’s name was etched into the stone of the Huntington Beach Veteran’s Memorial. The memorial was rededicated Dec. 17.

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SARA NOEL HARRIS

Huntington Beach resident Sara Noel Harris’ death was a mixture of tragedy and controversy. The 21-year-old Harris died after losing control of a late model Audi and smashing into a pole at Adams Avenue and Mesa Verde Drive in Costa Mesa.

Controversy entered the equation when it was suspected Harris was driving under the influence. Autopsy reports showed Harris’ blood-alcohol level was .14, nearly twice the legal limit, and that she had traces of marijuana in her system.

Gabriella Hahn, of Costa Mesa, who didn’t know Harris, received the brunt of the controversy. She tried to hold a memorial for Harris but received a number of negative phone calls and instead canceled the event, electing to wrap pink ribbons around the traffic pole by herself instead.

Harris was remembered by friends and family as an excellent softball pitcher with a vibrant personality and a headstrong attitude.

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FATHER DANIEL JOHNSON

Described as a pioneer by some, Father Daniel Johnson was locked into the past as an advocate of the traditional Tridentine Mass. Fittingly, he died on a Sunday, March 18. He was 77.

Johnson served as the pastor at St. Mary’s by the Sea in Huntington Beach for 25 years. He could be described as the church’s savior. When he arrived at the tiny church in 1978, the membership had dwindled to 400 and was near closing. He reestablished the church by getting involved in the community, going door to door and having conversations with community members wherever he could.

He would later begin to use the Tridentine Mass, which is done in Latin, in the early ‘90s, sparking some controversy within the church, but despite critics, church attendance climbed.

He was ordained in 1954, worked for the Diocese of Los Angeles until 1976 and retired two years ago at age 75. Since his death, the Tridentine Masses were all but stopped, only done at Johnson’s funeral.