Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1521956
first," he said. "She was one of the kindest and most generous souls I've ever known." That generosity didn't stop when she re- ceived news of her cancer diagnosis in 2016. Mizrahi said she "instantly" started to give back to others fighting cancer and faced her illness with the same courage and hope on which she'd built her successful career. An avid gardener and proud rescue dog mum, Blainey first purchased a home on Ridgeley Drive in mid-city Los Angeles and later bought a beautiful craftsman house in Jefferson Park. "I've had so many adventures with her," Boden said. "Sue was so smart, and she embraced the beauty of life even in the face of her diagnosis. I just adored her for that." I n b e t w e e n w o r k a n d t r e a t m e n t , Blainey enjoyed road trips, hiking, cooking (especially Aussie sausage rolls) and baking (often for neighbors and the crew), and drinking champagne with friends — some- thing friend and colleague Tanya Swerling said she'd affectionately called "shampoo" or even just "poo" for short. Whenever possible, she brought her beloved dogs with her to the cutting room. J u s t a s i n S y d n e y a n d N e w Yo r k , Blainey 's many friends in Los Angeles adored her. Her colleagues from "Six Feet Under," including Michael Ruscio, ACE, Swerling, Pattye Rafferty (Rogers), and Lisa de Moraes became friends who ultimately became family. "From the second I met her, she was just my person," Rafferty said, while de Moraes added that she was "a bright light." During the pandemic, Blainey helped organize socially distanced get-togeth- e r s w i t h t h e n e i g h b o r s t o e n c o u r a g e building a stronger community instead of isolating. She helped make face masks and helped distribute food as a volunteer at the local church. Dorian Harris, ACE, remembered her "incredible stamina" and fight throughout her illness. "She never let her diagnosis weigh her down," Harris added. "She rent- ed a beautiful apartment on the beach in Australia, and then she and her sister Libby bought a house to renovate. She was doing exactly what she loved up until the end." As an editor and friend, Rafa Garcia said Blainey will be remembered as an incredibly generous mentor to up-and-coming editors. "She believed in opening doors for new editors and ensuring current editors had a safe space to do their best work," he said. Steve Sahagun, who was Blainey's assis- tant editor for more than 10 years beginning with "Happy Town" in 2010, agreed, adding that she had a humorous, spunky and feisty personality and was "always cracking jokes in the editing room." "When I f irst worked with her, she c a m e i n o n e d a y w i t h a h e l m e t a n d wearing a leather jacket," he remembered. "I was shocked that she would ride her Vespa to work on occasion. It was both cute and daring." Sahagun said that over the years, she was protective of him, helping to make sure he was taken care of when going from series to series with her or working on features. "She made sure I got paid for all of my over- time work and she would stick up for me if I had any issues during a show," he said. "I learned so much from her during my years of assisting her — tricks, tips, organizing in editing — all of which I use to this day and teach other assistants and editors." Garcia said she left her mark on many hearts around the world. "I imagine Sue would suggest downing a stiff drink, blast- ing some INXS and pressing forward," he said. "Life is too short. Get up and dance, garden, adore your pets, build a community or do something that will help fill your heart with joy. That's the way Sue lived her life." ■ — Kristin Marguerite Doidge William Denton Allen, known as Denny, passed away on March 16. Born in Houston, Texas., in 1941, he developed a passion for electronics that complemented his service in the U.S. Army where he honed his skills as an engineer. I n h i s s u b s e q u e n t c i v i l i a n c a r e e r, h e worked for Vidtronics, AME, Vidfilm and Paramount, where he retired in 2017 as a respected video engineer. Denny moved to California in the '60s with his first wife, Candice Russell Allen, and welcomed their son William Colby Allen in 1974. In the '90s, Denny married Coreen Emerson Allen and remained married until her passing in 2013. Denny is survived by his son Colby Allen and his brother Donald Allen. ■ — Colby Allen DENNY ALLEN OCTOBER 17, 1941 - MARCH 16, 2024 48 C I N E M O N T A G E I N M E M O R I A M