John Francis Rindge, RPV Resident, Dies at 81

This obituary was compiled by editor Jessica Davis.

Rancho Palos Verdes resident John Francis Rindge, grandson to the one of the original land owners in Malibu, died Aug. 29 at the age of 81 in Torrance.

Rindge, the son of Frederick Hastings Rindge, Jr., and Helen Starkey McCauley, was born in Los Angeles on Jan. 16, 1932.

The family submitted the following obituary: 

Rindge attended schools in Santa Monica and graduated from Loyola University in Los Angeles. In 1953, he married Mary Anne Alpine in Westwood, CA. He served as an officer in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. His business career as a Vice-President and C.P.A. included management of manufacturing interests at A.D. Alpine Kilns, as well as real estate and property management at Mesmer Properties.

He was co-author of two books about Malibu Potteries, a company started by his grandmother in the 1920s. He also co-authored books with his brother, Ronald L. Rindge, about their childhood history in Malibu.

Rindge had a strong interest in genealogy, and addressed groups including First Century Families, whose members are descendants of the first families to settle in Los Angeles.  His grandfather made several gifts to the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts.  On the Centennial of the founding of Rindge Technical School in Cambridge, he was named Man of the Year and addressed school alumni.

Self-taught in ceramics, tile design and painting, some of his works are installed at the Mission San Luis Rey de Francia in Oceanside and Serra Retreat in Malibu, California.  He developed an early interest in numismatics and consigned the John F. Rindge collection in 2003.

He was a member of St. John Fisher Parish in Rancho Palos Verdes and Saint Catherine of Alexandria Parish in Avalon, Santa Catalina Island, CA.

Rindge is survived by his wife, Mary Anne Rindge of Rancho Palos Verdes, and his four children—Debora (Spencer), Mark (Barbara), Michael (Dawn) and Elizabeth (Ross)—and their families, including six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

A funeral mass was set for St. John Fisher Church in Rancho Palos Verdes, with a private family graveside ceremony at Angelus Rosedale Cemetery in Los Angeles. 

Memorial donations may be made to The Fund for Loyola Marymount University or to the Malibu Adamson House Foundation by contacting donate@adamsonhouse.org or visiting adamsonhouse.org/donate.html.