Eric Dugdale, born April 24, 1951, passed away August 27, after a three-month bout with pneumonia. He was 74.
He was the son of Charlotte H. Dugdale-Self and Eric Dugdale, Sr. a builder from England who came from Canada to build luxury homes in the Palisades. Eric’s mother Charlotte fled from Nazi Germany to England, where she met Dugdale Sr. The two settled in Topanga Canyon.
The couple had two children, Eric and Annette. Eric attended Topanga Elementary, then Taft High School, Pierce Junior College and then UC Santa Barbara, where he studied English, History and Theatre.
Upon graduation, Eric worked for Coldwell Banker as a real estate agent in the San Fernando Valley and later in Marina del Ray. It was there he bought a 25-foot yacht and in 1998 he became a member of the Pacific Mariners Club.
He also worked for his father’s construction company. That office was located above the now Pearl Dragon. In addition to building homes, the company also built establishments such as the King’s Head Pub in Santa Monica.
Eric’s parents divorced in the 1970s and his mom bought a house on Hartzell Street. His mom remarried and died in 2019, on August 27, the same day as Eric.
He was a member of the Pacific Palisades Historical Society, serving as president for more than a decade. On Eric’s passing the Society wrote, “If you wanted to know what living in the Palisades was like from the late-1950’s forward, Eric was your go-to resource for tales informed by his vivid recollection. He had also done extensive research on the Palisades/Topanga region’s earlier history, including the role of indigenous peoples.”
He also represented the Society on the Pacific Palisades Community Council.
Ever a fixture on the Alphabet Streets, or stopping for his morning coffee at Starbucks in the Business Block, Eric was among the thousands of Palisadians who lost their homes during the January Palisades Fire.
Eric is predeceased by his parents. He is survived by his sister Annette Alexakis (Glenn) and two nephews, James and Chris.
Two memorials are planned. The first will be at the Pacific Mariners Club in Marina del Rey, Sunday, September 14, 2 to 4 p.m. The second is being arranged by the family and the Palisades and Topanga Historical Societies at a location and date still to be determined.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks people donate to the Palisades Historical Society in Eric’s name.
Great picture of Eric wearing one of his treasured Reyn Spooner shirts, almost all were lost in the Palisades fire.
He and his family and his identity were all so deeply tied to the Palisades, that I can only imagine the shock, to Eric, of losing the Palisades, his family home, his beloved Starbucks, the Playhouse where he presided over the Historical Society, and all the landmarks that defined our town, that Eric could tell the history of. They were his personal landmarks, wiped off the Earth in 24 hours. The shock of that must have been particularly painful for Eric Dugdale. I can’t help but wonder if that played into his vulnerability to pneumonia 3 months ago. Or did the toxic air play a part, or was it another one of those perfect storms. Now, yet another loss for the Palisades. Sobering. Eric was my age. I came to the Palisades just a few years after he did. I related to him.
-Chris C.
The Pacific Palisades Historical Society deeply morns the loss of a beloved Board member and longest serving President. We will all miss not only his dedicated service and contribution to the ongoing legacy of the Palisades, but his warmth and wry sense of humor.
Many blessing to all his family …
He will be missed.
Chris ,
You are on point…. this fire has affected everyone’s health….
Eric was a kind and thoughtful person who cared about people and loved both Topanga and the Palisades. He always had time to listen and he will be sorely missed by me and so many!