Prudy Tamar Tevis Handelman
In Honor of the one year anniversary of Prudy’s passing….
Prudy was born in Cottage Hospital Feb 17, 1942. The same week as Japan bombed the Ellwood Oil reservoirs. The story goes that Glades, Prudy’s mom was so sure that Santa Barbara would be bombed next, she hurried to the hospital and rescued her new born. She repaired to the safety of Montecito to wait out the imminent battle.
Prudy grew up in Montecito with her two brothers, Peter and Scott and two sisters , Patience and Paula when it was still a small town. Her mother Glades and father Tevis owned successful retail stores downtown. As a 6 year old she would often cross the two lane Highway 101 to visit Miramar beach. She went to elementary school in Montecito, then Santa Barbara High and finally graduated from Mary Mount.
Now 18 she was ready for adventure. She moved to Isreal and joined the Isreal army and lived on a Kibbutz. She met her first husband in the army, a dashing young man in uniform was hard to resist.
This marriage produced a boy, Michael. As the six day war began in Isreal, the new couple returned to America and moved to Oklahoma where they set up housekeeping near Prudy’s favorite cousin Gerry Ann. She worked at the local A & P grocery store and tried to memorize the daily prices of produce.
Her new husband had a tough time adjusting to America and felt compelled to return to Isreal and fight for his country. Prudy missed her family and Santa Barbara and decided to return to her roots in California. Upon her return, she decided to follow her child hood passion for helping and healing people and enrolled in Nursing school. It was also a practical decision, as Nursing was one of the few few high paying jobs open to women at that time.
Prudy settled in and with her characteristic grit and determination was able to take care of her family and began investing in real estate, a family tradition passed down from her Grandfather, Leo Sanders. At one time Leo owned all the buildings in Santa Barbara over 4 stories tall as well as Stearns Warf.
Prudy then met her 2nd husband Chuck Benwitt a prominent artist in Santa Barbara. They had a daughter Sarah.
After 8 years the couple divorced and Prudy was on her own again. Undeterred she persevered and continued her work as a nurse, now with advanced degrees.
At a summer solstice party, she met Steven Handelman, a well known Stained
Glass artist at that time. They dated for several years before Steve asked her to marry him. Having little luck with marriage, Prudy’s humorous, but honest response, was “let’s start a corporation instead and forget about marriage.”
They did marry, and this one lasted 40 years. With Prudy’s encouragement, Steve’s business grew from his basement workshop to a 25,000 sq. foot factory and 116 employees. HIs work was in demand world wide, from places as far away as Saudi Arabia and in every state in the US.
The couple traveled the world, bought and sold many homes and had great adventures together. Prudy’s courage and passion and Steve’s artistic and business acumen were a potent combination for their success.
Sadly, in Prudy’s 78th year, her health began to decline. Even though she was suffering from Edema and Alzheimer’s she maintained her sense of humor. On June 22nd 2023 she awoke, agitated and disoriented and complained of not feeling well. Within a short time, the paramedics were called to resuscitate her and the Ambulance followed to take her to the Emergency Care. She died in route to the Hospital.
It was with great sadness, Chris Benwitt, her grandson, Madelyn Anticoui, her granddaughter, Sarah Anticounti , her daughter, Karen Pardue, her caregiver and Steven Handelman , her husband of 40 years said their final farewell to their Mother, Grandmother, Friend and Wife. She will be missed.