Beverlie Giss Latimer

Beverlie Giss Latimer (ne’ Beverlie Anne Giss) passed away peacefully, as she wished, on August 14, 2024, surrounded by her loving daughters and devoted husband.

Born on June 3, 1935, in Washington, D.C., Beverlie was lovingly adopted and raised by her single mother, a dedicated full-time nurse, and her grandparents. This unique upbringing helped shape her into the vibrant and independent woman she became; someone who effortlessly lit up every room she entered. Beverlie graduated from George Washington University where she met Ronald Latimer, her loving partner and husband since their wedding in June of 1959.

Beverlie’s love of dance and theatre began at a young age and throughout her life, she was active in the arts. She danced professionally with the Lou Tuppler dance theater in Washington D.C. and taught dance and physical education at Trinity Catholic Women’s College in Washington, D.C. While she lived in Honolulu, Hawaii she choreographed and performed with the Pearl Harbor Navel Troup, and taught modern dance at the Honolulu YMCA. After Hawaii, the family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah where Beverlie taught at Virginia Tanner’s Children’s Dance Theatre and was actively engaged with the Repertory Dance Theatre. In 1972 the family moved to Santa Barbara, California where Beverlie taught modern dance at the YMCA and would be actively engaged with numerous dance and artistic associations throughout the years including the Valerie Huston Dance Theatre, the Lobero Theatre Association, the Santa Barbara Ballet Theater, Goleta Civic Ballet Theatre, the U.C.S.B. dance program, and the Music Academy of the West.

Beverlie was beautiful, charismatic and charming, and enjoyed entertaining, travel, dancing, and living life to the fullest. Her sense of style led her to start her own business “Personal Imaging” where she provided personal styling services, outfit coordination, wardrobe optimization, and confidence building.

Beverlie is survived by her husband Dr. Ronald G. Latimer, her daughters Lauren Latimer Rosemont and Leilani Latimer, and her grandchildren Courtney Chen, Chandler Garcia, Wesley Latimer Rosemont, Francesca Ficano Latimer, and Luca Ficano Latimer. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her honor to the Music Academy of the West (https://musicacademy.org/).