Community fundraising for foundation in initial stages
The mother of a slain local woman returned to Santa Monica Tuesday to proceed with plans to keep her daughter’s memory alive and give back to the community that helped her.
Terry Wark, whose daughter, Kristi Johnson, was found dead on March 3 at the bottom of a ravine in a remote neighborhood in the Hollywood Hills, relied heavily on the Santa Monica community to help find her only daughter.
During the two weeks that Johnson was missing, Wark turned to St. Augustine-By-The- Sea Episcopal Church on Fourth Street for support and guidance. The church offered her reassurance, provided support and gave her strength during the stressful days of the search.
“I truly appreciate all the efforts to help during the search for Kristi and afterwards for embracing me,” Wark said. “People extended themselves so warmly and generously. There were so many people that gave of themselves that didn’t even know Kristi.”
“People extended themselves so warmly and generously. There were so many people that gave of themselves that didn’t even know Kristi.” — — TERRY WARK Mother
Johnson, 21, disappeared on Feb. 15. The search for Johnson and the Santa Monica Police Department’s investigation in finding her alleged killer, Victor Paleologus, gained national media attention. Paleologus, a convicted felon described by police as a known predator, is in custody and awaiting trial on capital murder charges. His trial is expected to begin next spring.
Wark, who lives in Los Gatos, Calif., came back to Santa Monica this summer to work with the church in designing the Kristine Johnson Fountain of Joy, which will be built in St. Augustine’s courtyard. On Tuesday, she brought with her artist David Middlebrook, who will design the sculpture. The intent of the visit was to look at the site and meet with those involved before designing the sculpture.
“It’s very site specific and project specific,” Middlebrook said. “More than any project I’ve worked on, what it can be will have a lasting effect on what this case is about.”
Wark hopes the fountain will serve as a place where the community as a whole can come to find peace, meditate, reflect or renew their faith.
It also will serve as a respite for Wark, who said she’ll need something positive to focus on during the upcoming trial. It was emotionally taxing on Wark this summer when she came to Los Angeles for Paleologus’ preliminary trial. SMPD investigators testified for two days. They provided details to Johnson’s murder while Wark sat just feet from Paleologus, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
“When the trial does start and I come to Los Angeles to support the prosecution, I will incorporate the fountain-of-joy project while I am here,” she said. “The only way I know how to deal with this is to combat it with positive energy. This will provide a counterbalance to sitting in the courtroom.”
The monument, which is designed as a woman with her arms raised up with water cascading down her, will celebrate the life of not only Johnson — but of all women.
During the search for Johnson, St. Augustine opened its doors for a candle vigil on Feb. 27, which also was Johnson’s birthday. Wark also held a memorial service at St. Augustine shortly after Johnson was buried during a private service in Los Gatos, where she was born. She is buried in a cemetery there near Mark Bingham’s grave. Bingham, known for his last words of “Let’s roll,” died on the plane believed to be headed for the White House but crashed in a Pennsylvania field on Sept. 11, 2001, after Bingham and others took the controls from terrorists.
Wark said she felt a strong unity with the Episcopal church because the memorials occurred simultaneously in Santa Monica and Saugatuck, Mich., where she grew up.
When Johnson’s body was found, Wark said she felt she had to do something for the church and the Santa Monica community, so she began thinking about ways to channel money into the project on Johnson’s behalf.
Wark, along with the church’s parishioners, are embarking on a fundraising effort within the Santa Monica community to help fund the construction of the fountain. Donations can be sent to: St. Augustine Episcopal Church, 1227 Fourth St., Santa Monica, Calif., 90401, Re: Kristine Johnson Fountain of Joy.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 17, 2003. Read the original PDF.