Ask and you shall receive Chriss MADERA TRIBUNE, OCTOBER 19, 2000 Obituary Wawona Washburn HARTWIG California lost one of its most gracious links to Yosemites colorful history with the death of Wawona Washburn Hartwig. Wawona Washburn Hartwig, age 86, passed away October 7, 2000 in Clovis. She was named after the Wawona Hotel. She will be remembered by her many friends for her passion for life, her keen interest in history and current affairs, her love of books and writing, and her spiritual but always practical grasp of the art of living. Ms. Hartwig was a descendant of the Washburn family that established and operated hotels, roads, and transportation in the Yosemite area from the 1860s to the 1930s. From spring to autumn, her childhood home was the Wawona Hotel, managed by her father, Clarence Washburn. The family spent winters in Oakland and San Francisco. Wawona always had a deep attachment to animals. Wawona attended Sequoia High School in Redwood City and U.C. Berkeley, where she studied journalism and wrote for various newspapers, including the San Francisco Examiner. At 17, Wawona left home for Hollywood. She found work as an extra, eventually landing a contract with Paramount. Her roles were limited due to her striking resemblance to actress Joan Blondell. She met and married her husband, Hale Hartwig, while in Hollywood. They moved to Indio and pursued a lifestyle filled with love, friends, and grand, lyrical cocktail parties.