Julie Weil Nathanson

Before we knew each other very well my friend Julie Nathanson endeared herself to me suddenly and forever when she heard the lyric to a song by my friend Gregg Henry; the lyric began like this: “when you’re caught in the crosshairs of aiming to please” and of course there’s more, and it’s just as good, but this phrase hit Julie upon the first listen and she actually gasped. Any passing phrase that just happened to have cadence and soul and might have gone unnoticed by 99 out of a hundred listeners always gave her pause and this was one of those times. I didn’t really know her then, we’d only been in each other’s orbit for a couple of months but this was such a wide window into her love of language and imagery, such an open admission of the power language held for her that I was instantly smitten. Whether it was an anecdote about the trials of trueing up a table saw or the internal monologue of her turtle Elvis as he overheard conversations with unnamed clients, she always found the word you wouldn’t think of or the metaphor that loaded the story with ironic context. She was never the star of her stories; they were her experiences, yes, but somehow the stories became about something larger; something fundamental in all our natures. That’s not to say she wasn’t proud of knowing the difference between a Dremel Tool and a reciprocating hand saw, she was, but only if YOU knew the difference; she would never parade her bottomless expertise in renovation unless you could go there with her. But if you could, she’d go, and go deep. It’s one thing to tweak cabinetry and walls in a house that’s square, it’s another in a house that has shouldered its way out of true over decades. That requires a sense of the three dimensional that few of us possess. And patience. Patience. Patience. For someone who didn’t suffer fools you’d think patience might be in short supply. But no; the puzzle of 3D geometry presented by every room in the house was simply an opportunity to mull and measure, measure again and only cut once. For most of us, me included, measuring twice is an axiom ignored in favor of the fiction that we did it right the first time, followed by swearing and searching for a new piece of material to try again. Not so Julie. Mull, measure twice, mull some more, then cut. Right and tight. Patience. And done quicker for it. In search of perfection but always understanding it’s in the eye of the beholder, walls disappeared, counters evolved, shelving and cabinets floated organically to rest withing easy reach, all elevated by her easy sense of space, positive and negative playing off each other so that one felt the balance as much as saw it. And as serious as she was about getting things right, and she was devoted to be sure, she had a giggle that would pick you up and tickle you until you were wiping tears from your eyes. God she could laugh. She bubbled until she could bubble no more and then the cackle would come out; when something got a hold of her funny bone she just couldn’t let it go and she would fill the room with joy so contagious you’d end up laughing because you were laughing. That is precious and rare; a laugh deep enough to carry all who heard it up into the ether… I hope she’s laughing now, God knows this last year she would’ve found a way to bring us through smiling. Thank you Julie. For every moment.

I met Julie years ago through a mutual friend in the entertainment business. Julie was always bursting at the seams with beautiful and joyful energy. Every time I saw her, I felt more "energetic" and happy being around her. I am so sorry for her family and her friends that loved her. May she always dance in Heaven.

Really missing my sweet Julie. She was the best friend and cheerleader and confidant and everything. In her words "Oh for fuck's sake," I can't believe she's gone.

Julie had an extraordinary impact on my life. I had the great privilege of working at R&C with Julie for almost a decade after moving to LA from London in the late 90s. She was my boss, a great mentor and a dear friend for many years. We built client campaigns together, went a few rounds with journalists and bookers (some of whom were also pals!) We celebrated birthdays, fed Elvis (the turtle), and together with great colleagues, we had a lot of fun. Julie was the reason I ended up staying in LA for so long because until she offered me a role, I was the slightly annoying intern / boss's son on a very short visa. Not a great candidate but Julie took me under her wing, sponsored my visa and like a big sister, she taught me the ropes. Simply put, I owe my career to her. She knew my family and I had met hers. In fact my brother Nik recently remarked that it was one night at the Bel Air while we were all having drinks, that Julie unilaterally offered him a job…and that was it. The following fall, he landed in LA to start his own journey, all due to Julie. She was one of a kind. Her big red hair, her black convertible, the giant filofax, her exquisite handwriting and our endless chats about history, Scotland, film and books. I will always remember Julie fondly and send my sincerest condolences to her family and friends.

This lovely lady was a bright smile and gave lots of joy and laughs to many people she knew and came in contact with. Her spirit and soul will always shine very bright. We love you Julie and we are so glad we spent time together at Christmas. You are missed and will be in our hearts forever . Your light will always be on in our hearts and minds.

My sweet Julie, Words cannot express how much I love you and how I miss you. We have been friends for more than 41 years and the stories we can tell about each other!!!! We talked every day and my life is going to so empty without you. What a life we have had together. Some wonderful trips to Europe, beach vacations in Coronado and you and Tallulah/Eloise spending time here in La Quinta. Remember, we sat on the terrace looking at the golfers and discussed everything. I'll never have anybody with whom I can talk like we talked. I love you sweet girl and will never forget you. Tanni

Thank you Julie for being an incredible friend and the best neighbor a person could ever ask for. She loved her house, her street, her dog, her friends, her clients, her city. She poured herself into us all. She wanted to know our stories, she wanted to know us. She loved her family, her heritage, all the details. Truly Julie, you will be missed deeply. Tareco Drive will never be the same.

Julie had such an endearing quality and I loved her laugh. She was a positive spirit who cared very much about her family, friends and clients. She was always kind and supportive. I can’t believe she is gone but I will always have such fond memories.