Alice M. Loftus<br/> October 16, 1932 - April 28, 2015

Alice passed away peacefully in her beloved home by the bay in Newport Beach.
She was born in New Rochelle, New York to Domenick and Lucia Arace, who were Italian immigrants. Alice and her three older siblings grew up in the apartment above her parents’ grocery store, where they imported food from Italy and helped to feed the neighborhood during the Great Depression.

Alice’s parents gave her every opportunity possible: piano lessons, summer camp and a solid education. She scored the second highest in the State on New York State’s testing when she graduated from High School. She attended Bates College in Maine and graduated in 1954 with a degree in French.

Upon graduation, Alice worked at BBDO, a large advertising business in New York City and was in line to work at UNICEF as she was tri-lingual (English, Italian and French). But that was not to be her fate…

In 1955, she met her future husband, Brian J. Loftus, who was a First Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corp. Brian and Alice were introduced by her sister’s boyfriend – who soon became her brother-in-law! Alice and Brian were married in 1956. They were stationed at El Toro Marine Base for a short period of time and had their first child. They returned to the East Coast after Brian was discharged and lived in New Jersey and New York, where three more children were born. In 1961, they moved to Phoenix, where their fifth child was born.

In 1970, the Loftus Family moved to Newport Beach and Alice found her haven. As a mother of an active family, she was a busy mother, homemaker and wife. She relished the peace of the Back Bay out her window at points during a hectic day. She was always loving, sweet, kind and helping others. She welcomed everyone to her home. She was active in her church and volunteered many years at SOS (Share Our Selves) in Costa Mesa. She played tennis on a regular basis at the Newport Beach Tennis Club, where she established many life long friends.

Alice was a devoted sister, wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She was a continual source of love whose support never wavered. Her strong belief in the good in everybody she knew was the foundation for many to realize their own goodness.

Alice is survived by her children, Ann, Kevin Mark and Sean. She was predeceased by her husband Brian and son, Brian Jr. She has five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She will be deeply missed by all.