Lynn Marie De Groot passed away peacefully at her La Cañada Flintridge home the morning of July 13, following a seven-year struggle with neuroendocrine cancer. She was 71.
Born in Los Angeles, Lynn was raised in Downey by parents William and Lorraine De Groot. As a child, Lynn enjoyed a career in modeling, and made numerous appearances in fashion shows, and in print advertisements and television commercials, notably for Barbie doll. Also in her youth, Lynn took up competitive baton and dance, and she excelled at both. She won nearly 300 trophies and medals, performing around the country and in South America in countless competitions, exhibitions, and parades, including the Rose Parade and Hollywood Santa Claus Parade.
Lynn earned a bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the College of Business Administration at Loyola Marymount University. She retained close friendships with many of her LMU classmates, visiting with several as recently as this past Christmas at an annual holiday dinner.
In a diverse and successful career, Lynn’s foremost positions were with First Interstate Bank where, as a senior vice president, she managed the Beverly Hills Private Client Services Office; with U.S. Trust Company, as a senior vice president, she managed regional private banking; and with Huntington Memorial Hospital, where she was the director of development. Lynn was active in governance and volunteer positions at several nonprofits and community organizations, including the Carrie Estelle Doheny Foundation, the LMU Business Advisory Council, the Beverly Hills Rotary, and the Joffrey Ballet.
In 2008, Lynn married then-City Councilmember Donald Voss, and as a new resident of La Cañada Flintridge became known as Lynn Voss to many new friends. She had a passion for world travel, and especially after her retirement Lynn and Don traveled extensively — in her lifetime she visited every continent save Antarctica. Their most recent international trip, to Portugal and Northern Spain in 2019, was one of many highpoints. But she also enjoyed vacationing at several favorite West Coast destinations, most recently in May on the Central Coast.
Lynn also loved dining out, wine tasting, the theater, musical concerts, visiting Descanso Gardens, and spending time with friends and family, especially grandchildren Jensby, Eleanore, and Bennett.
Lynn is survived by her husband, her younger brother Doug De Groot, and her aunt Ardie Gantz, and their respective families.
Remembrance gifts in the name of Lynn De Groot may be made to Huntington Memorial Hospital, Office of Philanthropy, 100 West California Boulevard, Pasadena, CA. 91105. Remembrances in Lynn’s name and specified to support the research work of Dr. Daneng Li may also be made to City of Hope, Office of Philanthropy, 1500 East Duarte Road, Duarte, CA. 91010.
A memorial service will be held at Descanso Gardens on Monday, September 19, at 6:00 p.m.
