Olaf Falkenhagen passed away peacefully on August 14, one week shy of his 88th birthday, after a five-year round with Parkinson’s and Dementia. He was born August 22, 1935, in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, close to Essen. He graduated from high school as class valedictorian, and in 1957, at age 21, immigrated with his family to Vancouver, Canada.
Olaf attended the University of British Columbia while articling with Winspear, Hamilton & Anderson, Chartered Accountants in Vancouver. After earning his Canadian Chartered Accountant license in 1962, he and his new wife, Rose, immigrated to Los Angeles where he had secured a job with Price Waterhouse & Co. (PW) and where he spent his entire career. In 1966, Olaf was transferred to Frankfurt, Germany, as participant of the firm’s European service program. He returned to Los Angeles in 1969 with his by then growing family and settled in La Cañada. As audit partner, Olaf was responsible for numerous Fortune 500 companies and coauthored the Price Waterhouse publication on accounting, auditing and reporting practices in the Entertainment Industries. He also was a director of the German American Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles, the Canada California Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the L.A. Athletic Club and California Club. He retired from the firm in 1996, but continued for many years as a member of the Administrative Committee of California’s Board of Accountancy where he was involved in claims and cases against CPA licensees.
Olaf played tennis for many years, but when he joined Oakmont Country Club in Glendale in 1984, golf became his passion and he played weekly rounds with his golf buddies. He also served on the Oakmont Board and was President of the Club in 1996. He especially enjoyed the annual Father/Son TaylorMade Invitational Golf Tournaments that took him and son, Mark, from Hawaii to British Columbia, to Ireland to Scotland and Spain. The family also traveled every summer by car to Vancouver Island, B.C., where Rose grew up, and in winter they skied the slopes of Big Bear and Mammoth Mountain. In retirement Olaf and Rose loved to travel as long as a golf course was on their itinerary … Old Head, Ireland, Wolf Creek, Nevada, and Pebble Beach among their favorites.
Olaf is survived by his spouse Rose of 60 years, his three children, Rita, Irene and Mark (Eva) four grandchildren, Marissa and Paul, Cameron and Kaitlyn, two step-grandchildren, Alea and Chelsea (Ramon) and two great-step-grandchildren, Daniel and Madison.
Olaf survived World War II, a terrible war, to live a long and fulfilling and happy life. He will be greatly missed and honored with a private Celebration of Life. Any donations may be made to your favorite charity.
