La Mirada~Two well-known La Mirada community members have passed recently and the community will say goodbye today.

Jerome "Mr." Oxman passed away at 97 on February 22nd at his home after a battle with prostate cancer and a recent stroke.

Oxman founded Oxman's Surplus retail store in 1961 at the corner of Rosecrans and Valley View Avenues after his mail-order business shipping surplus items, took off.

There will be a memorial, ceremony and a celebration of Mr. O's life today beginning at 2 p.m. at Oxman's Surplus, 14128 Rosecrans Avenue. Light refreshments will be served.

Lou Piltz, former councilman and three-time Mayor passed away this past Wednesday.

He helped former councilman Wil Simendinger on his campaign in the late seventies and it peaked his political interest. He was appointed to city council in 1978 when the late Wayne Grisham ran for Congress and created a vacant seat. Piltz then served three additional four-year terms.

He was the grand opening manager for the new Hiram’s supermarket in La Mirada in 1956 and managed it for many years when it eventually became Lucky Stores.

Also, in 1966, he and his wife owned and operated the Orange Julius in the same center for six years. The community hub provided many jobs for La Mirada High School students at the time.

However, many remember Piltz for his activity after retirement. He was active in many community organizations including the Kiwanis Club of La Mirada and the La Mirada chapter of Meals-on-Wheels, among many others.

Piltz was not just a member of these many groups, but an active one, serving as chairman and organizer of countless committee’s and events.

Piltz’s funeral begins today at 2 p.m. at Hillside Memorial Park & Mortuary, 6001 W. Centinela Avenue in Los Angeles.