Rolfe Aldus Metzger passed away peacefully surrounded by love on June 29, 2019, at his home in Redondo Beach after a 14-month battle with brain cancer.
Rolfe was born on April 18th, 1941 to the late Stephen Olaf Hansen and Molly Lucille Smith in Seattle, WA. His step-father, Richard John Metzger, and Molly raised Rolfe from an early age. Rolfe spent his early years growing up in Hawaii, Virginia, Alaska, and Washington, where his step-father was stationed with the Army. Rolfe’s strong work ethic began at an early age. His first jobs were a paperboy and working at the local gas station. He prided himself on how hard he worked and that it enabled him to be able to purchase his first of many cars, a lifetime passion of his. Rolfe was a 1960 graduate of Clover Park high school. After high school, Rolfe had successful careers in men's fashion (modeling, sales, design and manufacturing his own menswear line), the computer automation industry and 27 years as administrator/COO of Association of South Bay Surgeons, Torrance, CA.
Aside from his family and career, Rolfe was passionate about photography, going out on his sailboat and spending time at his beach home and desert property. He was an avid photographer who lived by his words, “Take a picture of anything that catches your eye...several times. Forget about enhancements...what you see in life is what you get. Your best pictures are right in front of you”. He proudly displayed his favorite photos at home and work and they were always a topic of conversation with everyone who met him. Rolfe loved Redondo beach and all it had to offer. He enjoyed long walks with his infamous pack of 3 legged dogs and gin and tonics on the front porch with friends and neighbors. He was well known and loved by many in the community. He could often be found relaxing on his sailboat in King Harbor or sailing out past the R10 buoy and photographing the dolphins and beautiful scenery. Rolfe also loved the solitude of his desert property near Joshua Tree. His days in the desert were spent 4 wheeling and evenings were spent gazing at the stars.
Rolfe was preceded in death by his younger half-brother, Robert; his firstborn granddaughter, Kelly; and his mother and step-father. He is survived by his half-siblings: Richard (Cammie), Mary Lou Metzger and Bruce Metzger; his children: Jeffrey Ohlinger (Miranda), Shelley Campbell (Mike), Jim Ohlinger (Chris), Tiffany Beidler (Jamie), Nicole Park (Mike), Heather Chatwin (Robert), Vera Ann Rice (Evan) and Melissa Metzger as well as 15 grandchildren: Molly, Christopher, Aaron, Leah, Allison, Jim, Amy, Owen, Parker, Eli, Hunter, Connor, Madelynn, Travis and Bayley; along with 13 great-grandchildren.
A celebration of life service will be held Saturday, August 10th at 11 am at the Wayfarers Chapel, 5755 Palos Verdes, California 90275.
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