March 1, 1952 – October 9, 2014. Valerie Jeanne (McGuire) Baerlocher was born March 1, 1952 in Omaha, Nebraska to June and Earl McGuire. She attended schools in Omaha, Scottsdale and Chula Vista, California where she graduated from Chula Vista High in 1969. She married Dan Salas after graduation and had two beautiful daughters, Marci Rae and Amanda Jeanne. Val and Dan were divorced, then later Valerie then wed James Mellusi, DDS, in 1980 and their son Jay was born in 1982. Her husband Jay died in an auto accident in January 1993.

In 1994, Valerie met Rolf Baerlocher from Geneva, Switzerland. They were married in 1995 in La Jolla, then she and son Jay moved to Geneva and created a blended family with Rolf's 4 children and family. They sailed with family and friends off the coast of France in summers, skied at Val d'Isère France in winters, enjoyed cooking gourmet meals for their friends and families, and split their time between the US and Europe.

In 2007 Val was diagnosed with throat and neck cancer but successfully fought it – even running the New York Marathon in 2009 (after the cancer was in remission). In 2013, she was told that the cancer was back and she returned to the US to begin a new battle, never losing her determination or courage to fight it.

Val was very proud of being a mother and then grandmother. She loved babysitting Marci's three sons, Nicholas, Ethan, and Jackson Surfas, and was at every soccer game – cheering them on. She loved being with her daughter Mandy and her husband, Tae and their two year old son, Gavin, who loved watching his Grandma sing and dance for him. She also was equally proud to be called 'Grammy' by Rolf's 5 grandsons in the Geneva area, and was proud to brag and amaze all that 'she had nine grandsons'. Shopping for the grandkids was one of Val's favorite things.

Val leaves behind a large immediate family. She is survived by husband, Rolf of Geneva; her daughters, their husbands and grandchildren, Marci & Mark Surfas with sons Nick, Ethan and Jackson of Newport Beach, Amanda and Tae Dickey with son Gavin of Encinitas, and her son, Jay Mellusi of Geneva. Her mother is June Hodges of Newport Beach, sisters Teray Stephens of Laguna Hills, and Vicki & her husband Steve Gagnier of Norcross, Ga, and father Earl McGuire and half- brother Sean McGuire of Shiloh North Carolina. Nephews and nieces are Jason Dax Stephens of Newport Beach, Stephen Gagnier, Jr. of Portland, Oregon and Christina Gagnier of Singapore, and her uncle and his wife, Gary & Barbara Gangi of Sherman Oaks, Ca.

Val will be remembered and missed for many things. She was beautiful and talented – and could stop traffic wherever she went with her great smile, beautiful clothes and 6 inch heels. She was a woman with many friends all over the world, and enjoyed organizing activities and being in the middle of everything. She will be deeply missed by everyone who had the great fortune of knowing her but we believe that she will be close by – watching over us and whispering in our ear to live life to the fullest.



Services Details:

Monday 10/13 @3:45 PM, McCormick & Son Mortuary, 1795 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Followed by Dinner, Dancing and Karaoke at Tivoli Terrace, 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 (approx. start time is 5:15).

In honor of Val, wear BRIGHT colors (not black) and bring optional costume change into disco clothes for the party.

Donations can be made in Val's name to the Christopher Reeve Foundation, www.christopherreeve.org.