Juliette Paskowitz

Bio: Juliette was born in Long Beach California in 1932. Her parents were originally from Durango, Mexico and she had four sisters and three brothers (which perhaps prepared her for the idea of having nine of her own?). Immersed in music from an early age, she learned to sing every part of the great operas such as Carmen, Rigoletto and La Traviata that her father would… More Bio: Juliette was born in Long Beach California in 1932. Her parents were originally from Durango, Mexico and she had four sisters and three brothers (which perhaps prepared her for the idea of having nine of her own?). Immersed in music from an early age, she learned to sing every part of the great operas such as Carmen, Rigoletto and La Traviata that her father would play for her on 78 records. After her voice deepened (and she became very tall) she continued her passion for music by attending Long Beach Community College where she took "every music course they had to offer," with an emphasis on choral work and J.S. Bach (her "first love"). After studying music, Juliette auditioned for, and was accepted into the internationally-acclaimed Roger Wagner Chorale in Southern California. But after meeting Dorian Paskowitz in a bar on Catalina Island, things changed fast. They fell in love, and she was pregnant and married within a year, with the two of them living out of a modified Studebaker and establishing a style of beach-living that they would continue for most of their lives. Even though SURFWISE highlights the difficulties of life in the camper for Juliette ("for ten years I was either pregnant or breast-feeding, without one day off..."), Juliette is very outspoken about her devotion to her husband, and her support of the lifestyle they chose. She and Doc remain as a strong couple today and she stays in close contact with all nine of their children, as well as all seventeen grandchildren.