Honoring Mar Elepano's Legacy and Family

It is with great sorrow we announce the passing of Mar Elepano. Mar was born in the Philippines, where he attended Ateneo University. He came to Los Angeles in 1975 as a student of film at USC. Inspired by an animation class he took with Gene Coe, he created his most-exhibited film, Winter. Mar would go on to work in the USC animation department until his retirement in 2020. He enjoyed supporting the creative efforts of the faculty and students, first as an adjunct instructor, and later as Production Supervisor. In recognition of his extraordinary contributions, he received the USC President's Award for Staff Achievement in 2009.

Mar was also dedicated to his community work, teaching workshops at Visual Communications, the Heart Project, the Los Angeles Educational Partnership, the Korean Resource Center, Khmer Girls in Action, the Asian American Drug Abuse Program, and the California Institution for Men, among others. His commitment to nurturing creativity extended internationally. In 2001, he received a Fulbright award to teach at Multimedia University in Malaysia, and he worked and taught in Singapore, Japan, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Australia.

After retirement, Mar segued into life as a full-time homeschool parent to his twin children. One of the biggest concerns the children had, when they heard their father would not be coming home, was “Will we still remember Daddy?” The greatest gift we could ask is that you take time to write down a memory or anecdote about Mar, to be included with a collection of photos for his children to look at as they grow older, so they might have a deeper understanding of their father’s generous spirit, humor, and creative soul. Please send your reflections to: ellegoodla (@) gmail.com (E-mailed contributions will not be shared elsewhere – they are strictly for the Memory Book for the kids. It is also fine to post on this website, but those will be public).

Mar’s friends and colleagues remember his love of absurdity, manifest in his many costumes, wigs, and hats. His warmth, wit, and unwavering support left a lasting impression on all who knew him. A Celebration of Life will be held in Spring 2026.

[Some friends have inquired about contributions to a memorial fund or to his children’s college fund. If you wish to support the family in this way, please use the link on this page. Direct links to the college funds are also at https://www.ugift529.com/ – click “give a gift” and use codes E2Z-C8P and N77-J8E. Any gesture will be greatly appreciated and will be a fitting tribute to a man who spent his life giving.]