After LA Wildfires, Rebuilding A Life In Westport

Marina Drasnin was a Holiday on Ice figure skater.

She married, got divorced and remarried. Eight years ago, her second husband passed away.

Marina Drasnin

All along, she enjoyed a career as a photographer and artist. She worked for Larry David, arranging flowers and creating other art projects for his events. She developed books of photos, for private clients.

Marina had a beautiful home, with a garden she loved, in Pacific Palisades, California.

Life was great — until this past January, when wildfires raged. Then came torrential rains, and mudslides.

Marina’s home suffered extensive smoke damage. Most of her neighbors’ were destroyed.

After living with her friend Randy Gardner — the figure skating star — in Manhattan Beach for 2 weeks, and 2 more weeks with other friends in Ventura, she decided to take up friends’ suggestions to move east.

A Southern California native, she’d gotten to know — and love — this part of the country as a Tufts University student.

Her son went to Sarah Lawrence College, and now lives in Brooklyn. Marina’s best friend lived in Westport, and is now in Weston.

Moving was a daunting decision. She navigated a tight real estate market, from 3,000 miles away.

Suddenly, something came on the market: a 900-square foot cottage on Richmondville Avenue.

The wooden floors were new. It was clean and fresh. In back was a beautiful garden.

Marina’s Richmondville garden.

She put in an application, sight unseen. Then she googled the name of the realtor: Mar Jennings.

Amazingly, Marina learned, he’d been a figure skater.

They chatted, and found several friends in common. Mar has been “an angel,” Marina says.

And that was just the start of her love affair with her new home town.

Marina (and her 2 cats) arrived on May 1. Since then, life has been wonderful.

Marina has enjoyed photographing scenes like this. 

Outgoing by nature, Marina met many new people. They’ve quickly become friends.

The staff at the Parks & Recreation office were extremely helpful. A girl working at the Longshore tennis courts introduced her to a woman, who invited her into a doubles game. The other women were equally warm.

The woman’s Greens Farms home was surrounded by lilacs and dogwoods. “I’m in heaven here, with them all around,” Marina says.

Marina is enchanted by scenes like this.

The garden in her new home — and shops like Terrain — enthrall Marina. She looks forward to checking out Gilbertie’s Herbs & Garden Shop, which she’s heard so much about.

“I almost got in a car accident today, looking at all the peonies and rhododendrons.” (She’s already driving like a Westporter, it seems.)

She went to the Memorial Day parade. She’s been invited to a clambake.

Memorial Day photo collage, by Marina Drasnin.

And Jenny Bentley — half of the 2Jens organizing business — is helping Marina unpack and get settled. (They met through a mutual friend, who works for Westporter Shonda Rhimes.)

Through Jenny, she’ll be going to Andrew Bentley’s “Talk of the Town” musical at the Westport Country Playhouse. Marina sure gets around.

“I love all these old houses and country roads,” she says.

“People in L.A. seee my Instagram and say, ‘You’re in love with Westport.’ I am. I feel safe here. I can go places by myself. I’m so happy.

“I’m happy with my neighbors. I’m happy to see people walk by. I just saw an old-fashioned ice cream truck!'”

After we chatted, Marina was off to the Westport Book Shop. She loves it too — and hopes one day to have a show there.

Compo Beach lifeguard chair (Marina Drasnin)

Soon, Mar Jennings — the realtor who helped her find the cottage she loves — will be taking her to dinner.

They’ll have a lot to talk about, from their ice skating past to the home town they now share.

Mar Jennings and Marina Drasnin.

(Welcome to Westport, Marina! Whether you’re a newcomer or a native, we hope you enjoy “06880.” A reminder: We rely on readers’ support. If you like this hyper-local blog, please click here. Thanks!)