Feb 27, 2024 — If you’re a regular reader of the Cardie Newsletter, you know how much we loved and admired Pamela Salem O’Hagan. Last Thursday we lost her, this dear friend, proud Contributing Cardie, and inspiration to all.

While of course Pam’s passing is a huge loss for anyone who knew her and will miss her terribly, we are also very relieved that her valiant spirit was finally freed from the pain her body endured living these past years with cancer and debilitating Parkinson’s disease. Most of all, our hearts are filled to the brim with gratitude for having had her in our lives.

After reading a story about Pam here some months ago, Contributing Cardie Jo-Ann Saunders put it beautifully. “Knowing that she faces such daunting health issues with such an unbelievable attitude, the word ‘warrior’ comes to mind,” Jo-Ann wrote. “I admire her beyond what words can express. Please share with Pamela what an inspiration she is to me, a complete stranger who has been touched by her story, both personally and professionally. I am a grief educator and Pamela speaks to my spirit. I am praying for her.”

As you’ve likely experienced after the death of someone close to you, the outpouring of love and admiration is amazing. Especially when someone introduces themself and shares with you a kindness your loved one had done for them. In Pamela’s case, we have been astounded by the number of meaningful mentions in media literally around the world — from the BBC to The Plain Dealer in Cleveland to Ukrinform, the Ukrainian National News Agency.

You see, here in small-town Surfside on Miami Beach, we met Pamela when she and her husband Michael were easing into retirement from successful acting careers in London and L.A. We knew this very gracious British beauty had played opposite stars like Sean Connery and Ian McKellen yet, in her company, you were made to feel like the most charming, witty, and fascinating person she’d ever encountered. Not that she agreed with your every word, darling! But she really listened, heard you, and truly wanted to understand all points of view.

She and I met a decade ago while walking our dogs, and you know how dog-people often praise their four-legged friends for being so “unconditionally loving.” Well, Pam had that same remarkable ability to somehow see the absolute best in everyone, and I do mean Everyone.

Commenting to the BBC on Pamela’s passing, producer David Richardson said, “Pamela was lovely, and we all loved her.” Remembering recording audio plays with her in the U.K., he said, “She would fly in from Miami on her own steam, without fuss or fanfare. She’d appear at the studio armed with the warmest smiles, the biggest hugs. She was a very gentle person – always interested in everyone, from her co-stars to the production team to the guest actors and visitors. She talked with joy about her home on Miami Beach, waking up to warmth and waves.”

British theatre director Ken Bentley commented, “She was such great company, always smiling, with so much enthusiasm for the small things in life that bring us all joy, like walking your dog along the beach. She had many gifts but her superpower was her ability to single-handedly restore your faith in human nature.”

One of my favorite Pamela stories was told by her stepson Jamie at Thanksgiving Dinner a few years ago. While he’d come from England to be with Pam, her chemo treatments had left her in no shape to go out and celebrate that day, yet she’d insisted Jamie still join us. As gifted a storyteller as Pamela and his late father, Jamie shared a conversation that, weeks before his trip to the States, he’d had with Pam. “We had chatted on FaceTime for at least 20 minutes before she stopped and said, ‘Jamie, have you not noticed anything different about me?’ When I asked, ‘What am I missing?’ she laughed, ‘I’m now balder than you are!’

“Honestly, I had not seen that,” Jamie told us. “Hair or no hair, her warmth and sheer love of life made her appear to me as beautiful as ever.”

We’re sorry to lose you, darling Pam. You really showed us how to live.

Jodee Stevens
Founder & Chief Creative

Feb 27, 2024 — If you’re a regular reader of the Cardie Newsletter, you know how much we loved and admired Pamela Salem O’Hagan. Last Thursday we lost her, this dear friend, proud Contributing Cardie, and inspiration to all.

While of course Pam’s passing is a huge loss for anyone who knew her and will miss her terribly, we are also very relieved that her valiant spirit was finally freed from the pain her body endured living these past years with cancer and debilitating Parkinson’s disease. Most of all, our hearts are filled to the brim with gratitude for having had her in our lives.

After reading a story about Pam here some months ago, Contributing Cardie Jo-Ann Saunders put it beautifully. “Knowing that she faces such daunting health issues with such an unbelievable attitude, the word ‘warrior’ comes to mind,” Jo-Ann wrote. “I admire her beyond what words can express. Please share with Pamela what an inspiration she is to me, a complete stranger who has been touched by her story, both personally and professionally. I am a grief educator and Pamela speaks to my spirit. I am praying for her.”

As you’ve likely experienced after the death of someone close to you, the outpouring of love and admiration is amazing. Especially when someone introduces themself and shares with you a kindness your loved one had done for them. In Pamela’s case, we have been astounded by the number of meaningful mentions in media literally around the world — from the BBC to The Plain Dealer in Cleveland to Ukrinform, the Ukrainian National News Agency.

You see, here in small-town Surfside on Miami Beach, we met Pamela when she and her husband Michael were easing into retirement from successful acting careers in London and L.A. We knew this very gracious British beauty had played opposite stars like Sean Connery and Ian McKellen yet, in her company, you were made to feel like the most charming, witty, and fascinating person she’d ever encountered. Not that she agreed with your every word, darling! But she really listened, heard you, and truly wanted to understand all points of view.

She and I met a decade ago while walking our dogs, and you know how dog-people often praise their four-legged friends for being so “unconditionally loving.” Well, Pam had that same remarkable ability to somehow see the absolute best in everyone, and I do mean Everyone.

Commenting to the BBC on Pamela’s passing, producer David Richardson said, “Pamela was lovely, and we all loved her.” Remembering recording audio plays with her in the U.K., he said, “She would fly in from Miami on her own steam, without fuss or fanfare. She’d appear at the studio armed with the warmest smiles, the biggest hugs. She was a very gentle person – always interested in everyone, from her co-stars to the production team to the guest actors and visitors. She talked with joy about her home on Miami Beach, waking up to warmth and waves.”

British theatre director Ken Bentley commented, “She was such great company, always smiling, with so much enthusiasm for the small things in life that bring us all joy, like walking your dog along the beach. She had many gifts but her superpower was her ability to single-handedly restore your faith in human nature.”

One of my favorite Pamela stories was told by her stepson Jamie at Thanksgiving Dinner a few years ago. While he’d come from England to be with Pam, her chemo treatments had left her in no shape to go out and celebrate that day, yet she’d insisted Jamie still join us. As gifted a storyteller as Pamela and his late father, Jamie shared a conversation that, weeks before his trip to the States, he’d had with Pam. “We had chatted on FaceTime for at least 20 minutes before she stopped and said, ‘Jamie, have you not noticed anything different about me?’ When I asked, ‘What am I missing?’ she laughed, ‘I’m now balder than you are!’

“Honestly, I had not seen that,” Jamie told us. “Hair or no hair, her warmth and sheer love of life made her appear to me as beautiful as ever.”

We’re sorry to lose you, darling Pam. You really showed us how to live.

Jodee Stevens
Founder & Chief Creative