Mary Ellen Reis (Kaufman) 

19 Jan 1948 - 24 Mar 2016 
68 Years Old

Complications from Hip Surgery

Mary Kaufman, Chatsworth Equestrian Leader, Dies at 68

Chatsworth equestrian community leader Mary Kaufman died unexpectedly Thursday on the second anniversary of the death of her favorite horse, Ace.

Following a months-long battle with a troublesome hip replacement, Kaufman, 68, suffered infections and blood clots. She was recovering from additional surgery when she died.

She was a longtime president of ETI Corral 54, an equestrian organization devoted to trail rides and horsemanship.

She also served of the board of the Chatsworth Neighborhood Council and was chair of the equestrian committee and chief organizer of the Council's annual Day of the Horse festival.

On Saturday, saying she was in great pain and moving slowly with the aid of a walker, she voted in the Neighborhood Council election held at the Chatsworth Train Depot.

Kaufman was appointed by Councilman Mitch Englander to the city's Equestrian Advisory Committee and was active with the West Valley Volunteer Mounted Patrol.

She hosted Mayors Eric Garcetti and Antonio Villaraigosa, and Council Members Greig Smith and Mitch Englander and other dignitaries on horseback tours of Chatsworth's hills and trails, promoting the need to preserve the rural environment.

A native of Oakland, and formerly a resident of Calabasas, Kaufman moved to Chatsworth. She bought and remodeled a ranch on Chatsworth Street where she kept her horses -- Oscar, a Palomino Quarter Horse; DeOsa, a bay Peruvian Paso; and Raven, a black Tennessee Walker. Her dogs were Winston and Merlin.

After all the remodelling was done on her ranch in 2012, Kaufman said she loved being able to stand on the rear deck and look out on the back yard with her horses and dogs. "This is all I need. It's all here in front of me. I never have to leave."

Among her survivors are her daughter, a granddaughter, grandson and sister.

Her memorial is on April 9th at the "Homestead Acre" in Chatsworth CA.