Robert "Bob" E. Booher, BHS 1955
Cardiff-by-the Sea -- Robert "Bob" E. Booher, 75, passed away Wednesday, December 26, 2012, just four days before his 55th wedding anniversary. He was a longtime resident of Cardiff by the Sea, California.
He was born on January 24, 1937 in Peoria, Illinois, the son of Elmer and Flossie Booher. He moved to Southern California in 1947 at the age of ten. He met his wife, Dorthea, while attending Burbank High School in Burbank, CA. They both attended Glendale City College. They married in December 1957 and moved to San Diego. In 1961 they made their home in Cardiff by the Sea and have been there ever since.
He was a very talented Research Lab Technician who helped find solutions to very complicated design problems. He spent most of his career at General Atomic, before retiring from there. His retirement never lasted long because his unique skills were always in demand. Some of his colleagues that went out and started their own companies would often call him to come and work for them; Maxwell Labs and later Archimedes, both here in San Diego. He was currently employed with a research company in Orange County.
Bob is survived by his wife, Dorthea; his two daughters, Melody Booher-King and son-in- law Randy King of Vista; Sheri Gebbie, son-in-law- Scott Gebbie, and grandson Justin, all of Hawaii.
To his friends and family he was a character and loved to joke. His sense of humor will definitely be missed. He loved history and knew it well. He was a hard worker up until his sudden and unexpected passing. In lieu of flowers, consider making a donation to your preferred charity.
San Diego Union, January 2013
Robert J. Begley Jr., BHS 1973
Robert J. Begley Jr., 17, died Saturday Oct. 28, 1972 in a Los Angeles hospital after a motorcycle accident. He was born in Hollywood, California on Feb. 17, 1955 and lived in Burbank for six years.
He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Begley Sr. of Burbank: two sisters, Cathy Begley of Burbank, Mrs. Robyn Antzoulatos of Sherman Oaks.
Rosary will be resided at 7:30 P.m. Tuesday at the Valhalla Funeral Home. Mass will be read at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Francis Xavier church. Interment will follow at Valhalla Memorial Park.
Rick Polikowski, BHS 1966
Very sad to receive this email from Guy Gingell, BHS 1966
Our friend, Rick Polikowski, has passed away from cancer around June 2013. Details are slow in coming as he was in living in So America. Rick was a Vietnam Veteran. Anyone with specific information about where Rick died or where his body or ashes ended up, please call me directly. Guy Gingell 206 459-8864. I am a longtime friend of his and want to make sure he gets the burial he deserves. Thanks
As you may know by now that our friend and classmate at BHS, Rick Polikowski has passed away while living in Coco Beach, Costa Rica. I NEED YOUR HELP in finding out the circumstances of his passing. I understand that Rick was, at best, mistreated the last months of his life and most likely robbed of his dignity, his property and money. At this time, I cannot find out what happened to his remains. I am just distraught about how Rick was taken advantage of in Costa Rica. I will be organizing and looking into the circumstances concerning Rick's treatment the last couple months of his life.
Rick was adopted and his adopted parents had two children of their own and Greg is looking for them so he can get permission to bring Rick's remains returned to the US for burial in a National Cemetery.
Charles William Andrews, BHS 1945?
January 16, 1927 - April 24, 2013
Charles Andrews, 86, died, with his family by his side in Burbank, CA.
A viewing will be held on Friday, April 26th, 2013 from 4:00 - 6:00, followed at 6:00 by a Rosary service at Valley Funeral Home. A mass and burial/interment will take place on Mission Rey Chapel/ San Fernando Mission Cemetery on Saturday, April 27th, 2013 at 1:30 pm.
Charles was born in Decatur, IL in 1927. He moved to Burbank, CA in 1938 with his parents. He attended Burbank High School. He served in the United States Army, during World War II as an Ammunition Ordinance Sergeant. He spent four years in Japan and was Honourably Discharged in 1947.
He attended a technical trade school to become an electrician. He used his skills as an electrician at Lockheed for 10 years. Then went to work for the City of Los Angeles where he retired in July 1991 after 30 years.
As a youth, Charles attended a Cabrifinn Club meeting at Saint Finbar Church in Burbank where he met his lovely wife, Joanne Subcasky (Sandusky, OH). They were married at that same church on Valentine's Day in 1953.
He had a tremendous love and respect for God, abundant love for his family, loved piloting a plane, spending time in the outdoors camping and in his later years, sitting down with a good book.
Charles was actively involved with the Patricians group at Saint Patrick's in North Hollywood and the Joslyn Senior Center in Burbank.
Charles is survived by his wife of 60 years, Joanne (Subcasky) Andrews; five sons, Ronald Andrews (Sandy), William Andrews (Diana), John Andrews (Jamie), Charles Andrews (Lori) and Michael Andrews (Stacy); and two daughters, Martha Johnsen (Steinar) and Laura Giron (John). He is also survived by 14 Grandchildren and two Great-Grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents Orville and Helen (Vogel) Andrews, his sister, Marie Andrews and brother, Ellis Andrews.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you may make a memorial donation to the charity of your choice in his memory.
Mary Lou "Marie" Burnett, BHS 1950?
Mary Lou "Marie" Burnett at age 80, passed away on Wednesday, October 24, 2012. She was born on August 25, 1932 in Burbank, CA. She was the eldest of the pioneer DeCorse family
Marie grew up in Burbank and attended Burbank High School. She was a Quechan Tribal member. She retired as an Advertising Account Executive for the LA Times. She was a member of SAG "Screen Actors Guild". She was the creator, producer, director and writer of the Super Star Showcase for the Joslyn Center in Burbank. Creator of the Silver Angels singing and dance group. She was in over 2,000 movies and productions. She received the Presidential Award for Volunteerism.
Marie is survived by her four children, Sally DeCorse, Cindy Torbey, Sherry, Flores, and George Burnett; 8 grandchildren and one great-grandchild and many cousins. She is preceded in death by mother, Lucille "DeCorse-Burnett" Walsh; father, George Burnett; brother, John, Burnett.
Cremation took place in California. Private Service will be held at a later date.
Published in The Yuma Sun on Nov. 22, 2012
Patricia Patterson Lacey, BHS 1951
Patricia Patterson Lacey passed away on May 17, 2013. She married Norman Lacey in 1958, and they were married for 54 years at the time of her passing. Patricia is survived by her husband, Norman Lacey, of Sun Valley; one child and two grandchildren, all of Burbank. No other details at this time.
Matthew Wayne Bullington, BHS 1981?
Matthew, age 49, of Rio Rancho, NM died suddenly Sunday, September 22, 2013 after doing what he loved the most - celebrating life with his family and friends. A caring, patient, hard-working family man, Matt was an incredibly calm, happy guy who never complained and was remarkably talented at working on everything from complex office machinery to home remodeling projects. Among his favorite pastimes were bacon, beer (IPA's) and tequila.
Matt was born in Terre Haute, Indiana on September 24, 1963 and moved to California as a child. He graduated from Burbank High School in Burbank, California, and went to work for Fujifilm USA in the Fuji Photo Division. There, he met the love of his life, Christina, was engaged to her after two dates, and married her in 1991.
Matt and Christina moved to Albuquerque, NM in 2006, where he went to work for Konica Minolta Business Solutions as a Senior Technician.
Matt was preceded in death by his father, Kenneth Bullington. He is survived by his mother, Rose Gunn; brothers, Steve, Robert and John Bullington; sisters, Helen Barrett and Kate Stone; wife Christina; daughters, Natasha and Britnie; son Kenny; granddaughters, Ryan Lynn and Madison Evans; four nephews, three nieces, five great nieces and five great nephews as well as numerous aunts, uncles and cousins who all loved him dearly and will miss him greatly every day.
A Memorial of Matt's life is scheduled Thursday, September 26, 2013 at FRENCH -Rio Rancho, with a viewing from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m., services at 4:30 p.m. and a reception immediately following at the Bullington residence, 1117 Sugar Ridge Court, Rio Rancho.
A memorial account has been set up for Matt's family at Wells Fargo Bank. To donate, visit a Wells Fargo branch and ask to make a deposit to the Matt Bullington Fund. Please visit our online guestbook for Matthew at www.FrenchFunerals.com FRENCH - Rio Rancho 1950 Pine Rd NE Rio Rancho, NM 87144 (505)338-2000
Robert "Rob" DePerna, BHS 1970
Robert "Rob" DePerna, BHS '70, passed away Tuesday night, November 5, 2013, after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. Rob was retired from the Camera Departments of the studios, where he had worked as an Electrician and as a Gaffer. He lived in Santa Monica.
While growing up in Burbank Rob attended Horace Mann Elementary, John Muir Junior High, as well as BHS with all of us. Among suvivors are his four children, his five grandchildren, and his two younger brothers, Ronald DePerna (BHS '74), and Raymond DePerna, also a BHS alum. The oldest brother, Richard "Rich" DePerna (BHS '67), who was a founder of the rock band, 'Boston Tea Party', passed away in 2003.
Funeral arrangements are pending, according to Rob's second daughter, Colleen DePerna. Anyone wishing to contact Rob's family may do so by e-mailing Colleen DePerna at deperna@gmail.com
Some of you have read the news of Rob's death on Facebook in the last two days, but this notice is going to 227 members of the Class of '70 so the majority of our class will be aware of Rob's passing. With Rob's passing there are now 45 of our classmates from BHS '70, that we know of, who are deceased. Our sympathy goes to Rob's family from the entire BHS Class of '70.
Alan Landros
Joyce Starleaf
Harold "Hal" E. Wetherwax, BHS 1942
Harold "Hal" E. Wetherwax, formerly of Burbank, passed away on July 17, 2013 at his home at Silverstrand Beach near Oxnard. He was 89.
Born on July 13, 1924 in Bayonne, N.J., his family moved to Burbank while he was a teenager. He graduated from Burbank High School in 1942. At 17 he joined the Navy and was in the admiral’s band stationed in Trinidad. After the war he returned to L.A. where he formed a jazz trio that played at clubs and was the house band for the "Ralph Edwards Variety Show" on NBC.
For 60 years he taught hundreds of Burbank children music at St. Francis and St. Robert Bellarmine schools as well as privately in his home studio. He directed The Reflectors band, made up of school students, that played weekly on the Burbank Golden Mall.
He was a life member of Musicians Union Local #47.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years Virginia; three sons Michael, Peter and Randall Wetherwax and daughter Leslie Davenport; three daughters-in-law Lynn Wetherwax, Carla Bengtson and Lydia Wetherwax; four grandchildren; and three step-grandchildren.
A graveside service will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at San Fernando Mission Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, make donations to the Hal Wetherwax Instrumental Music Fund through the Burbank Arts for All Foundation, by mail to 348 E. Olive Ave., Suite D, Burbank, 91502 or online at
Robert "Bob" E. Booher, BHS 1955
