Robert Wesley Swaisgood, BHS 1963

Published in Los Angeles Daily News on Dec. 17, 2014 

Robert W. Swaisgood passed away suddenly at the age of 70 on November 16, 2014 in the City of Santa Clarita, CA. Born in Los Angeles, he grew up in Burbank with his parents (Ruth and George) and older siblings, Ron and Joyce. After graduating from Burbank High School he joined the Naval Reserve and was assigned to the United States Naval Battalion or Seabees at Port Hueneme.

On Memorial Day 1965 he was asked to play TAPS for Admiral John Ford and Captain John Wayne. He was honorably discharged after serving two tours of duty in Viet Nam He met and married his former wife Cindy at Los Angeles Valley College. During this time he settled in the San Fernando Valley, where his only child, Garrett was born. 

He received his Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of La Verne while working for the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power. He retired from the DWP as the Chief Electrical Service Representative, Power System Engineering. He was a Boy Scout Leader, a Saugus High School Cross Country/Track Booster Parent and drove a NASCAR at the Irwindale Race Track. He was proud to have Native American Osage ancestry. His greatest joy came from spending time with family, friends and especially babysitting his grandchildren. 

He is survived by his sone Garrett and Garrett's wife Melinda of Castaic, CA. Three grandchildren: Danielle, Connor and Wyatt. A brother Ron of Gig Harbor, WA., step-sister, Maria Smith, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, in-laws and his former wife Cindy. A Military Service with interment was conducted at the Los Angeles National Cemetery, Los Angeles, CA on December 9, 2014.

David Thomas May, BHS 1954

David Thomas May, BHS 1954
August 18, 1936 - November 20, 2008

David Thomas (Tom) May was born August 18, 1936 in, Chicago, Illinois, to Joseph D. May and Gwin Sidebotham May. He passed away at the age of 72 on November 20, 2008, in Sequim, Washington.

A celbration of Life will be held on July 26, 2009. Tom graduated from Burbank High School in California. He graduated from Glendale Junior College in August, 1956. Tom received a B.A. in Political Science at Long Beach State in California. He was a class of 1983 graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C.

In October 1956, Tom entered flight training at NAS Pensacola, Florida, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps and designated as a Navy Aviator in April 1958. In 1963, after completing an inter-service transfer to the Navy, Tom returned to active duty and was assigned as a flight instructor with HT-8. Since that time, he was assigned to HS-6, deployed aboard the USS Kearsarge for two tours in Southeast Asia, conducting ASW and combat search and rescue operations. In June 1970, he was assigned as the first officer-in-charge of HS-84. In November 1973. he was transferred to the Chief of Naval Reserve staff in New Orleans, where he served first as the Inspector General and later as the Helicopter Flight Programs Officer. He then served as Executive Officer of HS-84 from December 1976 to December 1977, and as the commanding officer of the squadron from December 1977 until June 1979. In August, 1983, he assumed command of the Naval Air Station, Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. He was then reassigned to serve as the Deputy Commander of the Naval Reserve Readiness Command, Region 20, in San Francisco, California, where he later retired in 1989. During his time in the military, Capt. D.T. May was awarded eleven medals.

Tom married Patricia A. Bryan on June 16, 1973, in Imperial Beach, California. Tom and his wife, Patricia, retired in Sequim in 1989, where they built their home on Lost Mountain. He worked for the Sequim post office part-time as a rural route carrier. His hobbies were running marathons, flying planes and helicopters, camping, scuba diving, fishing, hiking and traveling, and he was also an avid reader.

He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Patricia A. May, who resides in Sequim; daughter, Joanie May, and son-in-law, Paul Kneuer, who also reside in Sequim; daughter, Delana Guzenski, of Alden, Pennsylvania; son aqnd daughter-in-law, Jon and Mamie May, of Mill Creek, Washington; son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Kelly May, of La Quinta, California; daughter and son-in-law, Rusti and Wayne Clark, of Port Angeles; sister and brother-in-law, Judy and John Sisk, of Palo Alto, California; 12 grandchilden and two great-grandchildren along with numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, grandparents and his youngest son, Daniel.

We wish to thank Olympic Medical Center, the Olympic Medical Cancer Center, Dr. Thomas Kummet and his wonderful staff, and Assured Hospice for their loving care during his last days. We will miss his humor, storytelling, dry wit and, most of all, the love he had to give to his family and friends.

David Lance Freemon, BHS 1974

David Lance Freemon, BHS 1974____ Man dies of injuries suffered in 12-foot leap escaping fire____ Forth Worth-Star Telegram, Thursday, November 23, 1996 - Richland Hills, TX - A 39-year-old Richland Hills electronics technician died Tuesday after suffering injuries from jumping 12 feet from a second-story window to escape a fire early Saturday. David L. Freemon died at North Hills Hospital in North Richland Hills from internal injuries, officials said. Freemon jumped from his apartment at 6637 Bridges Ave, after it caught fire about 2:45 a.m. Saturday, fire officials said. "It is really out of the norm," Richland Hills Fire Chief Greg Tucker said. "Our investigators were talking with the man the day after the fire. He was in some pain, but it didn't seem like the injuries were that serious." Tarrant County medical examiners said Freemon died as a result of lung injuries related to multiple broken ribs. Tucker said the window was 12 feet above the ground at the spot where fire fighters found Freemon. Dispatchers for the Fire Department received the first call on the fire about 2:48 a.m., Tucker said. Three engines arrived at the scene at 2:50 a.m. and found Freemon at 2:55 a.m. "Firefighters searched the building, and everything looked OK." Tucker said. "They discovered a victim outside between the buildings." A neighbor heard shattering glass, caused by Freemon's escape, and called 911, according to reports. A North Richland Hills ambulance crew started treating Freemon at 3 a.m., Tucker said. The fire remains under investigation, but Tucker said it may have been caused by a burning cigarette. Firefighters from Richland Hills, North Richland Hills and Haltom City responded to the blaze, which was contained to one apartment.

John William Baxter, BHS 1975

The Bakersfield Californian, Sunday, June 30, 1974, MOTHER, 5 KIDS DIE IN CRASH, Bishop, CA- A Burbank, woman, her five children and a neighbor were killed Saturday in a fiery crash on US 395 when a semi-trailer broke loose from its hitch and slammed into a pick-up truck carrying the seven persons, the Highway Patrol said. Patricia Baxter, 42, a neighbor, Harold L. Culler, 60, also of Burbank, and Mrs. Baxter's five Children were killed instantly in the crash about 13 miles north of here, the CHP said. The seven were reportedly traveling to Carson City, NV, to visit relatives. The five children were identified as John, 16, Tina, 14, Michel, 12, Patricia, 10, and Tanya, 7. The driver of the semi-truck, Francisco G. Flores, 25, of Lake View Terrace, was treated for minor injuries officials said.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BURBANK MOTHER, 5 CHILDREN DIE IN FIERY HIGHWAY CRASH, Burbank Daily Review, June 29, 1974. A Burbank woman and her five children were killed Friday in a fiery traffic accident near Bishop, California. Dead are, Mrs. Patricia L. Baxter, 42, of North Frederic Street, and her children, John, 17, Tina, 15, Michelle, 12, Patricia, 10 and Tanya, 8. Burbank police investigator Jeff Pratt, who was asked by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department to notify the children's father of the accident, said a logging truck apparently went out of control and hit the camper the vacationing family was riding in. The camper burst into flames. All the victims, Pratt said, were apparently burned beyond recognition. But investigators were able to identify them through other information. The father, Bill Baxter, also of Burbank has been divorced from the children's mother. No arrangements have been made yet for services. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Los Angeles Times, July 2, 1974, Patricia Lee Baxter, services for Patricia Lee Baxter and her 5 children, John William, Tina Lee, Michelle Jean, Patricia Kathleen and Tanya Lee. Beloved mother of Richard Baxter, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Della Porta, sister of Mrs. Janet Diltz, Mrs. Jackie Mathers and John Della Porta, Jr. Recitation of the Rosary, 7:30 pm Tuesday and Funeral Mass 10:am, Wednesday both at St. Finbar Catholic Church, 2010 West Olive, Burbank, CA.. Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: From the Burbank High 1974 yearbook - John Baxter, had finished his junior year at Burbank High where he lettered in JV football and twice in JV baseball. He was a warm and sincere person whose good nature and unselfishness made him an outstanding complement to our teams and to the school community.