Art Christ Basso, BHS 1950

Art Basso was born in 1932 to Christiano Basso and Mary Sartori, in Burbank, CA., and passed away in his sleep on February 22, 2018. He was raised in the house at 501 East Cypress Ave (the duplexes now belonging to Emanuel Church), and attended George Washington & Emerson Elementary School, John Muir Junior High, Burbank High Senior High School (BHS). While at BHS (1947 – 1950) he ranked as an all-city football player, playing with friends, Pete Lipera, Paul Cameron, and John Julian, under the coaching of Les Bruckner. 

Art and his football crew, were some of the first football players to whitewash the letter “B” up on the Verdugo Mountains. In 2013, Burbank football claimed victory over rival Burroughs high school. Art’s grandson, Mack Maisner (a senior then at BHS) went up to the mountain with friends, dragging a blue tarp over the letter “B”, coming home and stating, “Grandpa Art will be proud of me”!



After high school, Art joined the United States Air Force and served as airplane mechanic, for four years, at: Grandview AFB Kansas City, MO., Lackland AFB San Antonio, TX., Chanute AFB Champagne, Il., and Ernest Harmon AFB Newfoundland, Canada. It was clear to him that he was passionate about working with hands, and upon returning home, he gained employment at Hydraulic Research, originally at 2321 N. Naomi St. Burbank. Shortly after, he married Marcia Corliss (North Hollywood High School 1953) and adopted her daughter, Patti (BHS 1975).  Soon to follow were sons, Chris (BHS 1980) and Ted (BHS 1985), with Hydraulic Research relocating to Valencia on Rye Canyon Road.

Art left Hydraulic Research when his hands-on engineering work converted to CADAM, to work in the entertainment industry, building mobile dressing rooms, and the housing for the generators on the tractor trailers that go on location.  

He also had a love for building and flying model airplanes at the Sepulveda Dam, and in the evenings would take his kids to the Burbank Airport to watch the last of the day’s landings and take-offs. His pride and joy was his house, that he almost single-handedly extended over 1000 sq.feet. 

After long tour of being single, he got remarried to Viola Garcia, whose daughter and son-in-law have a grandchild Zachery. Other grandchildren include Ted’s twin girls, Paige and Presley, and Patti’s two children Mallory (BHS 2011), and Mack (BHS 2014).

If any of us learned anything from Art, it was to be your best person every day, always put your best foot forward, work hard and honestly, and when you see something out of place, fix it without blame. He will be dearly missed by all that knew him, as he was always generous with his time to help others when they needed him.

Scott Bradley English, BHS 1973

Posted on Facebook from a friend and fellow classmate:

It is with a heavy heart that I have to inform you of another of classmates passing. Long time friend and 1973 classmate Scott Bradley English passed away December 3, 2017 in Burlington, Washington. 

He had some health issues the last few years and passed away in his sleep. Scott was a great friend and enjoyed hanging out with many friends while in Burbank.

He had moved to Washington State in the mid 70's and as often happens, with our busy lives, we lose contact with each other. I know he is at peace now.

Carole Lynne Prescott Smith, BHS 1962

Carole Lynne Prescott Smith
October 10, 1944 – December 13, 2017

Carole Smith, 73, of San Marcos, CA, passed away Wednesday, December 13, 2017, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.  A loving wife, mother, and friend, she was always ready with a bright smile and kind word for everyone she met, and she will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Born October 10, 1944, in Arcadia, CA, Carole was the daughter of the late Alfred C. and Doris Prescott and grew up in Burbank with her parents and sister Terri Prescott Collings and brother Randall Prescott.  She was active in the local YMCA and was named “Y Girl of the Year” in 1962.  In high school, she joined a group of friends called the “Chere Amies,” and she remained a part of this close-knit group over the next 50 years.  In 1962, she graduated from Burbank High School and went on to study Education at Cal State University Northridge and then Cal State Long Beach.

During college, she met Curtis Smith at a church group and the two were married March 13, 1965.  They recently celebrated 50 years of marriage. They had two daughters, Christine and Cynthia, and Carole became a full-time Mom to her girls.  The family moved to San Diego, CA in 1969, and Carole became an active volunteer at their schools, helped manage many years of softball teams, and made it to every single dance and musical performance.  Carole also volunteered with the Junior Women’s Club of San Diego, serving as President in the early 70’s, and was active in PEO. 

The family relocated to Valencia, CA, in 1979, where Carole took on a job as Attendance Clerk at William S. Hart High School and then at Saugus High during the 1980’s.  In 1991, Curt was transferred to Marietta, GA, with Lockheed Martin Corporation and so they moved to the South for seven years.  She enjoyed decorating their large home and gardening in the yard, and developed a love for country music.  In 1998, she and Curt moved back to California and eventually settled in San Marcos when he retired in 2000.  There she pursued her love for cooking and became a certified chef.

Over the years, Carole and Curt took many wonderful vacations together, especially enjoying cruises to Alaska, Europe, New Zealand, Australia and the Caribbean. She loved music and dancing, especially to oldies rock n’roll.  Her family was her greatest passion, and she loved living close to her daughters and doting on her five grandchildren.

Brad Harris, BHS 1950

Published in Variety Magizine, November 7, 2017

Brad Harris, Actor in Sword-and-Sandal Movies, Dies at 84

Brad Harris, best known for his work in sword-and-sandal movies, died after a short illness Tuesday in Santa Monica, his daughter Sabrina Calley confirmed. He was 84.

“He was just a really wonderful, loving, full of life man,” Calley told Variety. “He made friends wherever he went all over the world, and he will be greatly missed.”

The actor and stuntman worked in Europe for majority of his career, appearing in over 50 spy films and spaghetti Westerns in the 1960s, including “The Fury of Hercules,” “Pirates of the Mississippi,” “Black Eagle of Santa Fe,” “Kiss, Kiss, Kill, Kill,” “Spy Today, Die Tomorrow,” “Death Trip,” “The Mad Butcher” and “Supermen.” In addition to his movie work, he appeared on the small screen as Deputy Duffy in the soap opera “Falcon Crest” from 1984-1989.

Born in Idaho, Harris later moved to California and attended UCLA on an athletic scholarship where he studied economics. After sustaining injuries from football, he was advised to take up weightlifting, which then sparked an interest in bodybuilding.

Upon graduation, he secured work in the industry as a stand-in and stuntman. Harris got his start as a stuntman in Stanley Kubrick’s “Spartacus,” and later made his big-screen debut in the 1957 biographical film “Monkey on My Back.”

His first leading roles were in Gianfranco Parolini’s 1961 films “Goliath Against the Giants” and “Samson.” Parolini and Harris went on to work together on several titles written and directed by Parolini.

Later in his career, he served as an executive producer on several of his films including “King of Kong Island” and “The Mutations.” Harris worked with Tony Kendall and Parolini in the “Kommissar X” series, which his daughter said ranked among his favorite roles.

Harris married actress Olga Schoberova in 1967. They had a daughter, Sabrina, before they divorced in 1969. In 1971, Schoberova remarried studio executive and producer John Calley, who adopted Sabrina.

More recently, Harris owned a company, Modern Body Design Harris, where he invented and marketed fitness equipment. His daughter said her dad lived by his motto, “Stay fit. Have fun. Harm no one.”

Sandra Sue Moody Lee, BHS 1964

Sandra Sue Lee

Jan. 28, 1946–Jan. 28, 2018

Sandra Sue (Moody) Lee, 72, went home to the Lord in Simi Valley, California on January 28 after battling a long illness.

Sandra was born to Sam and Alma (Nutt) Moody in the Dallas area on Jan. 28, 1946. The family moved to Burbank, California in 1959 when Sandra was a teenager. She graduated from Burbank High School.

Sandra married Richard Allen Lee in 1964. They had three children: Tracy Ellen Little (preceded in death), Callie Shannon Esser (Simi Valley, California) and Kenneth Allen Lee (Simi Valley). Sandra had various jobs over the years, but her priority was being a homemaker. She enjoyed studying the Bible, volunteering, genealogy, reading, music, and history.

Upon Richard’s retirement in 2002, they moved to Lake Havasu City. The couple was devoted to the Lord and became active members at Lakeview Community Church, where Sandra was also employed as a bookkeeper.

After 41 years of marriage, Richard passed away in 2005. They were blessed with 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

The family gives special thanks to the caregivers at Foothill Assisted Living and Assisted Hospice Care in Simi Valley, California where she received wonderful care.

Sandra will be deeply missed. Her favorite Bible verse was Romans 10:9: “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Funeral arrangements have been made in Arizona, through Lake Havasu Memorial Gardens. A graveside service is Feb. 10 at 2:30 p.m.

Today’s News-Herald, Lake Havasu City, Arizona, Feb 7, 2018

Robert F. Slocum, BHS 1946?

Burbank Daily Review, Tuesday, August 17, 1948

Services Conducted For Robert Slocum

Funeral services for Robert F. Slocum, 20, 240 N. Lima Street, who died Friday, August 13, 1948 of bronchial pneumonia at the National Guard camp in San Luis Obispo, were conducted at 2:30 p.m. Monday at Steen's chapel in North Hollywood.

Young Slocum who was graduated from Burbank High School had served in the Merchant Marine a year. He was with the 40th Infantry of the California National Guard on maneuvers when he became ill.

Burial was in Valhalla Memorial Park with full military honors. He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Slocum, one brother, Donald A.; and his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank B. Slocum, all of North Hollywood.