Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Ralph William "Bill" North, BHS 1954, Former BHS Teacher and Living Legend

June 1, 1936 - Feb 24, 2019

Former BHS teacher, Mr. Bill North, passed away yesterday, Sunday, February 24, 2019. 

Bill was in Denver, Colorado attending a friend's retirement party, when he passed away. He was on an airport bus going to the airport to come back home when he suddenly passed away. He was 82 years old. Bill grew up in the 900 block of Cornell Dr. and was a 1954 Burbank High School graduate where he was a member of the Rifle Team. 

He taught Social Studies and English at John Muir Junior High for 16 years from 1960 to 1975. He then taught Government and Economics for 21 years at BHS from 1975 to 1996 when he retired. He was also the Ceralbus advisor from 1986 to 1996. Many will remember Bill's use of "paper clips" for awards in his John Muir classes! Bill married his John Muir colleague, Mrs. Barbara Bullock, and they enjoyed many happy years together. Barbara passed away in 2005. 

Bill continued living in Burbank, and had been doing well. Just last August he purchased a new Subaru wagon. Bill and former John Muir and BHS teacher, Clyde Richards, have been close friends over all these years. This is a sad day for Burbank.

"There's not a person there who doesn't love the guy," said  Clyde Richards. 

From Los Angeles Times, 1996
Bill North retired in 1996

Graduation Day had come and with it the strains of "Pomp and Circumstance." In royal blue caps and gowns, Burbank High School's Class of '96 marched down from the grassy slope above the Starlight Amphitheater to take their seats. Waiting on stage were school officials, their gowns all black and serious.

There was one exception. On the day after his 60th birthday, teacher Bill North had elected to wear the blue of a graduating senior. He was, in a sense, graduating for a second time from Burbank High, retiring after more than 37 years of teaching, the last 21 at his alma mater. Before too long, Mr. North, as the students call him, would step to the dais. The students stood and cheered in his honor.

First he asked everyone to say hi to his mother, Jeanne, who had watched her boy graduate at the Starlight in 1954. "Mom and I think this is so much fun," Mr. North said, "we're going to do this every 42 years."

Mr. North, local legend, is known for his wit, kindness and a unique talent for teaching. Ask around Burbank High and the testimony becomes overwhelming. Mr. North came from the same mold as the storied Mr. Chips. He is one of those beloved teachers who routinely rise above the call of duty.

And so there was Bill North at the dais in royal blue, reflecting on how Burbank High had changed in the 42 years since his first graduation. 


And so, it was explained, there would be a presentation. To Mr. North's obvious surprise, an assistant principal stepped forward with a yellow firefighter's coat, marked with his name and the declaration that he is a No. 1 Teacher. Why a firefighter's coat? Everybody at Burbank High knows about Mr. North's fascination with firetrucks, about how he can even tell their sirens apart.


Graduation Day was, in fact, the crown of a series of events, large and small, that marked Mr. North's last few weeks.  A retirement party was held at the Castaway restaurant in May, arrangements were made for the Burbank Fire Department to chauffeur Mr. North in one of its engines. About 200 colleagues and former students roasted him in tribute.

Mr. North can remember the moment he decided to become a teacher.

"I was a senior at Burbank High, sitting in a classroom that was dingy, with a long-term sub who was just terrible. And it dawned on me. I was thinking, 'I could do better than this.' "

He went to UCLA and absorbed the latest in educational methodology. At his first job at John Muir Junior High, Principal Bob Leland monitored his first few weeks of work.


"I was busy showing him all the fancy teaching techniques I learned at UCLA. He had a troubled look on his face . . . Finally, he said to me, 'Why don't you do it the way you want?' "And that just hit me. I realized, in this business, nobody had all the answers." And so Mr. North set out to do it his way.

"Forever Young" was the theme of Burbank High's commencement. The logical question was, why had Mr. North decided to retire?

"I'm just thinking it's time to do some other things. I wanted to leave teaching before I burned out and got a little funny--funny as in peculiar, you know . . . Some of them stay just a little bit too long."

Mr. North didn't put it this way, but it seemed he wanted to be like the athlete who retires as a champion, before anyone can say he's over the hill.

Retirement, he says, will give him more time for his hobby, woodworking. But there's also some talk that he'll drop by Burbank High from time to time. He's been the yearbook advisor the last 10 years; perhaps the staff will need some help next year.

It seems to be the kind of talk that no one wants to discourage, least of all Mr. North.
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From the first paragraph in the Burbank High Centennial Book on Mr. North:

For a teacher to be classified as a lovable living legend, it takes more than 37 years of effective instruction - it takes special talents. It takes an ear that can differentiate the sirens of a fire truck from a fire engine. It takes the ability to write co medic skits that skewer staff and students. It takes writing one's own textbook, but most importantly, it takes a gregarious , kind demeanor. Bill North possessed such gifts.

After his retirement in 1996 Bill was able to pursue his hobby of woodworking  where he made many things. He would sometimes stop by Burbank High for visits and in 2008 he attended the Burbank High Centennial and that is where I met Bill North at the staff get together and he allowed me to take his photo. 

Bill flew to Denver, Colorado for a friends retirement party. Bill almost cancelled his trip as he was concerned about driving in the snow and icy roads.

But he did go and the picture below of Bill was taken in Denver the day before his death and the day of his death.The other man pictured is part of the family Bill was visiting in Denver for this man’s retirement party, which Bill surprised some of them by attending. Bill made the wood base that he is holding as a retirement gift for this friend.
As word was received of his death, there has been an overwhelming of love, prayers and memories on facebook and social media from family, friends, fellow teachers and most of all his former students.

As we say Good Bye to Mr. Ralph William "Bill" North, a Living Legend Who did it His Way! 

THANK YOU! Mr. North








Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Leona Heerman Eames, BHS 1939

Leona Heerman Eames, BHS 1939

Burbank Daily Review,  May 11, 1955

Ex-Burbank Woman Dies In Accident

Funeral services for Mrs. Dan Eames, 34, the former Leona Heerman, will be conducted Friday at 2:30 p.m. at the Wee Kirk o'the Heather, Forest Lawn , with Rev. Arvid Carlson officiating.

Mrs. Eames was killed instantly in a head-on auto crash Sunday night May 8, 1955 near Blythe, California as she and her husband and 9-year-old son, David Lee, were en route to their Manhattan Beach home from Blythe. Mr. Eames and David Lee were injured, but not seriously, in the mishap.


Thursday, February 14, 2019

Sylvia Isabel Howey Linnell, BHS 1942

Sylvia Isabel Howey Linnell
Feb 5, 1924 - Jan 7, 2019 (Age 94)


Laguna Hills, California

Sylvia Isabel Linnell, 94, born on February 5, 1924, in Berryton , Kansas, passed away January 7, 2019, in Mission Viejo, California. 

Loving mother of Lorena Swift and David Linnell; grandmother of Patricia Okura, Stephanie Jensrud, Adam Linnell and Andrea Fox; and great-grandmother of Sierra Jensrud, Darren Okura, Kiersten Okura, and Aiden Linnell. 

Graveside service scheduled for Friday, January 11th, 12:00pm at Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills, California.






Thursday, February 7, 2019

Helen H. Pettey Downs, BHS 1915

Helen H. Pettey Downs, BHS 1915

Burbank Daily Review, June 1980

Helen H. Downs late of Glendale. Beloved mother of Kenneth Downs. Sister of Julia Fay Pettey, also survived by four grandchildren. Memorial services Wednesday 11 a.m. in the Peace Chapel of Kiefer and Eyerick Mortuary. Private interment in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California.

Monday, February 4, 2019

Dr. Max Appleby, Former BHS Teacher

Dr. Max Appleby

The Torrance Herald, April 6, 1961 page 8

Dr. Max Appleby, former Torrance school's curriculum consultant, died Monday in Northern California, according to word received here. He was 48. Last rites will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California.

He left Torrance two years ago to become assistant superintendent for the Acalanes Union High School District at Lafayette, California. A graduate of University of California, he held a master's and doctors degree from USC.

He had served as Public Affairs Forum director at Long Beach City College and had taught at Los Angeles State College, Glendale City College, and UCLA. He was principal in Burbank and San Rafael, California.

Survivors include his widow, Ruth, and a son Michael.

Friday, February 1, 2019

Tommie Eugene Cline, BHS 1974

From Debbie Cooper Billiot: "My step-brother Tom Cline passed away in 2014 after seven years of fighting the effects of Agent Orange. Tom was stationed in Korea, at the DMZ, as a military policeman. He was in Vietnam in 1975 when Saigon fell. Tom lived in DeRidder, Louisiana."


The picture shown here is from the 1973 Ceralbus. Tom's photo does not appear in the 1974 edition; he would have graduated with that class but enlisted at age 17.
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Tommie Eugene Cline

Tommie Eugene Cline, 58, of Florien, Louisiana, passed away Wednesday, January 8, 2014 at his home.  A Memorial service will be Saturday, January 11, at 1pm at Chaddick Funeral Home.  The funeral home will open at 11:30am.

Tommie is survived by his wife, Carolyn of Florien; five daughters, Shantel Stephens of Murphysboro, Illinois, Jessica Hall & Mirick of San Antonio, Texas, Elizabeth Warren of Merryville, Louisiana, Christina Geery of Florien, and Rikkie Parker of Florien; one son, Dave Cline & Joy of Jackson, Missouri; one sister, Debbie Billiot & Joe of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana; two brothers, Frederick Cooper of DeRidder, and Greg Cline of DeRidder; mother, Dazine Propst of DeRidder; and thirteen grandchildren.  

Tommie is preceded in death by his father, Charles Eugene Cline, Sr., his sister, Barbara Martin; and his brothers, Charles Eugene Cline, Jr., and Charles Wayne Cline.  Condolences can be made at chaddickfuneralhome.com.

John P. Grangetto, BHS 1941

John P. Grangetto, BHS 1941

Burbank Daily Review, March 1, 1973

John P. Grangetto, 50, died Tuesday, February 27, 1973 in a Burbank hospital. He was born and raised in Burbank. He was a machinist for Parson-Olander Company for twenty years.

Mr. Grangetto is survived by his wife, Rose Marie; a son, John; and a brother, Martin Grangetto of Burbank.

Services will be at noon Saturday, March 3, at the Church of the Hills, Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills. Interment will follow.