Saturday, February 27, 2021

Leeland Fredrick Freeman, BHS 1967, Member of Strawberry Alarm Clock

Lee Freeman, BHS 1967


The Los Angeles Times, Wednesday, February 24, 2010

'60s Band Had No. 1 Hit

Lee Freeman, 60, a member of the 1960's band Strawberry Alarm Clock, famous for its flower-power anthem "Incense and Peppermints," that became a Number 1 hit in 1967, died of cancer February 14, 2010 at his home in the Bay Area, his brother Doug, said in an email.

Freeman, who played rhythm guitar, sang and wrote lyrics, was an original member of the band, which was called Thee Sixpence when it was formed in 1966. None of the band members wanted to sing lead on "Incense and Peppermints," intended to be released on the B-side of a single, so a friend on hand for the recording session volunteered. The group also supplied music for the film "Psych-Out" in which it also appeared.

Freeman, born November 8, 1949, in Burbank, continued to play with the band during
reunions.

NOTE: Lee was preceded in death by his father Douglas and his mother Pauline and sister Patricia Freeman Farrell. Lee is survived by his brother, Douglas Freeman. May he rest in peace.
























Friday, February 26, 2021

Kathy Lynn Brush Brown, BHS 1978

Kathy Lynn Brush Brown 

December 19, 1960 – November 2, 2020 

Kathy Lynn Brown was born on December 19, 1960 and passed away on November 2, 2020 and is under the care of Shadow Mountain Mortuary. 

Memorial Service will be held on November 17, 2020 at 2:00 pm at Christ's Church of the Valley, 7007 W Happy Valley Rd, Peoria, AZ. 


No other details at this time. May she rest in peace.

Thursday, February 25, 2021

Alan Robert Murray, BHS 1972

Alan Robert Murray, Two-Time Oscar-Winning Sound Editor, Dies at 66

Over more than 40 years, he worked on 32 films directed by Clint Eastwood, from 'Escape From Alcatraz' to 'Richard Jewell.' Alan Robert Murray, the supervising sound editor and decades-long collaborator with Clint Eastwood who earned Oscars for his work on the director's American Sniper and Letters to Iwo Jima, died Wednesday, February 24, 2021, a source told The Hollywood Reporter. He was 66.

Last year, Murray set a sound editing record with his 10th career Academy Award nomination, for Todd Phillips' Joker. His first two noms came for his contributions to Richard Donner's Ladyhawke (1985) and Lethal Weapon 2 (1989). Murray also received Oscar noms for the Eastwood-helmed films Space Cowboys (2000), Flags of Our Fathers (2006) and Sully (2016) and for Chuck Russell's Eraser (1996) and Denis Villeneuve's Sicario (2015).

He worked on 32 films directed by Eastwood, from Escape From Alcatraz (1979) to Richard Jewell (2019), in a stretch that also included the best picture winners Unforgiven (1992) and Million Dollar Baby (2004). In addition, he partnered with Eastwood on several others movies that the Hollywood legend produced and/or starred in, including Any Which Way You Can (1980), Tightrope (1984), The Dead Pool (1988) and Trouble With the Curve (2012).

Eastwood "has always been one who lets the artists bring what they can to the table," Murray said backstage at the Oscars after his win for American Sniper (2014). "He gives you specific notes but lets you create on your own. And he respects the artists on his crew."Murray shared his Oscars with fellow supervising sound editor Bub Asman; they worked together on more than 50 films.

His extensive résumé also included The Warriors (1979), Star Trek the Motion Picture (1979), The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981), National Lampoon's Vacation (1983), Fatal Attraction (1987), Die Hard 2 (1990), New Jack City (1991), Fried Green Tomatoes (1991), Star Trek X: Nemesis (2002), The Legend of Zorro (2005) and A Star Is Born (2018). He helped Bradley Cooper get thorough his directorial debut on that last one after meeting the actor on American Sniper.

He also served as supervising sound editor on Taylor Sheridan's upcoming release For Those Who Wish Me Dead. Murray began his career in the 1970 at Paramount, where he was mentored by Howard Beals, who worked with filmmakers from Cecil B. DeMille to Francis Ford Coppola. He had been based at Warner Bros. Sound since 1979.

Speaking with THR last year about his approach to Joker, Murray said he wanted to use realistic sounds. "It was more of following Arthur's descent into madness," he said. "Everything would start off normal, and then our sound effects reacted to what was going on with [the character]."

Survivors include his wife, Debbie, and three children working in motion pictures: Blu Murray, an editor; Kevin R.W. Murray, who works in sound; and Hailey Murray, who works in postproduction.

February 25, 2021, Hollywood Reporter, by Carolyn Giardina

Tuesday, February 9, 2021

Gunnar Maxim Osterberg, BHS 1950

Gunnar Maxim Osterberg was born on March 10, 1932 in Ironwood, Michigan. He passed away on August 10, 2017 in Mission Viejo, California. At the young age of 16 years, his parents moved Gunnar to California. They settled in the city of Burbank where Gunnar finished high school, graduating in 1950. He worked in the aerospace industry until he was drafted into the army infantry at age 20 to serve in the Korean War. He was an infantry combat veteran on Heartbreak Ridge, and on Outpost Queen in front of Christmas Hill. He survived the fighting while on an outpost in front of the MLR at war's end.

After his service, Gunnar was to spend nearly 40 years in specialty steel mill sales, (stainless and hi-temperature alloys) working for Allegheny Ludlum and Eastern Stainless Steel. He was the regional sales manager for Eastern Stainless covering all the Western States. He ended his career with his own manufacturing representative business representing, Lukens Steel and Bethlehem Steel. He retired at age 67, and began writing articles for military newsletters, magazines, and his hometown newspaper. He wrote a book and co-authored another. He was an avid golfer and had his first hole-in-one at age 77, and his second hole-in-one at the age of 80.

He is survived by his loving wife Barbara Novinger Osterberg, the love of his life. They were married 62 years. Surviving are two children Eric and Ingrid, three grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. He was cremated as wished. Per his request, no memorials are planned.

**Gunnar's obituary was written by none other than himself.

Published in Orange County Register on Aug. 12, 2017





Monday, February 1, 2021

Frank E. Ellison, BHS 1976

Frank E. Ellison, BHS 1976

Frank E. Ellison was born on October 30, 1958 and passed away on October 30, 2004 in a motorcycle accident of blunt injuries according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner on a Los Angeles County street on his birthday. He was 46 years old. 

Frank is missed by his family and his 1976 Burbank High School classmates. No other details at this time.