PFC. William (Bill) Henry Bric, III, BHS 1967

PFC. William Henry Bric, III, BHS 1967

Today is Memorial Day and I am honoring my classmate, PFC. William Henry Bric, III, who was killed in action in Vietnam on August 23,1968. You can find his name on the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C., on Panel 47W, Line 038. Bill was buried with full military honors at San Fernando Mission Cemetery, Mission Hills, California. To visit his gravesite, Click Here

Posthumous Awards To Burbank Soldier

PFC. William Henry Bric, III, has been posthumously awarded the First Oak Leaf Cluster to the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart Medal for his service as a Green Beret soldier in Vietnam.

His parents, Mr. and Mrs. William H. Bric, Jr., of 620 E. Groton, will travel to San Pedro Thursday to accept the award in ceremonies at 3:30 p.m. at Fort MacArthur.

Bric was killed in August as a result of wounds received in a base camp near Da Nang when the area came under hostile fire. His parents and their 19-year-old son believed that America's involvement in Vietnam was a stand against the threat of world communist aggression.

The 1967 Burbank High School graduate had been in Vietnam slightly more than a month before he was killed. In a letter to his parents shortly before his death, the soldier said he was stationed near the Laotian border. "Risk-wise it is the worst spot to go, but it's what I want and what I know does some good." "I'll be monitoring enemy
troop movements that just might save a few American lives."

The Green Beret joined the Army in July, 1967. He received his basic training at Ft. Ord, advanced training at Ft. Gordon, Georgia, jump school at Ft. Benning, Georgia, and Special Forces training at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina.

His parents said Bric was very politically-minded as well as conscientious in his dealing with people. He was active in the Young Republicans and worked on the 1964 Barry Goldwater campaign.

Published in the Burbank Review

Stephen Hertzl Heller, BHS 1965

Stephen Hertzl Heller, BHS 1965

November 2, 1947 - February 19, 2021

Stephen H. Heller of Westlake Village, California, passed away suddenly at the age of 73. 

Stephen was the husband of more than 52 years to the love of his life, Sandra; the original "girl dad" to three adoring daughters and their husbands, Sari and Michael Ratican, Shayne and Ryan LaChapelle, and Samantha and Jason Scherr; "Poppy" to seven beautiful grandchildren, Brennan, Cooper, Eden, Hannah, Collin, Elena, and Adelyn (and two grandpups, Oscar and Romeo); big brother to Robert (Kelila) Heller and Kenneth (Patti) Heller; brother-in-law to Cheryl Fish; and, Uncle or Cousin Steve to nearly a hundred more. 

As a trusted attorney for more than 48 years, Stephen dedicated his entire career to protecting the rights of injured persons and those who lost a family member by the negligent or wrongful conduct of others. 

Stephen's truest intention was to forge trusted connections with others through storytelling, sharing his BBQ delicacies (his favorite go-to recipe was "First Timer's Ribs" by Steven Raichlen in "Raichlen on Ribs, Ribs, Outrageous Ribs"), and just catching up with family and friends.Stephen loved an oatmeal raisin cookie, a good pen, clever puns and Argyle Sweater comics, Ken Follett, Herman's Hermits and classical music. 

However, nothing could compare to Stephen's deep and enduring love for his wife or, as he called her, his girlfriend, Sandy. From meeting in a ballroom dance class, to proposing to her while an undergraduate student at UCLA, he made sure her car was washed with a full tank of gas every week, wrote her love letters, and demonstrated time and time again that it never mattered where he was, so long as he was next to her, EGBOK (the acronym for "Everything's Gonna Be OK").Stephen's love for his family was unparalleled. His memory will forever be a blessing. 

Services were held virtually on February 23, 2021. In lieu of flowers and in honor of his memory, please consider making a donation to one of his favorite organizations: City of Hope (https://ourhope.cityofhope.org/StephenHeller) or Congregation Or Ami (https://congregationorami.shulcloud.com/payment.php).

Published in Los Angeles Times on March 16, 2021. 

NOTE: Burial was in Mount Sinai Memorial Park, Los Angeles, California.

Barbara Carbonneau, BHS 1976

Barbara Carbonneau, BHS 1976
Posted on Facebook by Mary Eva Carbonneau

Barbara Carbonneau - class of 1976, passed away on May 8, 2021 from cancer.  She was 62 years old.  She was a cheerleader and was a star athlete on the track and softball team.  She is survived by her mother Olivia Carbonneau, brothers John Carbonneau (class of 78), LaRayne Hall-Carbonneau Rick Carbonneau (class of 81) sister Mary Carbonneau (class of 88) as well as her 2 kids, Loli and BJ who live in Michigan.

Mark Alan Crescitelli, BHS 1971

Mark Alan Crescitelli, BHS 1971

OCTOBER 3, 1952 – FEBRUARY 2, 2021

Mark Alan Crescitelli was born on October 3, 1952 and passed away on February 2, 2021 and is under the care of Joshua Mortuary, Palmdale, California.

Graveside Service will be held on February 17, 2021 at 11:00 am at Good Shepard Cemetery, 43121 70th St West, Lancaster, California.

No other details at this time. Mark graduated from Burbank High School in 1971. Mark is survived by his brother Richard Crescitelli BHS 1959 and a daughter, Gina Crescitelli Doe.

Tamara "Tammy" Iwerks Webster, BHS 1984

Tamara Lynn Iwerks Webster, BHS 1984

September 25, 1966 - May 14, 2021 

Ojai - Tamara Iwerks, age 54, died Friday May 14, 2021 in a hiking accident on the Rogue River Trail, Oregon. Tamara is survived by her immediate family, her parents, Don and Betty Iwerks, of Ojai, California, her husband, Daniel Webster; her sister Leslie Iwerks, brothers Larry and John Iwerks; sister-in-law Chris Chapman; aunt Barbara Miller of Carlsbad, CA. and her beloved dog Milo.

Tamara was born on September 25, 1966 at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Panorama City, California. She attended Horace Mann Elementary School, John Muir Junior High, and Burbank High School. She received her B.A. in Journalism at Cal State University Northridge, followed by a successful career as an on-camera reporter and anchor at Channel 2 News in Casper, Wyoming, WJBK TV2 in Detroit, Michigan, WCTV in Tallahassee, Florida and Channel 11 in Los Angeles, California. She won a News & Documentary Emmy Award for her impactful reporting on climate change.

For the last twenty years she has been the Director of Media Relations at PremiereTV, a broadcast media publicity company, overseeing satellite media tours, press junkets, radio media tours and more. Tamara lived in Ojai, California and Red Lodge, Montana with her husband Daniel. She enjoyed being near and spending precious time with her parents and family in Ojai and her wide coterie of friends from Burbank and Red Lodge. Tam was an avid hiker, wine enthusiast and curiously intrigued with Bigfoot and Mermaids! She had a fun, mischievous sense of humor and a heart of gold - she was arguably Neil Young's #1 music fan, having traveled the world to attend his countless concerts over the last thirty years. Tam lived and loved her life to the fullest. She wanted all stray animals to have loving homes, our pristine wilderness to be protected, and the LA Dodgers to always win. She left this earth doing what she loved: hiking in nature, surrounded by her beloved husband and dear friends. We will miss her terribly and will carry her love, memories and her lifelong gifts to us in our hearts forever.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks to make donations in her name to her favorite charities: The Ojai Raptor Center in Ojai, California and Beartooth Humane Alliance in Red Lodge, Montana. Please visit Tamara's memorial website at www.tamaraiwerks.org for more information and updates.

Published in Ventura County Star from May 17 to May 22, 2021.

Dawn Swagler Whiteaker, BHS 1940

Dawn Swagler Whiteaker, BHS 1940

For many years Dawn and husband Howard lived in Shadow Hills, in Los Angeles County, California. They had horses, and raised 3 sons, Scott, Britt, and Kent. Britt pre-deceased his parents. 

Dawn worked at Applied Research in Sunland, California. She would take her three sons, and cousins Gail & Holly Whiteaker to plays and musicals. The day before the event, she would tell us the story line and make us listen to the musical soundtrack. At the event she would give each of us a Sees sucker to keep us quiet. Dawn was very cultured, being the daughter of a Judge.

Dawn was born on November 1, 1922 in Ontario, Malheur County, Oregon and passed away on 12 Oct 1986 in Bend, Deschutes County, Oregon, USA. Interment was in Greenwood Cemetery, Bend, Deschutes County, Oregon, USA. She was 63. 

Dawn was a 1940 graduate of Burbank High School, Burbank, California. No other details at this time.

Rick Martin, BHS 1976

Rick Martin, BHS 1976

From a friend on Facebook dated April 22, 2015

 I am sorry to report that RICK MARTIN, BHS 1976, passed away this week April 2015. He is brother to Val Martin of our class and cousin and best friend to Mark Mancinelli. 

Please keep his wife Lisa, his daughter Jessica, his son Ryan, granddaughter Kaylee & Grandson Dylan in your thoughts & prayers. Along with his siblings. 

Rick was loved by many and will be greatly missed. RIP. No other details at this time.

Dawn Marie Burk Scovell, BHS 1985

Dawn Marie Burk Scovell, BHS 1985

July 28, 1967 - April 15, 2021

Memorial service for Mrs. Dawn Marie Scovell, 53 of Killeen, TX will be held Tuesday, April 27, 2021, 3:00 p.m. at  Chisolm's Family Funeral Home in Killeen, TX. A private family burial will be held at a later date. 

Dawn Marie Scovell passed away at her home in Killeen, TX on April 15, 2021. She was born July 28, 1967 to Nancy and Jerry Burk in Burbank, California. She graduated from Burbank High School in Burbank, CA.

After graduation she enlisted into the United States Navy and was stationed at the Naval Station Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.

After leaving the service Dawn worked at Lockheed Martin Aerospace in Burbank, CA where she met her husband Mark Scovell and they married on March 24, 1990. Their union blessed them with four children.

Dawn is survived by her husband, Mark Scovell of Killeen, Texas; mother, Nancy Mims and stepfather, Ken Mims of Lebanon, Missouri; children, Kyle Scovell (Joy) of Belton, Texas, Courtney Scovell of Killeen, Texas, Derek Scovell (Jennifer) of Ennis, Texas, and Daniel Scovell (Paige) of Killeen, Texas; seven grandchildren, Rush, Eli, Lennox, Marlee, Liam, Kyron, Jude, and an eighth grand baby due in November, who Dawn was so excited about. She will be greatly missed by all her family and friends. 

Chisolm's Family Funeral Home and Florist, Killeen, Texas

NOTE: I only saw Dawn once when she was a baby, Dawn's grandmother was my next door neighbor. I watched Dawn's father Jerry Burk grow-up.

Ralph W. Iggulden, BHS 1937

Ralph W. Iggulden, BHS 1937

Ralph W. Iggulden, of 2023 N. Karen Street, Burbank, passed away August 23, 1962. Co--owner of American Printing Company, Burbank Veteran of World War II.

Survived by his wife, Gladys B.; son Jerry R., a daughter, Mary Ann Iggulden; mother, Mrs. Daisy Iggulden and brother, Warren D. Iggulden, all of Burbank.

Funeral services will be Saturday, August 25, 2 p.m. at the Eckerman Funeral Service Chapel.

Published in the Valley News, August 1962

Joan Aldrich White Taylor, BHS 1952

TENDER FAREWELL TO LIFE, LOVE
Long Beach Press-Telegram (CA) - Thursday, January 20, 2000.

Joan Taylor's story certainly isn't an ordinary one. It's about a magic lady who stayed strong up until the end. Even in her final days, when she was in the hospital and her body was so frail she could hardly move, Taylor motioned to have a pencil placed in her hand so she could scrawl love notes to her husband. ''I love you, Jack,'' they would say. Then, in the gentlest way, he touched her hand and looked into her sparkling eyes, wondering what it would be like to live without her. He loved her beyond belief.

Every day, her health spiraled downward. But every day, Jack was with her. Sometimes, he'd sit by her bed from the wee hours of the morning to deep into the night, tears streaming down his face - remembering all those times they shared traveling the globe, seeing Joan as beautiful as the day they met. And when Joan, 65, died of ovarian cancer Saturday evening at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, after a four-month hospital stay, Jack called family friend Blanche Brewster Cannady: ''Our angel has gone,'' he said.

A longtime Long Beach elementary school principal, Joan was born in Burbank on July 21, 1934. She attended Burbank High School, where she graduated as class valedictorian in 1952. Soon after, she married her high school sweetheart, Barry Judson White, and gave birth to Debra Joan White, now a psychologist and professor in Sonoma County. Divorcing White about a year later, Joan went on to earn a degree in education at the University of California, Los Angeles, and a master's in education administration from Cal State Long Beach. She raised Debra practically alone. ''We had a very unique and special relationship,'' Debra says. ''We're so close in age, we always used to kid around that we'd grow old together. Now we can't do that anymore.''

In 1956, when Debra was 5, the two moved to Long Beach and Joan began a teaching career in the Long Beach Unified School District. She taught at Burcham Elementary for seven years, then was promoted to vice principal in 1963. Over the next eight years, Joan worked her way up the ranks to principal at Kettering Elementary, then served the same role at Cubberly, Barton, and Twain elementary schools. ''She had courage of her convictions -- and when she did anything in her job,'' Cannady says. ''She did what she felt was best for the children.'' Soon after landing her job as principal, she met Jack when she went to have her teeth cleaned by a dental colleague of his. They were married Sept. 25, 1976.

Joan loved children so much that after her retirement from the district, in June 1992, she joined the Assistance League of Long Beach, a volunteer group with several programs dedicated to young people. Five years later, in August 1998, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Strong and confident, Joan took her illness head on and went into surgery to have the cancer removed. Afterward, she went through chemotherapy. About a year later, doctors thought the cancer had gone into remission. And for a short while, at least, they were right. But around the end of September, after taking over as league president on May 1, Joan started experiencing pains in her abdomen and was admitted into the hospital.

Extremely sick, she tried to hang on, even having Jack bring her work from the Assistance League. But her ailment began to take over, and she couldn't keep up with the work she loved so much. The league was forced to appoint Joyce Krauss as its acting president. ''She was going to lick it, and that's all there was to it,'' says Joan's good friend and former secretary, Vera Knight. ''Frankly, I'm surprised she didn't.''

Now Knight recounts the wonderful memories she has of her friend - the string cheese Joan always used to bring her from district meetings, the flowers Joan once sent her just to show her appreciation, the way she loved her sheltie dogs, Miss Bonnie Bell and Mr. Beau Dacious, and the monthly ballroom dancing with their husbands at the Toppers Dance Club. Knight pauses for a moment and takes a deep breath. ''She could pretty much dance with any fella if he was a halfway good leader,'' she says. ''I think she was good at everything she did.''

Joan is survived by her husband, Dr. Jack Taylor; parents, Helen and Russell Aldrich, of Burbank; daughter, Dr. Debra White, of Santa Rosa; stepsons, Robert H. Taylor and family, of Highland; and John K. Taylor and family, of Escondido. Memorial services will be Jan. 28 at 1:30 p.m. at the Church of Our Fathers, Forest Lawn Memorial Park, 4471 Lincoln Ave., Cypress. In lieu of flowers, Joan's family requests that donations be sent to the Joan L. Taylor Scholarship Fund, Assistance League of Long Beach, 386 Roswell Ave., Long Beach, CA 90814.