Wednesday, June 30, 2021

Christine Lee Cullen Bartlett, BHS 1968

Christine Bartlett

December 13th, 1949 - April 23rd, 2021 

Christine Cullen Bartlett, formerly Christine Lee Cullen, passed into the arms of her lord on April 23rd in her home in San Dimas in the presence of her family at the age of 71. Born in Glendale, CA to parents Vin and Billie, she is a woman known for her creativity and artistic abilities, as well as her loving nature. An accomplished artist and talented woodworker, Christine was known to be as capable with a drill press as she was with a paintbrush, and several of her designs are still used by the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts of America to this day. Chris was an Art History major at Cal State Northridge, where she met her Tri-Delta sisters who would remain lifelong friends. 

She is survived by her children Amy Marie and Mathew Cullen Bartlett. A memorial service will be held at St. John Lutheran Church in Covina on June 12th at 10am. Those attending are asked not to wear dark colors, as she wished for her memorial service to be an upbeat celebration of her life and her family and friendships. 

Due to limited space and Covid considerations, the service will be streamed online for remote friends and family. Link to service video stream will be included on Facebook.

Published in San Gabriel Valley Tribune on Jun. 6, 2021.



Friday, June 25, 2021

Mark Stuart Pollock, BHS 1967

Mark S. Pollock, BHS 1967

1949 - 2021

Longtime Napa Valley attorney, Mark Pollock, 71, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, June 16. In his professional life, he will be remembered as a dedicated legal practitioner, a bold crusader, a raconteur, and the last of a rare and truly irreplaceable breed.

Family and friends remember Mark as extraordinarily energetic and multi-talented, as a vibrant storyteller, an exceptional cook, a powerful Black Belt in Kung Fu karate, a gifted gardener, a lover of dogs, and an accomplished sailor. Ultimately, Mark was a man, who lit up every room that he set foot in.

Mark was born on October 25, 1949 in Burbank, Calif., the first son of Stella and Sol Pollock's three children. Mark attended Burbank High School, graduating in 1967, and from San Francisco State University in the 1970s, and later, San Fernando Valley College of Law, Woodland Hills, Calif, where he was President of the Law Review, and passed the California Bar in 1978.

As a young lawyer, starting out in the Napa Valley, he met his future wife, Alison Head, in Calistoga in 1982. The couple were married in 1989 by Napa County Judge John Quigley, while living on the Napa River in the late 1980s.

Mark joined and worked as a Napa Deputy District Attorney in Jerry Maunter's office while Alison pursued her Ph.D. at nearby U.C. Berkeley. Mark went on to Solano County District Attorney's Office, where he set up the Environmental Crimes unit.

In 1993, he set up a private practice in land use and environmental law in Napa, where Evangeline James joined the firm and later the two became partners in Pollock & James. In the Napa Valley, Mark was active within the legal community, a former president of the Napa Bar Association. and a widely respected litigator and champion of social and environmental causes.

The small firm was widely recognized as leading experts in defense of property owners involved in environmental and land use disputes. More recently they had grown the practice to advising local communities on fighting the stationing of small cell wireless technology.

A man of boundless energy and interests, Mark received his first Black Belt in Karate in August 2008 at the age of 59, the first of five Black Belts earned during his 32 years as a student at West Wind Karate School in Berkeley, Calif.

Mark was deeply creative with a penchant for remodeling and building homes and gardens. In the 1990s, the couple purchased a 13-acre property in Lovall Valley, above the town of Sonoma, building an authentic Palladian villa, designed by Mark and based on their many trips to Italy. For 17 years, the two worked tirelessly on weekends, planting a sweeping Italianate garden with fieldstone terraces. The magical estate became a popular gathering place for family and friends.

In 2013, the couple relocated to Santa Rosa, where they soon undertook a new project, creating a new garden space, replete with outdoor garden rooms, inspired by their volunteer work as volunteers each year in the iconic Sissinghurst Castle Gardens in Kent, England.

He is survived by his wife: Alison Head of Santa Rosa; two siblings, Jeffrey Pollock, Valencia, and Jill Pollock, Pueblo, Colorado; and his beloved rescue dog, Daisy. A private family gathering will be held at a later date. Donations in his memory may be made to your Humane Society.

Published in the Napa Valley Register, June 24, 2021

-----------------------------------------

Mark S. Pollock

Partner - mpollock@pollockandjames.com

Admitted:

 - 1978, California

Law School:

- University of La Verne, J.D., 1977

College:

 - San Francisco State University, B.A., History, 1971

Biography:

 - Recipient:

 - Amjur Award, 1977

 - Corpus Juris Secundum Award, 1976

 - Member, University of San Fernando Valley Law Review, 1976

 - Chairman, Environmental Prosecutors, Consumer Environmental Council, California District Attorney’s

 Association, 1985-1989

 - Technical Advisor, California District Attorney’s Association, 1987-1989

 - District Attorney Representative, Western States Hazardous Waste Project, 1986-1993

- Senior Deputy District Attorney, Solano County Attorney’s Office, 1987-1993

 - Deputy District Attorney, Napa County District Attorney’s Office, 1983-1987

- Private Practice and Litigation Counsel, 1978-1983 and 1993-Current

Languages:

 - English and Italian

ISLN:

 - 911609705

Sunday, June 20, 2021

Robert Charles Katzman, BHS 1972

Robert Charles Katzman, BHS 1972

Published in the Los Angeles Times, Wednesday, July 20, 1994

KATZMAN,
Robert C. one of the longest surviving and publicized recipients of historic cure for diabetes, a kidney-pancreas transplant; awarded most dedicated school volunteer in post-operative of life; former Regional Office of A.Z.A. and member of Mayonnaise Boys Band; died from complications of extended illness.

Survived by mother, grandmother, 4 brothers, nieces, friends, step-sons, and many elementary school children.

Services Wednesday, 1pm at Mount Sinai Memorial Park Chapel, Mount Sinai Mortuary.

------------------------------------------------

Transplant Recipient’s Work at School Is Best Medicine

Los Angeles Times, By Jeff Schnaufer, April 2, 1993 

Double-transplant recipient Robert Katzman takes 15 medications a day, but none put more zest in his life than the children at Burbank Boulevard Elementary School in North Hollywood.

Katzman, 38, has devoted the last year to enriching the lives of students, whom he credits with saving him from a lonely, depressing death.

“I sat at home,” Katzman said Thursday of the years after his 1987 simultaneous kidney/pancreas transplant. “I gave up my life almost. I was a vegetable.”

Last year Katzman’s family prodded him into volunteering one day a week at the school. It turned him, and the school, around.

Now he spends five days a week, six hours a day, creating extracurricular programs and other activities that teachers say have helped motivate their students to learn.

“He brought in the actual script from ‘The Wonder Years,’ ” said sixth-grade teacher Thomasenia Ford. “The students did it as a radio play. I had several students who had problems reading the school texts. They really got interested in reading after that.”

Principal Sharon Greene said Katzman’s efforts have also benefited teachers whose morale has been shattered by budget and pay cuts.

“It has been so positive,” Greene said. “Robert has brought to this school a quality we haven’t had in a long time in the Los Angeles Unified School District.”

So high is the school’s regard for Katzman that school officials have nominated him for this year’s Apple Award, which is bestowed on the city’s volunteer of the year.

But Katzman shies away from such praise.

“I’m the background guy,” he said. “The kids are the ones who keep the programs going. I’m always worried I will wake up one morning and have a rejection of the transplant. I don’t want this to end.”

Even Katzman’s doctor has seen a change in his client.

“He used to be a difficult person before,” said Dr. Sohan Dua. “He used to be in the hospital every month. It has become quite a turnaround. There’s obviously more to care than just medicine and hospitals.”


Friday, June 18, 2021

David H. Menashe, BHS 1938

David H. Menashe, BHS 1938, 

September 17, 1921 - September 25, 2014

David H. Menashe, Founder of Fundline, passed away on September 25th due to complications of congestive heart failure. He was 93.

Husband of Marian H. Sigal (1944-1966) and Sydelle Z. Gewant (1967-2011), he was born in New York City in 1921 to immigrant Jewish parents from Istanbul, Turkey. After living in Brooklyn and Astoria, the family moved to Los Angeles in 1931 for his father's health and prospects for employment during the depression. The family bought a house and created a chicken farm in Burbank. He lived there and worked with his father, graduating from Burbank High School  in 1938. He worked for the U.S. Post Office, after which he joined the Air Force, earning the rant of 1st Lieutenant navigator bombardier serving in WW2.

After returning to Burbank to live with his parents and his wife Marian and son Howard, David bought a 1 acre plot in Sepulveda and built a chicken farm and home in 1948.He then moved to Moorpark, creating a larger ranch in 1953 with his brother Abraham. He eventually moved with his cherished wife Marian and their 3 children to Ventura where they resided until Marian's death in 1966.

In 1967 he remarried. He and his devoted wife Sydelle established a blended family with their home on Cass Avenue in Woodland Hills. Their home became the heart and soul of the entire family.

Ultimately, David proceeded to pour hid boundless energies into his greastest passion; the stock market which had fascinated him since his youth. He became a leader in the investment business, creating and sustaining a nationally recognized advisory service, Fundline, as well as managing individual portfolios until his retirement in 2010.

He lived with his wife Sydelle until her death in 2011. He keen intellect and curiosity remained until the end,

He was our beloved patriarch and is survived by sons, Howard, Jay, daughter, Diane, stepdaughters, Susan, Carole and Donna, son-in-law's, Frank, Steve and Bill, grandchildren, Adam(Jen), Mandy (Justin), William (Ani), Leo, Paul, Jason, Lisa, Issac (Becca), Daniel and Alexandra, great-grandchildren, Natalia, Sophia, Reed, Autumn, Maya and Ezra; brother, Abraham and sister, Esther.

Our family expresses our heartfelt thanks to his many caregivers with special gratitude to Khine, Blanca and Orayne.

Services will be held at Mount Sinai, Hollywood Hills on Tuesday, September 30th at 12:30 p.m. In lieu of flowere, donations can be made to the American Heart Association.

He has left this earth and is embraced by the universe.

Published in Los Angeles Times from Sep. 27 to Sep. 28, 2014



Tuesday, June 15, 2021

Eugene Frank Tautimes, BHS 1971

 Eugene Frank Tautimes, BHS 1971

OCTOBER 7, 1952 – FEBRUARY 28, 2021

Eugene Frank Tautimes was born on October 7, 1952 and passed away on February 28, 2021 and is under the care of Valley Funeral Home.

Funeral Service will be held on April 8, 2021 at 11:00 am at St. John Baptist De La Salle Parish, 16555 Chatsworth St., Granada Hills, CA. 

Committal Service will be held on April 8, 2021 at 1:00 pm at San Fernando Mission Cemetery, 11160 Stranwood Avenue, Mission Hills, CA.

Published by the Valley Funeral Home, Burbank, California

NOTE: Eugene was preceded in death by his father, Eugene Tautimes and his mother, Isabel Tresierras Tautimes; survived by sisters, Mary Jane Muro, Elizabeth Starr, Lydia Ruiz, Anita Joyner.







Sunday, June 13, 2021

Lois McVicar Forsyth Aasen, BHS 1932

Lois McVicar Forsyth Aasen, BHS 1932

Published in the Billings Gazette, Billings, Montana, January 1981

Lois "Butchie" Aasen

GLENDIVE -  Lois "Butchie" Aasen, 65, moved to Glendive in 1952 where she and her husband owned and operated the Glendive Flying Service. Following her husband's death in 1964, she continued to operate the service until 1968 when she married Darrell R. Aasen.

Mrs. Aasen and her husband owned and operated the Aasen Lake View Cabins in Fort Peck. Mr. Aasen died in 1978 and she died Wednesday January 14, 1981 in Powell, Wyoming.

Born in Burbank, California, she was a daughter of Duncan and Helen Forsyth. She graduated from Burbank High School in 1932 and in 1943 married Arthur W. Soare.

Survivors include two sons, Malcolm H. Soare of Powell and Duncan B. Soare of Glendive; her mother-in-law, Marie Soare of the family home; three sisters, Mrs. Jean Parker of Florida, Mrs. Marian Pitkin of Laguna Niguel, California and Mrs. Barbara Tone of Burbank, California; and four grandchildren.

Services will be 2 p.m. Saturday in Zion Lutheran Church. Burial will be in Dawson Memorial Park with Silvernale Mortuary in charge.


Friday, June 11, 2021

George Lee Brinkworth, BHS 1959

George Lee Brinkworth, BHS 1959

George Lee Brinkworth, outstanding student, talented athlete, musician, mineral and rock collector, and lover of gardening died May 30, 2021, at his home in Colorado. 

George was skilled at creating anything with his hands, from making jewelry to building with wood, and he was an avid hiker.

He was born in Burbank, one of three sons to George and Louise Brinkworth, and he and his brothers attended Burbank schools through high school. George graduated from BHS in 1959. George graduated with honors from Colorado School of Mines as a geophysical engineer, and his profession took him to many places in the world, which fostered a late-in-life interest in stamp collecting. 

George is greatly missed by his surviving family members: his wife, Beth Hiller (BHS 1958), son David (Lynell) of SD, daughter Alison Shasteen (Dave) and grandsons, Alex, Colin, and Nathan Shasteen of TX. George’s surviving brothers are his twin, Bill (BHS 1959), and his wife Terry of FL, and younger brother Bob (BHS 1962), and his wife Gail of MN. He also leaves cousins, nieces, and nephews.



Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Gloria Jean Hendrickson Schwindler, BHS 1958

Gloria Jean Hendrickson Schwindler, BHS 1958

1940 - 2021

 A loving wife, mother and sister - Gloria passed away peacefully at her home in Newhall on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 after a ten year battle with cancer. Her husband, John was at her side holding her while saying the Rosary when he passed her on to Our Lord.

Gloria was born in Crosby, Minnesota on July 30, 1940 to Daisy Jean and Edward Hendrickson. She was a toddler when they moved to the Los Angeles area. As a young lady she was student in residence at Villa Cabrini Academy in Burbank later graduating from Burbank High School.

Her working career included Denny's in Santa Clarita, then she was a medical receptionist and office manager in Encino for Dr. Weiner and then she was as an appointment agent for the medical firm SCOI (Southern California Orthopedic Institute).

Gloria was an avid pet lover to two Chow Chows, brother and sister, Teddy Bear and Lady Bear. . Her great love was for Teddy Bear (Lady Bear also). It was a mutual, beautiful relationship. Gloria referred to them as "Our Chowdren".

Gloria was a devout Catholic and a parishioner of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church where her children went to school. She was a proud member of the highly respected ladies group known as "The Tea Bags" who are active in social and fund raising activities for the church and local needy organizations. Gloria's favorite charity was St. Jude Hospital.

Gloria is survived by her Loving husband, John, her son, Mark King Riley and her daughter-in-law, Alexandra of Castaic. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Susan Maureen Riley, her three sisters, Violet, Jessie and Frannie as well as her good friends, Mary Becker and Betty Moeller and her within the last six months, her beloved Chow Chows.

The Rosary and services will be held on Saturday, June 5, 2021 at 10:00 AM at Our Lady Of Perpetual Health Catholic Church, 23223 Lyons Avenue, Newhall, CA 91321.

John and the family request that you keep Gloria in your prayers. Thank you…

Published in The Santa Clarita Valley Signal from May 21 to Jun. 18, 2021.

Monday, June 7, 2021

Phyllis Merle Swafford Vinson, BHS 1946

Phyllis Merle Swafford Vinson, BHS 1946

Published in the Los Angeles Times, October 28, 2004

Vinson, Phyllis Merle of Burbank, died Wednesday October 20, 2004. She was 77. Born in Topeka, Kansas in 1926, she moved to Burbank in 1944 and graduated from Burbank High School in 1946. She worked at St. Joseph Hospital as a nurse's aide for 24 years before retiring in 1990. 

She is survived by sons, Randy of Phoenix, Gary of Granada Hills, Thomas of Van Nuys, granddaughter, Victoria of Granada Hills and brother, James Swafford of Burbank. 

She was a caring woman and loving Mother and Grandmother who will be missed dearly. No services are planned.

Sunday, June 6, 2021

Colleen Elena O'Rell, BHS 1971

Colleen Elena O'Rell, BHS 1971

May 29, 1953 - Jan 29, 2014

Colleen Elena O'Rell. age 60, of Bellingham, Washington, foot care nurse and musician, died on January 29, 2014. A memorial service will be held May 29th at Zuanich Park, from 4 to 9 pm. Arrangements are pending with Moles-Ferndale.

Colleen left a sister Kathleen (O’Rell) Schaedler BHS 1968 and brother Brian O’Rell BHS 1973. 

Burial was in Enterprise Cemetery, Ferndale, Whatcom County, Washington. No other details at this time.


Saturday, June 5, 2021

Diane Joy Dauncey Das, BHS 1947

Diane Joy Dauncey Das, BHS 1947

Diane Joy Das, age 91, of Nooksack, passed away at the Hospice House on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019.


Diane was born on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, on Aug. 25, 1927. As a small child she moved with family to New York and then as a teenager to California. After graduating from high school, she was involved with singing and acting and knew many movie stars of her time. She married Fred Das on June 25, 1972. They moved to Lynden in 1994 after Fred retired.

Diane and Fred loved to travel and visited many countries, making friends along the way. Diane loved all animals, especially her cats. She loved to read, enjoyed her flowers and collecting objects from around the world.

Diane made friends everywhere she went and will always be remembered for her smile, caring ways, tea and cookies. Her joyful spirit will surely be missed. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Fred Das, and all her much-loved cats and dogs. She is survived by her dearest friend, Joe Norton and wife Marie; cousin Monte Dauncey and wife Moira; and a host of friends.  

Memorials may be made to the Whatcom Humane Society, 2172 Division St., Bellingham, WA 98226; or your favorite animal charity. “Diane was the most interesting and fun-loving person to all that knew her!”

The memorial for Diane will be at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 1, in Nooksack Christian Fellowship church, 201 Jackson St., Nooksack, in the fellowship hall. Her ashes will be interred in Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles.

Lynden Tribune, Lynden, Washington, Aug 28, 2019




Friday, June 4, 2021

JoAnn Louise Steele Roach, BHS 1955

JoAnn Louise Steele Roach, BHS 1955

Published in the Los Angeles Times, Sunday, December 6, 1998

JoAnn Louise Roach, cherished mother, sister and aunt, passed away November 17, 1998. Born July 26, 1937 in LaPorte, Indians, JoAnn was the eldest daughter of Jack and Louise Steele.

JoAnn was a 1955 graduate of Burbank High School and long-term resident of the Glendale/Burbank area. She was employed by General Electric for many years and was co-owner of All Metals Processing in Glendale since 1973.

JoAnn joined AA on April 18, 1980. She made many friends there and was dedicated to helping others whose lives had been adversely effected by alcohol. Through all the difficulties she faced, JoAnn maintained a sense of humor and an unwavering faith in God.

She will be missed by family and friends, including her son, Kenneth L. Barker and his fiancée, Donna Knudsen, both of Simi Valley, California; sister, Judy Sharpnak, of Washoe Valley, Nevada; and niece, Julie Levi of Oxnard, California, whom she was especially close.

Services were held November 22, 1998 in Burbank, California.

Thursday, June 3, 2021

Jack Estes, BHS 1952

Jack Estes, BHS 1952

Los Angeles Times, January 13, 1998

Jack Estes long time Burbank resident, passed away Friday, January 9, 1998 after a long illness. Born in Altadena, California on December 12, 1934, he moved to Burbank in 1940.

He is survived by his mother, Naomi Estes; wife of 43 years, Sally; sons, Ben and Don Estes; daughter, Shannon Donathan and seven grandchildren: Shelby Estes, Robin, Kevin and Matthew Estes, Michael, Gregory and Robert Donathan and his sister, Bernice Olson.

Raised in Burbank, he attended Burbank schools and graduated from Burbank High School in June, 1952 where he was an outstanding athlete. Jack worked for Accratronics Seals as a Purchasing Agent at the time of his illness.

Memorial services for Jack will be held at the Methodist Church in Burbank, 700 N. Glen Oaks, on Friday, January 16 at 1pm. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Alzheimer Association would be appreciated by Jack's family.