Ronald Phillip Franzen, BHS 1966

Ronald Phillip Franzen, BHS 1966

Ron Franzen, was born in Van Nuys, California along with his twin sister Connie in 1948. In 1956, the family moved to Burbank as his father Roy Franzen became postmaster general for the City of Burbank. Ron attended Burbank public schools and received a varsity letter for football in 1966.

After high school, he joined the United States Army and went to Vietnam, after which he returned and joined the Santa Monica police Department, where he served for thirty years as a police officer and a detective. He was married to his wife Lynda for twenty seven years and resided in Westlake Village until his passing on October 19, 2022. He is survived by his sisters, Sunny ’60, Connie “66, and Sally ’76. 

From Cathy Palmer “67 for Senior Bulldogs Newsletter.

Robert Vanderweg, BHS 1955

Robert Vanderweg, BHS 1955

The Fresno Bee, Sunday, September 19, 1999

Robert “Bob” Vanderweg passed away on September 16, 1999, at the age of 61. Bob was born in Plainfield, New Jersey, on November 22, 1937, and has lived in Fresno for the past 27 years. Bob served in the United States Marine Corp., and is a graduate of California State University, Fresno. He enjoyed weightlifting, racquetball, sports events, windsurfing, and being with family and friends. Bob was a jokester, always good for a laugh. He was a Marketing Manager at Derrel’s Mini Storage for the past 12 years, where he has met many wonderful people. He really cherished the relationships with the people he worked with.

Bob is survived by his wife of 30 years, Susan Vanderweg; his daughter, Tracy Johnson; son-in-law, Gene Johnson; his mother, Barbara Vanderweg; mother-in-law, Barbara Ferguson; sister, Rita Brooks; his sister-in-law, Karen Knapp; his niece, Lindsey Souza, two grandchildren, other nieces and nephews and his loyal Great Dane, Brewzer.

The family would like to thank Doctors, Nurses, Medical Staff and friends who played a role in Bob’s battle with kidney disease and meningitis. Visitation will be held at the Chapel of the Light on Monday and Tuesday, September 20 and 21, 1999, at 10:00 A. M. to 5:00 P. M.

Funeral Services will be held at the Chapel of the Light on Wednesday, September 22, 1999, at 10:00 A. M. Remembrances may be made to the Kidney Foundation or charity of your choice.

 

Maynard Michael Parker, BHS 1958

Maynard Michael Parker, BHS 1958

The Tampa Times, Tampa, Florida, Tuesday, October 22, 1998

Maynard Parker, who as editor of Newsweek helped transform the weekly newsmagazine from a digest of foreign and political events into a publication that put greater emphasis on science, religion, social issues and technology, died Friday October 16, at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan, New York. He was 58.

Parker, who had been suffering from leukemia for the past year, died of complications from pneumonia, said Richard Smith, the chairman and editor in chief of Newsweek. Parker re-entered the hospital in September after closing Newsweek’s cover story on the Starr report.

He was Newsweek’s editor for the last 16 years and helped to increase Newsweek’s total paid circulation and make the magazine more competitive with Time magazine. Time remains the bestselling weekly newsmagazine, but Newsweek narrowed the gap, creating real competition between the two publications. Newsweek’s circulation increased to 3.2 million in 1998 from 3 million when Parker took over as editor in 1982.

Maynard Michael Parker was born in Los Angeles on July 28, 1940. After graduating from Stanford University in 1962, he went on to Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism a year later, and started out as a reporter at Life magazine in 1963.

He moved to Newsweek in 1967, where he continued to cover Hong Kong and went on to become Saigon bureau chief. As bureau chief there and later in Hong Kong, he led Newsweek’s coverage of the Vietnam War.

He returned to the United States in 1973 to become managing editor of Newsweek International, a new global newsmagazine, and went on to be Newsweek’s national editor, assistant managing editor and then executive editor.

Sharon King Mortenson, BHS 1959

Sharon King Mortenson, BHS 1959

Sharon King Mortenson, died in Lehi, Utah on Thursday, October 6, 2022. Sharon was born on July 16, 1941, in Glendale, California to Carl Marcus and Virginia Bowen King. 

She received a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education at Brigham Young University, and taught third grade as a young adult. She was an accomplished vocal soloist, talented teacher, and gifted pianist for over 60 years. She toured Europe as the premier vocal soloist for the Brigham Young University Madrigal Singers. She sang the soprano solo for Handel’s Messiah with a full chorus and orchestra multiple times. In 1959, she was the lead role in the BHS production of the musical operetta “Rose-Marie.”

On June 6, 1964, Sharon married her eternal sweetheart, Jerry V. Mortenson. Together they raised 6 beautiful children and spent 58 wonderful years together. Sharon is survived by her husband, 5 children, 24 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren, as well as 4 of her 5 brothers. 

From Senior Bulldogs

Edward Thomas Case, BHS 1945

Edward Thomas Case, BHS 1945

Los Angeles Times, California, Sunday, September 2, 2007

Edward Thomas Case, 80, of Palm Desert, California passed away August 10, 2007 in Palm Dersert of a heart attack. Tom was born April 3, 1927 in Hollywood to Edward Case and Charlotte Ashurst. A graduate of Burbank High School. Tom served in the United

States Navy, before graduating from Woodbury College with an interior design degree. He later apprenticed as a make-up artist at Universal Studios, before embarking on a 50 year career in the film industry, specializing in women’s beauty make-up. Tom had a fantastic sense of humor and an infectious laugh, which brought joy to so many people. Famous for his practical jokes and witty comebacks, Tom was always the “life of the party.” He was a real people person and others just loved to be around him. He enjoyed life to its fullest and had the uncanny ability to make everyone feel important and special.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Elsie; sons Randy and Jeff; daughter Vicki; sisters Wanda Campbell and Linda Jordan; and grandchildren Matt, Kayla, Remy and Johnny.

At Tom’s request, no services are planned. The family suggests memorial donations be made to one of these charities: Motion Picture & Television Fund: P.O. Box 51150, L.A., CA 90051 or St. Jude Children’s Hospital: 501 St. Jude Pl, Memphis, TN 38105.

Dale Alan Criscione, BHS 1969

Dale Alan Criscione, BHS 1969

Los Angeles Times, Friday, June 26, 1987

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the United Cerebral Palsy Pre-nursey, 7630 Gloria Ave., Van Nuys, California, 91405. Services 3 p.m., Saturday, June 27, 1987 at Church of the Hills, Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills, California.