Tuesday, April 30, 2024

Steven Douglas Howland, BHS 1968

Steven Douglas Howland, BHS 1968

Goleta Today, Goleta, California, Friday, March 25, 1977

Victim of freak accident. Goleta man’s body found.

The body of a Goleta man was found early Thursday afternoon near the intersection of Ellwood Station Road at Calle Real, just off the freeway.

The man, identified as Steven Douglas Howland, 27, 148 San Marino, was found by some young children at 12:40 p.m., according to Tom Nelson, coroner’s investigator.

Howland, his brother and a friend had apparently been running from the Calle Real side of Highway 101 to the Hollister Ave side, Nelson explained at “around 1 a.m.”  “The boys said they “lost track of where he was,” and continued on to Fubar (a bar on Hollister Ave). They said they figured he went home.” 

Nelson described the victim as “tripping in the dark.” “He probably struck his head on a concrete culvert pipe,” said Larry Gillespie, chief deputy coroner. “He was not struck by an automobile.” Both Gillespie and Nelson said Howland had apparently jumped over the fence and fell.

When the victim’s brother and friend saw CHP cars and sheriff’s cars at the scene Thursday, they “came over and gave the information,” Nelson said.

Both spokesmen for the coroner said that the area of the freeway, from Ellwood Station at Calle Real to Ellwood Station at Hollister, seemed to be a “quite common route.” The fence near the scene of the death “was bent down and all messed up.” Both men labeled the death a “freak accident,” and stressed the path is a dangerous area for pedestrians.

Friday, April 26, 2024

Donald David MacLean, BHS 1964

Donald David MacLean, BHS 1964

Published in the Ventura County Star – Free Press, Ventura, California

Tuesday, June 30, 1992

Donald D. MacLean, 46, Camarillo, died Monday at home following a long illness. Mr. MacLean was born September 24, 1945, in Glendale, and was a 19-year county resident coming from Los Angeles.

He and his wife, Diane,owned and operated the Financial Plaza Shell Station in Oxnard for 15 years and currently owned and operated Boulevard Shell in Oxnard. He was a member of Buenaventura Church of Christ.

He is survived by wife Diane; father and step-mother, Harold and Ruth MacLean of Fullerton; brother Hugh MacLean of La Mesa; two sister-in-laws Karen Meehan of Bakersfield and KatherineVaughn of Baker, Oregon; neice, Jennifer Vaughn of San Jose; and nephew, Sean Meehan of Bakersfield.

Friends may call from noon until 8 p.m. Wednesday, at the Ted Mayr Funeral Home, Ventura. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, at the funeral home with Mr. Gallen Evans of the Buenaventura Church of Christ officiating. Burial will follow in Ivy Lawn Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wellness Community in Westlake Village, 5655 Lindero Canyon Road, Suite 104, Westlake Village, California, 91362.


Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Robert "Bob" Frank Erb, BHS 1962

Robert "Bob" Frank Erb

April 2, 1944 - February 4, 2023

Robert F. (Bob) Erb passed away in Chino Valley, Arizona, on Feb. 4, 2023. He was born in Glendale, California, on April 2, 1944 to Frank and Ruby Erb. 

Bob served in the United States Air Force from 1963 to 1967. He then worked as a sheet metal worker from 1971 to 1999. He and his wife, Elaine moved to Chino Valley in 1999 to enjoy their retirement. 

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Elaine and daughter Sandra Erb of Merced, California. 

Services are planned at Heritage Funeral Home in Chino Valley at 480 W Palomino Rd, Chino Valley, AZ 86323 at 11 a.m. Thursday Feb. 9, followed by Graveside Services at Chino Valley Cemetery.

Tuesday, April 23, 2024

Shirley Arlene Weiher Newstrom, BHS 1938

Shirley Arlene Weiher Newstrom, BHS 1938

August 30, 1920 - July 18, 1996

Published in the Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, Saturday, July 20, 1996

Lincoln City – Shirley Newstrom, 75, died Thursday. Born in Olwein, Iowa, she moved to the San Fernando Valley, California as a child and graduated from Burbank High School.

She was a property manager. She enjoyed dancing and Western history. Her husbands are deceased.

Survivors include her sons, Russell Bronson of Utah and John Pacheco of Arizona; daughters, Arlene Bellucci of Nevada and Karen Cabral of California; brother, Neil S. Weiher of California; 10 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 11:30 a.m. Thursday in Pierce Brothers Valhalla, North Hollywood, California. Interment will follow in Valhalla Cemetery. Arrangements are by Pacific View mortuary.   


Monday, April 15, 2024

Andrew Charles Campbell, Former BHS Teacher

Andrew Charles Campbell, Former BHS Teacher

June 15, 1952 - December 19, 2023 Andrew Campbell, playwright, cultural leader, world traveler and amazing friend, left us on December 19 after a valiant 18-month battle with ALS. His beloved family and friends will remember forever his legacy of kindness.

Andrew was born June 15, 1952 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Margaret and Alva Campbell. After graduating from the University of Minnesota, he acted on stage in Minnesota and Illinois, taught school in Northern California and spent a summer in Chicago before moving to Los Angeles where he earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Playwriting from UCLA. Following a career in corporate America, he transitioned into the nonprofit and government sector. He was the director of organizational development for ten years with the Los Angeles County Arts Commission before becoming the first full-time arts administrator for the City of West Hollywood, where he lived for more than 30 years. After thirteen years working for the City, he retired in March of 2020. He loved conducting walking tours of his neighborhood, pointing out architecture, public art, the homes of famous residents and regaling his listeners with historical tidbits.

In his embrace of the world, Andrew traveled to Canada, Central and South America, Europe and Morocco. He was especially fond of the Amalfi Coast. Biking with friends around Wolfgangsee in the Lake District of Austria, he led the group in selections from The Sound of Music: a line of single-file bikers, Andrew in the lead, straight back, traditional bikes, blue skies and adults acting like the Von Trapp children.

His plays ranged from the dark humor of The Last Day of Lottie Love to the tender romance of Zelda and Scott Fitzgerald in The Feast of Youth. A member of Playwrights Ink for more than 35 years, Andrew was the first person everyone asked to read their new book or a play, because he'd deliver kind, intelligent, constructive criticism that made success feel possible. He'd listen without judgment and cared in a way that made the air in the room breathable. As an artist, arts administrator and friend, he always created a safe place for artists.

Lest he appear too saintly, Andrew saved his most creative invective for hapless Los Angeles motorists. His imitations of pretentious or self-involved people were shocking in their hilarious accuracy. His family enjoyed his holiday visits to Phoenix, including feasts on the patio and treasure-hunting in the Melrose district for mid-century modern finds (especially lamps).

Andrew was predeceased by his parents, sister Arlene List, and his life partner, actor/writer/singer Donald Snell. He is survived by his sisters Margaret Mary Campbell and Joy Schumacher, brothers Rick Campbell (Nita) and Alvin Campbell, nephews Steve Campbell (Sue), Carey Schumacher (Cheri), David Campbell (Diane), Jeff Campbell (Beth), Aaron Campbell (Kelly), Jeremy Campbell (Nicole), Tanner Campbell and nieces Pam Wykoff (Jeff), Susan Cyr (Stephen), Jani Sage (Derek), Hollie Yeager (Mike) and Nicole Campbell. A celebration of life will be held at All Saints Episcopal Church in Beverly Hills on January 20 at 11 a.m. Gifts in memory of Andrew may be
made to Hospice of the Valley, Phoenix.

We can't imagine our lives without Andrew, but we know he'll live in our hearts for all time, reminding us to be kind to each other every day (except for "that %&*#@ in the Tesla!").

Published by Los Angeles Times on Dec. 23, 2023.

Wednesday, April 10, 2024

Donald Erwin Rowland, BHS 1959

Donald Erwin Rowland, BHS 1959

Don Rowland, a 7th generation Californian descended from Spanish explorers, Mountain Men and early Anglo pioneers, died December 20, 2022, at home with family by his side. 

The only child of Norman Joseph Rowland and Virginia Sprague Rowland, he was born in Los Angeles in 1942, graduated from Burbank High School in 1959 and the University of Redlands in 1963. While at U.of R., he joined Pi Chi fraternity and formed treasured lifetime friendships. He also met Jean Pearce Rowland, his wife of nearly 60 years. He graduated from UCLA School of Dentistry in 1973, moved his family to Camarillo in 1976 to join Anderson, Arstein, Good, and Rowland, now known as Rosewood Dental. 

Don enjoyed living in Camarillo for 46 years and was active in the community. He helped start and served as Director of the Cosmos Track club for many years while coaching his daughters. He also coached his son’s Roadrunners football team and CYBA baseball teams. Don often joked about flunking retirement when he returned to UCLA School of Dentistry to teach and also to travel extensively through-out the Southwest to research and write his book, John Rowland and William Workman, Southern California Pioneers of 1841. 

Don is survived by his wife, Jean and their children, Laura (Victor) Luna, Dawn (Steve) Maxwell, Wendy (Jim) Sparks and Daniel Rowland; grandchildren Samuel Luna, Jacob Sparks, Mackenzie Sparks, Joshua Rowland and Caleb Rowland. He was preceded in death by his eldest granddaughter, Sarah Luna, PhD. Donations can be made in Don’s memory to the Sarah Luna, EIS ’16 Memorial Scholarship Fund at give.cdcfoundation.org. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Published in Ventura County Star, January 18, 2023