Walter Les Fields, BHS 1967

Walter Les Fields, BHS 1967

1949-2012

I received word of the passing of my fellow classmate, Walter Fields.

His sister, Sue (Fields) Templeton BHS '65, emailed a fellow classmate of mine saying that her brother Walter passed away on his 63rd Birthday, June 29th, 2012 from a brain tumor. Walter was born on June 29, 1949 in Los Angeles, California. Our last address for him was in Littlerock, California.

My prayers go out to the Fields Family.

John Anthony Skirius, BHS 1965

John Anthony Skirius, BHS 1965

John Anthony Skirius, 62, passed away on Thursday, November 18, 2010 at his home in Los Angeles, with his family at his side. John was born on April 2, 1948 to Anthony and Bernice Skirius in California. He pursued an education over the span of many years to earn his PHD, and was a professor of Spanish/American Literature at UCLA for over 30 years. He was fluent in English, Spanish, and Lithuanian and authored many scholarly books. He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Donna Jeanne Maiben Lamparter, BHS 1964

Donna Jeanne Maiben Lamparter, BHS 1964

August 14,1946 — June 15, 2012

Donna Lamparter died June 15, 2012, after a two-year fight with cancer. She touched the lives of many, teaching grades 1st through 12th. She is with the Lord now.

A celebration of Donna’s life will be private.


The Mountain Demcrat, June 22, 2012

Donald Louis "Don" Agrati aka Don Grady, BHS 1962

Donald Louis "Don" Agrati aka Don Grady, BHS 1962

Don Grady, ex-Mouseketeer and 'My Three Sons' star, dies at 68

Don Grady, who sang and danced as a Mouseketeer on "The Mickey Mouse Club," played son Robbie on the long-running family sitcom "My Three Sons," and later became a composer and songwriter, died Wednesday, June 27, 2012. He was 68. Grady died at his home in Thousand Oaks after a four-year battle with cancer, said his wife, Ginny.

A native of San Diego, Grady was born Don Agrati on June 8, 1944. His father, Lou, was in the Navy and later became a sausage maker. His mother, Mary, was a talent agent. The family moved to Lafayette in the Bay Area, where Grady developed a talent for music and dancing. He told the Contra Costa Times that he took clarinet and accordion lessons and later taught himself bass, guitar and the trumpet.

His musical talents landed him an audition with Walt Disney's "Mickey Mouse Club" when he was in middle school. He sang and danced on the show for several years but left for a part on "My Three Sons" when he was 16. Grady also appeared in other television shows of the era, including the "Rifleman" and "Wagon Train." Don graduated from Burbank High School in 1962.

He later began a new career as a composer and songwriter for television, theater and films."His passion was music," his wife, Ginny, said. "And it was because he played seven different musical instruments that he got onto the Mouseketeers show. TV was a sideline to all he ever wanted to do, which was play music."

Besides his wife of 26 years and his mother, Grady is survived by two children, Joey and Tessa, and a sister, Marilou Reichel. Another sister, actress Lani O’Grady, died of a drug overdose in 2001.



Burbank High School Yearbook 1962



Stephen Richard Poggione, BHS 1964

Stephen Richard Poggione, BHS 1964

West Hawaii Today (Kailua-Kona, HI) - July 14, 2009

Stephen Poggione

Stephen Richard Poggione, 62, of Waikoloa, died May 25, 2009 at his residence. Born Sept. 22, 1946, in Los Angeles, he was a carpenter and U.S. Army Vietnam veteran. Friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m. July 18 at Waikoloa Villas, 68-3840 Lua Kula Street, north swimming pool near building A, for a celebration of life. For more information, call 937-5897. He is survived by brother, Dan Poggione, of Reno, Nev.
Arrangements by Cremation Services of West Hawaii.

Konrad von Schneidau, BHS 1942

Konrad von Schneidau, BHS 1942

Konrad Schneidau went to be with his Lord March 22, 2011. He was born in Los Angeles on April 16, 1925. He leaves his wife, Grace, and his 3 sons: Victor Edward Schneidau, William Howard von Schneidau and Robert Alan von Schneidau. Daughters-in-law Jennifer von Schneidau and Ona McGary.

Grandchildren Zackary von Schneidau, Bryanna von Schneidau, Nichalous von Schneidau, Jenna von Schneidau, and Brittany von Schneidau.

In leiu of flowers, contributions to be sent to Caring Kids Cancer on behalf of Bryanna von Schneidau, 4250 Vienna Way, Marietta, GA 30062

Thousand Oaks Acorn, April 14, 2011

Doris Marie Olmstead Allen, BHS 1946

Doris Marie Olmstead Allen, BHS 1946

Doris Marie Allen, 83, passed away at St. Bernardine Medical Center in San Bernardino, CA, on Tuesday, January 24, 2012. Doris was born on January 31, 1928 in Flushing, New York. She was the youngest daughter of Laurance and Margaret Olmstead. Her sister's Jean and Alice preceded her in death. Doris graduated from Burbank High School in 1946, and soon after began working at the Studios in the mail room, and as a, go to gal, where she met her husband to be, Wilbern (Bernie) Allen. She had also worked in the manufacturing and printing businesses. After retiring to Yucaipa in 1975 she worked as a teacher's aide at Yucaipa Elementary.

Doris also belonged to the Yucaipa Historical Society, where she gave tours at the Oak Glen School House. In the early 1990's Doris and Bernie moved to Yucca Valley, where she volunteered at the Yucca Valley Senior Center. Bernie passed away in 1998, and not long after Doris moved back to Yucaipa, to reside in Sun Park II, where she met many friends helping out in the community's affairs.

Doris had three sons, Bruce who passed on as an infant and surviving sons, Will (Susan Allen) and David; stepdaughter, Kristi (Gary) Osga; grandchildren, Wendy (John) Laswell, Brooke Allen; step-grandson, Adam; great-grandchildren, Emily, Michael, Gregory, Max, Alex and Mathew. Beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and always a friend to all, we will miss Doris greatly. May you rest in peace. Services to be held in Yucaipa, CA. Arrangements entrusted to Weaver Mortuary.

Keiko Morimoto Hentell, BHS Principal

Keiko Morimoto Hentell, BHS Principal

Los Angeles Times (CA) - March 19, 2000

Keiko Hentell; Former Educator at Burbank, Van Nuys High Schools In '94, students protested her removal, saying she was being punished for encouraging diversity on campus.

Keiko Hentell, a former principal at Burbank High School who struggled to promote cultural diversity programs among students, died March 11, 2000 of complications related to cancer. She was 59.

After three years as principal, Hentell was removed by the Burbank Unified School District without explanation in 1994. The move sparked protests from students and human rights groups, who said she was being punished for encouraging ethnic clubs at the high school. Hentell, a Japanese American, sued the district in federal court, contending that she lost her job because of race and sex discrimination. She later settled the lawsuit by agreeing to resign without compensation.

A longtime educator, Hentell was born Keiko Morimoto in 1940. Her early childhood was spent in an internment camp that Japanese Americans were forced into during World War II. She later earned a bachelor's degree from UC Berkeley and a master's degree in educational administration from USC. "Keiko was well-loved by all of the students and most of the parents who came in contact with her," said Ted McConkey, a former Burbank councilman. "She was just a wonderful person, but she got a rotten deal in Burbank from the school board."

After leaving Burbank High, Hentell worked as an assistant principal at Van Nuys High School in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Controversy continued to dog her, however, and the district reassigned Hentell to Griffith Middle School in 1996, amid charges that she failed to act on complaints about a teacher accused of molesting female students.

Hentell traveled widely, visiting Singapore, India, Israel, France and Mexico, among other countries. She spent two years studying comparative literature in Tokyo, Japan. Most recently, she worked at the Achievement Council, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to ensure all students equal access to college.

Hentell is survived by her husband, Marc Hentell of Los Angeles; two sons, Philip and Erik, also of Los Angeles; a brother, Tak Morimoto of Pasadena; and a sister, June Sakaguchi of Fresno. A memorial service will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, 3300 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. Contributions in Hentell's memory may be made to the Keiko Morimoto Hentell Scholarship Fund, c/o the Achievement Council, 3460 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 420, Los Angeles, CA 90010.

Egbert Edwin "Ed" Sieckert, BHS 1932

Egbert Edwin "Ed" Sieckert, BHS 1932 
(1914 - 2011)



Ed Sieckert of Murphys, CA, passed away peacefully in Lodi, on September 17, 2011, at the age of 97. He was born in Rialto, CA, to Edwin and Marcia Sieckert on June 18, 1914. The family later moved to Burbank where Ed graduated from Burbank High School in 1932. After graduation he attended Los Angeles Trade Technical School where he majored in art and sign writing. On April 5,1941, Ed married Elsie Dort and they made their home in Burbank.

Ed joined the sign department at Lockheed Aircraft Company where he worked through the war years. After the war he co-founded Burbank Sign Company with partner Cliff Sundstrom. The business flourished and served numerous commercial firms in the Burbank/Glendale area for 15 years. Ed then left the partnership to work at Universal Studios and later Columbia, MGM, and Disney Studios until he retired in 1972.

Ed and Elsie then moved to the historic mining town of Murphys to enjoy the beautiful forest and the slower pace of life. In retirement he and Elsie enjoyed traveling in the U.S. and collecting, refinishing, and selling Victorian era antiques. Ed was also a member of the Philatelic Society and a stamp collector for over 75 years. In 1991, Ed and Elsie celebrated 50 years of marriage. Elsie passed away a month later. In 2009, Ed moved to Lodi to be closer to family and became a resident of Chancellor Place.


He was pre-deceased by his parents, his wife Elsie and his sisters Mary Sterling and Nancy Stapleton. He is survived by his only child Ed Sieckert (Kathy) of Lodi, grandson Scott Sieckert (Shannon) of San Mateo, granddaughter Erika Honsinger (Justin) of San Diego and 1 great-granddaughter Bridgette of San Mateo. He is also survived by a brother Harvey Sieckert of Lancaster, CA, and a brother Bob Sieckert of Boise, Idaho. He will be missed by all whom knew him. There will be no service at his request.


Published in Lodi News-Sentinel from September 24 to October 1, 2011

Dwayne Lee Fitzsimmons, BHS 1954

Dwayne Lee Fitzsimmons, BHS 1954

February 6, 1937 - May 10, 2012

Dwayne "Fitz" Fitzsimmons

Fitz passed away May 10, 2012 at St. Joseph's hospital after losing a battle with emphysema. Ftiz graduated from Burbank High and lived most of his adult life in Burbank. He worked as an Electrical Engineer for Cal Trans for 42 years and retired in 2001. After retirement, he became active at VFM, ship #8310 and ultimately was elected Captain of the Ship.

Fitz loved playing cards, whether it is Pinochle, Poker, and Hearts of Spades. Golf was an outdoor sport he enjoyed. He was a former President of the Chic-A-Shay Golf club. When it came to baseball, he was definitely an Angels fan. If they were losing, you could hear him holler miles away.

A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 am Friday, May 25 at St. Robert Bellarmine 133 N. Fifth St. "The Fitz Man" will be missed by many!