In Memory of 1968 Classmates

2008-10-01T08:39:00.000-07:00

We are trying to find as much information as possible about our classmates who have passed away. This memorial page is ongoing and your comments, corrections, and additions will be most welcome. If you can share information about our classmates' careers, news items, or survivors, please send remembrances to Kathy Au Crosier and we will post them.

I keep this list alphabetical to make it easier to find people.

ALEX BATTISTA

Born 4-19-49, died 12-3-94

Alex died in a traffic accident.

RICHARD BEDIGAN

Born 1-18-50, died 7-6-98

Rich was a John Burroughs science teacher and girls tennis coach whose career came under a cloud. Read newspaper article here. However, we have received word from Rich's sister, who sends this message: I am Rich’s sister Nanci and I saw your link for Rich regarding his death. I want to advise you that cocaine usage had nothing to do with Rich’s death. He was clean and sober and living an outdoor life in Mammoth Lakes where he so enjoyed fishing, hiking and rock collecting but unfortunately passed away from diabetes. Rich did not take care of himself as a diabetic should. Nanci Bedigan-Zemansky

DAWN BENNETT (Hoch)

(No picture available)

Born 10-7-50, died 9-18-94

Dawn died of esophageal cancer. She was married twice; her first husband died in a car accident. Her second husband is Mark Hoch; they had no children.

MIKE BLUMBERG

Died November 2006

RICHARD BREDESON

Born 5-7-50, died 8-13-76

MERRIT BURGESS

Born 7-14-1950, died 3-6-2008

Merrit died of a stroke. In 1968, he joined the United States Army and was deployed to Vietnam where he was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Merritt and Nancy were married in 1973. They had two children, Michelle and James. He retired from the United States Postal Service in 2004. In August 2007, he welcomed his "Little Angel", granddaughter Keira, into the world. Merritt loved to play softball, listen to country music, the Dallas Cowboys, and to watch the Angels beat the New York Yankees. Merritt is survived by his wife, Nancy; daughter, Michelle Stamp (Terry); son, James; granddaughter, Keira Stamp; mother, Peggy and step-father, Robert Brattensborg of Fargo, North Dakota; father-in-law, William Patterson. He was predeceased by his father, James Burgess and sister, Jean Burgess. He will be missed by many friends and relatives in North Dakota, Alabama, Massachusetts, Virginia and California. (From an obituary in the Los Angeles Daily News, 3-11-2008.)

You can read Linda Mustion's blog here.

CAROL BUSETH (Marn)

Born 7-20-1950, died 9-25-2002

Carol was last known to be living in Los Angeles, CA

MAX BYERS

Born 2-6-50, died 12-21-2005

Max died of cancer, according to his brother.
He was last known to be living in Moss Landing, California.

BOB CALVILLO

Born 1-21-1950, died 5-25-1991

CATHY CARLSON

Born 11-7-50, died 2-16-88

Cathy died of breast cancer.

VIRGINIA CASCIATO

Born 4-15-50, died 6-27-95

SUE CISSELL

Died 1992 of a possible aneurysm.

GLENDA CLARK

(No picture available)

Born 3-13-50, died 10-12-2003

LANCE CLENARD

Born 3-6-50, died 8-31-08

Read a tribute to Lance here.

ERNEST COBOS

Born 3-23-50, died 2-14-2000

Ernest died of multiple illnesses.
He was last known to be living in Van Nuys, California.

ROBERT COVERLY

Born 2-10-49, died 9-4-2000

Robert was last known to be living in Sherman Oaks, CA

Bob worked in medicine after graduating from BHS. He became an inhalation therapist inspired by caring for his grandmother's emphysema. His passion was dog-sledding and he moved up to Oregon for a number of years to train and race his dog team. I believe his passion for sledding contributed to the break-up of his marriage. He was a type 1 diabetic and diabetes ultimately ended his life. (From Larry Marak)

RON DANDY

Born 10-14-51, Died 2-13-2010

Ron died after a very long battle with cancer. and was a close friend

of Jim Ranshaw, in fact the two were roommates in college. Ron was survived by his wife Linda of almost 37 years. He had 3 children and 4 grandchildren, with 4 more on the way. His younger brother, Bruce, lives in Oxnard.

DIANA DEANGELIS

Born 4-17-50, died 8-23-2001

Diana was last known to be living in Jefferson, OR

PATTI DOBSON

Died 1-17-2009

Patti died of cancer in Henderson, NV.

RANDY DURHAM

Born 3-23-1949; died 7-11-2010

Read Linda Mustion's blog post here.

RICH FRANCO

Born 3-12-48, died 1-17-06

Rich died of cancer.

MIKE FULGHAM

Born 4-30-50, died 4-12-99

Mike died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

He was last known to be living in Pasadena, CA

MARTHA GARRETT (Stewart)

Born 5-29-50, died 9-5-02

Martha died of breast cancer.

CHRISTINE GATES (McShane)

died 5-13-09 at age 59 in Frazier Park, near Bakersfield, CA

According to Sallie Shelton Thomas, Chris had breathing problems. She had been extremely overweight, but lost over 100 lbs. Sallie was in elementary school and Girls Scouts with Chris

and became reacquainted at the Burbank United Methodist Church where Chris was Education Director and a member for many years. She was a wonderful, loving woman,

married with two grown daughters.

MARK GROGAN

Born 10-15-1950, Died 12-19-2009

Mark died of cancer at the age of 59 and spent most of his life in Burbank where he was active with the Burbank Family YMCA. He was a realtor with Century 21 Ditton Realty, specializing in selling properties in the high country, where he loved riding his Harley through the mountains.

JACKIE HANDLEY

Born 4-21-50, died 6-21-06

Jackie died of cancer.

DUANE HERAUF

Born 12-29-49, died 2-28-72

Duane died of a heart attack.

SHERI HICKS (Higley)

Born 3-22-50, died 10-2-99

Sheri died from complications of knee surgery.

KAY HOADLEY

Born 11-7-50, died 10-31-2004

Kay suffered from lupus for many years. During her last few years of life she was diagnosed with melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer. Because of her lupus, the doctors didn’t really know how to treat the cancer, which rapidly spread to her lungs. She underwent experimental treatment at the Norris Cancer Center as a last resort. This treatment was not successful and Kay died a week before her 54th birthday. Kay was a special education teacher in the Burbank schools. I believe one of her last teaching jobs was at John Burroughs High School. When she was forced to retire early because of the lupus, she volunteered at the Burbank Temporary Aid Center. Kay and I knew each other from the time we were 1 years old. She’s now been gone for almost 4 years. I miss her very much. (sent in by Laurie Eisenberg)

EVAN HOWELL

Born 12-6-49, died 3-6-96.

STEVE HOWLAND

Born 2-17-50, died 3-24-77
Steve was an avid surfer who, while checking out the surf one night, tragically tripped over a storm drain and broke his neck. (This information from Cathy Nicholls Coyle, Class of '67,

whose sister-in-law, Peggy Coyle Walker, Class of '70, was once married to Ken Howland, Steve's older brother.)

SCOTT IGGULDEN

Born 3-22-1950, died 11-10-69

Killed in Vietnam

Scott was wounded while on a night sniper patrol

near Duc Pho, Vietnam and died the next day.

BOB KELSEY

Born, 8-22-50, died 4-22-2000.

Bob died in a plane crash near Acton, CA.

Read Linda Mustion's blog here.

EDITH KUBIAK

Born 6-30-50, died 8-20-2007

KRISTINA KUBIAK Teteris

Born 6-30-50, died 1-20-2009

Edith and Kristina were twin sisters.

SEAN LARGEY

Died 10-10-2010 of pancreatic cancer

RAYMOND LEWIS

Born 10-22-50, died 12-24-05

Ramey died of liver cancer.

JULIE ANN LIVINGSTON (Vergon)

Born 11-16-49, died 10-26-96

Julie died of brain cancer. She was last known to be living in Glendale, CA.

FRANK MARTINS

Born 1-18-49, died 3-7-07

Frank died of a heart attack.

JIM MORRIS

LINDA MOSS

Born 11-19-50, died 7-28-88

THERESA MOSS (Piper)

Born 11-7-49

BOB NORTHROP

Born 5-16-49

Bob died of cancer.

DENNIS PATTERSON

Born 11-16-49, died 12-25-91

Dennis took his own life.

BARBARA PETERSON

Born 7-31-49, died 11-10-94

Barbara was in the Class of 1967 but due to health issues she graduated with the class of 1968. According to her mother in San Marcos, Barbara passed away at home in Burbank. She suffered with muscular dystrophy most of her life, and three years before her death, she had a debilitating stroke. She moved back home with her parents in Burbank, and from then on until her death, they lovingly cared for Barbara themselves in her home. Her death was due to complications of the muscular dystrophy, the stroke, and finally pneumonia. During the years that Barbara was on her own, she worked for "Joni and Friends," the Christian ministry of Joni Eareckson Tada.

NANCY PIERCE

Born 3-13-49, died 3-13-96

Nancy died of leukemia. She was last known to be
living in Wheat Ridge, CO.

STEVE POTTER

Died 2004

Steve died of cancer.

PATRICK A. REYNISH

Born 2-10-50, Died 4-27-2011 of cancer in Valencia, CA

Pat served in the Air National Guard during the Vietnam War, graduated from Cal State Northridge with a B.S. in Accounting and became a CPA. For over 35 years he worked in the aerospace industry. His greatest joy was watching his son Kyle play soccer for the past 22 years. Pat is survived by his wife, Donna, his son Kyle, his brother Tom and nephews Tony and Scott. A memorial service was held on May 11, 2011. Donations may be made to Make A Wish at www.makeawish.com

JIM RILEY

Born 3-3-49, died 1-6-2001.

GARY RIZZO

Born 11-29-50, died 3-31-07

Update as of 5/27/2010 from Joe Rizzo, I am Gary Rizzo's eldest son. I found a picture of him on your website. That's really great of you to do that. I just wanted to correct some information you had on there about his cause of death; He died of heart complications due to his diabetes.

He was last known to be living in West Hills, CA.

Read Linda Mustion's blog here.

ED RUBALCAVA

Born 7-29-49, died 8-4-07

Ed suffered from diabetes and had just been fitted for a new leg after a diabetes-related leg amputation. He suddenly had a stroke and passed away about a week later without regaining consciousness. Kenda Vaughan writes: It is sobering how many of our grads have passed on. I was curious to read about Eddie Rubalcava because he and I went to grade school and on up together. He and I went to Thomas Jefferson Elementary in Burbank.

PAM SCHULTZ

Born 3-31-50, died 3-11-97

Pam was a victim of a homicide.

JANIS SHOVALD (Helquist)

Born 3-25-50, died 3-29-07

Janis died of brain cancer. She was last known
to be living in Burbank, CA. Her obituary published
in the Los Angeles Times on 4-11-2007 says she
had a year-and-a-half battle with cancer.

GORDON STRICKER

Born 9-22-49, died 4-20-94

Gordon died of liver disease.

DIANE SWARTZMAN

Born 9-9-49, died 11-10-95

BILL TIDEBACK

Born 5-2-50, died 4-13-08

Bill died of pneumonia.

Read classmates' tributes to Bill here.

CHUCK VIGNALE

Born 9-2-50, died 5-5-06

Chuck died of a brain tumor.

CLIFF WINTERS

Born 8-15-49, 7-22-96

PEGGY WOODBURN (Sage)

Born 7-29-50, died 6-22-89

Peggy was last known to be living in San Mateo, CA

BARBARA YANCHE

Born 6-18-50, died 9-10-85

Barbara died of an aneurysm.

BOB YODER

Born 10-1-50, died 9-10-85

Bob died of a heart attack.

LAURA ZISKIN

1950-2011

Laura died after a seven-year battle with breast cancer

in her home of Santa Monica, CA, at age 61.

Laura Ziskin was a trailblazer among femme film producers and a forceful advocate for health and environmental issues. Ziskin fought a seven-year battle with the disease, yet remained one of the biz's busiest producers and a champion of causes close to her heart, including Stand Up 2 Cancer, the non-profit org she helped launch in 2008. The org wrangled dozens of stars to participate in telethons in 2008 and 2010 that ran across multiple networks and generated $180 million in donations for cancer research. Earlier this year, she was honored by the Producers Guild of America with its Visionary Award. She earned the PGA's David O. Selznick life achievement kudo in 2005. On the big screen, Ziskin steered one of the most successful film franchises in B.O. history as the producer of Sony Pictures' "Spider-Man" series. The first three pics in the series that began in 2002 broke B.O. records around the globe, with "Spider-Man 3" ranking as the highest-grossing pic in the history of Sony Pictures. The fourth installment, a reboot with a new cast, wrapped production last month. Ziskin was working on "Spider-Man 2" in 2004 when she was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer, which had been overlooked by mammograms. "I was a lucky girl: Nothing bad ever happened to me, and then it did," Ziskin told Variety in January. Friends and colleagues admired her determination not to let the illness slow her down. Along with contemporaries that included the late Dawn Steel and Sherry Lansing, Ziskin was part of a generation of showbiz women who braved gender bias to rise to prominence as execs and producers in the 1980s and 1990s. During her long career, Ziskinsegued easily between roles as an exec and as a producer. She produced or exec produced such notable pics as "Pretty Woman," "What About Bob?," "Hero," "To Die For" and "As Good As it Gets." She exec produced the Oscarcast in 2002, marking the first time a solo femme took the reins of the live telecast, and again in 2007. In the mid-1980s, she partnered with Sally Field in the Fogwood Films banner, which yielded such pics as the 1985 James Garner starrer "Murphy's Romance." After graduating from USC's School of Cinematic Arts in 1973, Ziskin's earliest days in the biz included a stint working for producer Jon Peters and as a veep at Kings Road Prods. Ziskin was named prexy of 20th Century Fox's Fox 2000 division at its founding in 1994 through 2000. On her watch, the unit released such titles as "Courage Under Fire," "One Fine Day," "Inventing the Abbotts," "Soul Food," "Never Been Kissed," "Fight Club," and "The Thin Red Line." After leaving Fox 2000, she partnered with George Clooney to produce CBS' live telecast of the drama "Fail Safe." She teamed with helmer Norman Jewison for the 2001 HBO telepic "Dinner With Friends." Ziskin was active in numerous social and philanthropic initiatives, having served on the board of Americans for a Safe Future, the National Council of Jewish Women and Education First. Ziskin's survivors include her husband, Alvin, and daughter, Julia. A memorial is being planned. The family requests that donations be made to Stand Up 2 Cancer through the org's website standup2cancer.org.

IN LOVING MEMORY

In Memory of 1968 Classmates