Larry Purser, BHS '65 (1947-2020)

Larry Gene Purser
February 22, 1947 - May 28, 2020

Today we received the sad notice of the passing of Larry Purser, BHS Class 1965. He died of pneumonia (not Covid 19) on May 28, 2020.

This message came from Janis Miller who is friends with his sisters, Carolyn and Pat.

Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.

RIP Larry.


MAY 31, 2020 UPDATE
OBITUARY

Larry Gene Purser was born on February 11, 1947 and passed away on May 28, 2020 and is under the care of Valley Funeral Home. No public services scheduled at this time.

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/burbank-ca/larry-purser-9202376

Jodi Gable and the Beach Boys

FLASHBACK FRIDAY: The Beach Boys Burbank Connection

By Burbankia Mike On May 5, 2017
https://myburbank.com/flashback-friday-beach-boys-burbank-connection/

If you have ever listened to a Beach Boys Greatest Hits Record (yes I said Record) or you have heard this song on classic radio, you can’t forget the lively tune and the chorus “Be True to Your School…”!

All of this was brought about by Burbank High School Drill team member and super loyal student Jodi Gable. Here is her story as related in the book “The Blue and White Wave High” 2008 for the BHS Centennial…


Jodi Gable 1964

“As a child growing up in Burbank, Jodi Gable (Class of 1965) fondly remembers the grape arbors that filled the hillside above her house and describes her life as living in “a Norman Rockwell painting.” When Jodi was 13 she met the Beach Boys at an Olive Rec Center dance and was amazed at their sound. After talking with them they asked her to head up their fan club. After her parents met the Wilsons (parents of Brian, Dennis and Carl), Jodi began hanging out with the boys, who treated her like a sister, and building fan support.

“I loved BHS and couldn’t wait to get to school each day,” she recalls. “I called Dr. Leland, ‘Unc,’ and I had teachers who really seemed to care.” Jodi was an active member of the Drill Team, and her loyalty to BHS became the genesis of one of their hits. Jodi recalls, “Brian Wilson was a genius and could come up with lyrics on the spot.

We were eating chili fries one day at an A&W in Hawthorne and he penned, ‘Fun, Fun, Fun.’” Jodi was driving the guys crazy with her drill team stories and Wilson came up with “Be True to your School” (which coincidently contains part of “On Wisconsin,” Burbank’s fight song).

On her 16th birthday, the Beach Boys threw a party and performed in her back yard.

By the end of her junior year the band’s popularity meant greater demands on her time. Jodi left BHS and finished at Hollywood Professional School in order to work for the Beach Boys full time. At the time she was dating Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones and was in the middle of the exploding 1960’s music scene.

Eventually Jodi hired some of her classmates to join her staff and to help answer fan mail. She stayed with the band until she was twenty, and then went on to her own singing career.

Jodi resides in Oregon with her husband, but has stayed connected to her classmates and has always remained true to her school.”

When you hear this Fun song from the golden era of surf music just remember Jodi and Burbank High School.

(no hard feelings Burroughs J )

And just in case you have not heard this fine classic rock song here is a link! Or listen below. Enjoy, Crank it up!



A BIT MORE HERE...
http://bhsclass67.blogspot.com/2010/01/beach-boys-in-burbank.html

Burbank High School Commencement 2020

Mike Gannon, BHS '65 (1947-2020)

Michael Terrance Gannon
April 12, 1947 - March 28, 2020

Sadly, it has been confirmed that Mike Gannon, BHS 1965, was in a car accident on March 26, 2020, and died 2 days later.

He was greatly loved and will be greatly missed.

Mike was a Sound Director in Hollywood and here are a few photos from his Facebook page.

RIP Mike.


Mike working with John Wayne 


Mike on location with Bob Hope in Bejjing, China in 1979


Mike roller skating on the Wall of China






A FEW FACEBOOK COMMENTS

Julian Almaraz
RIP

Loanne Walker Ginchereaux
❤️🙏🏻

Kenneth Clark
RIP to my school friend with a great sense of humor!

Annette Dinolfo Bennett
❤️🙏🏼❤️for Casey , Karen and Jenny and his two grandsons Connor and Jared . RIP

Jetta Stire-Carrega
RIP

Barry Grueter
So sad 😞 sending healing thoughts and prayers to the family 🙏

Sharon Anderson McEntire
😢😢 RIP Mike you were a good friend of my brother Jim's and I have so many fond and funny memories of you!! 💖👍 You will be missed! 😢❤

Karen Madsen
RIP Mike. He was such a funny guy!!

Kathie Maybin
Mike was such a great guy RIP and condolences to your family

Carrie Diaz-Lathouwers
My condolences to all his family and friends. RIP.

Vicki Herrin Fields
Rest in Peace

Richard Clarke
Was close friends with Mike and Pat, great guy. RIP

Carol Forrand Tallakson
Comfort and peace to his family🙏🏻

Mary Boriso Jordan
Oh, no....so sorry to hear this...Really nice guy....Rest in peace, Mike. Love to his family and friends....🌹


Virginia Hamilton
RIP 🙏

Donna Luce Veatch Neitman
I remember Mike with Tom Veatch and Ronnie Ybarra, the three amigos! So sad to hear of his death! RIP Mike!

Peggy Melton Cyphers
So sorry to hear this.
RIP Mike

Paul Kinnaird
I can still remember when his mom Noreen gave birth to Mike... His family lived next door to my mom & dad for many years... RIP Mike...

Sue Basile
🙏🙏

Lovette Caples
RIP Mike.
Lovette Achen class of '59

Suzanne Lane Tondre
So sorry to hear about this. Rest In Peace.

Jeanette Alexander
God's blessings to family and friends#

Deanna Bergman
Sorry to hear that news. Sympathies to the family!

Susan Peña MacCaskey
So sorry -Condolences to his family and friends

Brenda Rossie-soto
My deepest condolence to all the family and friends 🙏

Nancy Fischer
RIP

Pat Purser Bushman
So sorry to hear this. My prayers and condolences to the family. Rest in peace.

Darlene Culotta
I remember him. Very sad. Sad that he lost his wife too. 😪😪😪

Gloria Carson Anderson
So sorry to hear about Mike. He was a really good friend of mine and Jims. We have a lot of fond memories. RIP Mike. ❤️ Condolences to his family. 🙏🙏

John Kile, BHS '79 (1961-2020)

John Bruce Kile
1961-2020

Lisa Ldsg posted this sad notice today, April 17, 2020, on Facebook:

My sweet friend, Jack, has finally transitioned from his body of pain, to the arms of his loving Heavenly Father. I will miss you like crazy, but I know we will meet up again one day. I love you my beautiful brother, Jack. Peace unto you until then.💖🤠
John Kile
Class of 1979

Veronica Ortiz, BHS '93, Passed Away April 11, 2020

Veronica Ortiz

Class of 1993. With the most incredible will to live and after the most valiant fight against MS, we lost our beloved Veronica Ortiz on April 11th. She had been diagnosed with MS when she was only 22. She fought for over 2 decades until she finally didn't have the strength to fight anymore. She was SO loved by her family, friends, spiritual leaders, medical team members and anyone else that came in contact with her. While we are extremely sad that she is gone, we are comforted that she is finally at rest in Heaven where she is whole, healthy and happy.
(Posted by Vickie Resor‎ on Facebook April 15, 2020)

PS Veronica's mother, Dina Arias Ortiz, was a 1964 BHS graduate and passed away last year:
http://burbankhighblog.blogspot.com/2020/03/dina-arias-ortiz-bhs-64-passed-away-in.html

Dina Arias Ortiz, BHS '64, Passed Away in 2019

Vickie Resor‎ posted the above photo and the following notice today, March 21, 2020, on Facebook:

Dina Ortiz (Arias). Class of 1964.

We recently found this image of our sister, who we lost nearly a year ago, in online yearbooks for BHS. I wonder if anyone who checks this page might remember her.

After BHS, Dina went on to Glendale Community College and became a dental assistant. She worked for Dr. Camphouse in Glendale until he retired an then for another dentist (or 2) whose names I don't recall.

She married and had 2 daughters, Vanessa Demaret and Veronica Ortiz and lived in the SF Valley all her life. One of the girls was diagnosed with MS in her early 20's and for nearly 2 decades our sister took care of her at home until we lost her on April 15th of 2019.

Dina was selfless as she was beautiful. She dedicated her life to her family and to Christ. As she was leaving this earth, she made it clear to us exactly where she was going and she was fearless. This was her parting gift to us - letting us know that she was going to a better place. Those of us left behind, can only hope we are worthy of the same place and will one day see her again.

If anyone on this board remembers Dina, we hope you will share your memories.

Ellen Hannah Gelbard Zell, BHS '70 (1952-2016)

ELLEN HANNAH GELBARD ZELL
March 10, 1952 ~ July 23, 2016

Ellen Gelbard passed away in 2016 at age 64. Sorry that we are just learning this now. Ellen attended Thomas Jefferson Elementary, John Muir Junior High, and Burbank High, graduating in 1970. The family lived on Eton Dr. while Ellen was in school in Burbank. Her sister, Susan Gelbard, was BHS '66, brother, Marty Gelbard, was BHS ‘68, and sister, Nancy Gelbard, was BHS ‘71. Their father, Dr. David Gelbard, was an M.D. in Burbank, and Marty Gelbard was also a Burbank M.D. as a Urologist, now retired.

Ellen and her husband, Joe Zell, attended the BHS ‘70 45th reunion in June 2015, just over a year before she passed away. They had lived in West Los Angeles for many years. In previous years Ellen had been employed at Rand Corporation in Santa Monica. Ellen is interred at Mount Sinai Memorial Park on Forest Lawn Dr. near Burbank.

Ellen Gelbard is survived by her husband, Joseph Zell; daughters, Rachel Zell Macht and Monica Zell Adler; granddaughter, Charlotte Rose Macht, born just before Ellen passed away; sisters, Susan Gelbard Fishman and Nancy Gelbard Kalb; and brother, Dr. Martin Gelbard.

The photo below is of Ellen’s memorial plaque where she is interred at Mount Sinai Memorial Park on Forest Lawn Dr. near Burbank.



The photo below of Ellen, daughter Rachel, and granddaughter Charlotte Rose was posted on Facebook on July 1, 2016, only 22 days before Ellen’s passing.



Alan Landros
March 4, 2020
With thanks to Rich Morrison, BHS ‘73, for research, and help with Ellen’s BHS senior picture

RIP Ellen.
Link to Find A Grave
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/184789736/ellen-hannah-zell