Charles (Chuck) Ray Colvin, BHS '70, Passed Away July 25, 2017

Very sad to read what Alan Landros just posted on Facebook...

For Burbank High Class of 1970 - Unexpected passing yesterday, July 25, of Charles Ray "Chuck" Colvin at age 65. He lived in Santa Clarita, CA, and had had some health problems the last several years. Chuck and his former wife had lived previously in La Crescenta for many years. He was the fourth of six siblings. The family lived at 1006 E. Palm in Burbank while growing up. Chuck had worked for Warner Bros. and 21st Century Fox. He is survived by his 94 year old mother, Marjorie Colvin (BHS '41), who lives in Orange County, and his five siblings, Gloria BHS '62, George BHS '65, David BHS '66, Nancy BHS '71, and Cindy BHS '75, and their families.

We send our deepest condolences to the Colvin family and pray for God's comfort and peace.

Mary Dugger Bernier, BHS '64 (1947-2017)

Just received...

I am so sorry to pass on this sad news. We lost Mary Dugger Bernier on Friday night.
She had battled cancer. Mary worked at AT&T for over 50 years.
She was loved by her family and by all who knew her.
She was a graduate of the Burbank High School Class of '64.
Such a sweet person...
You will be missed, Mary. God Bless You and your Family.

Submitted by Pam Zipfel Kirkwood and Jon Kirkwood, BHS '64


Mary Mozelle Dugger Bernier
Burbank, California
Jan 14, 1947 - Jul 7, 2017

Arrangements under the direction of Valley Funeral Home, Burbank, CA.
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/mary-bernier-obituary?pid=1000000186040518

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Susan Maureen Atzei Bonani, BHS '62, passed away in 2009

SUSAN MAUREEN (ATZEI) BONANI

Susan met her Savior and Lord on September 25, 2009, at the age of 65. She died unexpectedly in Hemet, California.

Susan was born in Rochester, New York, and her family later moved to Burbank, California. She married John Bonani in 1968 and had one daughter.

Susan had a heart for God and was a faithful follower of Christ. She was a proud graduate of Burbank High School, Pierce C.C. and Cal State Northridge. She loved travel, the outdoors, and spending time with family and friends. She loved her work as a teacher.

Susan is survived by daughter, Sandy (Max) Garcia; granddaughters, Gianna, Sophia, and Anabella of Aurora, Colorado; brothers, Doug and Tim Atzei; and step-father, Bob Christensen.

The Memorial service was private at Conejo Mountain Memorial Park in Camarillo.

Published in Los Angeles Daily News on Jan. 3, 2010
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/ladailynews/obituary.aspx?n=SUSAN-BONANI&pid=138102089

Mike Cobb, BHS '83, Passed Away at age 51

Michael Cobb

Douglas Christopher shared a link on Facebook regarding the sad passing of Mike Cobb.
http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/mike-cobb-rip_148179/



Mike Cobb, RIP
Channel Islands Sales Manager/All-Around Great Guy Loses Battle to Cancer
By Jake Howard
Published:July 3, 2017

“Mike was the man,” said Conner Coffin, who spent years with Cobb at Channel Islands. “He was one of those guys that always made sure the people around him were taken care of. It’s so heartbreaking; he had such a positive energy and he did so much good for other people.” Photo: Scott Winer

The surf world has lost another one of the good guys. Sadly, after a long, hard-fought battle against pancreatic cancer, Santa Barbara’s Mike Cobb has passed away. Remembered for his compassion, integrity and love of life, his place in the lineup will be greatly missed. He was only 51 years old.
The Sales Manager for Channel Islands Surfboards, Cobb was one of the lucky ones that found a way to blend a fulfilling career with his love for surfing.

“Mike was the man,” said Conner Coffin, who spent years with Cobb at Channel Islands. “He was one of those guys that always made sure the people around him were taken care of. He was just one of the nicest guys. It’s so heartbreaking; he had such a positive energy and he did so much good for other people.”

A regular in the water around Ventura and Santa Barbara, Cobb also made routine sojourns to Tavarua over the years, typically staying on the island during Dave Lester’s week in May.

“I was lucky enough to spend quite a few weeks with Mike on Tavarua over the years,” remembers Lester. “We became good friends. Mike was a great guy who took the time to get to know people. He really cared a lot about the Fijians on Tavarua. I spoke with Mike a few days before our trip this past May, unfortunately Mike could not join us this year, but he really wanted to come, not for the surf, but to see all of his Fijian friends. He loved the place and the people. That is just the way Mike was. Always a kind word for everyone. I am really going to miss him.”

As far as what kind of guy Cobb was, a telling post was made on his Facebook page shortly after his passing.

“He came up to me during a little surf trip on Tavarua in 2012 and said, ‘There is an unridden brand new Al Merrick 6’10” in my boardbag, I want you to go grab it, wax and ride it and have some fun at Cloudbreak,’ after he found out I didn't bring a shortboard and just two longboards on the trip,” writes Kieran Plim. “Who does that? Mick does. What also struck me most was that he had the time to chat and drink beer like a person I had known for 20 years, not to mention bringing out his secret collection of tequila as well one night. I know you are getting seriously barreled right now in the afterlife.”

Our thoughts and prayers are with Mike’s family and friends. Godspeed.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2017 UPDATE


Michael Adam Cobb


Obituary
Michael Adam Cobb transitioned from this earth on June 25, 2017, at the age of 52 surrounded by his loving family at home in Carpinteria.

Born and raised in Burbank, Cobb (or Cobber) began a lifelong love affair with sports, playing for the Vikings and riding motorcycles at the early age of 6. By his teenage years, skateboarding and surfing began to tickle his fancy but he continued to excel and went on to become a star quarterback at Burbank High School. Michael graduated with honors from the school of real life and worked his tail off.

After 20 years in the world of medical sales and management, his life turned a corner and he became the Sales Manager for Channel Islands Surfboards-a dream job where he used to say "work and play blur." Michael worked hard and played harder. Whether it was camping trips and riding motorcycles through the deserts of California with his dad and Uncle Duane or surf trips to Panama, Indonesia, Hawaii and his favorite, Fiji. Michael was an incredibly kind and generous soul. He always possessed the ability to turn a negative into a positive, and cared deeply about the environment and animals.

Michael left behind his beloved wife, Delia, cat Xena and a trio of chihuahuas. An awesome son to Russell Cobb and Donna Ushkow, and loving brother to Patrice Mock. Michael leaves behind nieces, nephews and countless friends from all corners of the world. Donations can be made to: Sea Shepherd Conservation Society; Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine; East Valley Animal Shelter; Santa Barbara Animal Rescue.

The family will hold private memorial services in California and New York.
Published in the Los Angeles Times from Sept. 1 to Sept. 9, 2017
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/latimes/obituary.aspx?pid=186540280

Tim Atzei, BHS '66, Passed Away Today

Sad news...

Doug Atzei posted this today on Facebook, "My brother, Tim Atzei lost his battle this morning with cancer. He was class of 66,"

Timothy Alan Atzei

June 22, 1947 - July 2, 2017

FIND A GRAVE Link

JULY 5, 2017 UPDATE
Received this note from Jim McGillis today...

I read with sorrow about the death of Tim Atzei.

I met Tim Atzei at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School in Burbank. I am lucky to have known Tim. When others were riding shoe-skates, nailed to a board, Tim had a scooter with ball bearing wheels and rubber tires… but without the joystick handle. I remember Tim flying down Scott Road, then making a turn up Irving Drive, all without brakes. Although there are no photos to prove it, Tim Atzei created “sidewalk surfing”.

Tim knew and hung out with seemingly everyone at BHS. He had a story about almost anyone from the BHS Class of ’66 that I could name. Always deferential to the feelings of others, Tim never had a bad word to say about any classmate.

In the 1960s, Burbank High had a thriving industrial arts curriculum. Tim Atzei had natural mechanical abilities and thrived in that environment. After graduation in 1966, he worked for Zero Manufacturing, in Burbank. When asked to demonstrate his abilities, Tim produced a set of tools. When asked where he had gotten such tools, Tim said that he had made them himself. Hearing that, the man excused himself, found the chief executive and both returned to review Tim’s work. On the spot, Tim received a job offer, starting work that day.

After a superior took credit for his work, Tim left Zero Manufacturing and soon started work at Menasco Manufacturing, in Burbank. There, when others balked, Tim was ready. He mounted a towering gantry and made a cut to the main shaft of a Boeing 737 aircraft landing gear. Making the cut on a first production piece, as Tim had, risked hundreds of thousands of dollars and the reputation of his company. By the time he climbed down, Tim Atzei had become an unsung hero of the Southern California aerospace industry.

Some people took Tim Atzei’s affable personality as being gullible. When a manager took credit for some of Tim’s work, he moved on, this time to a division of Hughes Aircraft. By then it was at the height of the space race and Hughes was involved in “space age” electronics. One contract required drilling a series of holes in a composite “blank” that was to become an electronic circuit board for the Apollo program.

In those days, it took a keen eye, mathematical skills and meticulous setup to make a part “to spec”. When no one could machine the required holes to less than one-ten-thousandth of an inch tolerance, Tim Atzei stepped up. Again, defying the impossible, Tim created a “zero tolerance” circuit board. Thinking that it was a fluke, his manager asked him to make another. Soon, Tim was cranking out zero tolerance circuit boards like a one-man assembly line.

Soon after his success in machining those parts, a helicopter landed at the plant. After landing, only one person exited the helicopter, making his way slowly into the manufacturing plant. The man wore a beard and had large-rimmed glasses. The following week, the same helicopter landed and a man with a hat and a cane came to visit. The following week, a man with bushy eyebrows and a wig exited the helicopter. Each time, the man inspected Tim’s work, said nothing to him and then departed. Despite the elaborate disguises, Tim deduced that the stranger was Howard Hughes.

Soon, there were layoffs throughout Tim’s department. One by one, the department shrank from twenty-five machinists to only a few. When Tim found himself alone in the department, he knew that he was next to go. Not wanting to face the ignominy of being the last to depart, Tim approached his supervisor, asking him what had happened to all of his coworkers. His supervisor told him that since Tim was doing the work of 25 people, they let the other 24 go.

That marked the end of Tim Atzei’s time at Hughes. In the latter part of his career, Tim served as a mentor, teacher, trainer in several other aerospace companies. He also stayed in touch with old friends, from Burbank schools, his work career and his community. Over the past several years, Tim and I got together by telephone. His intellect, sincerity and good nature always came through. Most of his stories were about good times and happy days in Burbank, California.

On October 16, 2016, I last saw Tim Atzei. We met that night at the Castaway Restaurant in Burbank. The occasion was the Burbank High School Class of 1966 50th Reunion. At the time, Tim was not well, but as always, he was in good spirits. All of us who knew Tim Atzei shall miss him dearly.

Best Regards,

Jim McGillis

URL: http://jamesmcgillis.com
Email: jim@jamesmcgillis.com
Phone: +1 (805) 242-MOAB

JULY 15, 2017 UPDATE
Photo of Tim (on the left) with his younger brother, Doug which Doug posted on Facebook