Saturday, December 25, 2021

Don Sims, BHS '64 (1944-2021)

  Donald Eugene Sims 
July 18, 1945 - December 24, 2021

Sad email from sister Darlene Sims, BHS '69... 

Its with a Very Heavy Heart that my Brother Donald Sims BHS Class of 1964, Passed Away to Heaven Tonight. 

One of his many Proud Moments he Shared when Attending BHS was helping with Fellow Classmates to Assist the Burbank F D in the Fight of One of the Fires at the Verdugo Mountains. Don and other Classmates had Soles of their Shoes Burned Off. They had to leave the Fire Area before they Burned Their Feet! 

Darlene Sims 

RIP Don.

DECEMBER 29, 2021
We received a bit more info...
Don suffered a massive heart attack 2 weeks before Christmas and was revived but never really came out if it. He died the 24th at noon.
 

Friday, December 17, 2021

BHS 1981 Senior Photos

ADRAN

BARNETT
BRYANT
CHON
CUZZZORT
DVORSKY

GALLOWAY


GRIJALVA


HERNANDEZ

JOHNSON
KIM
LARA
LYNEIS
 
MILLER

NAKAMURA
PARRALES
RICKARD
SANTOS
SLATTERY
SWATTON
URRUTIA
 
WILLISON


Wednesday, December 15, 2021

Les Detweiler, BHS '64 (1947-2021)

 

Today we got word that Les Detweiler BHS '64 has passed away recently. Les had been ill and had a bone marrow transplant fairly recently. 

There will be a Memorial Service for him after the holidays... We have no other information at this time. 

Jon remembers being in Cub Scouts with Les when they were kids growing up in Burbank...Les was a really nice person and will certainly be missed by his Family and many Friends. Our condolences to his Family. 

Submitted by Pam and Jon Kirkwood BHS '64

 
UPDATE
Leslie Henry Detweiler

Les was born to Glen and Genevieve Detweiler on February 14, 1946. After graduating from Burbank High School in 1964, Les was married to Barbara Oddone 1972-1984 and he was living in Burbank California when he passed away on December 13, 2021.


Ron Bell, BHS '69 (1950-2021)

Carl and Marybeth sent Larry O'Brien this email to share... 

"I am sad to share with you the passing of my brother in law and classmate Ron Bell after a long battle with lung cancer. Ron served in the United States Navy prior to becoming a Burbank Firefighter in 1976. He rose through the ranks as a paramedic, engineer and eventually a Captain. Ron served 35 years with the city before retiring in 2011. He was an avid fisherman and loved the outdoors. There are no services pending at this time. Ron is the brother of Marybeth Costanzo (class of 71) and Gary Bell (class of 65). Rest in peace Ron." 

 

The Burbank Fire Department posted on Twitter yesterday the following notice and photos... 

"With great sadness, we announce the death of retired Captain Ron Bell who started with Burbank Fire in 1976. He was a Firefighter Paramedic until promoting to Captain in '96 and retiring in 2011. He loved his family, the traditions of the fire service, and the great outdoors." 

Link: https://nutter.life/BurbankFire/status/1470804921616252928#m

RIP Ron.

Monday, December 13, 2021

Jeanne Mackie Raudman, BHS '64 (1946-2018)

Email from Pam and Jon Kirkwood... 

We are sad to report that our Classmate Jeanne Mackie Raudman BHS '64 passed away on August 4, 2018 after being diagnosed with cancer in 2012. Please see pictures and write up about her life. Jeanne was a such a sweet girl and will be miss by all of her BHS Classmates, many Friends and Family. God Bless You, Jeanne. 

 






 FIND A GRAVE Link

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

BHS 1981 'IN MEMORIAM' LIST

 
Fallen Classmates from Class of '81


 

Maureen Steckel Gradvohl, BHS '72 and Ed Steckel, BHS '81 Passed Away November 28, 2021

Maureen Rose Steckel Gradvohl
January 26, 1954 - November 28, 2021
 
Maureen with husband Raoul Gradvohl (1938-2003). He was a 1957 Burroughs graduate.
 
 
 

 Edward Henry Steckel Jr
April 2, 1963 - November 28, 2021

Heartbreaking news... Heidi Steckel Davenport, BHS '73 posted this:
"Over Thanksgiving day weekend, I lost two siblings in a horrible tragic way. My sister Maureen Gradvohl class of 1972 and Edward Steckel class of 1981. I'm heartbroken."

Dave Steckel posted today on Facebook: 
"Our brother, Edward Steckel graduate of Burbank High School, class of 1981 exited our earthly plain this past November 28th. Ed was a father; leaving behind his two children, Max and Scarlett Steckel. A beloved son, brother, uncle as well friend to so many. God speed to you Eddie, you’ll be missed but do trust, within the heavenly realm of twilight you’ve found both peace & contentment while continuing your souls amazing work. Until we all meet again: “I’ll be looking at the moon, but I’ll be seeing you…” 🌙"

Please keep the family in your thoughts and prayers.
 
 
DECEMBER 11, 2021 UPDATE
Here is a news report...
 

 

LAPD Unravel Murder Cover-Up In Sylmar, Discover Backyard Grave 

By CBSLA Staff 
December 10, 2021 at 10:14 pm 
Filed Under:Double Murder, KCAL 9, Sylmar 
 
SYLMAR (CBSLA) — Marcel Gradvohl is accused of killing his uncle and burying him in a Sylmar backyard, then killing his mother and staging it as a suicide all to collect a life insurance settlement. 
 
The 38-year-old was almost in the clear until one officer looking at the man’s property noticed evidence of a freshly dug grave, Patrol officers were called to the home on Monday for a possible suicide after finding a 67-year-old woman hanging. According to officers, her injuries weren’t consistent with Gradvohl’s description of suicide. 
 
“The information and the story that was initially presented to the officers was not consistent with the injuries they observed at the crime scene,” said Dep. Chief Alan Hamilton. Officers then brought in homicide detectives to investigate, who located a possible grave in the backyard from a neighbor’s tip. 
 
“Prior to the staged suicide, our suspect had engaged in a confrontation with another family member, committed a murder and attempted to conceal the body by burying it in the backyard,” 
 
Hamilton said. Gradvohl was later arrested for the murder of his mother, Maureen, who police say was strangled. Detectives also say he shot and killed his uncle, 58-year-old Edward Steckel, and buried the body. 
 
Investigators say Gradvohl ended up confessing to the double murder. He is being held on $4 million bail. 

SOURCE: https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2021/12/10/sylmar-double-murder/ 

 

UPDATE

Man who killed uncle, staged mother’s suicide sentenced to life in prison
by: Travis Schlepp    
Posted: Apr 19, 2022     

A man who killed his mother and uncle in Sylmar and then attempted to stage his mother’s death to look like a suicide pleaded guilty to two counts of murder Monday.

Marcel Gradvohl, 38, was arrested in November 2021 for the deaths of his mother, Maureen Gradvohl, and his uncle, Edward Steckel.

The Los Angeles Police Department began investigating their deaths on Nov. 28, 2021, after Marcel had called them to report finding his mother’s body.

When police arrived at his mother’s home on the 12600 block of Amboy Avenue, they were greeted by Marcel who told police he found his mother hanging in the garage. Maureen was declared dead at the scene.

Homicide detectives began investigating and learned that Marcel had been spotted just a day before digging in the backyard of the property. Investigators later found Steckel’s body buried in the backyard.

During police questioning, Marcel admitted to killing his uncle during a dispute on Nov. 26, 2021. Later that same day he strangled his mother. The following day he buried his uncle in the backyard and the day after that he called police to report his mother’s suicide.

Gradvohl was then arrested and booked for their murders.

On Monday, he appeared in court where he pleaded guilty to two counts of first degree murder. He was sentenced to 25 years to life plus four years for the use of a handgun in his uncle’s death and 25 years to life plus one year for the use of a rope in his mother’s death.

The sentences will run consecutively meaning he will have to finish serving one sentence before he begins serving the next.

SOURCE: https://ktla.com/news/local-news/man-who-killed-uncle-staged-mothers-suicide-sentenced-to-life-in-prison/

Monday, December 6, 2021

Marlee Roy Andrews, BHS '57 (1939-2021

Marlee Marie Ray Andrews 
August 21, 1939 - November 6, 2021
 
The above photo was posted on Facebook today by Stacie Andrews Cross along with this note:
"My mom passed away last month.😞 
Marlee Roy Andrews BHS class of ‘57" 
 
Then I found this...
 
OBITUARY 

Marlee passed away on November 6, 2021. She was born on August 21, 1939. 

Marlee and her late husband Gordon resided in Burbank, California. They opened their first jewelry store, Andrews Jewelers, in Sylmar in 1972, and later opened a second location in Canyon Country. They were active members of their community, as were their pets. Anyone visiting either store would be greeted by Marlee's dog (always a German Shepard) and a parrot or two. After Gordon's passing, she continued on in the Jewelry business and eventually met and married "Papa Gene". Marlee's true passion was dog training, and she eventually closed the jewelry store to start Dogone-it Moble Dog Training and Pet Sitting. 

Marlee is survived by her dog Maxx, her three children, Sean, Stacie, and Kimberly, her son-in-law Tracy, her brother Walt and sister-in-law Helena, her sister Linda, six grandchildren and four great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Roger Harkness, Gordon Andrews, and "Papa Gene" Grooms, her brother Jack, and her grandson, Michael. 

A celebration of life will be held on November 16, 2021 from 4pm to 7pm at the Sierra Hills Racquet Club: 28616 Kenroy Avenue, Canyon Country 91387. If you would like, please bring a toy or treats for Maxx as he will be there celebrating with us. We know it would mean the world to her for him to be spoiled rotten in his time of grieving. 

 In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to: Westside German Shepherd Rescue of Los Angeles 3016 S Hill St, Los Angeles, Ca 90007 Phone (213) 493 – 4412 (or any German Shepherd rescue for that matter) Published by The Santa Clarita Valley Signal from Nov. 12 to Dec. 10, 2021. 

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/signalscv/name/marlee-andrews-obituary?id=31536236

RIP Marlee.