Judy Hale Jonas, Former BHS History Teacher Recently Passed Away (1944-2025)

Judy Hale Jonas

November 9, 1944 - October 18, 2025

Just received this sad note from Penny Jonas Barth, BHS '66...

My sister-in-law, Judy Hale Jonas, former BHS history teacher passed away Saturday, Oct 18 at her home in Scottsdale, AZ following a 2-yr battle with CA. She taught at BHS for about 15 years, from 1984 on. 

She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Jeff Jonas (BHS 1958), 4 children, all BHS alumni - Shani Ossmen; Jennifer Watkins (Mark); Mike (Jenni); Jason (Trina), 10 grandchildren, brothers Rick and Bryan Hale, sister-in-law Marianne Jonas Eastmond (Steve) BHS ‘63, Penny Jonas Barth BHS ‘66 and nearly 40 loving nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by an infant daughter, her parents, brother Nathan, and Jeff’s sister and brother-in-law, Carolyn (BHS ‘55) and John Harmer. 

Funeral services will be held the day before what would have been Judy’s 81st birthday, Saturday, November 8th, 10:00 AM at the Larkspur Chapel, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Messinger Pinnacle Scottsdale Mortuary coordinating.

A FEW FACEBOOK COMMENTS...

Eileen Galvin
Had Mrs. Jonas in JBHS. Enjoyed her class. May she rest in peace.

Martin Lillibridge
RIP Bulldog 🙏

Loanne Walker Ginchereaux
🙏

Patrick Peters
Rest easy Mrs J. Such an amazing teacher.

Jillian McDonald Kelly
Loved Mrs Jonas. So sorry to hear of her passing. Remember her daughter Shani too. God bless the family 💔🙏🏼

Tami Nugent
No way 😢😢😢💔

Brian Collins
I’m sorry to hear this. Jenny, if you see this I’m sorry for your loss. Your mom was always so nice to all of us. Prayers to you and your family.

Jeremy Gates
Yea she was very cool 😎 teacher 👩‍🏫

Julie Guttridge
What a beautiful woman ! Sad to loose another Bulldog . Condolences to her large family !

Deb Helsley Bush
Rest in peace 🙏🏻💙

Vicki Herrin Fields
Rest in Peace ⚘️

Jason Boehret
My favorite high school teacher. RIP. Sending positive vibes to her family.

Taylor Taylor
so so sad! Rip 🙏🏻❤️

Roger Goeringer
Sorry to hear, prayers with you Jeff—miss you guys!

Jennifer Kant
Exactly how I remember her 💕

Pamela Heinrich
So sorry to hear of her passing! 😢

Lori Diane Pietrantonio
Such a very sweet lady. Rest in eternity sweet Judy.

Cathy Bonano
She was a great teacher. May her memory be eternal.

Nora A. Chavez
🙏😪

Kimberly Rosen
So sorry to hear this. ❤️&🙏 to family and friends.

Elena Hubbell
I’m so so sorry. She not only was an amazing teacher but a good friend. God Bless🙏🙏🙏

Paula Mayhall
So sorry to hear of yet another loss

Kathy Mae Culbertson Longanecker
Condolences to her family

Betsey Nash
Penny Jonas Barth, I’m so sorry that Judy has died. Love to your brother and the rest of your family.

Scott Moen
One of my favs, sad to hear of her passing.

Norine Gledhill
A kind and beautiful woman

Joe D Hooven
Saddened........She was the Matriarch of one of Burbank's 'Greatest Families.'!!

Lisa Marlowe
Such a memorable teacher, prayers for the Jonas family❣️

Gregg Wietstock
❤️🙏❤️

Amanda Bushman Murphy
So sorry to hear this. She was the best.

Jason Fon Janota
Such a great teacher 🙏 RIP

Rayna Lo Verme
🙏

Karra Blackburn Merritt
May she rest in peace to Eternity 🌹

Tom Kaptain
Rest in peace!

Tina M Peters
Love ❤️ and prayers to the Jonas family. What an incredible teacher and mentor Ms Jonas was. Thank you for your guidance and goodness 🙏

Elsie Franchini-Estes
Such a beautiful person inside and out! Such sad news.

Sonia El
Awww she was so sweet . My condolences and prayers to the family ❤️🙏🏼

Jason Edwards
😢🤲🏽

Mario Padilla
Prayers go out got her family at this time.

Kevin Capper
No way Mrs Jonas😢😢 RIP

Donald Matthews
RIP, Ma’am 🥲

Anthony Morelli
Condolences to the Jonas family ❤️

Jeff Gabler
Great teacher. Thoughts and prayers to her family.

Heidi Spaethe Churnock
😔🙏🏻💔

Marisela De Obaldia
She was a great teacher and a big supporter of everyone. So sad.

Ivan Esquivel
Miss Judy 🙁

Joseph L Miconi
Ah man she was so cool

Michelle Lea
She was such a good teacher, RIP. My thoughts and prayers go out to her family.

Mr Paul Seymour, BHS Teacher (1929-2025)

 

 

Paul loved to go Surf Perch fishing

Paul Allen Seymour

October 5, 1929 -  April 21, 2025 

Born in Chicago IL to Charles Louis and Dahlia Watters Seymour 

Posted by Anna Mongelli Coauette on Facebook today May 4, 2025:

 

Mr. Paul Seymour passed away peacefully at his home in San Luis Obispo on April 21, at the age of 95 surrounded by his loving family. A dedicated educator, Paul taught Industrial Arts at Burbank High School from 1959 to 1985. He was deeply committed to his students’ futures, often helping them find employment and guiding them into meaningful careers. His impact extended far beyond the classroom, as he touched many lives with his kindness, mentorship, and unwavering support. Paul will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by all who knew him.

A FEW FACEBOOK COMMENTS

Jennifer Jo Morgan
Rest well Mr Seymour

Ronald Meyer
Paul Seymour was a fantastic teacher and always available to help his students. He stayed after school one day to help my straighten my bent motorcycle forks. I and hundreds of others have taken what we learned in his machine shop classes and used it throughout our careers. I own a lathe, a mill and other equipment and can make just about anything because of Mr. Seymour!

Christine Pepe Dorman
RIP

Richard Hernandez
Rest in peace, Paul thoughts and prayers go out to your loved ones

Tracey Kellstrom
RIP Mr. Seymour 🙏🏻

Karen Vitale
Rip🙏🏻

Greg Dybeck
Sorry to hear this. Great teacher, very nice man. Condolences to his family.

Steve Vlachos
Love mister seymour! Just an incredible human being! No one who took his class could ever forget him!!

Sue Basile
RIP🙏

Christina Vlachos-Peratsakis
He was a wonderful person and teacher. May he rest in peace.

John A. Edmondson
My mum and I were talking about Paul (and his family) just this morning. And then I come across this. What a strange coincidence. Rest in peace, my friend.

Dennis Guillies
Sorry to this. He was one of the nicer teachers. His son was in one of my classes with his dad, he did favor him at all. But overall was an enjoyable class to go to. Condolences to all of the family.

Kathleen James
Sorry to hear of his passing. A very humble man and teacher

Bob Hart
Rip

Mike Taylor
I’m sorry to hear of his passing. I was in his machine shop class, what he didn’t know was that I worked in my dad’s machine shop during the summer. He was showing the class how read micrometers, and, I was not paying attention to the lecture, so he asked me to measure using this micrometer, I read them then told him the they were not accurate. He asked me how I knew, so I told him that I worked in my dad’s machine shop during the summer, he told I would have less tolerance than the rest of the class, which was fair. He was a great teacher. RIP, Mr Seymour.

Kevin Barillaro
✌️❤️🙏

Craig Street
So sorry to hear this. So sad. He was a great person a
And great teacher! First class all the way! May this kind person rest in peace, lots of people will miss this person.

Sylvia Canterbury
RIP Mr.Seymour.He and his family were also neighbors. Condolences to all his family.

Richard P. Butler
I was in his class. Great, caring teacher

Amy Crescioni Perrier
One of the good ones! RIP

Larry Fenton
I still have a metal plumb bob that was one of our projects in #IndustrialArts from 1980.

Gerri Davis McCorkle
Rest in Peace, yes remember him well, always an eternal bulldog!

Libby Macris
I remember him well. Class of 1969

Mike Morse
A great teacher! He and my dad knew one another as college students. It was teacher like him that inspired me to teach industrial education for my 37 year career. Well done good and faithful servant! BTW I still have the plumb bob and drill gauge I made in the machine shop.

Steve Vlachos
Will there be any memorial?

Mike Duncan
I had him, he was a great Person and Teacher. His class was one l always looked forward to. R.I.P

Nadine Aguirre Lujan
Rest in peace.

Annette Dinolfo Bennett
🙏🏼💙🙏🏼

Barbara Zelenay Berry
RIP Mr.S. 🙏 😔

Mr William Mark, Former BHS Auto Shop Teacher (1931-2016)

 

William H. Mark

Today's News-Herald, Lake Havasu City, AZ
Published on Friday, October 14, 2016

William H. Mark, 85, passed away Oct. 9, 2016 in Lake Havasu City.

He was born Jan. 14, 1931 in Flint, Michigan to George and Dorothy (Poole) Mark.

William served his country proudly in the U.S. Navy 1948-1950 and was honorably discharged. After his service he raised his family, returned to college and received his Bachelor’s and teaching degree. He taught industrial arts at Burbank High School in California for 20-plus years. He moved to Havasu 23 years ago.

William was a rifle and gun enthusiast and he enjoyed woodworking, antique cars and RV travel. He was a member of the Elks, American Legion and Calvary Baptist Church. He will be deeply missed and always loved.

William is survived by his wife Yvonne Mark of Havasu, daughter Terri Ann Taylor, granddaughters Jennifer, Christina and Melanie Taylor and two great-grandsons, Kaleb and Morghen.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his late wife Jean. 

A memorial service is at 10:30 a.m., Friday, Oct. 21, at Calvary Baptist Church’s McCulloch campus with Pastor Chet Anderson officiating.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Calvary Baptist Church Building Fund in Lake Havasu City.

Condolences can be sent to the family at www.lakehavasumortuary.com.

Arrangements were made by Lake Havasu Mortuary and Crematory, veteran and family owned.

 

 

Peter Laris, BHS Teacher (1925-2020)

Photo from 1965 Burbank High Ceralbus Yearbook 

Sad news... Brandon Coen wrote today, 12/26/2020, on Facebook...· 

Peter Laris, a longtime BHS Spanish teacher passed away earlier this week. My father, class of 66 had kept in touch with him and his family. 

I had Mr Laris for Spanish. He was a great teacher and it was a fun class! 

This photo is of him with fellow teacher, Mr North in 2010. 

FIND A GRAVE Link

Aug 3, 1925 -  Dec 21, 2020 (age 95)

We send our deepest condolences to his family and here are a few Facebook comments: 

• Peggy Beliveau

  I had him for Spanish in the 10th grade...
• 
  
Mike O'Connell
Spanish in summer school and 10th grade. Good teacher and a good man.
• 
  
Alan Landros
I took a similar photo at a Senior Bulldogs luncheon in Burbank, shortly after Mr. Laris and Mr. North had both attended our BHS '70 40th reunion in June 2010. Now both are gone. Peter Laris was 95, since I remember that he was born in 1925. Pete Laris was also scheduled to attend our BHS '70 45th reunion in June 2015. But, a 90th birthday party for his brother-in-law in Orange County came up, and Pete had to go with his wife for that family event instead! Mr. Peter Laris taught with the BUSD for 35 years from 1953 until 1988. He first taught at John Muir Junior High, then Burroughs High, and then from 1960 he taught at BHS for 28 years until he retired in 1988. He taught Spanish, as well as Advanced 3rd and 4th year Spanish. He remained physically fit into later years, jogging two to three miles a day, at least up to 90 years old!
Brandon Coen
I remember Pete talked about your dad, Ron, a lot!! He would talk about how Ron needed to concentrate more on his Spanish studies to do better in Pete's classes, then despite all of that, he eventually became an L.A. County Judge!! Pete mentioned that many times! I remember Pete saying how your dad had Pete come to his courtroom and how your dad recognized him as his good friend and long ago teacher!


• 
  
Larry Segall
Que en paz descanse, Profe.

Barry Burnett
Larry Segall
de veras. Muy buen hombre y amigo de nosotros.

• 
  
Cathy Rehfeld Schwalm
He taught me Spanish......God speed. Condolences to his friends and family.

• 
  
Sue Flynn
Had him in ‘60

 
David De Hart
Peter Laris became a good friend of mine. I will miss his kindness, wit, wonderful stories and knowledge on jazz and sports. He also loved the symphony. I called him for advice before becoming a teacher. He did not recommend it since it paid so little. It is perhaps the only advise from Pete I did not heed. I modeled my teaching after him. I tried to infuse humor, kindness and rigor into my classroom as did he. For a number of years, his wonderful wife would cook dinner for me and my son, Lucas when we would head to southern California during ski week in February to visit my daughter in college, as my wife traveled in Europe with a group of students. Lucas and Peter shared a great love for jazz and Peter would play some of his favorite songs. On his request, Lucas played for Peter one evening in their home. He loved it. On one summer trip home from a week of body surfing at the beach, our family stopped at his lovely home for an incredible brunch Celia had put together for us. The margaritas were terrific. Peter and Celia were a wonderful and cultured couple who loved one another so much and raised two beautiful daughters. I had Peter for 3 years of Spanish. After returning to school on a Friday night to watch me play basketball, he began calling me El Tigre in class. When our class refused to stand for the pledge of allegiance in protest of the Vietnam War, he listened to our concerns. So he made us a deal, instead he would spend a few minutes reading from a book on democracy by Supreme Court justice William O. Douglas. Peter served as president of his teachers' union as did I, so we traded some funny stories. He told me once a teacher had charged him with some ridiculous claim. When he appeared before the district lawyer and superintendent to defend himself, he explained the woman was at fault for moral turpitude; she was always kissing the principal's ass. Everyone broke into laughter and that was the end of the meeting. I will always remember the night that Peter and his family took me out to dinner at a lovely restaurant in Berkeley years ago on a visit to the bay area. Peter was running around Silver Lake in his 90's as he had done when teaching at Burbank High. He would rise early in the morning to run and after work take a nap to get ready for the evening. He loved his gin and tonics and we would talk often on the phone. Wow, how he would have me in stitches with laughter. I will end on one last story. During WW II, he got lucky and became very ill so he was not shipped to Europe with his other soldiers. Instead, he ended up in Arkansas guarding German prisoners. One day on duty, he saw in the far distance two rabbit ears sticking up above the brush, but not moving. He was a great shot so he took aim and nailed the rabbit that was thrown into the air. Thinking that Peter had shot it on the run, the German soldiers held him in high regard and perhaps a bit of fear from then on. Peter Laris enriched my life in so many ways. I will be forever grateful for our extraordinary friendship. My love to the Laris family, and to you my friend Pete, RIP. Photo: 2015


• 
  
Joan Chandler
I had Mr Laris for Spanish at BHS also. He was a great teacher! May he now Rest In Peace. Sending condolences to his family and friends.
• 
  
Theresa N. Todd
Best Spanish teacher ever! I had him and just loved him and his sweet smile and soul. I was forever touched by him. I just adored him and always looked forward to his class everyday! He always took the time to explain to me, even after class. I told him I wanted to learn Spanish cuz every time I would go visit my grandparents for the summer my grandfather would wip out his Spanish dictionary and I wanted to be able to converse and practice with him. And, little did I know that my 1st husband would be hispanic and I would be moving to Guadalajara Mexico for the next 10 years. So happy I took Spanish for those 3 years to have had a base and foundation to build on. Brazos y besos Senor Laris. Prayers for your beautiful family! You will never be forgotten! Xoxo My nickname from him, Traviesa! 
• 
  
Terri Fall
More than language, he gave life and art and music, and a dry wit. Mr Laris touched your heart and then your life. Condolences to his family.

 
Loanne Walker Ginchereaux

• 
  
Julie Fioravanti
Not only was he a great Spanish teacher but he was a fantastic role model for teachers, in general. He was funny, witty, and wildly patient. I've always had fond memories of Senior Laris.
• 
  
Ron Duncan
I had him in 9th grade at Muir.
• 
  
Steve Hollingshead
Little did I know back in 72-74 while I was en la clase de español del Profesor Laris that my life would involve Spanish, I might have been a better student. One memory from his class was the song “Bésame” which I play for my Spanish classes every year. I have spent the past 45 years teaching Spanish as a missionary, in the military and in public education!! Qué le vaya bien con los ángeles profe!!

 
Susan Brown Harris
I remember singing Besame Mucho in class. And he locked the door to the classroom because I was always late! And your nickname, El Tigre.

• 
  
John P. Johnson
I had him for 3 years and loved his Spanish class I will never forget the field trip to Olivera Street.

 
John Todora
My wife, Liliana Vargas at the time, met in his Spanish 3 class in 1968. Jeanne Redberg introduced us. 52 years later we are still together. Sue, I remember Besame mucho too and Mr.Laris moving our seats every so often so we would not grow toward the sunlight coming through the windows. He was a good guy, somehow I passed the class. Quien sabe?

 
Sean Andrews
RIP Sr. Laris.

 
Loree Agai
Oh I love Sr. Laris. He was the best. Had him every year at BHS and was his TA my senior year. Very smart, funny man.
• 
  
Art Boylan
Many fond memories of senor laris. Had him all three years at BHS. Took a field trip to olvera Street and walked thru downtown Los Angeles with our class during senior year he commanded respect and always got it or there would be hell to pay.

Tom Di Liberto

tSponSadly, my high school Spanish teacher, Pete Laris, died a few days ago. He was by far the best teacher I ever had, who taught me much more than the language. He was a brilliant guy, an avid jazz and classical music aficionado, a tireless advocate for his fellow teachers, an astute judge of character, and was astonishingly witty. He had a profound impact on me and many others. I was fortunate to become not just his pupil, but also his friend until his passing. I miss him already. Descanse en paz, Maestro.