Tom Branca, BHS '61, Passed Away July 26, 2012

Received the following email today from Pam Kirkwood - may the Lord comfort Tom's family and friends I pray...

Just got word of another BHS loss. Tom Branca '61 was a good friend. He always helped out when we had the BHS/JBHS Alumni Picnics...We kept in touch...His brother Budd Branca, graduated in our BHS Class of '64...

Very sad and shocking...

Pam

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I am sad to report that a fellow 1961 BHS alumni, Tom Branca, passed away suddenly on July 26, 2012. Tom, and his lovely wife, Mira, were residents of Henderson, NV, who recently enjoyed our graduating class' Fiftieth Reunion this past October. We will miss his jolly good humor and his love of all things nostalgic relating to our era. He was also very close to another 1961 alumna, Michele Cottle Bruce, also a Las Vegas resident.

Lynne (Spitza) Michels
Las Vegas
BHS 1961

July 30, 2012 UPDATE

The service will be next Monday, August 6, at 11:00 am, at Saint Francis of Assisi, 2300 Sunridge Heights Pky, Henderson 89052. Phone # 702-914-2175.

There will be a reception following the service at Tom and Mira's home, 1465 Bonner Springs Dr., Henderson, 89052.

Regards, Lynne

August 10, 2012 UPDATE

From Lynne Michels BHS '61...

Just letting you know that I heard from Tom Branca's daughter, Chrissy Lingua. There will be another memorial service for Tom in Burbank, on Sunday, August 26, at 1:00. It will be held at the Westminster Presbyterian Church on the corner of Clark and Buena Vista. There will also be a reception at Chrissy's afterwards, at 702 N. Naomi, just about a block away from the church. Chrissy's phone # is 818-563-1710.

Would you please disseminate this information through an email to anyone you think would be interested? I'm not quite sure what Marian Campbell's contact info, so please let her know as well so she can help spread the info.

Thanks,
Lynne Michels

AUGUST 19, 2012 UPDATE

Hi I am Tom's daughter Chrissy Lingua. I have talked and met with so many people in the last few weeks and everyone has been so kind in helping get the information out about my dad's passing. I believe you were contacted on our behalf last week and i'm just following through to be sure the information was given to you.

There is going to be a small memorial service on Sunday August 26 at 1:00

Westminster Presbyterian Church
542 N. Buena Vista St.
Burbank Ca. 91505

After the memorial everyone is invited to my home for a reception.
702 N. Naomi St.
Burbank Ca 91505
818 563-1710

Thank you for all your help with this. My dads passing really caught us so unexpected.

If you have any idea if you have heard of people saying they are going to attend if you could let us know.

Its hard to plan not knowing if there will be 5-50 or 100..

Thank you again for your help

sincerely,
Chrissy Lingua
littleselfishc@yahoo.com

Mark the Date... Aug 6th for Burbank Bulldog Luncheon!

If in town, be sure to come to the monthly Burbank Bulldogs Luncheon.

The next one is MONDAY, AUGUST 6th at the Elks at 11:30am.

The address is 2232 North Hollywood Way.

Cost only $12.

1966 Bill Bass Basketball

Snagged this off of Facebook...

Bill Bass was a coach for the Burbank Park, Recreation and Community Service Department Leagues.



Top: #6 Craig White, #10 Rick Nebeker, #9 Steve Young, #5 Tim Zuma Tolney, #8 John Kelly
Bottom: #2 John Deahl, #3 Steve Segal, #7 Dave DeHart, # 1 Jack Flora

What's New with Burbankia?

From Wes Clark, BHS '74... thanks Wes!

7/20/12 - It's Burbank High School Day! Posted 1911 Burbank High School DeLos Wilbur photo, Aerial shot of Burbank High School, 1922, Burbank High School from San Fernando Road, 1920's; Burbank High School entrance.









Also posted Amelia Earhart and her Lockheed plane and Lockheed disguised during World War II (but note the P-38's at the end of Lincoln Street). Finally, posted Corradi music on San Fernando Rd. and Burbank on Parade (San Fernando Rd.), 1950's.

MORE...
http://wesclark.com/burbank/new.html

Senior Bulldog Luncheon Yesterday

L-R: Dave Starleaf '64, Pam Zipfel Kirkwood '64, Sallie Shelton Thomas '68, Carol Brown Baker '67, Catherine (Katie) Hunter Nicholls '38, Jon Kirkwood '64, Carol Nicholls Lebrecht '67, John Coyle '65, George Colvin '65, Cathy Nicholls Coyle '67 and Sam Licursi '64."

"Fun times at the Sr. Bulldog Luncheon yesterday. Here are a few attendees from BHS Classes 64 through 68. Mom was our mascot: Class of Winter '38. She was actually, the most 'Senior' Bulldog alumni there."

Another great pic from Cathy Coyle's Facebook!

Don Agrati (Grady), BHS '62 Passed Away June 27, 2012

Received this sad news today from Jessi Trudeau, BHS '69. Please keep Don's family and friends in your prayers...

Dear Cathy,

I was very sad to see the news tonight that my brother Bill's friend, Don Agrati (Grady) had passed after a four-year struggle with cancer. Don and I had remained in touch over the years off and on after Bill's death. We had kept in much closer touch through Facebook and he had not once mentioned his illness. He was a cheerleader for me when our family was traumatized four years ago by a murder/suicide. When we were kids and some of Bill's friends took to teasing, Don was always a gentleman. I appreciated that. It was nice not having to defend myself all the time, know what I mean? He was always kind. I, for one will miss him. So, sadly, there's one more for the memorial page.

I hope this finds you well and happy.

Regards,
Jessi

--------------------
Alan Landros provided this obituary...

Don Louis Agrati

June 8, 1944 - June 27, 2012

Don Grady, of "My Three Sons" T.V. fame, died Wednesday at his home in Thousand Oaks under hospice care, after a four year battle with cancer. He was 68. He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Ginny, two children, Joey and Tessa, his mother, Mary Agrati, and a sister, Marilou Reichel. He is predeceased by his father, Lou Agrati, and sister, actress Lani O'Grady (Agrati), (best known as "Mary Bradford" on T.V.'s "Eight is Enough"), who died in 2001 at age 46.

Don Louis Agrati was born on June 8, 1944 in San Diego. Later Don and his family lived in Lafayette, CA in the Bay Area. Because Don played seven musical instruments, including clarinet, trumpet, accordion, guitar, bass, and drums, he was hired when he was 13 as a Mouseketeer on T.V.'s "The Mickey Mouse Club" where he sang and danced for several years. Don's "stage name" became "Don Grady". Appearing on "The Mickey Mouse Club" began when Don was in junior high school and continued during the beginning of high school until he left the show in 1960 at age 16 to co-star in "My Three Sons" with Fred MacMurray. Don played "Robbie Douglas", first the middle son, later becoming the oldest son, on the show from 1960 until 1972 when the show went off the air after 380 episodes. Besides being an actor and musician, Don was also a composer and songwriter for television, theater, and films. During his years on "My Three Sons", Don also made guest appearances on other T.V. shows including "The Rifleman" and "Wagon Train", and shows into the 1970's and 1980's. He had a band in the late 1960's, "The Yellow Balloon", where he was the drummer, which had a hit by the same name in 1967. As a songwriter Don wrote the theme song to "The Phil Donahue Show", and his compositions included songs in the movie, "Girls Just Want to Have Fun", and the Herbie Hancock/Della Reese song, "Keep the Dream Alive". He also wrote music for the Blake Edward's film "Switch", and the Las Vegas show "EFX", which starred Michael Crawford of "Phamtom of the Opera" fame.

Don Agrati graduated from BHS in the class of 1962, during his years on "My Three Sons". His senior picture appears in the 1962 Ceralbus senior pictures.

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LA TIMES OBITUARY

Don Grady, ex-Mouseketeer and 'My Three Sons' star, dies at 68

Don Grady, left, played Fred MacMurray's son on the popular family sitcom "My Three Sons."

By Robert J. Lopez This post has been corrected, as indicated below.

June 27, 2012, 8:04 p.m.

Don Grady, who sang and danced as a Mouseketeer on "The Mickey Mouse Club," played son Robbie on the long-running family sitcom "My Three Sons," and later became a composer and songwriter, died Wednesday. He was 68.

Grady died at his home in Thousand Oaks after a four-year battle with cancer, said his wife, Ginny.

A native of San Diego, Grady was born Don Agrati on June 8, 1944. His father, Lou, was in the Navy and later became a sausage maker. His mother, Mary, was a talent agent.

PHOTOS: Notable deaths of 2012

The family moved to Lafayette in the Bay Area, where Grady developed a talent for music and dancing. He told the Contra Costa Times that he took clarinet and accordion lessons and later taught himself bass, guitar and the trumpet.

His musical talents landed him an audition with Walt Disney's "Mickey Mouse Club" when he was in middle school. He sang and danced on the show for several years but left for a part on "My Three Sons" when he was 16.

The show, which aired from 1960 to 1972, was one of the longest-running family sitcoms of all time. It featured Fred MacMurray as the thoughtful, pipe-smoking widower Steve Douglas, who raised his boys as a single parent.

"I think we did a good show," Grady said in a 2001 interview on CBS' "The Early Show." "It was a clean show. It was a fun show."

The show's wholesome portrayal of American life is what helped it resonate with families who tuned in weekly for the latest trials and tribulations in the Douglas household, according to film historian Leonard Maltin.

"America loved this family," Maltin said of the show. "It represented stability and continuity."

When the series began, Grady was 16 and played the 14-year-old Robbie. His older brother Mike was played by Tim Considine, and his younger brother Chip was played by Stanley Livingston. When Considine left the show in 1965, he was replaced by Barry Livingston, Stanley Livingston’s real brother. Barry Livingston played Ernie Thompson, an orphan adopted by Steve Douglas.

"It’s a cliche, but Don was the guy we looked up to because he was our big brother," Barry Livingston said Wednesday night. "The lines blur when you’re working with them and living with them so many hours a day. Don was the oldest, so we were emulating him."

Grady also appeared in other television shows of the era, including the "Rifleman" and "Wagon Train."

He later began a new career as a composer and songwriter for television, theater and films.

"His passion was music," his wife, Ginny, said. "And it was because he played seven different musical instruments that he got onto the Mouseketeers show. TV was a sideline to all he ever wanted to do, which was play music."

Besides his wife of 26 years and his mother, Grady is survived by two children, Joey and Tessa, and a sister, Marilou Reichel. Another sister, actress Lani O’Grady, died of a drug overdose in 2001.

We’ll have more later at latimes.com/obits.
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-don-grady-dies-at-68-robbie-on-my-three-sons-20120627,0,6588842.story

________

HERE IS THE LATER OBITUARY

Don Grady dies at 68; Mouseketeer, 'My Three Sons' star

Don Grady appeared on 'The Mickey Mouse Club' before playing Robbie on the popular family sitcom 'My Three Sons.' He later became a composer and songwriter.

Don Grady, right, played Robbie on the long-running sitcom "My Three Sons," which also starred, from left, William Demarest, Barry Livingston, Stanley Livingston, Fred MacMurray and Tina Cole. In front is Tramp.

By Robert J. Lopez, Los Angeles Times

June 28, 2012

Don Grady, who sang and danced as a Mouseketeer on "The Mickey Mouse Club," played son Robbie on the long-running family sitcom "My Three Sons," and later became a composer and songwriter, died Wednesday. He was 68.

Grady died at his home in Thousand Oaks after a four-year battle with cancer, said his wife, Ginny.

As a child in the Bay Area town of Lafayette, Grady developed a fondness for music and dancing. He told the Contra Costa Times in 2005 that he took clarinet and accordion lessons and later taught himself bass, guitar and the trumpet.

His musical talents landed him an audition with "The Mickey Mouse Club" when he was in middle school. He performed on the Disney show for several years but left for a part on "My Three Sons" when he was 16.

That show, which aired from 1960 to 1972, was one of the longest-running family sitcoms of all time. It featured Fred MacMurray as the thoughtful, pipe-smoking widower Steve Douglas, who raised his boys as a single parent at 837 Mill St. in a middle-class Midwestern home.

"I think we did a good show," Grady said in a 2001 interview on CBS' "The Early Show." "It was a clean show. It was a fun show."

The show's wholesome portrayal of American life is what helped it resonate with families who tuned in weekly for the latest trials and tribulations in the Douglas household, according to film historian Leonard Maltin.

"America loved this family," Maltin said of the show. "It represented stability and continuity."

When the series began, Grady played the 14-year-old Robbie. His older brother Mike was played by Tim Considine, and his younger brother Chip was played by Stanley Livingston. When Considine left the show in 1965, he was replaced by Barry Livingston, Stanley Livingston's brother. Barry Livingston played Ernie Thompson, an orphan adopted by Steve Douglas.

"It's a cliche, but Don was the guy we looked up to because he was our big brother," Barry Livingston said Wednesday night. "The lines blur when you're working with them and living with them so many hours a day. Don was the oldest, so we were emulating him."

Grady also appeared in other television shows of the era, including "The Rifleman" and "Wagon Train."

A native of San Diego, Grady was born Don Agrati on June 8, 1944. His father, Lou, was in the Navy and later became a sausage maker. His mother, Mary, was a talent agent.

After "My Three Sons" ended, Grady continued with his enthusiasm for music and began a new career as a composer and songwriter for television, theater and films.

He wrote the theme song to Phil Donahue's talk show, and his compositions were featured in the children's TV series "The Kid-A-Littles" and the 1985 film "Girls Just Want to Have Fun."

Grady also co-wrote "Keep the Dream Alive," which was recorded by Herbie Hancock, Della Reese and others for the Jazz to End Hunger project.

"His passion was music," his wife said. "TV was a sideline to all he ever wanted to do, which was play music."

Besides his wife, Grady is survived by his mother; two children, Joey and Tessa; and a sister, Marilou Reichel. Another sister, actress Lani O'Grady, died of a drug overdose in 2001.

robert.lopez@latimes.com
http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-don-grady-20120628,0,7035373.story

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PREVIOUS POST ON DON
http://bhsclass67.blogspot.com/2008/06/notable-bhs-alumni-don-grady-62.html

DON GRADY AS A MOUSEKATEER
http://www.originalmmc.com/dongrady.html

Donna Maiben Lamparter, BHS '64 (1946-2012)

Just received this sad news from Sallie Shelton Thomas (BHS '68)...
My sister-in-law, Mary Lou Struck Shelton, just called and asked me to to let you know that a classmate from BHS '64 died recently. Mary Lou read the following obit in the Mountain Democrat. Donna's maiden name was Maiben.

August 14, 2012 1946 — June 15, 2012

Donna Lamparter died June 15, 2012, after a two-year fight with cancer. She touched the lives of many, teaching grades 1st through 12th. She is with the Lord now.

A celebration of Donna’s life will be private.

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FIND A GRAVE Link

Steve Stromsoe, BHS '69, Passed Away 2005

Sad news for the Class of 1969...

Hi, My Daddy is Steve Stromsoe and he graduated @BHS in 1969. Unfortunately he passed away in 2005; during his memorial service I proudly displayed the senior graduate picture as seen here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/burbankhighblog/BHSClass1969#5445374179665115490

Because I had the original copy he had kept. In my Journey here to North Carolina where I am now, I lost that photo when my Luggage was mishandled. I never thought I'd see it again and recently I was browsing online when I found your site which ultimately led me to a copy of his yearbook... I wanted to tell you how thankful I am and how blessed I am to have been able to see that photo again.... If I would've known of his alumni and former friends growing up I would have invited them to attend his funeral without a doubt... this site would have most def. facilitated the process of creating an appropriate guest-list when I made his funeral arrangements BUT (I was 15 at the time) thanks to your site I have recently and successfully gotten in touch with a Susan Harris, a woman which knew my dad and his sister Shari since the tender age of 12; I went through the contact list for the alumni and emailed every single graduating Senior of BHS 69* and she was the only one who remembered... but it still made a world of a difference to me that someone remembered him from his class since high school is such a big part of.. EVERYONE's Youth.

Again... thank you so much, from the bottom of my heart.. of making this networking/informational site possible! The time you've spent creating it is well worth it.

If you knew my Daddy I'd love to get to know you; I can be reached MichelleStromsoe@gmail.com to your earliest convenience!

<3