The Memorial Wall

Jeremy P. Tarcher, who four decades ago founded the publishing house that bears his name, specializing in nonfiction books on health, psychology, and New Age spirituality, died on Sunday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 83. The cause was complications of Parkinson’s disease, his companion, Harriet Stuart, said.

Founded in Los Angeles in the early 1970s, the house, known early on as J.P. Tarcher, is today part of the Tarcher Perigee imprint of Penguin Random House, based in New York. Mr. Tarcher remained with the company until 1996.

Over the years, Tarcher published many bestsellers, among them “Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain” (1979), by Betty Edwards, which marries neuroscience and art instruction; the advice book “Women Who Love Too Much” (1985), by Robin Norwood; and “The Faith of George W. Bush” (2003), by Stephen Mansfield.

Another best-seller, “Seven Years in Tibet,” a memoir by the Austrian mountaineer Heinrich Harrer, originally published in German in 1952 and issued by Tarcher in 1982, became a feature film in 1997, starring Brad Pitt.

Jeremy Phillip Tarcher was born on Jan. 2, 1932, in Manhattan and reared there on Central Park West. His father, Jack, ran his own advertising agency and was later a vice president of the Madison Avenue powerhouse Doyle Dane Bernbach.

His mother, the former Mary Brager, was a criminal lawyer who became an executive of the Legal Aid Society. His sister Judith grew up to become the best-selling novelist Judith Krantz. (Her novels are issued by the Crown Publishing Group.)

After graduating from the Horace Mann School in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, Mr. Tarcher earned a bachelor’s degree from St. John’s College in Annapolis, Md.; during the Korean War, he was stationed with the Army in Paris. He later studied Eastern philosophy in India before settling in Los Angeles.

Mr. Tarcher married the television puppeteer and children’s author Shari Lewis in 1958 and went on to publish some of her books, including “The Kids-Only Club Book” (1976). He and Ms. Lewis also collaborated on the script for “The Lights of Zetar,” an episode of “Star Trek,” first broadcast in 1969, in which the crew of the Enterprise is overtaken by a malign alien storm.

Ms. Lewis died at 65 in 1998. His second wife, whom Mr. Tarcher’s family declined to name, also died before him. Besides his companion, Ms. Stuart, and his sister, Ms. Krantz, his survivors include a daughter from his first marriage, Mallory, who now uses the surname Lewis in tribute to her mother; and a grandson.

Tarcher’s other well-known books include “The Aquarian Conspiracy” (1980), a guide to New Age consciousness-raising by Marilyn Ferguson; “Bikram’s Beginning Yoga Class” (1978), by Bikram Choudhury, with Bonnie Jones Reynolds; “Quitting the Nairobi Trio” (2000), a memoir of mental illness by Jim Knipfel; and “The United States of Wal-Mart” (2005), an exploration of the company by John Dicker.

Ruth Zarider (84) passed away on Thursday September 10th at Northridge Memorial Hospital with her husband Frank Zarider at her side.

Ruth was born in Los Angeles, California on June 5, 1931 to David and Yetta Nessenbaum and has one brother Myron and one sister Charlene. She grew up in Los Angeles attending Dorsey High, UCLA, Cal State Northridge, and received a graduate degree in special education from Northeastern.

She spent 35 years teaching in the LAUSD. She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Frank, their children David, Bob and Karen and their spouses Barbara, Fran (2010) and Jeff. Ruth had three passions in life; travel, the continuous quest for learning, and telling others especially her grandchildren, Matthew, Evan (and his wife Maddie), Zachary, Nate, Hanna and Melissa about all her experiences. She will be missed by her entire circle of family and friends.

An open house beginning at 3 PM and a memorial ceremony beginning at 7 PM will be held October 3, 2015 at 9128 Cresta Drive, Los Angeles, CA  90035.
  
To carry on her legacy, the family suggests donations be made in her memory to Parkinson's Resource Organization using the form below. Donations may also be mailed to Parkinson's Resource Organization, 74-478 Highway 111, #102, Palm Desert, Ca 92260.

Anthony Micheal "Tony" Vitti, 72, died September 2, 2015, in Newport Beach, California. He was born May 8, 1943, in Stamford, Connecticut to John Terenzio Vitti and Philomena "Fannie" Buzzeo Vitti. He attended St. John's Parochial School and Stamford High School. Tony graduated in the Class of 1965, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, earning a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration. Tony graduated Summa Cum Laude from the San Fernando Valley College of Law in 1970, finishing first in his class. In addition, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D) to distinguish his years of exemplary service to the California State University Board of Trustees. During his tenure, he served as a Board member, Co-Chair, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees. He was first appointed to the CSU Board by Governor George Deukmajian in 1989 and subsequently reappointed by Governor Pete Wilson in 1997. Tony has been a highly successful practicing attorney since 1971.

An accomplished leader in numerous business enterprises including Legacy Development Company and Golden West Capital Group. Co-founded Commerce Bank in 1979. Established several real estate and financial firms in California including Legacy Financial, Fidelity Financial's subsidiary- Manchester Development Company, Hanover Pacific Bank, and Premier Commercial Bancorp. Drawing upon his extensive legal and business savvy, Tony provided intuitive and trustworthy advice for countless entities. Always impeccably dressed, he had a style all his own. A born leader. a true gentleman, a friend to many, Tony was known for his sensational sense of humor. His battle with Parkinson's was a truly brave and honorable one, void of the complaint.

He is survived by his family, Jan Vitti (Rubel); daughter, Kristen (Justin) Pierce; son, John (Lauren) Vitti; grandchildren, Noah Pierce, Presley Pierce, Stella Vitti, and Jack Vitti (unborn). He is also survived by his brother, Michael Dante of Rancho Mirage, California; sisters, Rose Sette, Yolande Horan, and Carolyn Trachtenburg of Connecticut. Also survived by nephews, Ricky Horan, John Sette, nieces Debbie Ferrer and Mary Sette.

Services will be held October 2, 2015, at 2 PM at Pacific View Memorial Park, 3500 Pacific View Drive, Corona Del Mar, California

Charles E. (Chuck) Rogers of Palm Desert passed away at home Monday June 8 from complications from Parkinson's with his family by his side. He was born in Aberdeen, WA on June 1, 1929. He lived in Bellevue, WA until he retired as a manufacturer's rep in food service equipment. He moved to the desert in 1993. Everyone who met Chuck loved him. He kept his sense of humor until the end. He is survived by his wife of 65 years Brita, his daughter Karen Anschell (Ed), and sons Fred (Juliann), and Larry, and five grandchildren. A memorial will be held in October.

Missed every day, always loved.

Beloved husband of Joanie. Loving father of Julie Reisman (Scott Feldman) and Lauren (Jeff) Polak. Adored grandfather of Ethan, Alexa and Sophia. Also survived by his brother Cary (Suzanne) Reisman and sister Debra Moldovan.

Robert Lewis Shapiro was born May 6th, 1939 in Ohio and passed away peacefully on March 21st, 2015 in his home in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. He is survived by his wife Linda; his daughter, Eden (Steve) Friedman; his son Gregory (Daria) Shapiro; his brother Aron (Judy) Shapiro; his grandchildren Evan, Jake and Nathan.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Parkinson's Resource Organization http://www.parkinsonsresource.org/  or by mail at 74-090 El Paseo, Suite 104, Palm Desert, CA 92260.

Gerald (Jerry) Mayerson, 85, passed away on March 6, 2015, at his home in Boca Raton, Florida, surrounded by his loving family. Jerry was born in Dayton, Ohio, on September 3, 1929. He attended Ohio State University, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity. He served in the armed forces during the Korean War. Jerry was a well-respected real-estate developer for many years, and with his long-time business partner and close friend, Allan Rinzler, developed many commercial spaces, shopping centers, office buildings, high-end residential developments, and historical redevelopment projects. In Dayton, Jerry was a member of the Dayton Standard Club, Meadowbrook County Club (where he served as President), B'nai B'rith, Temple Israel, and Beth Jacob Congregation. In Boca Raton, he was a member of Boca Pointe Country Club. He participated in sports of all kinds, winning club championships in tennis and golf. He liked international travel, playing cards, and casino gaming. He was predeceased by his parents, Jacob and Mollie Mayerson, sister Pearl Wool, and brother Manuel Mayerson, all of Dayton. He is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Gail. He is survived also by his brother Melvin (Elaine) of Dayton, and by his three sons: Mickey of Los Angeles, and his children Jordan and Madeline and their mother, Jessica; his son Rick of San Mateo, California, and his wife, Joy, and their sons, Eli and Jared; and Marc of Washington, DC, and his wife Anne and their sons, Aaron, Asher and Noah, as well as many nieces and nephews, grand-nieces and -nephews, and cousins, in the U.S., Israel, and Mexico. Jerry fought valiantly against Parkinson's Disease for more than two decades, aided principally over his last years by caregiver Daniel Hamilton. His courage is an inspiration to all who loved and knew him. He will be sorely missed. 

Joan Elaine Robin Resident of Rossmor, formerly of Oakland Joan Elaine Robin passed away after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease March 3, 2015. Born in Ross, CA July 10, 1931 to Clarence C. Bennett, Sr. and Angela C. Bennett. Joan lived most of her life in Oakland and then became a resident of Rossmoor – Walnut Creek where she lived for 17 years. Beloved wife of Arthur F. Robin, Jr. Devoted mother of Jilinda and Kimarie Robin. Loving sister to Clarence C. Bennett, Jr. and sister-in-law Ann M. Bennett.

Joan is survived by her children, Jilinda and Kimarie Robin; her brother and sister-in-law Chris and Ann Bennett; her brother-in-law Tom Hayes. Grandchildren Tara, Kendra and Keely Tietjen, and Lisa, Joseph and Sara Cosso.

John Ordner Miller was born on September 21, 1926 in Chicago, Illinois and passed away on February 10, 2015 in Newport Beach, California and is under the care of Pacific View Memorial Park and Mortuary.

Visit his obituary at dignitymemorial.com