The Memorial Wall

Arne R. Wesslen October 2, 1924 - October 15, 2009 Born in San Pedro, CA the only child of Gustav and Ida Wesslen, he lived in Los Angeles County all his life. He was a graduate of San Pedro High School, L.A. Harbor College and We st Coast University. He was a deck officer (mate) in the Merchant Marines during World War II and maintained his mate's license his whole life. In 1995, WWII Merchant Marines were given honorable discharges from the U.S. Coast Guard. His 40-year petroleum industry career began with sailing tankers for Richfield Oil later moving into management positions and retiring from ARCO (now BP) in 1985. He was a volunteer deck officer on the S.S. Lane Victory for many years and was on the bridge during their summer d ay cruises. Arne is survived by his wife of 24 years, Ellen Mathis Wesslen; daughters, CDR M.K. Wesslen, USN and Terry Lee Johnson (Brad); stepson, Mark Lee Mathis (Heidy); and grandchildren, Jessica Ann Johnson, Joseph Paul Johnson, Heather Chrystina Mathis and Brett Lee Mathis; as well as many other family and friends. Services are Thursday, October 22, 2009, at 1:00 p.m. followed by graveside services with military honors at Forest Lawn, Cypress with viewing, Wednesday, October 21, 2009, from 6-9 p.m.

Bill was born in Los Angeles, California, on June 16, 1932.  He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Anita, his sons from a prior marriage, Ken and Kurt of Bothel WA and Los Angeles and the many wonderful friends he made throughout his lifetime. 

Bill spent his career in commodity sales for the beef and lamb industry working for Armour & Company and John Morell among others. He excelled in college basketball playing on an AAU team owned by Fibber McGee and Molly. He scored hoops from Mexico to Canada. 

Bill enjoyed the game of golf just about more than anything in life and the most joyful years were spent playing golf with his buddies on courses around the world.  

Bill’s effervescent smile, his endearing sense of humor and ability to quote poetry at the drop of a hat will linger in our hearts forever. He aspired to be a singer in the genre of Frank Sinatra and on occasion with enough good wine, he came pretty close. No one loved life as much as Bill Kramer and all who met him, loved him. 

His wife and family gratefully acknowledge the staff and caregivers of The Carlotta Nursing home in Palm Desert, CA who provided such loving care over the past four and a half years. 

Special mention must be made to Jo Rosen and the Parkinson’s Resource Organization. Without her support, council, and knowledge of Parkinson’s disease, the path was made easier and we are forever in her debt.  

A Celebration of Life will be held at The Fountains of the Carlotta on Saturday, October 24, 2009 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Please call (760) 619-3584 for details. All are welcome.  

In lieu of flowers, and to carry on his legacy of helping others affected by Parkinson’s, the family suggests donations to the Parkinson’s Resource Organization with special mention in memory of William B Kramer.  Sentiments to the family will be cherished.

In loving memory of Charles Edward Dent who passed away August 24th, 2009 in Chestnut Ridge, New York after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. He was 77.

A long-time resident of Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, “Chuck” moved to New York in 2006 to live near his daughter Susan Birkas-Dent and her family. A former aerospace engineer at Rockwell International, Charles graduated with honors from UCLA and obtained a MBA from USC. He was married to Carol Grunder Dent for 36 years until her passing in 1994. Charles is also survived by his daughter Cheryl Dent of Los Angeles, his granddaughter Freya May Birkas-Dent, his brother Robert Dent and sister Mary L. Jones. Services are planned for Saturday September 12 at 3pm at St. Peters by the Sea Presbyterian Church, in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. Special sentiments to the family and donations can be made in his memory to the Parkinson’s Resource Organization: www.ParkinsonsResource.org

Donald Leo Hartenfeld passed away May 6, 2009 after a long struggle with Parkinson’s disease. He was at home and at peace, with his loving family by his side.

Although not unexpected, his death was sudden. It is not his death, but his life that is to be remembered…a life that was filled with love, laughter, and an uncompromising devotion to family and friends. He was a warm, caring, sensitive, considerate, passionate bear of a man who enjoyed life to the fullest. Quick to offer a smile and a hug, Don was known to those close to him as a man who encouraged everyone around him to reach for the stars and to achieve things they never dreamed possible.

He traveled extensively and harbored a deep love of Berlin, his ancestral homeland and where he was stationed in the Air Force, and the Caribbean, where he frequently enjoyed many memorable adventures on trips and Windjammer cruises with family and friends.

Don was born June 13, 1928 in Sandusky, Ohio to Ervin H. Hartenfeld and Lucille H. (Neumeyer) Hartenfeld, the youngest of three boys. He graduated from Sandusky High School, Class of ’46 and attended Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict. Upon returning to the States, he enrolled at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio but longed for more after living in Berlin and visiting all the great cities of Europe. He answered a friend’s invitation to join him in Mexico City where he enrolled at Mexico City College and obtained a B.A. in Business in August 1956.

When he returned to the States, he bid farewell to Ohio and moved to San Francisco where he was employed by IBM as a Methods Analyst. He enjoyed an outstanding 23 year career with IBM, living in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York, and traveling extensively on behalf of the company. His travels enabled him to explore all of the United States and to widen his circle of friends. He embarked on a new career path in 1982 when he accepted a new challenge with Pacific Northwest Insurance in Portland, Oregon where he lived for nine years before retiring.

Retirement did not slow Don down as he moved to Palm Springs in 1995 and continued his travels. Don assumed an active role in his community. He was an Honorary Member of Palm Springs Leather Order of the Desert and a volunteer at Desert AIDS Project where he was named “Volunteer of the Year” in 2003.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, Ervin and Lucille Hartenfeld, and two brothers, Ervin John Hartenfeld and Rolland Benjamin Hartenfeld.

Don is survived by his life partner, George Puddephatt of Palm Springs; sister-in law Mary Alice Hartenfeld of Gahana, Ohio; nieces Barbara Hartenfeld of Phoenix, Arizona, Bonnie Darnell of Portage, Ohio, Gail Downing of Lewis Center, Ohio, Judy Baird of Stockbridge, Georgia, Pam Suver of Powell, Ohio, Lori Anne Miller of Castalia, Ohio; nephews Rolland E. Hartenfeld of Bellevue, Ohio, Jonathon E. Hartenfeld of Green Springs, Ohio; adopted son, Ruben Andreatta of Indio, California and a wealth of devoted loving friends throughout the U.S. and Canada.

A celebration of life will be held on June 13th at 4:00 P.M. at The Commissary, 69620 Highway 111 in Rancho Mirage, California. As a final tribute to Don and in lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in his name to the Parkinson’s Resource Organization

Although he rode the crest of several waves of agency growth as a senior executive at three Canadian agencies, Jerry Bernstein—who died in Los Angeles on February 18, 2009, at age 68—may best be remembered for his creation of a smart-ass owl.

In 1969, Bernstein was a copy group head at W.B. Doner in Detroit when he wrote and illustrated “Mr. Cow,” a 60-second animated spot with the tag line: “How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop? The world may never know.”

While claims that it was the longest-running TV ad in history are hard to verify, it made enough of an impression to recently sparking a lively discussion on YouTube.com that Bernstein himself participated in. The spot also won a special citation from the Clio Awards for children’s advertising in 1970—the first of two Clios Bernstein would win.

A Michigan native, Bernstein joined Doner after graduating from Wayne State University with a communications degree. After three years, Bernstein moved to Toronto as vice-president and creative director of McCann Erickson. His first stay in Canada was short-lived, and something of a learning experience, recalls advertising consultant Brian Buckingham. Bernstein was back in Detroit after a stint at Quaker Oats’ in-house agency in Chicago when Buckingham, then executive vice-president of Bates International in Toronto, recruited him.

“Jerry felt he might’ve been too young to be a creative director the first time around, but I thought he did outstanding work. He was a highly creative guy. His ability to translate a brief into ideas was extraordinary.” Overall, Buckingham adds, “Jerry elevated creative product wherever he went in this business.”

In 1983, after seven years with Bates, Bernstein left to become a partner and executive creative director for Toronto’s Palmer Bonner, his home until 1988.

Lynda Headland—who, as a Palmer Bonner copywriter, shared Bernstein’s second Clio with him for a Dad’s Cookies ad in 1983—remembers him as “a terrific mentor who could challenge you, instill confidence and make you laugh, all at the same time.”

In 1989, Bernstein moved to Southern California and opened Jerry Bernstein & Associates in Woodland Hills. His second wife, Dana Gellert, served as the firm’s creative director. Despite being diagnosed with colon cancer in 2006, Bernstein remained active and—as witnessed by the online discussion of his immortal Tootsie Pop commercial—engaged.

Jerry Bernstein's creativity is witnessed in his development of the Logo and the Mission Statement of Parkinson's Resource Organization, "Working so no one is isolated because of Parkinson's". The logo includes the words Hope, Encouragement, Support, Education, and Inspiration. He will forever be remembered in the Parkinson's World. 

Jerrold was a resident of Woodland Hills, California.

Captain Thomas E. Bruyere USN, (Ret), 75, died peacefully on January 4, 2009, in San Diego, CA, from complications associated with Parkinson's disease which he endured for 15 years.

Tom was born to Bolton and Annette Bruyere on January 15, 1933, in Waco, TX. He grew up in east Texas, graduated from Longview High School in 1951, and attended Kilgore College until his appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy from which he graduated in 1956.

Captain Bruyere had a distinguished 28-year career as a U.S. Navy fighter pilot where he flew 4200 hours in jet aircraft, 371 combat missions in Southeast Asia, and over 800 carrier arrested landings. Tom's career highlights included command of Fighter Squadron 142 "Ghostriders," navigator of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, and command of Navy Recruiting District, New York.

After retirement from the Navy, he began TNT Hydrolines Inc., building and operating high-speed catamarans to carry commuters from New Jersey to the Wall Street Pier.

His major philanthropic activities included the establishment of Fleet Week in New York City; directing the San Francisco Air Show featuring the Navy's Blue Angels; serving as President of the Navy League Council in New York City, and active in the Navy League Councils of San Francisco and Baltimore.

Tom's hobbies, besides flying fast, were people and laughter. He had the great gifts of charm and clever humor. People were drawn to him not only because of his great character but his special ability to put everyone at ease.

Tom is survived by Kathy Bruyere, his wife, and selfless caregiver for the last 20 years; three sons from his marriage to Joan Bruyere; Brett Bruyere and wife Mandi of Boise, ID, Major Trent Bruyere, U.S. Army and wife Valeria of Coral Gables, FL, and T.J. Bruyere and wife Blanca of Coronado, CA; sister, Marilyn Brunkhorst and husband Robert of Dallas, TX; brothers, Bolton Bruyere of Snyder, TX, Robert Bruyere and wife Blanche of Longview, TX, Milton Bruyere and wife Kristin of Shreveport, LA, and Helen Bruyere his sister-in-law and wife of brother David Bruyere who recently preceded him in death of Longview, TX; ten grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and many friends.

His body will be cremated and buried at a National veteran's cemetery to be announced at a later date.

https://parkinsonsresource.org/the-memorial-wall/bruyere

Jay Fiondella, owner of the Chez Jay restaurant in Santa Monica, died November 6th, 2008 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 82.

Chez Jay, Fiondella’s small, casual “joint” is known worldwide as a magnet for celebrities and is still going strong nearly a half-century after opening, said friends.

Aside from his longevity as a restaurateur, Fiondella was equally celebrated for his exploits as an adventurer, playboy, treasure-hunter, sailor, balloonist, boxing manager, stage producer and part-time actor, friends said. He was a pioneering competitive hot air balloonist and was reportedly the only balloonist in the Screen Actors Guild in the 1960s.

Fiondella was Cosmopolitan magazine’s “Bachelor of the Month” in 1970. In the 1980s he located and helped recover lost World War II aircraft buried in the Arctic ice famously known as the “Lost Squadron.” He was also part of a team that successfully recovered millions of dollars’ worth of silver coins from a sunken World War II-era ship off the coast of Yemen, friends said.

As an actor, Fiondella appeared in more than 50 TV shows and feature films from the 1950s through the 1990s. He invariably played bit parts, although in consistently high-profile productions, friends said. His credits include television’s Gunsmoke, Perry Mason, Batman, Mission Impossible and Fantasy Island, as well as several of the Lethal Weapon films and director Robert Altman’s Short Cuts.

Friends said Fiondella’s restaurant was frequented by an endless list of show business icons, many of whom were his personal friends, including Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Marlon Brando, Lee Marvin, Robert Stack, Natalie Wood, Warren Beatty, Elizabeth Taylor, Johnny Carson, Nancy Sinatra, Clint Eastwood, Michelle Pfeiffer, Mel Gibson, Jerry Seinfeld, Sean Penn, Drew Barrymore and countless others.

Fiondella was always protective of his famous customers and forbade any photographers, reporters or autograph seekers from staking out his place.

Considered a Chez Jay staple is its free baskets of unshelled “gourmet” peanuts, one of which Apollo 14 commander Alan Shephard took to the moon and back in 1971, friends said. Fiondella dubbed it his “Astro-nut,” proudly showing it off to patrons at his bar until the night actor Steve McQueen nearly ate it. The Astro-nut has resided in a safe deposit box ever since, friends noted.

Born August 6th, 1926 in East Haven, Connecticut, Fiondella served in the Navy in World War II as a Seabee in the Philippines and China. After attending the University of Miami, Fiondella moved to Los Angeles in the early 1950s, hoping to become an actor. His first Hollywood roommate was actor Leonard Nimoy.

In 1959, he opened his own restaurant and named it Chez Jay as a tribute to his eventual friend Frank Sinatra, who ran a restaurant named “Chez Joey” in his film Pal Joey. Chez Jay is now managed by Michael Anderson, Fiondella’s co-owner.

Married twice, Fiondella is survived by his daughter, Anita Fiondella Eck; his son Chaz Fiondella; his sister Rita Lurate and many nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Celebration for Fiondella is scheduled at 12:45 p.m. Saturday, December 6th, at St. Monica Catholic Church in Santa Monica. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Parkinson’s Resource Organization, 74090 El Paseo, Suite 102, Palm Desert 92260.

Elaine Hackel Comess, (81), died Sunday from complications related to Parkinson’s disease. Her passing was gentle and painless. In 1973, after a thirty-year hiatus from school during which she raised a family, Elaine graduated from UCLA with a bachelors in Anthropology.

She served as a docent at the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum, UCLA and the Skirball Museum, and collected the oral histories of the generation of Jews which preceded hers. Blessed with an active intelligence, she was a woman who could read a book and take from its pages what was there. With her husband Leonard Comess M.D., Elaine traveled the world, and followed her interests in art, archaeology, ancient history, and architecture. In fact, Elaine spent her lifetime pursuing knowledge, understanding and social justice. She was a remarkable hostess. Perhaps her greatest accomplishment was creating a sense of graciousness for those close to her. Elaine’s life was a success in every aspect important to her. If the totality of a human being may be described in a word, hers would be “class.”

Elaine is survived by her husband, Leonard; her children, Richard and Toby; son-in-law, Neil; grandchildren, Max, Hart, Lily and Eden; and great-granddaughter, Ellie. She will be sorely missed by all who knew her well.

Funeral Services, 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 15, Hillside Memorial Park, Los Angeles.

In lieu of flowers, kindly make contributions to the Elaine Comess Memorial Fund at Parkinson’s Resource Organization:
www.ParkinsonsResource.org

CATHERINE LUCILLE CARTER

NOV 4, 1939 - OCT 13, 2008

Catherine was born November 4, 1939, to Paul and Catherine Scheck in Gilroy, California and entered into eternal rest at her home in Modesto, California on October 13, 2008. Catherine is survived by her devoted husband of 47 years, Marcus Carter of Modesto, daughter Paula, son-in-law Joe, grandchildren Joey and Ben Simonds of La Quinta, California. She was preceded in death by her loving son, Jeffrey Paul Carter, parents, and sister, Shirley Trujillo. Catherine was raised in Gilroy, California and graduated from Gilroy High School in 1957. Many special friendships were formed while living in Gilroy and she enjoyed staying in touch with her lifelong friends over the past 50 years! Catherine moved to Modesto and attended MJC where she met her husband Marcus. She then graduated from Sacramento State and worked as a teacher for the Modesto City Schools District. Catherine was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, aunt and friend. She found great joy in spending time with her family and friends, especially her grandsons, Joey and Ben. Her caring, supportive and friendly nature will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved her. A Celebration of Life memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 22, 2008, at Gavilan Hills Memorial Park, 1000 1st. Street, Gilroy, California under the direction of Habing Family Funeral Home. Catherine's family would like to thank 2nd daughter Julie Ibanez for her love, compassion, and care of Catherine during her final weeks of life. It was a gift that will always be remembered. Also, a special thank you to the staff of Community Hospice for their support and care. 

Crisálida Cano Arreaga de Hernández (Doña Cris) died September 1, 2008 in the city of Miami, Florida, aided by the final sacraments. 

Her sister Magda Cano Arreaga de Leòn shares this great sadness with her nephews, Edwin Arnulfo, Normita y Raúl de Leòn Cano, and they share their heavy grief with her husband, Max Hernández Ruano, with her children Lily, Max Arnoldo, and Claudia Hernández Cano and with her grandchildren, asking that God grant them Christian resignation.  

“A flower on a grave withers, a tear over the memory evaporates. A prayer for the soul, God receives.” – Saint Augustine