The Memorial Wall

Barbara May Shelby, (86), of Palm Springs and Long Beach, CA, died August 18, 2008 from complications of Parkinson's. Born July 2, 1922, to Marion West Magruder and Esther Ida Post, Barbara grew up in Long Beach, CA, graduating from Poly High School in 1940, and from Long Beach City College in 1941 with an AA Degree. She worked for Union Oil from 1942 until shortly after marrying Eugene Forrest Shelby on September 7, 1946. Two months later, they created Shelby Instrument Company, an electronics firm. In the years that followed, Barbara and Gene raised three children and traveled frequently. She was a member of the Long Beach Memorial Hospital Volunteer Auxiliary until 1964, when her husband retired and the family moved to Palm Springs. There, she became Assistant Director of the Desert Hospital Volunteers and was active in the National Charity League. After her husband's death in 1968, Barbara returned to college and received her BA degree in English and her teaching credential from Redlands University. She then became a teacher at Nellie Coffman and Raymond Cree Junior High Schools. After her retirement from teaching in 1986, she worked as Administrator and Fundraiser for Northwood University till 1997. During that time, her fondness for large brimmed hats added an additional note of elegance to the many events she arranged for Northwood. For years, she was also active in the Assistance League of the Palm Springs Desert Area and the Parkinson's Resource Group. In 2005, she returned to Long Beach to be closer to her children. She is survived by her son, Eugene Forrest Shelby, II (age 60) of Anchorage, Alaska, and her two daughters, Carolyn June Shelby (age 59) of Los Angeles and Barbara Jean Shelby (age 57) of Huntington Beach, CA. She has one grandchild, Samantha Shelby Ames (age 21) of Santa Cruz, CA. Funeral services will take place at 10:00 a.m. on September 6, 2008 at The Church of St. Paul in the Desert, 125 W. El Alameda, Palm Springs. Immediately after, there will be a graveside service at Desert Memorial Park, Cathedral City. All friends and former students are welcome to attend. A scholarship fund has been created in Barbara's name at Northwood University. 

Danton Burroughs, Chairman of the Board of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc., who maintained the Tarzan legacy, dies at 63.

Danton Burroughs, a family man, businessman, and collector of art, artifacts and literary works, and protector and promoter of the legacy of his Grandfather, Edgar Rice Burroughs (the author of Tarzan of the Apes and other famous American literary works), died at home in Tarzana, California on May 1, 2008. Danton passed away in his sleep due to heart failure. Danton had previously been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

[On a side note] At a Parkinson’s Resource Organization event in 2005, in a Tarzan and the Foreign Legion book given to actor Larry Pressman, whose father and brother had Parkinson’s, was inscribed: “Edgar Rice Burroughs, my grandfather who wrote this book, had Parkinson’s; John Coleman Burroughs, his son and my father, who illustrated this book, had Parkinson’s, and I, who gives this book, have Parkinson’s” signed Danton Burroughs.

Throughout his younger years Danton lived in a magical world created by the novels of his Grandfather which was filled with all the exciting illusions of exotic lands and inner earths that included heroes and villains larger than life. It was an exciting world that stimulated his imagination and Danton’s future was clearly set before him. Danton became an officer and director of the family owned business of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. and was determined to keep his Grandfather’s legacy and fame alive. Danton’s engaging personality impressed all who knew him and his immense knowledge of the works and creations of his Grandfather allowed him to share his enthusiasm with business associates and friends. Danton was instrumental in the promotion and licensing of many diverse media properties, such as feature films, animated features, television series, daily and Sunday comic strips, live stage productions, theme park attractions, new editions of original novels and foreign editions, conventions, Burroughs Bibliophiles, fanzines, and comic books. Danton worked tirelessly, until the last day of his life, at Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc., the company created by his Grandfather to market and promote his literary works and the characters he created like Tarzan Lord of the Jungle and John Carter of Mars. The company will continue to promote and foster the legacy of not only Edgar Rice Burroughs but also Danton through its President James Sullos and the members of the Burroughs Family who will honor Danton’s legacy by keeping his dream alive to share the wonderful and fantastical worlds and characters created by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Danton also sold real estate in the early 1970s in the San Fernando Valley and Venice, California.

Danton’s personal passion was collecting art, artifacts, historical memorabilia and literary works. His vast and varied eclectic collections included Wurlitzer and Seeburg Jukeboxes, an extensive record collection, sheet music and artist’s memorabilia of all sorts, bronze sculptures, rare pocket watches, marbles, street lamps, literary works and writings. The collections were amazing.

Danton was a son of the San Fernando Valley. He was born on June 21, 1944 to John Coleman Burroughs and Jane Ralston Burroughs in Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles, California. His Grandfather, Edgar Rice Burroughs, established the community of Tarzana with the renaming of the historic “Rancho del Cabrillo,” the “Tarzana Ranch” consisting of 550 acres which he had purchased in 1919 from the Estate of General Harrison Gray Otis, the former publisher of the Los Angeles Times and Mirror Company. Gen. Otis was one of the 5 principal partners in the “Suburban Homes Company” who in 1909 had purchased the southerly 47,500 acres of the San Fernando Valley and recorded Tract 1000 in 1910. General Otis had purchased from the syndicate the first parcel of this Tract which Burroughs now owned.

By 1922, Edgar Rice Burroughs had subdivided the northerly 100 acres of the ranch and was actively marketing the “Tarzana Tract” on the “Tarzana Ranch,” and as noted in the October 15th issue of the Los Angeles Examiner, “New Town of Tarzana Is Established.”

In 1927, the Tarzana Women’s Club asked Burroughs permission to use the Tarzana Ranch name which was later submitted with application for the establishment of the “Tarzana Post Office,” on December 16, 1930.

Edgar Rice Burroughs, General Harrison Gray Otis, and William Mulholland, Chief Engineer of the City Water Department, who brought water into the San Fernando Valley via the Los Angeles Aqueduct, were the giants of that time who set the stage for the subdivision and development of the San Fernando Valley into the suburban communities it is today.

Danton grew up in Tarzana and attended Tarzana elementary school, Ridgewood Military Academy in Woodland Hills, Sequoia Jr. High School in Reseda, and Reseda High School. He attended Los Angeles Pierce College, he belonged to the Tri Chi Fraternity, and he graduated with a Bachelors of Arts Degree.

Danton is survived by his wife Linda and daughters Jane and Dejah and brother John Ralston and sister Dian, who have vowed to continue to honor Danton’s legacy and that of his family by preserving and promoting the fantastical literary characters and creations of Edgar Rice Burroughs that so many Americans have enjoyed for almost a century.

All who knew him, loved him. He was a dear husband, father, brother, and friend to all and our hearts are deeply saddened by his passing.
For further insights into the life of Danton please see the following weblink: www.dantonburroughs.com

A Memorial Service to celebrate Danton will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2008 at 2:00 p.m.:
Tarzana Community & Cultural Center
19130 Ventura Blvd.
Tarzana, California 91356
(818) 705-1286
(Corner of Vanalden Ave. and Ventura Blvd., Parking available on surrounding streets)

In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to the Danton Burroughs’ Memorial Fund at Parkinson’s Resource Organization:
www.ParkinsonsResource.org

Our beloved Carol Ann McCain, 63, of Palm Desert passed away in her home on Wednesday, March 18 after a valiant struggle with a disease similar to Parkinson’s called Shy-Drager syndrome (also known as Multiple Systems Atrophy).

Born on June 25, 1945 in Swannanoa, North Carolina to William Montgomery and Jane Colbert McCain, Carol attended high school in Japan and New Mexico, and graduated from the University of Colorado in 1967 with a degree in business. Carol was an accomplished gourmet cook, and at one point gave lessons in her home. She had a lifelong passion for dance, hiking, and the outdoors. Carol was a girl scout and studied ballet as a child. Later she moonlighted as a cabaret dancer while handling the accounting on a ship for Club Med. Her life was adventure and discovery. She sailed, scuba dived, skied, backpacked, rafted, and traveled to every continent and far corner of the Earth. She volunteered to teach English in Vietnam. Her passion for life is reflected by her large circle of friends and bottomless generosity. She showed us how to live with joy and endure life’s hardships with grace and determination.

Carol is survived by her brother Bill, nieces Lina and Mara, nephew Greg and dog Mop.

Memorial service is April 18th at 10am at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Palm Desert

Magnuson, Gordon Stewart, beloved father and friend, civil engineer and business executive, died February 24, 2008, in Whittier of complications from Parkinson’s Disease. He was 85. Born in Seattle on April 30, 1922, he was raised in Lynwood and attended Compton High School and Menlo College before graduating from Stanford University in 1942. During World War II, he served as a First Lieutenant with the U.S. Navy in the Pacific and married Jean Shelloy Ramsing, a schoolteacher and UCLA graduate. Later, he received his masters degree in civil engineering from USC. They settled in Whittier and had two sons before she passed away in 1964. Two years later, he married the former Esther Engstrom, who died in 2004. As a civil engineer, he contributed to many of Southern California’s most important water treatment projects. After his 1987 retirement from Engineering Science, where he was a partner, he worked until the age of 80 as a consultant for the Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority. He is survived by his sons, attorney Michael Magnuson of Whittier and former Los Angeles Times editor and executive Robert Magnuson of Laguna Beach, and his sister, Elaine Kelley of Laguna Niguel. Also surviving are grandchildren, Molly, Matthew, Alexandra, Gina and Katherine Magnuson; step-children Kathleen and Scott Dunham; step-grandchildren Brian and Marnie Granados, and a step-great-grandchild, Liliana Granados. 

Marilyn Visel Blue, 77, of Palm Desert, CA passed on Saturday, January 12, 2008 at Eisenhower Memorial Hospital.

She was born August 8, 1930, to Walter and Marie Metz in Los Angeles, CA. Well known for her beauty, social graces, innovative entrepreneurial businesses and charitable involvements, Marilyn Visel Blue was a much beloved personality in the desert for over 40 years. She died surrounded by her loving family and many friends.

She is survived by her devoted husband, Jerry Blue; daughter, Stacey Peterson and Stacey's four children; son, Scott Norton and his wife Laura.

KARCHER, CARL NICHOLAS More Than a Star Carl Nicholas Karcher was the very definition of a man of the people. Perhaps it might be better to say that he was a man for the people. Once you met him, you would always remember him, and he would remember you. He would greet you with that strong voice of his, large sincere handshake, and expansive countenance that seemed to enclose you with him in a private conversation. "How are you?" was his calling card. He always looked right at you, never intimidating but evoking a warmth that seemed to come from some inner reservoir of good will. It bespoke his true character: "How are you?" is what he said. For meeting Carl Karcher was not so much about him as it was about you. And you remembered. He had a remarkable memory for recalling names and could usually recite the exact date of a previous encounter with almost anyone he ever met. Of course, you would also walk away with a personally signed card entitling you to a free Carl's Jr. Famous Star Hamburger that was placed inside a card that expressed his personal philosophy, his gratitude, and a favorite family prayer: the Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi. He never left home without those cards that he loved to pass out, and many people kept them as a memento and never redeemed them for a meal. For many, the experience of meeting Carl Karcher might have happened at a community event, perhaps at a business lunch or a charity event. Over the years it seemed that he could be seen at most of the big Orange County and Southern California events, especially those dedicated to charity. This was the man the public saw, and it was certainly part of who he was. But the true measure of the man is what he did for others when he was away from the public eye. Carl lived first and foremost in the certitude of Family. It was within his family that he anchored his true self, and he cannot properly be understood apart from this fact. Friends, relatives and anyone who visited the Karcher home were thrown right into the family mix and felt very comfortable. Carl was smart and quick. He enjoyed conversations, telling stories, and being a "ham" with plenty of jokes and pranks with a good sense of humor. He also played a mean game of Ping Pong and loved card games. One card game called Casini was played with the children and grandchildren. It was part of the Ohio legacy and he enjoyed playing it for hours at family gatherings. Born on January 16, 1917, in the north of Ohio, Carl Karcher hailed from the pure farm country of America's heartland, and the seeds of that land were always in his soul. From his birthplace he took the deep, sincere values of the traditional American hearthstone: honesty in dealing with others, perseverance, hard work and the stable framework of the nuclear family. And he had faith -- a deep, abiding, penetrating faith in a God who directed and guided him through the teachings of Jesus Christ in the Catholic Church, the type of faith that has fallen out of favor for many, but was, for him, always his bedrock, his core. When he finally came to California to stay, it was for the person whom he would love with all his heart and for the rest of his life, Margaret Magdalen Heinz. It was in her that the values of his young life were to be realized. It was in Margaret that he truly found himself and was able to achieve his vast potential. It was with Margaret that he raised twelve children and immersed himself in their upbringing. Family was, literally, his life. He deeply respected the most important woman in his life, his beloved wife of 66 years whom he lost to cancer in June 2006 and missed every day of his remaining life. Margaret was not only his partner in family life, but in business as well. She operated his first hotdog carts when Carl was in the service during WWII and served on the Board of Directors when Carl Karcher Enterprises became a world-class corporation. She was a stay-at-home mom and the center of support for Carl and their children. If you wanted to see Carl on any given day, you had to rise early. You would find him at Saint Boniface Catholic Church in Anaheim attending Mass every day at six thirty in the morning. That was usually after two hours of personal work at home in the wee morning hours. He would go to the office only after time in prayer in the church. It was the same parish church at which he met Margaret, married her, and brought their children every Sunday for Mass. When Carl returned home at the end of the day, never missing family dinner, it was to the same home in Anaheim that he and Margaret purchased in 1949 when they had five children. Seven more would follow in that same home. Each night after dinner, the entire family would spend half an hour in family prayer around the dinner table. In the last few years of his life, living with Parkinson's disease, Carl experienced a diminished ability to speak clearly. This made him a bit quieter in the public eye. At home, however, he continued to be a communicator, even when he could not get the words out easily. Every grandchild knew that three knocks on the table meant "I Love You," and then he would wrap his large hands around their little ones to complete the message. Such love ennobled his life and ours. Carl Nicholas Karcher was not a great man because he had success in business; rather he had success in business because he was a great man. Carl passed away last Friday evening January 11, 2008, five days before his ninety-first birthday, surrounded by his children and grandchildren. He is survived by eleven of his twelve children: Anne Wiles, Patricia LaGraffe, Margaret LeVecke, Carl Leo Karcher, Kadie Karcher, Father Jerome Karcher, Janelle Karcher, Rosemary Miller, Barbara Wall, Joseph Karcher and Mary Miller. His daughter, Carleen Karcher, preceded him in death in 1993. He is also survived by forty-eight of his fifty-one grandchildren, forty five great-grandchildren and four brothers, Albert, Leo, Bernard and Frank. Visitation is Thursday, January 17 at Hilgenfeld Mortuary in Anaheim from 12:00 Noon to 2:00 p.m. A Vigil and Rosary Service will be held on January 17 at 7:00 p.m., followed by a Funeral Mass on Friday, January 18 at 11:00 a.m. at Saint Boniface Catholic Church in Anaheim. Burial will be January 19 at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in Orange. A Memorial Mass will also be celebrated on Monday, January 21 at 7:00 p.m. at Saint Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Huntington Beach.

Mary T. Delgado, 82, founder of Las Casuelas restaurants, passed away peacefully December 14, 2007 at her home in Palm Springs surrounded by family and loved ones. With her husband Florencio, they moved from Colton to open the original Las Casuelas in 1958. During her years at Las Casuelas, Mary hosted and enchanted celebrities, vacationers and locals alike. It would not have been a surprise to see luminaries such as President Dwight Eisenhower, Sidney Sheldon, and Ray Bradbury stop in the original Las Casuelas to enjoy her hospitality. She has been recognized for her entrepreneurship and business acumen as Business Woman of the Year and with the Athena Award. Her star on the Walk of Fame in downtown Palm Springs recognizes her contribution to the city and is located in front of Las Casuelas Terraza. She is preceded in death by husband, Florencio and daughter Armida. Her children Patricia, Florence, Joaquin and Robert carry on her legacy as restaurateurs. In 1972 Mary and Florencio introduced Las Casuelas Nuevas to restaurant row in Rancho Mirage followed by Las Casuelas Terraza in 1979, with daughter Patricia. Son Joaquin and his wife Sharon now own and operate Las Casuelas Nuevas and are partners at the Casuelas Cafe and Corktree Restaurant, both in Palm Desert. Son Robert and his wife Lisa own and operate Las Casuelas Quinta in La Quinta. Daughter Florence now owns and operates the original Las Casuelas. She leaves behind her four children; nine grandchildren, Shannon, Patrick, Darrin, Alana, Crystal, Andres, Nicolas, Raquel and Robert Jr.; and three great grandchildren, Connor, Cortney and Cassidy. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to: VNA Hospice of Inland Counties, 42-600 Cook Street, Suite 202, Palm Desert, CA 92211, 760-346-3982 or: Parkinson's Resource Organization, 74-090 El Paseo, Suite 102, Palm Desert, CA 92211, 760-773-5628

Passed away on November 12th, 2007 at his home in Thousand Oaks with his family at his side. Charles “Chris” Bredall was born on March 3rd, 1919 in Overland, MO. He is survived by his loving wife, Gladys “Eve” Bredall, daughter Donna, sons Rick and Bill, grandchildren Janae, Kiera, Brianne, Kevin, Sarah, Mark Alan and Johnny and great-grandchildren Jordan and Justin.

Chris was a wonderful, loving, reliable father and husband. Deeply devoted to his wife, Eve, they were happily married for sixty-five years. Constantly one another’s companion, they hosted many parties in their warm and well-decorated home. They freely shared their love, humor and life stories, educating us all in the importance of friends and family.

Chris had remarkable drive, ambition and optimism. He was a self-taught pianist and builder, and a brilliant engineer.

Chris started his Engineering career during World War II at the U.S. Naval Research Lab. He spent a short time in the Navy working at the rank of Chief Perry Officer. In 1950, he earned a bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland and graduated with Tau Beta Phi and Phi Kappa Phi honors. Armed with his college degree, Chris pursued his passion of Electrical Engineering by working for well known companies such as RCA, Packard Bell and IBM. In 1961, Chris began his employment with the Aerospace Corporation where he continued for over 25 years.

Funeral Services will be held at St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church, 5801 Kanan Road, Westlake Village with a private burial service the following day.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Parkinsons Resource Organization may be made in his name www.ParkinsonsResource.org

Ana L. Schifano Beloved wife, mother and grandmother passed away peacefully on October 9, 2007, after a long battle with Parkinson disease. 

Ana was born in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico on June 14, 1930. She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Joseph; sons, Isadore (Lisa) and Joseph M. (Pam) and four very special grandchildren, Anthony and Adam, Stephanie, and Alyssa. Sister Eva Urruita, Monterey NL, Mexico and brother, Fr. Luis Alonso Saldamando, Nogales, Sonora, Mexico and many nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews. 

Ana brought sunshine into all the lives she touched, and she will be deeply missed by all who loved her. 

A very special thanks go out to all the staff and caregivers from Carondelet Hospice, Frances Care Home and Assisted Living and Dependable Health Services; all had provided outstanding love and care during those difficult months. 

Footprints:

One night I had a dream - -

I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord

And across the sky flashed scenes from my life.

For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints,

One belonged to me, the other to the Lord.

When the last scene of my life flashed before me,

I looked back at the footprints in the sand.

I noticed that many times along the path of my life,

There was only one set of footprints.

I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest

And saddest time in my life.

This really bothered me, and I questioned the Lord about it.

“Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you,

You would walk with me all the way,

But I noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life

There is only one set of footprints.

“I don’t understand why in times when I needed you most,

You should leave me.”

The Lord replied, “My precious, precious child,

I love you and I would never, never leave you

during your times of trial and suffering.

“When you saw only one set of footprints,

It was then that I carried you.”

… Mary Stevenson

COHN, M.D., ALAN F. Dr. Alan F. Cohn passed away peacefully at home on September 5, 2007 at the age of 75 with his wife, Bonnie, at his side. He is preceded in death by his first wife, Louise Huff McClure, M.D.; and brother, Bertram Cohn, M.D. Born in Brooklyn, NY, he graduated from Boys' High, Columbia University and the Universite de Geneve Medical School in Switzerland. Interning at Cedars Sinai Hospital, he completed a residency in internal medicine at Harbor General Hospital. At age 55, he completed a fellowship in cardiology at St. Mary's Hospital in Long Beach, CA. Beloved and appreciated by his many patients, Dr. Cohn practiced internal medicine and cardiology in the South Bay for over 40 years and was active on the medical staff at Torrance Memorial Hospital and Little Company of Mary Hospital. A long-time resident of Hermosa Beach, CA, he loved sailing in the Caribbean and New England as well as to Catalina Island. He was well known for his dry sense of humor and wide grin, and after retirement was a familiar sight walking on The Strand. Family and friends were central to his life. His robust health and energy were seriously compromised during the last seven years of his life due to Parkinsons' disease. Dr. Cohn is survived by his loving wife, Bonnie Mercer Cohn; a brother, David Cohn, of Santa Fe, New Mexico; his daughter, Deborah Cohn Hoshide, of Capt. Cook, Hawaii; and his eldest son, Aaron Cohn, M.D., of Harlingen, Texas. He took great pleasure visiting his second son, Joel Cohn, M.D., and daughter-in-law, Karen, of Okemos, Michigan; and Nicholas, Emily and Rachel, his treasured grandchildren. A private cremation and celebration of his life are planned for a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the Parkinson's Resource Organization, 74090 El Paseo, Suite, 102, Palm Desert, CA 92260 (www.parkinsonsresource.org) Please go to the mortuary's website, www.LAfuneral.com to send the family a message or to share a memory. Rice Mortuary Torrance, CA 310-792-7599