Mr. Pawluc had been an Executive Vice President in the Savings and Loan industry. Locally, many knew him as the manager of the Republic Federal Savings & Loan branch in Magnolia Park. Under his leadership, the company built a large modern building at 3521 W. Magnolia Blvd., in Magnolia Park. The building today is a Chase Bank branch.

In addition to his banking career, he was associated with Steven Pawluc Realty, as well as being involved in his own real estate development projects. Along with his sons, Anthony and John, he founded J.A.F. Travelers, a charter bus company, in 1994. He served as the company’s president. A skilled carpenter, he not only built his own home on Rose St., but also remodeled several other homes in Burbank.

Long active in various civic organizations in the community, Mr. Pawluc served on the City of Burbank’s Fire and Building Code Appeals Board, and Planning Board. In the 1970’s he ran for a seat on the Burbank City Council. He was a member of the Burbank Exchange Club, and a charter member of the Magnolia Park Exchange Club. Mr. Pawluc belonged to Burbank Elks Lodge 1497, the American Legion, and Glendale Moose Lodge. He was also active in the March of Dimes.

Frank played on or managed countless Burbank and Toluca Lake softball and bowling teams. He coached Little League Baseball teams, and youth soccer teams for over 20 years.

Born in Lynn Massachusetts in 1937, Mr. Pawluc attended the University of Buffalo, and the University of Indiana. He served in the U.S. Army, and was honorably discharged in 1966. He and his wife, Cecile, were married in 1965. They have three adult children, Anthony, John, and Donna. His wife and family were at his bedside when he passed away in the home that he had built some 40 years ago.

Surviving him in addition to his wife and children, are one granddaughter, Brittney; a sister, Blanche Tibbitts; brothers-in-law Lew Tibbitts, Roger Mercier, and Bob McPherson; and several nieces and nephews.

Frank requested that there be no public funeral, but there will be a celebration of his life on Sunday, April 22, at 11 a.m. for family and friends. For more information email jaftrav@aol.com or call 818-843-3155. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Frank J. Pawluc’s name to the Oncology Department at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center, or the Motion Picture and Television Fund.

Scott Slaughter Smith, 1926—2012.

Scott Slaughter Smith “Scotty” was born on March 9, 1926, in San Francisco, Calif. Scott was a courageous United States Marine who spent three years in a foxhole in the Pacific during WWII fighting for his country. He fought at the battles of Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan, and Okinawa. He earned the Bronze Star for his bravery, the Purple Heart for his wounds, and many other medals and awards for his sacrifice and service.

His most fierce battle was his last. He fought gallantly but lost his battle with Alzheimer’s on March 31, 2012. Scott was proud that he spent most of his life in various forms of Law Enforcement. He had many roles in his life: Las Vegas Deputy Sheriff, Investigator, Business Owner, and Author, just to name a few. He wrote and published Unspoken Bond of Courage. This was his book about his time as a young man in the United States Marine Corps during WWII. He also was a loyal employee of Warner Bros. Pictures for over 27 years.

But the role he cherished the most was that of loving husband for over 65 years to his beautiful wife Kathleen. They were married in 1946 at Oakland, Calif. Scott was a longtime resident of Burbank and the Toluca Lake area. He was a sixth generation Californian. His ancestors were among the families that founded California in 1769. The Slaughter side of the family landed in Jamestown, Va., in 1616 and were among the founding families of Virginia and the United States.

One of his great grandfathers is known as the father of Las Vegas, Octavius Decatur Gass; his property encompassed the entire area and he named it Rancho Las Vegas in 1865.

Scott was a God-fearing man who was very proud of his heritage, his Country, and the fact that he was a United States Marine. Patriotism ran deep in his heart. Scott was a strong, proud man that carried himself with pride and dignity his entire life. He will be sorely missed by his family and friends. We mourn the life of this man and send him to his Lord.

Scott leaves behind his wife Kathleen of Palmdale, his children Michael James of Burbank, Stephen Christopher of New York, Mark Patrick of Palmdale, Claudia Edens of Palmdale, and Linda Susan Eguia of Palmdale. He had five grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. In loving memory rest in peace. His family will hold a private service.

He is probably best known for his sense of humor. He always had a joke or silly poem at the ready. He had a gift for healing with his skills as a chiropractor and his patients sought him out for generations. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Margit, and their two grown children, Betina and David. Funeral services will be held at Pierce Brothers Valhalla in N. Hollywood on Saturday, March 3, at 10 a.m.

In lieu of cut flowers, please gift potted plants or make a donation to the Toluca Lake Lions Club.

Dona Lewis.

Dona Lewis was a longtime resident of Toluca Lake. She loved the energy of Warner Bros. Studios and being a part of the Property Department.

Her creativity and beauty came from within. She was kind, loving, and generous to her family and animals.

While she remains in our hearts, she has left a void in the lives of those who love her.

She is survived by her children, Garin, Jacque, and Michele Bougié; as well as her siblings, Pat Sharkey, Lucille Ortegel, and Gene Yeager.

Ines Tartari Stevens.

That’s one of the ways we’ll remember her. Even at 100, she still took her daily walks down San Fernando Road and then sometimes she would sit on a bench for hours people-watching. She was so friendly and sweet, but what most people didn’t know was that she was the first woman ever to attend and graduate from law school in Italy!

She was so incredibly modest about what at the time was a monumental accomplishment that you’d never find out about it unless someone else told you. Alas, she never got to practice because shortly after graduating from law school, she met her true love, Henry Stevens, and moved to New York. They eventually moved to Southern California where she had two sons, Ralph and Steve.

Even at 100, she was as sharp as a tack, with a wry, unexpected sense of humor. And she still liked to kick up her heels at the annual dances they have in the Burbank Plaza where, by the way, she still had many a gentlemen asking her to dance!

Up until the end she had an infectious zest for life! And did I mention that this little dynamo was fluent in five languages? (English, Italian, German, French, and Spanish!) She would even teach anyone who wanted to learn Italian for free. Though she moved into assisted care this past August, she left an indelible imprint on all of her friends and neighbors. In fact, we had the privilege of seeing her one last time at a party we held in her honor last Saturday. This brilliant kind-hearted trailblazing lady will be oh so sorely missed, but never forgotten! She is survived by her loving sons and daughters-in-law, Ralph and Cathy and Steve and Christine; as well as grandchildren, Savannah, Christie, and Clayton.

Suzanne Ackerman

Suzanne was a long-time resident of Toluca Lake. She did volunteer work for most of her life, but the Discovery Shop was fortunate to have her time for the last 15 years. Her faithfulness and dedication were exemplary; and working behind the counter, she always looked like she had stepped off the cover of Vogue. She had class.

Volunteers and customers will sorely miss her and, as the manager of the shop, I feel a very deep personal loss.

— Amy Widener

Preceded in death by his lovely wife June Anna Mae Hummel Thomson, Dr. Thomson is survived by three children, Sheryll, Patrisha, and Robert Thomson, all located in the Los Angeles area; three grandchildren, Travis and Ben Thomson, and Leah Flanagan; and four great-grandchildren, Elijah and Alannah June Thomson, and William and Margaret June Flanagan.

Thomson developed the SUPERthrive® formula in 1939. Seventy-two years later, he was still engaged in the daily operations of his company, Vitamin Institute, actively selling worldwide. As the new president, his daughter Patrisha Thomson will continue her father’s legacy of improving horticultural and agricultural crops with the firm’s sole product.

Holding a Ph.D. in biochemistry, Thomson collected awards and commendation for his lifetime of work. In 1940, he earned the Science & Industry’s only Gold Medal at the San Francisco World’s Fair Golden Gate International Exposition. In 2006, Dr. Thomson became the first chemist to be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Lawn & Garden Marketing & Distribution Association. Other honors include Lifetime Environmental Awareness Award from Sustainable Environmental Education and induction into the “Nursery Retailer” Magazine’s Hall of Fame.

Dr. Thomson attributed his longevity to his family upbringing, a fortunate environment, and a mental ability that hit the ceiling on the Standard I.Q. test.

Thomson’s grandfather and great-grandfather were owners of the biggest hotel in Detroit, and both of his parents were successful professionals and top money-raisers for the American Red Cross during World War I. His mother, Florence Antisdel Thomson, actually raised enough money to build an entire Red Cross base hospital in France.

His parents promoted individuality and personal health, fueling Thomson’s life-long interest in nutrition, leading to his life’s work in nutrition for both people and plants.

Throughout World War II, his SUPERthrive® was used by five U.S. Government departments (Army Corps of Engineers, Air Force, Navy, Department of Agriculture, and Forest Service) respectively to: transplant mature trees for defense plant camouflage; plant and sustain low-dust turf landing fields; improve soil conditions where salt interfered with plant success; develop vital drug- and oil-bearing plants domestically; and increase production of necessary guayule rubber.

Dr. Thomson is listed in 39 different Who’s Who Directories and has served in many community positions. He served as officer and delegate with Boy Scouts of America, and as President of both Kiwanis of North Hollywood and the China Society in Los Angeles. Founding members of the latter included Thomson’s wife and her parents, Dr. William and Mildred Hummel.

A longtime member of the First United Methodist Church of North Hollywood, Thomson served on the church administrative board and as chairman of the Commission on Church & Society. He was an honorary lifetime member of United Methodist Men and has served as its President, and as program leader and lecturer.

Dr. Thomson was very fortunate in his last months to have a wonderful staff of medical personnel and companions to watch over and encourage him, for which the family expresses deep gratitude. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

When asked about his primary philosophy of life, Dr. Thomson summed it up saying, “My whole idea is to try to leave the world better off for wherever I touch it.”

Beryl Davis.

British-born Beryl Davis, whose eight-decade career included singing with Glenn Miller, Bob Hope, and Frank Sinatra, has died. She was 87.

The daughter of English band leader Harry Davis, she traveled with his Oscar Rabin-Harry Davis Band and was their featured singer by age eight.

At 12, she was booked with the Quintet of The Hot Club of France, featuring Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli.

She soon came to the attention of Glenn Miller and began singing with his Air Force band. Her last broadcast with Miller was on Dec. 12, 1944. Three days later, Miller took his fateful flight over the English Channel.

Bob Hope invited her to Hollywood to appear on his radio show, and Frank Sinatra invited her to be his singing partner on “Your Hit Parade.”

In 1948, she married Hollywood radio and television personality Peter Potter, host of “Peter Potter’s Platter Parade” and later, the Emmy-winning “Jukebox Jury.” The couple had three children and divorced in 1965.

In 1954, Davis, with friends Jane Russell, Connie Haines, and Rhonda Fleming, performed a gospel song, “Do Lord,” for a church benefit. It was recorded and went Gold, selling two million copies. The group recorded and performed for TV, stage, and nightclubs.

As a solo act, she was admired and respected by the many Big Band musicians with whom she worked with around the globe.

She was preceded in death by her partner of 35 years, record executive and concert producer Buck Stapleton, in 2003. They were longtime residents of Toluca Lake, Calif., where she served as Honorary Mayor. The couple also resided in Palm Springs, Calif., where she received her star on the Palm Springs Walk of Fame.

She is survived by her children, Bill Moore, Merry Moore, and Melinda Moore Garber; her sister, Lisa “Cherry” Davis; and grandchildren, Shannon Moore and Asher Ferguson.

Funeral services are planned for 12:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 4, at Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills, Church of the Hills. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Alzheimer’s Association by visiting alz.org or calling Jennifer directly at (323) 930-6246.

Cates produced the Academy Awards® 14 times between 1990 and 2008, more than any other individual. He was responsible for first bringing hosts Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, David Letterman, Steve Martin, Chris Rock, and Jon Stewart to Oscar’s stage.

Cates served three consecutive terms as a governor of the Academy’s Directors Branch, from 1984 to 1993. He returned to the board for another term beginning in 2002, and held the post of vice president from 2003 to 2005.