Mount Tamalpais Cemetery
The men and women are interred at Mount Tamaplais Cemetery in San Rafael, Marin County, California.
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- This lovely, long-haired, fresh-faced and most promising product of the late 1950s was born Diane Marie Antonia Varsi in San Mateo, California, on February 23, 1938, the elder of two daughters of Russell Varsi, a florist, and wife Beatrice DeMerchant. A troubling childhood led to her dropping out of high school, toiling instead in a number of nowhere jobs -- waitress, dress shop model, fruit picker, candle dipper, etc.
An intended spiritual sojourn in the mid-1950s from San Francisco to Mexico ended when she got as far as Los Angeles. A sensitive soul, Diane settled there and became interested in the fine arts, including folk singing, dancing, acting, writing poetry and music. She enrolled in actor Jeff Corey's acting classes and debuted in a community theater production of "Gigi." After a brief marriage that was annulled, Diane met and married producer James Dickson, who became her manager. A son Shawn Michael was born.
Through her contact with actor Corey, Diane was given the chance to audition for director Mark Robson for a part in the film version of the best-selling novel Peyton Place (1957). Despite the studio's objections, she was chosen by Robson over hundreds of others, despite her lack of experience, and made an auspicious debut in the coveted role of Allison MacKenzie. A critical hit as well as a box-office smash, Diane was nominated for an Academy Award ("Supporting Actress") along with fellow Peyton performers Lana Turner, Arthur Kennedy, Hope Lange and Russ Tamblyn, not to mention director Robson. Included in its nine nominations total was a "Best Picture" nod. She also shared a Golden Globe for "Most Promising Newcomer" with actresses Sandra Dee and Carolyn Jones. Despite the movie's shut-out at the Academy Awards ceremony, Diane was deemed a new and exciting star while columnist Louella Parsons went on to call her "Hollywood's Female Brando." A rebel and non-conformist by nature who had a difficult time with celebrity, she was compared to the late James Dean in her tendency to withdraw and avoid publicity.
After Peyton Place, Diane appeared in three more high-profile Twentieth Century-Fox productions -- From Hell to Texas (1958), a western directed by Henry Hathaway and co-starring Don Murray; Ten North Frederick (1958), featuring her as Gary Cooper daughter; and the lead female role in Compulsion (1959) based on the Leopold-Loeb murder case. All of these placed Diane in the top ranks of young new actresses, but she found it harder and harder to cope with the pressures of the studio system. She eventually suffered a nervous collapse. Unable to readjust to the pressures, she started to habitually turn down roles in important movie scripts. Eventually Fox suspended her.
In March of 1959, Diane abandoned Hollywood, divorcing her husband in the process, and moved with her son to Vermont, away from the limelight. Returning to her Bohemian lifestyle of poetry and solitude, she was still recognized. Within a couple of years Diane moved back to California. Marrying producer named Michael Hausman, she had with him a second child, daughter Willo, who later had a minor acting career under the name Willo Hausman.
Still barred from working at any studio by Fox, her contract finally expired in late 1964, and she became available again. The work was hardly in the same caliber as her earlier feats. Former co-star Don Murray helped her get a role in his low-budget film entitled Sweet Love, Bitter (1967), and a role in a Swedish film entitled Roseanna (1967), but it all led to nowhere.
In 1968 Diane Varsi began an association with American International Pictures and filmed the cult flick Wild in the Streets (1968) with the equally rebellious Christopher Jones playing a drugged-out politico. She also co-starred in a third-rate Bonnie and Clyde tale called Killers Three (1968). In 1969, she was featured with Robert De Niro and Bruce Dern in Roger Corman's Bloody Mama (1970) with Diane playing a hooker and a deranged Shelley Winters reenacting murderous Ma Barker. She also played roles that spoke to her, such as the nurse in the anti-war film Johnny Got His Gun (1971) and her part in the TV-movie The People (1972), about peaceful aliens invading the earth. A sprinkling of other TV assignments also came her way.
The writing was on the wall, however, for Diane. The dust had settled on what was the remnants of a once glorious career. After turning in a small role as an overweight mental patient in the excellent film I Never Promised You a Rose Garden (1977), Diane again dropped out of sight--this time for good. Little was heard although it was said she had returned to her poetry and took up photography. The newspapers reported her death on November 19, 1992, in Los Angeles at age 54, from respiratory problems due to complications from Lyme disease, which she had contracted back in 1977. - Lefty Gomez was born on 26 November 1908 in Rodeo, California, USA. He was married to June O'Dea. He died on 17 February 1989 in Greenbrae, California, USA.Plot: Garden of Devotion, lot 75, grave 7
GPS coordinates: 37.9861984, -122.5544891 (hddd.dddd) - Actor
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Howard Hickman was born on 9 February 1880 in Columbia, Missouri, USA. He was an actor and director, known for Gone with the Wind (1939), Kitty Kelly, M.D. (1919) and Nobody's Kid (1921). He was married to Bessie Barriscale. He died on 31 December 1949 in San Anselmo, California, USA.Plot: Mausoleum niche DN 502- Jacland Marmur was born on 14 February 1901 in Sosnowiec, Poland, Russian Empire [now Sosnowiec, Slaskie, Poland]. Jacland was a writer, known for Return from the Sea (1954), Schlitz Playhouse (1951) and Fireside Theatre (1949). Jacland died on 8 May 1970 in San Rafael, California, USA.
- Ernie had a son, Gene Sullivan who played football just like him. Baseball too. He never knew him, but his son, Gene Sullivan recently found out Ernie was his father. Gene was Evel Knievl's body guard. A heavyweight boxing champ. He is the longest touring motorcycle jumper in the world as seen in many Evel Knievel documentaries.
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June Antoinette Pointer was born on November 30, 1953 in Oakland, California to Reverend Elton Pointer and his wife Sarah. She was the youngest member of the hugely popular and successful soul/R&B group The Pointer Sisters. June attended Edison Elementary School, Elmhurst Junior High, and Castlemont High School. She received an honorary Bachelor of Arts degree from Bishop College. June began her professional singing career at age sixteen along with her sister Bonnie; they formed a duo called Pointers, A Pair. June's other sister Anita joined the act in 1969 and the duo became a trio. The group eventually formed into a quartet when Ruth Pointer joined in 1972. The Pointer Sisters went on to have a steady succession of hit songs throughout the 70s and 80s. June released the solo album "Baby Sister" in 1983; the song "Ready for Some Action" was a Top 30 R&B radio hit. June sang the song "Little Boy Sweet" on the soundtrack of the hilarious smash comedy "National Lampoon's Vacation." In 1986 she sang back-up vocals on the 1987 Top 5 hit cover of "Respect Yourself" by Bruce Willis and in 1987 she sang a duet with Dionne Warwick on the song "Heartbreak of Love" for Warwick's album "Reservations for Two." In 1989 June released her self-titled second solo album; the song "Tight on Time (I'll Fit U In)" was a good-sized R&B radio hit. She had a sizable role as Marsha in the 1995 film "French Exit." Alas, June had problems with drug addiction and was ousted from The Pointer Sisters in 2004 (she was also arrested for cocaine possession that same year). June Pointer died from cancer at the tragically young age of 52 on April 11, 2006 in Los Angeles, California.- Dinos Valentis is known for Broken Hearts (1945).
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Bessie Barriscale was born on 30 September 1884 in Hoboken, New Jersey, USA. She was an actress and producer, known for Rose of the Rancho (1914), Home (1916) and The Painted Soul (1915). She was married to Howard Hickman. She died on 30 June 1965 in Kentfield, California, USA.Plot: Mausoleum niche DN 502- Actor
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Russ Hodges was born on 18 June 1910 in Dayton, Tennessee, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for Scoreboard (1948), Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers Centennial Gala (2016) and Crawford Mystery Theatre (1951). He died on 19 April 1971 in San Francisco, California, USA.- Actress
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Singer/songwriter Patricia "Bonnie" Pointer was born on July 11, 1950 in Oakland, California. She's the second youngest member of the hugely popular and successful soul/R&B group The Pointer Sisters. Bonnie began singing in the choir of her father Reverend Elton Pointer's church. In 1969 Bonnie formed a duo with her younger sister June called Pointers, A Pair. The group became a trio after Anita Pointer joined in 1969 and eventually evolved into a quartet when Ruth Pointer joined in 1972. Bonnie recorded five albums with The Pointer Sisters and co-wrote such songs as "How Long" and the 1974 Grammy Award-winning breakthrough hit "Fairytale." She left the group to pursue a solo career in 1977. In 1976 Bonnie sang vocals on Bill Wyman's 1976 album "Stone Alone." Moreover, Bonnie co-wrote the song "Bring Your Sweet Stuff Home to Me" for Stevie Wonder's album "Having a Party." In 1978 Bonnie married Motown Records producer Jeffrey Bowen and released her self-titled debut solo album; the disco song "Heaven Must Have Sent You" peaked at #11 on the Billboard pop charts (this song was featured on the soundtrack to the 1998 film "54"). In 1979 Bonnie released her second album. Her third album "If The Price is Right" came out in 1984. Bonnie sings the songs "Heaven" and "The Beast in Me" on the soundtrack to the movie "Heavenly Bodies." She has twice reunited with The Pointer Sisters: she attended the ceremony for the unveiling of the star for group on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1994 and joined her siblings on stage for a concert performance of "Jump (For My Love)" in Las Vegas, Nevada on New Years Eve in 1996. Bonnie still continues to perform all over the country and has appeared at several Gay Pride celebrations throughout the United States. In early 2008 Bonnie Pointer embarked on a concert tour of Europe.- Elton Pointer was born on 2 April 1901 in Arkansas USA. He was married to Sarah Pointer. He died on 9 June 1979 in Marin County, California USA.
- Sarah Pointer was born on 13 January 1924 in the USA. She was married to Elton Pointer. She died on 15 November 2000 in California USA.
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Soul and R&B singer/songwriter Anita Marie Pointer was born on January 28, 1948 in Oakland, California. She's the second eldest member of the extremely popular and successful soul/R&B group The Pointer Sisters. Anita got married at age 17. In 1969 she quit her job as a secretary at a legal office in order to pursue a professional singing career. In 1972 she joined her siblings Ruth and Bonnie as a member of The Pointer Sisters. Anita has co-written many songs for The Pointer Sisters (said songs include the Grammy Award-winning breakthrough 1974 hit "Fairytale" and the rousing smash "I'm So Excited"). Moreover, Anita wrote the song "Step by Step" for smooth jazz musician Jeff Lorber. "Too Many Times," her duet with country singer Earl Thomas Conley, peaked at #2 on the country charts in 1986. In 1987 Anita released the solo album "Love For What It Is;" the song "Overnight Success" reached #41 on the R&B charts. Anita was inducted into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame in 1998. In 2003 Anita tragically lost her only daughter Jada to cancer (Jada was the subject of the 1975 song by The Pointer Sisters of the same name). In 2005 Anita recorded the song "Take Me Home" for an all-star tribute to Cher on Cleopatra Records. Besides singing and writing songs, Anita is also a painter and a collector of black memorabilia. Anita Baker still continues to sing with The Pointer Sisters along with her sister Ruth and Ruth's daughter Issa.