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2002:09:01:21:35:18 Obituaries B11 NURSING HOME NEGLECT Suspect a loved one has been the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect? Call now. Decubitus Ulcers (Bedsores) Broken Bones Weight Loss Dehydration Unexplained Injuries Free consultation If no recovery, you will not be liable for any fees or costs Attorney Concentrating in Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Cases Maher, Guiley and Maher, P.A. A Professional Corporation 888-859-2043 (Toll Free) Steven R. Maher, Esq. 3602811 1203 By MYRNA OLIVER TIMES STAFF WRITER Paul Tripp, the actor, director, writer and lyricist who taught generations of children about orchestral instruments with his imaginative the and about history and literature with his early television show I.

Magina- has died. He was 91. Tripp died Thursday in Manhattan of causes associated with aging. is the indelible story of a lonely, hapless little tuba who wanted his own melody but was assigned to limit himself forever to Derided as clumsy and overweight by the other instruments, he wanders off to the riverbank, meets a helpful bullfrog who teaches him an melody, and then delights the rest of the orchestra with his new tune. The moral and musical tale, often compared with a classical 1936 Prokofiev work, and the was first recorded by Tripp in 1945.

It has been re-recorded over the decades, selling more than 8 million copies. Liked the The little saga has been performed live by orchestras around the world conducted by such legends as Eugene Ormandy, Leonard Bernstein and Arthur Fiedler. Translated into 30 languages, it has been narrated by Danny Kaye, Jose Ferrer, Carol Channing, Peter Usti- nov and other actors and by the chef Julia Child, as well as by Tripp himself. A the recording was nominated for a Grammy in 1966, and a 1983 animated film was nominated for a short subject Oscar. said it taught people music the then- octogenarian Tripp told the Bergen (N.J.) Record a few years ago, when celebrated its 50th anniversary.

I know is, I liked the story and saw no reason why Tubby and I continue for a long Tripp, a native New Yorker whose father was a singer and actor, was an accomplished actor when emerged to point him toward educational entertainment. He made his Broadway debut in de in 1936. Four years later, Tripp was performing in George opera Against when he persuaded the composer to collaborate on his concept of The work was barely finished when Tripp was drafted in 1942, serving in the Army Signal Corps during World War II. Before being ordered to the China- Burma-India theater, he directed an Army production, Army, Play by After the war, proved so successful that it became natural to the new medium of television. In 1949, he launched his first show, I.

Magina- riding into living rooms on a toy train and wearing striped overalls. The CBS show lasted three years and earned him a Peabody award. creator, producer, director, writer and his magic train would whisk viewers to Imagination Land with its intriguing cities Ambi- tionville, Inventorsville and I- Wish-I-WereTown. A lifelong history buff, Tripp contrived his programs from stories in history and literature, introducing tykes to Rip Van Winkle, President Lincoln, sharpshooter Annie Oakley and circus impresario P.T. Barnum, among others.

a Joining Tripp in multiple roles for each half-hour episode was a small stock company, including his wife, actress Ruth Enders, and then-beginning actors Walter Matthau and Richard Boone. never considered it Tripp said on the 50th anniversary, echoing his comments. a do-gooder. I just loved imparting information to Tripp went on to produce and star in the another CBS educational variety program, from 1954 to 1959, earning an Emmy. Later, he starred in a third show, the birthday- themed for NBC from 1963 to 1967.

The prolific and eclectic entertainer wrote and published about 600 songs and wrote more than 30 record albums for children, including of Wee the and Night, Dear recorded by Johnny Mathis. Tripp also wrote four books, including Strawman Who Smiled by in 1967 and Little Red in 1968. He rarely ventured into Hollywood, except for the 1966 feature film Christmas That Almost about a purported hijacking of Santa Claus. The film, directed by and starring Rossano Brazzi, marked the film debut for Tripp, who also starred as well as wrote the script and lyrics. love of history placed him in several adult stage plays that also told fact-based stories.

He played Ben Franklin, for example, in a touring company of that appeared at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in 1971. He also toured in a one- man stage production of Rogers, U.S.A.” in 1974 and, in 1980, performed a PBS one-man show on Thomas Edison. The entertainer acted on several of the early live-television drama anthologies, including Television and Tripp attended what is now the City College of the City University of New York and studied law at Brooklyn College. Widowed in 1999, Tripp is survived by a daughter, Suzanne Jurmain of Los Angeles; a son, David of Stuyvesant, N.Y.; and two grandchildren. PAUL TRIPP He recorded the in 1945.

Translated into 30 languages, it has been re-recorded over the decades, selling more than 8 million copies. International Portrait Gallery Cast members of the 1997 Ballet Pacifica production of the left, Jorge Laico, Erin Tracy-Laico, Sheri Giller and James in a studio in Irvine. KAREN TAPIA-ANDERSEN Los Angeles Times Paul Tripp, 91; Father of the Love of history placed the actor in many fact-based stage roles, including that of Ben Franklin in a touring company of in Pasadena in 1971. Joseph McCluskey, 91; Olympian and Record Title-Winning Runner Joseph McCluskey, 91, the bronze medalist in the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles who held a record 24 national running titles, died Saturdayat his home in Madison, of causes associated with aging. In 1932, McCluskey captured the Olympic bronze medal in the steeplechase, a 7 1 2 -lap race that requires a runner to leap over water and three other hurdles every lap.

At the time, he was a junior and track star at Fordham University. McCluskey also competed in the 1936 Olympics and qualified for the 1940 Games that were canceled because of World War II. Between 1930 and 1948, running mostly under the banner of the New York Athletic Club, McCluskey earned his titles in track and road events ranging from steeplechases to 15-kilometer runs. He earned more than 100 trophies and 500 medals, coached track for the New York Athletic Club, and competed in masters events until he was 85. After serving in the Navy during World War II, McCluskey became a stockbroker.

He was elected to the National Track and Field Hall of Fame, and to the Fordham and N.Y. Athletic Club halls of fame. Glenn Watts, 82; Led Phone Workers Union Through Bell Breakup Glenn E. Watts, 82, the president of the Communications Workers of America who led the union through the breakup of the Bell telephone monopoly, died Fridayin Washington, D.C., of complications following surgery. The North Carolina native attended Wilson Teachers College, and first went to work for the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Co.

in 1941. He worked his way up through the union ranks from local president to national secretary-treasurer and then president from 1974 until retiring in 1985. CWA President Morton Bahr said that Watts over the Golden Age of workers in the Bell system. But when the big breakup came, Glenn had the vision to help guide us toward the many changes we would have to make in the new Information A friend of President Carter, Watts joined him at a meeting with Egyptian leader Anwar Sadat as part of Middle East peacemaking process. In 1985, Watts established a cultural center in Jerusalem that encourages understanding between Jewish and Arab members of labor federation.

From Times Staff and Wire Reports PASSINGS problem with the gut-and- amend said Sen. Steve Peace (D-El no public engagement between the houses in which the public can observe what the differences Peace is leaving the Legislature after 20 years because of term limits. The solution could be as simple as a basic civics lesson. Perhaps, Peace mused, lawmakers could buy placemats sold in the basement gift shop that detail a bill becomes a Of course, the real story of how a bill becomes a law is nuanced. Take, for example, SB 1078.

It began as a minor measure by Sen. Jim Battin (R-La Quinta)dealing with a few rural schools. It ended up being an effort by Sen. Byron Sher (D-Stanford)to require that private utilities obtain at least of the electricity they sell from wind, solar, geothermal or other renewable energy sources. The Assembly initially approved version of the bill Tuesday night, then rescinded its action.

Modesto-area lawmakers wanted to amend it to ensure that it would cover a trash-burning power plant in their hometown operated by Co- vanta Energy of New Jersey, even though garbage combustion does not typically fall within the definition of renewable energy. Once amended, the bill was sent on its way. Davis has said he will sign the measure. Placemats sold in Capitol gift shops discuss the influence of campaign donations. But legislators know that when candidates raise and spend $3 million or more for a job that pays $99,000 a year, campaign donations are vital.

got involved in politics because they said Sen. Ross Johnson elected in 1978. they immediately learn that caring enough. Caring get mailers out, or produce a survey of August is the month when the fate of hundreds of bills is decided. also prime fund-raising time, especially in an election year.

Virtually every lawmaker seeking some who have no election or are prevented by term limits from running Capitol area fund-raisers, charging a minimum $1,000. Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson (D-Culver City)raised at least $114,000 in August. Senate President Pro Tem John Burton (D-San Francisco)raised at least $80,000. No legislator came close to matching the fund-raising prowess of Davis, who took in more than $3.5 million in the first 29 days of the month. More than a few legislators, and many lobbyists, talk about diminished ethical standards.

I got here, it was said Assemblyman Rod Pacheco former Riverside County deputy district attorney who is leaving after serving his maximum six years in the lower house. it is Leonard tells of hearing newer members joke about how taking a particular position might alienate one political action committee or another. He tells of having to cut off discussion by clumsy interest group representatives who tie policy positions to campaign donations. are new and lines get pushed said Assemblyman Dean Florez boundaries seem to Florez presided over more than 100 hours of early summer hearings into the Davis failed $95-million computer software contract with Oracle by a revelation that shortly after the deal was consummated, an Oracle lobbyist handed a $25,000 check to a Davis aide who worked on the matter. The most significant piece of legislation to emerge from those hearings was a bill requiring that sales representatives of private vendors doing business with the state disclose details of their activities in public reports, much as lobbyists have done for decades.

The bill died without a hearing. Campaign donors always win. Burton started out the final day of the session by proclaiming that the entertainment industry, which has been a generous donor to his and many other California campaigns, was too arrogant in its demand for an $80- million tax break. sponsors keep coming up like they are entitled to something instead of asking for Burton bellowed. going to take what we give Which on this day was nothing.

Big-time financial industry lobbyists fared better. For the second year running, they persuaded moderate Assembly Democrats to side with Republicans and kill legislation by Sen. Jackie Speier (D-Hillsborough)that would have granted Californians greater privacy over their financial affairs. Deriding the lower house as Speier scoffed at last-minute maneuvers in which the foes tried to hijack her legislation, water it down, then vote for it, hoping to convince voters that they supported greater privacy rights. The issue will live on.

A select few lobbying groups consistently seem to win when it counts. The Assembly took time out to offer a fawning tribute and resolu- tionto perhaps the most powerful nonelected person in Sacramento, Don Novey. Novey is outgoing president of the California Correc- tional Peace Officers a union and one of the biggest campaign donors in California. In its first bill of the year, the Legislature in January approved with only one no vote and Davis signed into law the new labor pact, which granted them a pay increaseof as much as spread over the next five years. On the last day of the legislative session, a Senate resolution extending the life of a legislative committee that holds oversight hearings into the California Department of Corrections died in the Assembly, without notice or debate.

Times staff writers Carl Ingram and Nancy Vogel contributed to this report. ANALYSIS: A Downside to Term Limits Continued fromB1.