The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • Page 26

MEB9B9LAlll-10-05thlCMYK 2005:11:09:22:04:36 CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES TIMES THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2005 B9 Obituaries K.R. Narayanan, 85; Diplomat Who Became President of India 4 ment. Gandhi believed the election of an untouchable as president would mark a symbolic end of the degradation of Hindus on the lowest rung of the caste system. Commonly used a century ago, the term "untouchables" has been replaced by the more politically correct Dalits, which literally translates as "broken people." It applies to nearly a quarter of India's billion-plus population. At his inaugural, Narayanan condemned "caste-ism" and said the election of "someone who has sprung from the grass-roots of our society is symbolic of the fact that the concerns of the common man have now moved to the center stage." During his presidency, which ended in 2002, the soft-spoken Narayanan showed he wasn't afraid to take a stand.

He broke set up by Gandhi helped Narayanan attend a local college, and a grant from a local industrialist allowed him to graduate from the London School of Economics. After working as an English teacher and journalist, he returned to India in 1948 with a letter of introduction from a prominent economist to Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. The prime minister waved an age limit so Narayanan could join the foreign service and later granted another exemption so he could marry a Burmese woman. "Caste wasn't such a big issue or obstacle in Narayanan's life; the big issue was poverty," Mad-havan Kutty, a former editor from Kerala told the Washington Post in 1997. He served as an ambassador to several countries, including the United States from 1980 to from precedent twice to defy the government that appointed him, refusing to sack opposition-ruled state administrations.

(The prime minister is the head of India's government.) "Coming from a very poor family, coming up only with the dint of his own effort and labor, he proved that neither religion nor caste can come in the way of a person who is able to exert himself intellectually," former Prime Minister I.K. Gujral said on private New Delhi television. Kocheril Raman Narayanan was born Oct. 27, 1920, in a thatched hut in a village in the southern state of Kerala, the fourth of seven children of a traditional village healer. Barred from elementary school because his family could not afford to pay for it, he learned by standing outside the classroom window.

A fund for oppressed Indians 1984, and was elected to parliament three times before assuming the vice presidency in 1992. When India's equivalent of the American electoral college elected him president, one of his opponents was a granddaughter of Gandhi. As India's 10th president, Narayanan avoided criticizing caste discrimination and emphasized the "slow but steady movement of the lower classes." Discrimination based on social caste was barred in 1950. In 1992, Narayanan recalled that when he was growing up he was not allowed to walk past the verandas of upper-caste homes in his village. "I learned to develop a thick skin," he said.

"It helped me as a diplomat later." Narayanan is survived by his wife, Usha, and daughters Am-rita and Chitra, who is India's ambassador to Turkey. By Valerie J. Nelson Times Staff Writer K.R. Narayanan, a former president of India who brought a deeper meaning to the largely ceremonial position when he rose from the bottom of the country's ancient caste system to become the first "untouchable" to hold the office, has died. He was 85.

Narayanan, who had been suffering from pneumonia and kidney failure, died Wednesday at an army hospital in New Delhi, a spokesman for India's defense ministry announced. He had been on life support since Oct. 31. His elevation to the presidency in 1997 three weeks before India marked 50 years of independence from Britain fulfilled the vision of Mohandas K. Gandhi, the founder of independent India, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said in a state AJIT KUMAR Associated Press K.R.

NARAYANAN Born into extreme poverty, he was the first "untouchable" to become president of India. OBITUARIESFUNERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS TAKAGI, Alex Yoshiro (93) Passed away on November 7. Beloved husband of Mary Hiroko Takagi; father of Alan Hideki (Laura Mae) and Ben Eiji (Lillian Yuriko) Takagi; grandfather of Alan Hideki, Tawni Tamaki, James Jiro and Betsy Lynne Sayuri Takagi; brother of Henry Randel of London, England; brother-in-law of Michiko Tanaka of Japan, many nieces, nephews and other relatives. Funeral service will be held on Monday, November 14, at 7:30 p.m., under the auspices of Zenshuji Soto Mission, 123 S. Hewitt Los Angeles.

Kubota Nikkei Mortuary, Directors (213) 749-1449 Family requests that flowers be omitted. CosAtifleles Sftmee TANJI, Jon Nobuyuki (age 22) Born in Garden Grove, CA, resident of Anaheim, passed away on Nov. 6, 2005. Beloved son of Gene S. and Hisako Tanji; grandson of Paul S.

Tanji and Fumie Kanemori; nephew of Chester (May) Tanji of Hawaii, Jane Fumi Tanji, Sharon Michi (Richard) Reckers, and Rose Yuko (Hiroyuki) Matsumura; and also survived by many other relatives here and in Hawaii. Funeral service will be held on Mon. Nov. 14, 2005, 2:00 P.M. at Orange County Buddhist Church, 909 S.

Dale Ave. Anaheim, CA. www.fukuimortuary.com (213)626-0441 The family requests casual attire. YAGER, Betty Mount Sinai Mortuaries and Memorial Parks Hollywood Hills 800-600-0076 Cemetery LotsCrypts FOREST LAWN COVINA HILLS. Be interred like king in $99,000 Sarcophagus.

Call 323.965.0600pp HOLLYWD HLS. Forest Lawn, 2 Side by side "Summerland" $3800 Pp. 818-364-1939 FOREST LAWN-COVINA 2 plots, val $4200, sac $3000 obo (702838-8033) PP HILLSIDE Mem Park. Mt of Olives. Blk 16, plot 482, Spc 3.

incls all (949)472-3508 inglewood Park Cemetery Double Capacity Mausoleum "Grand View" 38DT, Big Tier 4. $61 95 323-559-0039 inglewood Park Cem. Great location. "El Sereno" Must Sell! Best Offer. Pp.

805-647-0915 HOLLYWOOD HILLS FOREST LAWN 1 space lot 3302 "Murmuring Trees" $5000 (323)935-7416 PP ERNIE McDANIEL, 68; JAZZ MUSICIAN Ernie McDaniel was a highly regarded musician. Born in -i ti Coates, Kansas, 1937, he was to become one of the most sought after bassists in the business. He died on November 7th in Tarzana, California. SMITH, Alvin Peter "Flip" The youngest child of William and Kenney Smith, was born in New Orleans, Louisi ana, 19 October 1919, died 6 November 2005, brother of the late Augustus Smith, William Smith, Golda Smith, Nellie Smith Andrews, Octave Smith, Lawrence A. Smith, and Florence Smith Pender.

Alvin was married to Miss Leat-rice Mahoney of New Orleans, Louisiana, and had a daughter, Jeanmarie Smith Phillips, the apple of his eye. He went to school in New Orleans at Xavier Preparatory School, where he participated in football and basketball. He went into the Army of the United States on 20 May 1941, and was discharged 30 September 1945. He was overseas for 20 months in the European theater of operations. He participated in five battle campaigns, received the Good Conduct Medal, rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant.

He later attended Los Angeles City College and worked in the Railway Mail Service in New Orleans, Little Rock, Arkansas, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, California. He is survived by his daughter, Jeanmarie and her husband, Michael Phillips of Pasadena, California, his grandson, Max Phillips, of Los Angeles, California, and his granddaughter, Valerie Phillips, of Seattle, Washington, and by a host of nieces and nephews: Roger D. Pender, his wife Charlotte, and Roger D. Pender, III of Downey, California, and Heather Pender of Oakland, California; Ann-Marie Jackson and Angie Jackson, of Denver, Colorado; Lawrence A. Smith, his wife Lillian, and Lauren Smith, of New Orleans, Louisiana; Alvin P.

Smith, his wife Burma, and Keith Smith of New Orleans, Louisiana, and Marc and Lolita Smith of Houston, Texas; Errol Smith, his wife Shelly, Errol, and Geoffrey Smith, of New Orleans, Louisiana; Kenneth Smith, his wife Michele, Kameron and Kodi Smith of Atlanta, Georgia. He has been preceded by his late niece Aerrika-Yve Penn of Denver, Colorado, and his late nephew Octave R. Smith of New Orleans, Louisiana. Al Smith was a member of Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Los Angeles since 1950. He was an usher at the 10:00 a.m.

Mass, and served as the Plant Manager for a number of years, a voluntary service. He was an avid poetry reader and had many friends in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Los Angeles, California. Visitation will be on Thursday, Nov. 10, 12-6 p.m. at Spalding Mortuary, 3045 S.

LaBrea L.A., (323) 934-1181, with the rosary at 7 p.m. at Holy Name of Jesus Church, 1955 W. Jefferson L.A. Funeral Mass will be Friday, Nov. 11 at 10 a.m.

at Holy Name of Jesus Church, burial following at Holy Cross Cemetery, 5835 W. Slauson Culver City. SNYDER, Jeanne Graveside services today at 10:00 a.m. at Live Oak Memorial Park. Pierce Brothers Simone DuBois Mortuary (626) 287-0595 He has performed and recorded with many great artists including Benny Goodman, Errol Garner, Dean Martin and Dinah Shore, as well as Frank Sinatra, Billy Eckstein, Maynard Ferguson, Lou Rawls, Charlie Barnett, Duke Ellington and Stan Kenton.

After working in Las Vegas in the 60's he moved to Los Angeles where he came to the attention of Earl Palmer (drummer) and Red Mitchell (bass), who among others mentored him. His career flourished which led to jobs with Burt Bacharach, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, Nelson Riddle and Ray Charles, among others. His range of music included jazz, Latin and pop from the 20's to the present. Extremely memorable were his two Vietnam Christmas tours with Bob Hope for which he received an acknowledgement from the Department of Defense for entertaining our troops. He is cherished and respected by all his fellow musicians.

Ernie is survived by his wife Bonnie and daughter Leslie. His other daughter Kelly died several years ago. A memorial service will be held at Church of the Hills, Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills, Saturday, November 12th at 3:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to UC Davis School Veterinary Medicine, Davis, California, (www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu). OBITUARIES Aguilera, Angelina Berkeley, Ericka Berman, Anneliese Conover, John Delgado, Margarito Filardo, Antonio Fourcher, Edwin Fujii, Masao Green, Roy Henry, Jo Ann Kanovsky, Rose McDaniel, Ernie Orlof Ruetta Ostrin, Edna Pierce, Robert Pina, Manuel Ramirez-Contreras, Agustin Rice, Max Rodriguez, Porfirio Rosenthal, Lucille Ross, William Schwartz, Miriam Scott, Mary Serna, Mike Smith, Alvin Snyder, Jeanne Takagi, Alex Tanji, Jon Yager, Betty AGUILERA, Angelina Guerra-Gutierrez (323)722-1900 www.guerragutierrez.com BERKELEY, Ericka Marie, MD Ericka Marie Berkeley was born in New York City, New York on August 22, 1937 to Norman and Katherine Berkeley.

She spent her early childhood in Hamilton, Bermuda and returned to Bronx, New York where she attended Walton High School for Girls. She went on to New York University where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in 1959. She was then accepted to Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, DC as one of only four women in the class of 1963. After receiving her Doctorate of Medicine, she completed a residency in Internal Medicine at Meadowbrook Hospital in Hempstead, Long Island, New York. She worked briefly for the Nassau County Health Department before moving to Southern California in 1970.

Since then, she has lived in the San Fernando Valley, Ladera Heights, and West Los Angeles. She joined the Department of Internal Medicine at Kaiser Perma-nente Los Angeles (Sunset) in mid-1970. She was a fixture in the department, remaining until her retirement in 1995 after 25 years of service. She was well -respected by her peers and was much loved by her patients throughout the years. She was known for her clinical acumen and frank communication style.

She had a brief first marriage to James Roland Clark in 1962 that ended after two years. On December 18, 1966 she married Joseph Ira Gaines, Jr. and spent almost 40 years together in enduring love. In addition to her dear husband, she is survived by her three children, Dr. Liana Roxanne Clark, Dr.

Jade Ericka Gaines and Officer Scott Norman Gaines; her sister, Dr. Marsha Helene Berkeley, her nieces, Tyler Berkeley Brewington and Jordan Berkeley Brewington, her granddaughter, Athena Isabella Gaines, and a host of family and friends. Visitation will take place at the Simpson's Family Mortuary, 3443 W. Manchester Inglewood, CA 90305 on Friday, November 11, 2005 from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The funeral will be held on Saturday, November 12, 2005 at 1 p.m. at St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, 5100 Coliseum Street, Los Angeles, CA 90016. Interment will follow the funeral at Inglewood Park Cemetery, 720 East Florence Avenue, Inglewood, CA 90301. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the The American Lung Association, 61 Broadway, New York, NY 10006.

BERMAN, Anneliese (nee Heckhausen) Writer and artist, passed away peacefully in her home in San Gabriel, CA on Monday, November 7. She will be missed by her four children, Margaret, Ralph, Fred and Carol and her eight grandchildren. She will buried at sea as was her husband John. CONOVER, John Austin was born May 9, 1913 in Kansas City, Missouri, and passed away on November 5, 2005 in Northridge. Austin Conover worked for 30 years as a reporter for the Hollywood Citizen News.

He reported on communism internationally and on local news in Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley. His work includes the Pulitzer Prize nominated series "Campground Russia" in 1961. He served as the Public Information Officer at Los Angeles Valley College until 1984. He continued as curator of the L.A. Valley Historical Museum until his 90th birthday.

He is survived by sons John Austin and Charles Thomas, five granddaughters and two great-granddaughters. He was predeceased by his beloved Catherine in 1990. Services will be at Hollywood Hills Forest Lawn at 9 a.m., November 11. Funeral Directors HOLLYWOOD i ii I IT ij tn CcIV.lIlTV M.1UM 'lcuir CivniLi tv Nliiijiikil Tlkvilcr A in' ROSS, William Lawrence, M.D. On Monday night, November 7, Dr.

William Ross passed away at home with his wile ol more than 65 years, Jacqueline, by his side. While he had been in failing health due to a heart condition for the past several months, Bill Ross had lived a vibrant and rich life for over 90 years. Born in Los Angeles on October 26, 1915 to William L. Ross and Alice Spillane Ross, Bill showed at a very young age he was a person of character, and one meant to succeed. He was an only child surrounded by a large, loving extended family.

In his youth, he rode horses with his cousins Shane and Sheila Lloyd-Butler at their ranch in Saticoy. He loved sports and learned to box from a neighborhood friend, Claude Leonard, in his backyard on Hillcrest Drive near Washington Boulevard where he was raised. He attended St. Paul's Grammar School and Loyola High School where he thrived, then was tested at an early age with the loss of both parents within two years as he was entering college. During his college years at Loyola University he lived with a loving aunt and uncle, Louis and Lillian Canniff.

He graduated from Loyola in 1936 in three years, going on to Creighton University Medical School in Omaha, NE where he received his M.D. in 1940. Upon graduation, Bill married Jacqueline Mathieu on June 17, 1940, his devoted wife for the past 65 years. During WWII, he joined the Navy and was immediately attached to the Marine Corps with whom he made three landings in the Pacific at Saipan, Tinian and Iwo Jima. After the war, the family settled in Los Angeles where Bill went into private practice as a general surgeon working out of St.

John's Hospital in Santa Monica. In 1966, he was elected Chief of Staff of St. John's for a two-year tenure, and remained working out of the hospital until retiring in 1986. Over the years, he was a member of, and very involved with, several California medical societies. He was also a member of the Los Angeles Country Club where he was an avid golfer for more than 50 years, and a member of the Jonathan Beach Club where he loved to body surf, a sport he enjoyed his entire life.

Dr. William Ross leaves his wife, Jacqueline; his sons, William and Robert; his daughter, Sheila Reynolds; his daughter-in-law, Marilyn Ross and son-in-law, Thomas Reynolds; and grandchildren, William, Katherine, Moira, Adam and Patrick. He goes to meet his eldest grandchild, Christine, who passed away October 20, 1985, and who awaits their reuniting with open arms. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: The Christine M. Ross Memorial Scholarship, Cathedral Catholic High School, 5555 Del Mar Heights San Diego, CA 92130 or In Memory of Dr.

William L. Ross, St. John's Health Center, Foundation Office, 1328 22nd Santa Monica, CA 90404-2091. A funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday, November 11, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. at Corpus Christi Church in Pacific Palisades, corner of Sunset and Toyopa.

Pierce Brothers Mortuary, Westwood (310) 474-1579 SCHWARTZ, Miriam Mount Sinai Mortuaries and Memorial Parks Hollywood Hills 800-600-0076 SCOTT, Mary Katherine Of Hawthorne, passed away Nov. 8, 2005 at the age of 72. She was born Dec. 19,1932. Mrs.

Scott is survived by her husband, Warren; sons, Gerald (Amy), Mike (Vicki); daughter, Susie (Scott) Vance; seven grandchildren. Services will be private. Green Hills Mortuary (310) 831-0311 SERNA, Mike R. Mike was born on October 6, 1921 in Calvillo, Aguas Calientes, Mexico to Manuel and Guadalupe Serna. He passed away on Friday, Nov.

4, 2005 of lung cancer at his home surrounded by his wife and family. He was preceded in death by his mother and father and his three brothers. He is survived by his loving wife, Alvina; his daughter, Cynthia Moriarty of Long Beach; sons, Roger (Sandy) of Corona and Michael of Quail Valley; his two grandchildren, Kerry and Michael John Moriarty of Long Beach; sister, Amparo (Carl) Wieland of Yorba Linda. He was the proprietor of DBS Corp. in Placentia, CA.

A rosary will be held today, Thursday, Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Josephs Catholic Church, Placentia with funeral services on Friday at 10:30 a.m. at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Cancer Society 1800227-2345. For Obituary Notices 1-800-528-4637 77241 or 77242 Etofi Angeles Sfanes Funeral Directors Casket Discount Over 50 Available with Funeral Packages Glendale Long Beach FD 656 FD 1151 Cypress Covina Hills FD 1051 FD 1150 Hollywood Hills FD 904 Celebrate a life. 1800204-3131 DELGADO, Margarito R. Margarito (Mago) Rodriguez Delgado, ,82, a life long native of Chino passed away Saturday, November 5, 2005 surrounded by his family, succumbing to Myelodysplastic syndrome. Mago was born on Oct.

17, 1923, to Manuela R. and Rafael Delgado in Chino, at Fuller Ranch along the Santa Ana River near Rincon in the Prado Basin. A graduate of Chino High School "The Kid" experienced an exemplary studentathlete career. He served with the Army Signal Corps in both the European and Pacific theaters during World War II, was awarded three bronze stars with the 3262nd Signal Service Company as a Tec 4 radio intercept operator during the campaigns in the Rhineland, Central Europe, South Philippine Liberation and Luzon. He mustered out on January 22, 1946 at Fort MacArthur, California.

He returned to Chino and married Frances Yamas his high school sweetheart. He operated Delgado's Automotive Shop. He worked at Lockheed, North American, Northrop and Pacific Airmotive Corporation (PAC) at the Chino Airport. In 1961 became a youth counselor at the California Youth Authority. He retired in 1974 and spent his retirement years attending to his rental properties.

He helped form Boy Scout Troop 207 and Explorer Post 207 in Chino and loved to talk of the early Mexican families that helped build the Chino Valley. He enjoyed history, camping, travelling and dancing, keeping active to the end. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Frances Yamas Delgado; six children: Martha, Henry, David, Arthur, Frank Delgado, and Helen Acree, ten grandchildren, two great-granddaughters, and seven siblings. Visitation and viewing to be held from 3 to 5:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 11, 2005 at Pierce Bros-Griffith Mortuary, 13002 Central Chino (909) 628-2329.

The Rosary will be at 7 p.m., St. Margaret Mary's Church, 12686 Central Chino Friday, November 11, 2005. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 5048 Street, Chino on Saturday, November 12, 2005 followed immediately by interment at Holy Cross Cemetery Pomona. In lieu of flowers, you may send a donation to the Chino Historical Society in memory of Margarito R.

Delgado. FILARDO, Antonio Born on April 3, 1921 in the Philippines. Passed away November 5, 2005 in Los Angeles, CA. Survived by wife Esther, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and many other relatives and friends. Antonio Filardo fought in World War II in the Philippines.

He sacrificed much during that time. He was a Japanese P.O.W. but escaped prison after six months. His favorite saying from General MacArthur was "I shall return." The music of the "Greatest Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman fascinated him. And so the rooms of the house were filled with wonderful music through the decades.

This brought him and his family much joy. Delicious food, very delicious food in abundance, were his trademark welcome for anyone who visited. Although he was a man of few words, he would welcome you in the with a plate full of food. This was his way of putting you at ease in his house, which was indeed his castle. He changed his own oil, did his own tune-ups.

He was the house plumber, carpenter and electrician. It seemed he was the last of the real do-it-yourselfers. He was fiercely independent, a tough and strong man in mind and body. If you got close enough to know him, it could only mean that you loved him. It was the only way and it was his way.

There is no quote more appropriate than this line from his favorite Frank Sinatra song: "For what is a man, what has he got? If not himself, then he has naught to say the things he truly feels and not the words of one who kneels. The record shows I took the blows and did it my way." Listen to the entire lyrics sometime, they pretty much sum up this man's life. More than you know. We love you dad. Rest dear father, rest and we'll be with you later with music, dancing and plates and plates of delicious food.

Visitation November 10, 2005 from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Holy Cross Mortuary, 5835 W. Slauson Culver City, CA. Funeral Services November 11, 2005 at 9:30 a.m.

at Risen Christ Chapel at Holy Cross Cemetery with burial to follow. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Gerard Majella Catholic Church in Los Angeles, California in his name. Holy Cross Mortuary Directors (310) 836-5500 HOLY CROSS JMORTUARY A subsidiary of Stewart Enterprises, Inc. Culver City FD 1711 FOURCHER, Edwin Theodore (97) Of Newport Beach, passed away November 4, 2005.

He is survived by his wife, Elzi Fourcher; son, Fred Fourcher (Adriana); grandchildren, Jordan and Christopher Fourcher; sister, Lillian Steventon. Funeral services will be 9:30 a.m., Saturday, November 12, 2005, at Pacific View Memorial Chapel, 3500 Pacific View Drive, Corona del Mar, CA 92625. FUJII, Masao (75) Resident of Monterey Park, passed away on November 2, 2005. Beloved father of Kenneth (Tammy) Fujii and Joyce (Jeffrey) Yamashiro, grandfather of Justine, James and Jessica Yamashiro and Kyle and Glenn Fujii and brother of Junko Yanaginuma; also survived by other relatives. Family services were held on November 9 at Green Hills Mem.

Park. Fukui Mortuary Directors. hlvn III II GREEN, Roy Peter June 13th 1926- October 27th 2005 Royalist, Writer-Producer, Magician, England's Cowboy Steve Larrabee, "The Lone Star Rider" featured on BBC-TV and Radio Luxemburg. Memorabilia donated to the Gene Autry Museum. Member of BAFTA-LA, Hollywood's Magic Castle, Past President of The British Mayflower Club.

Honored by the late King Abdullah of Trans-Jordan, by King Kigali of Rwanda and by L.A. Mayor Tom Bradley. Survived by a sister and two nephews in the U.K. and countless friends. HENRY, JoAnn who found adoptive parents and homes for the most difficult to place children in the Los Angeles County Department of Adoptions for 25 years died November 2, 2005 of kidney failure at the age of 74.

A native of Los Angeles, California, she earned a masters degree in Social Work at USC. She was the director of the Society of Our Lady of the Way, a Catholic religious community for working women for six years and a member for 24 years. Services will be held on Saturday, November 12, 2005 at Blessed Sacrament Church, 6657 Sunset Blvd. 9:30 a.m. Viewing and Rosary with Mass at 10 a.m.

Interment immediately following at Holy Cross Cemetery Slauson and Bristol In lieu of flowers, kindly make donations to Society of Our Lady of the Way, 2339 No. Catalina Los Angeles, CA 90027. Callanan Mortuary Directors (323) 462-2266 KANOVSKY, Rose Sorblum Services are 12 p.m., today (Thursday) at Mount Sinai Memorial Parks and Mortuaries-Hollywood Hills (800) 600-0076 OSTRIN, Edna Mount Sinai Mortuaries 800-600-0076 PIERCE, Robert J. On the morning of November 8, 2005, after a brave and valiant battle with cancer, our sweet Bob was finally able to rest. Robert was born on February 2, 1956 in San Fernando, California to Lucille R.

and Casimir S. Pierce. He lived the majority of his life in the western San Fernando Valley surrounded by suburban landscape, rolling hills, hot summer days and crisp winter nights. Bob's heart never ran cold, and was fueled by the sound of the pond and the flame of the fire. He knew no boundaries on love, responsibility or commitment.

And as sure as the wind blows and the sun sets, his loss has left hearts broken. "One wife, two boys, two dogs and thirty years." Nigh, night, my sweet love. Robert is survived by his wife, Susan; his sons, Michael (Daniela) and Joshua; his brothers, Casey and Kevin Pierce; his sisters Ginger (Bill) Beeman and Pamela (Fred) Whitefield; his sister -in- law, Barbara Pierce; his brother-in-laws, Peter (Erin) Armstrong, Tim (Yuki) Armstrong, Robert Armstrong; his aunt and uncle godparents, Ed and Lorraine Pride-aux; his many adored nieces and nephews, Jamie, Tina, Bill, Christie, Alicia, Casey, Alex, Rebecca, Lily, Karlie, Grant and our bright eyed Colin; a host of friends, dearest of which, Christopher and Robyn Emerson, who never wavered in their support and comfort; his coworkers with the City of Los Angeles, whom with their humor helped lift the burden of his pain. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., November 12, 2005, at Shepherd of the Valley Church, 23838 Kittridge Street, West Hills, California, with burial to follow at Oakwood Memorial Park, 22601 Lassen Street, Chatsworth. Recep- tion to follow.

PINA, Manuel Guerra-Gutierrez (323)722-1900 www.guerragutierrez.com RAMIREZ-CONTRERAS, Agustin Guerra-Gutierrez (323)722-1900 www.guerragutierrez.com RICE, Max Beloved husband of Maxienne; loving father of David (Linda), Debra (Alfredo) Sadun, Michael and Wendy (Jay) Wintrob; cherished grandfather of Jeffrey (Terri), Melissa, Rebecca, Elvio, Ben, Jeremy, Andrew, Gordon and Phillip; great-grandfather of Jack. Services will be held today, 10 a.m., at Mount Sinai Memorial Park. Silverman Mortuary Directors RODRIGUEZ, Porfirio 'Pete' A 75 year resident of California, passed away on Sunday, No vember UUo ban Diego. Born in Kene dy, TX, Porfirio was 90 when he died. Porfirio served in the Army Air Corps during World War II and was an active member of AARP since 1983.

He is survived by daughters, Victoria (David) R. Nelson, Pauline Rodriguez Dorsey and Gloria Rodriguez; grandchildren, Carlos Dorsey, William Nelson and Teresa Deppiesse and great-grandchildren, Samuel Nelson, Thomas Nelson, Emily Nelson and Isabella Deppiesse. Niche side Services will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery on Friday, November 11, 2005 at 2:00 P.M. McCormick Mortuary, Inglewood (310) 677-7101 ROSENTHAL, Lucille Wife of Eugene, mother of Susan and Richard. Service Friday, 11 November, 1 p.m.

Mount Sinai Memorial Parks, Hollywood Hills. Mount Sinai Mortuaries. (800) 600-0076 To place an Obituary Notice Call Ms. Ryan or Ms. Smith 1-800-528-4637 Ext.

77241 or Ext. 77242 Oos Angeles ffiimce 1 Cremation Services ARMSTRONG FAMILY MALLOY-MtTTEN Total $564 Free Literature Los Angeles RUETTA ORLOFF 661924 7192005 JOE ORLOFF 12181908 7132005 Today, November 10, 2005, would have been their 59th Wedding Anniversary. Joe was born in Los Angeles, the youngest child of Russian immigrants, Hillel and Agatha Orloff. In early 1913, his father passed away. Still unfamiliar with the language and customs, his mother sent Joe and his older brother and two sisters, to live at the Jewish Orphans' Home, now Vista del Mar.

He was eight years old when his mother brought all four children home near Temple and Beaudry Streets in downtown Los Angeles. Joe graduated from Los Angeles High School at the age of 16, attended Southwestern School of Law, and was admitted to the California State Bar in December, 1931. He rejoined the Army during World War II, after which he practiced law until his retirement at the age of 87. A life-long sports fan from the time he was a small boy playing stickball in the street, Joe played Softball almost every Sunday of his adult life, finishing as the oldest player on the Sr. Softball Team at La Cienega Park in his late 80s.

He was active in Democratic politics, running for State Assembly and the Democratic County Commission; he also ran for Los Angeles Superior Court Judge. Ruetta was born in Detroit, Michigan to Benjamin and Shirley Zimmerman of Toledo, Ohio. She and her parents lived with her father's parents, sister and brother-in-law in Toledo during the Great Depression. Following graduation from high school, Ruetta won the Miss Toledo beauty pageant. While on a summer visit to California, Ruetta met Joe at her uncle's Army Navy Surplus Store.

A gifted dancer, painter, sculptor and dress designer, she had a passion for ballet, opera, and roses. Joe and Ruetta traveled extensively in their later years, visiting Europe, Asia, South America, Canada and cruising on some of the best ships afloat! After 44 years in the same house in Los Angeles, they relocated to Porter Ranch in Northridge where they lived for a little more than a year. Joe died of old age at 96; five days later, Ruetta, 81, lost her long battle with lung cancer. They are buried side by side at Mt. Sinai Memorial Park, Simi Valley, California.

They are survived by their four children, Tami Finkbeiner, Penny Orloff, Rikki Orloff, and Michael Orloff, son-in-law Robert Finkbeiner, daughter-in-law Karen Orloff, and seven grandchildren, Jesse Finkbeiner, Jeremy Dicker, Erin Dicker, Travis Orloff, Benjamin Orloff, Matthew Orloff, and Sarah Orloff. Anyone wishing to honor their memory may make donations to Vista del Mar in Los Angeles and the American Cancer Society. foivvL'rriL't work, com (866) 630-7053 All timbft fd38o 1-800-286-6789.