The Memorial Wall

Jeanne (Reynolds) Sonico

In the morning of Dec. 5, 2019 Jeanne Sonico (June 20, 1939) was gently laid at the throne of her Lord and Savior. She had been afflicted for several years with Parkinson's Disease and all the complications that accompany it. She fought hard to maintain some sort of normalcy in her life.

Jeanne was born in San Pedro, CA to Olga Paine and Arthur Reynolds, a Navy seaman. On the advice of close friends who were told that the Japanese may attack California in some way Ms Paine moved herself and Jeanne to Mexico settling in Guadalajara, Jalisco. After several years they returned to the US with Jeanne speaking very little English.

Starting over in northern California they eventually came south to a warmer climate and settled first in Thousand Palms, then in Palm Springs in an area that was later annexed by Cathedral City.

Jeanne attended St. Theresa Elementary School and later, Palm Springs High School. She would go on to demonstrate a wonderful talent for swimming and diving.

It was at PSHS that she met her future husband, Dennis, who was a sophomore at the time, Jeanne was a freshman. They were separated from each other for several years but later resumed their friendship while Dennis was serving in the US Army at Ft. Campbell, Ky. They became engaged in March of 1959 and were married June 21 of same year at a little church in Clarksville, Tenn with Army buddies serving as witnesses.

Living off-base in New Providence, Tenn they raised their family in a tiny apartment and enjoyed the prospect of a wonderful life together, with their children, Michelledee and Dennis Jr.

Olga opened a small restaurant in Palm Desert named El Besame Mucho. After returning from service Jeanne became her Mother's assistant serving the many wonderful friends that so loved that tiny place and its excellent food. At home she spent many years volunteering with Scouting and aiding teachers when needed at Cielo Vista Elementary School. Over the years many children came forward to express their love for her and her gentle, kind spirit.

In 1976 Jeanne and Dennis started their own electrical contracting business, Gemini Electric, Inc and carried this on for some 35 years. When Jeanne came down with Parkinsons Dennis turned the business over to his son in order to devote extra time to Jeanne's needs. In June they celebrated their 60th.

Jeanne was preceded in death by her Mother and Father. She leaves her children, Michelledee and Dennis Jr., her grandchildren Jennifer, Nicole, Justin, Brandon, and Joshua, and great grandchildren Jason, Adrianna, Michael, Allieanna, Rafa, Jr, Alexis, Noah, and Liam, and her special cousin Mitch Poteet (JoAnn). In her 80th year she found a brother and sister she never knew she had. Arthur Reynolds, Jr and Terre Reynolds. This discovery brought her great joy in these her last days.

A memorial celebration will be announced in the near future.

Published in The Desert Sun from Dec. 6 to Dec. 13, 2019

Robert D Lally, 91, born on July 2, 1928, in Norwood, MA, passed away November 26, 2019. He resided in Palm Desert, CA at the time of his passing. He was the beloved husband of Joan M Lally.

Born to John & Sarah Lally of Dedham, MA, he was the youngest of 5 children. After his service to the US Navy, Bob attended Northeastern University where he earned his bachelor's degree in Engineering in 1956. He was captain of the Hockey team and played in the very first Boston Beanpot Hockey tournament. Bob and his business partner, Dom Emello, founded Capitol Circuits and Vector Sales and prospered. Bob enjoyed golfing at Walpole Country Club in Walpole, MA and the Oasis Country Club in Palm Desert, CA. In his retirement years, he enjoyed a bi-coastal life, living between California and Massachusetts. He was an avid Boston sports fan. Bob was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend who enjoyed spending his time with family and friends. He was a kind and generous person with a great sense of humor and will be greatly missed.

Bob is survived by his wife; Joan Lally of Palm Desert, and children; Ed Lally of Orlando, FL, Jim Lally of Chelmsford, MA, Joe & Joyce Lally of Austin, TX, Mimi Lally of Chelmsford, MA, Beth Lally of Tacoma, WA along with his grandchildren Bob, Lucy, & Rico Lally. He also leaves several nieces and nephews and very dear friends. Bob was predeceased by his siblings; Sally, Marie, John & Dick and his daughter-in-law Evelyn Lally.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Parkinson Resource Organization, 74090 El Paseo, Suite 104, Palm Desert, CA 92210.

Arrangements are under the direction of Forest Lawn, Cathedral City, California.

Rancho Mirage - The Charbonneau family announces with great sadness the loss of their father Marcel, 87, who died peacefully after a long struggle with Parkinson's on November 25, 2019. He is survived by his wife Carrie Charbonneau, daughter Debra Charbonneau, son Tim Charbonneau, son Kent Charbonneau, sister Delores Bittner, and grandchildren and great grandchildren. The service will take place January 15, 2020 at 11:00 a.m., in the Ramon Chapel at Forest Lawn Cathedral City.

Published in The Desert Sun on Dec. 5, 2019

Bill Rankin, a basketball star at UCLA during World War II and after, has died after a long fight with Parkinson's disease. He was 84.

Rankin's daughter, Cindy Elliott, told The Associated Press he died Sunday night at his home on Balboa Island.

Rankin played guard and forward under coach Wilbur Johns for the Bruins in 1945 and, with time out for the Navy, in 1946 and 1947.

After graduation, Rankin coached basketball at Westchester and Monroe High Schools in Los Angeles.

"He was my inspiration," said UCLA men's volleyball coach Al Scates, who played basketball under Rankin at Westchester High.

Rankin is survived by his widow Bette and his daughter, who said her father wanted no funeral. She quoted him as saying: "Let my friends raise a toast of beer or ice cream and shoot a few hoops."

Mansir, Hershel, 69 of Santa Ana, died 11/16/2019.

Monika Linnea "Mogi" Lindqvist passed away on November 11, 2019, at Torrance Memorial Medical Center in Torrance, California. She was 78. Monika was born on September 17, 1941, on the tiny island of Korpo, in Finland's Swedish-speaking archipelago in the middle of the Baltic Sea, during wartime. She was raised in a parsonage on a farm that her Lutheran pastor father cultivated. She was the third of eight children and the eldest daughter. At 17, she won a scholarship to study abroad at a high school in Virginia, Minnesota, from 1959-1960, and attended the prom with a smitten young American, Jerry Wiljanen. She returned to Finland to earn a degree in international business and languages at bo Akademi in Turku, then worked as a nurse's aide in Germany and an au pair in Belgium to achieve fluency in German and French. She traveled widely, eventually reconnected with her high school prom date, and agreed to marry him in 1965. (They divorced in 1993.) The couple first settled in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she worked as an executive secretary and translator for the 3M Corporation. Two years later, they relocated to Redondo Beach, California for Jerry's work. Their two children, Ursula and Joel, were born shortly thereafter. The family belonged to Vasa Lodge, a local Swedish-American cultural organization, and the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Torrance, where Monika was an active member for nearly 50 years. While her children were growing up, Monika taught preschool at the church, as well as Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. She was a Girl Scout leader for 15 years, mentoring her daughter's peer group from Brownies through Senior Scouts and helping them fundraise for and plan a six-week trip to Europe when they graduated from high school in 1986. While her children were in high school, she studied nursing at El Camino College, graduating with an Associate of Arts degree in 1985. She loved nursing and had many roles, from delivering babies to helping people recover from surgery. Her skills in starting an IV were legendary. She worked at Little Company of Mary Hospital and Torrance Memorial Medical Center in Torrance as well as Daniel Freeman Marina Hospital in Marina del Rey. The onset of Parkinson's disease forced an early retirement from the profession she loved, and so she redirected her boundless energy toward advocating for fellow "Parkinsonians," leading exercise groups and organizing educational and social events for her group for nearly 20 years. A lifelong love of travel and adventure took her all over the world, from India to Honduras. She also visited her family and friends in Scandinavia as often as she could. A farmer's daughter, she grew an abundance of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers in her verdant garden, where she loved hosting friends. All who knew her remember her parties, from gingerbread house decorating at Christmas, to extravagant birthday blowouts, when she decked out her yard in Viking longships and papier mache horses and brought in live Polynesian dance troupes and fire eaters. In the final years of her life, she harvested passion fruit from the vines surrounding her yard to make countless jars of homemade jelly, which she sold through her church to benefit hurricane relief in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. She is survived by her daughter, Ursula Lindqvist, of St. Peter, Minn., and her husband, Remo Alexandri, of Fairfax, Va.; her son, Joel Wiljanen, and his wife, Heidi, of Sammamish, Wash.; two grandsons, Benjamin and Luke Wiljanen, of Sammamish, Wash.; a granddaughter, Anabelle Alexandri, of St. Peter, Minn.; two sisters, Tettan Lindqvist of Pargas, Finland, and Barbro N„se of Karis, Finland; four brothers, Jan-Erik Lindqvist of Helsinki, Finland, Trygve Lindqvist and Vidar Lindqvist of Eken„s, Finland, and Ingmar Lindqvist of Esbo, Finland; along with many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her father, Sven Erik Lindqvist, and her mother, Anna Linnea (Borg) Lindqvist, of Eken„s, Finland, and her brother, Rune Lindqvist, of Pargas, Finland. A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, January 18, at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Torrance, California.

Daniel J. Brondi died October 17th, 2019 at age 81 from complications of Parkinson’s disease.  He was born in 1938 on the French Riviera in Antibes, where he was raised and educated before coming to study and live in the United States in 1966: Terre Haute, Indiana; Seattle, Washington; Fullerton, California; and finally in Long Beach, California.   He always kept a residence during the summer months in his native city of Antibes until his death in Long Beach. He was a popular professor of French language and literature teaching successively at California State University, Fullerton; Irvine Valley College, Irvine, California;  and Fullerton College, Fullerton, California.  

Daniel was an avid fan of Opera, ballet, classical music, and American musicals.  He was well-known and loved for his “joie de vivre”. He traveled widely in Europe and the United States and was always eager and interested to discover the cuisine of the countries he visited.  His teaching of French language and literature frequently included the history of French cuisine and traditions - many of which he explored in his own kitchen.

Daniel’s life with Parkinson’s disease lasted two and a half years during which time he managed to maintain a positive attitude toward life and living.  At the time of his death he was surrounded by his devoted friend, Rick Schank, and spouse, George Kyle, a relationship of fifty-five years.

Donations to Parkinson’s Resource Organization may be made in his name at 74090 El Paseo, Suite 102, Palm Desert 92260.  www.ParkinsonsResource.org

Reno, NV - Ken Riley, 85, passed away on October 16, 2019 in Reno, NV from complications of Parkinson's Disease. Born in Pasadena, CA on March 12, 1934, Ken and his wife of over 60 years, Melinda, lived in Las Vegas, NV; La Jolla, CA; Incline Village, NV and Indian Wells, CA. Melinda Lee Olson Riley preceded him in death on May 17, 2018. Ken is survived by his four children: Kimberley Bowser, Karen Goodrick, Lisa Hills, Christopher Riley and thirteen grandchildren. Ken was a real estate developer in five states for over 50 years as a General Contractor building apartments, condominiums and the owner-operator of Le Baron Hotels. Ken received the Golden Plate Award in 1973 among other business awardees Ray Kroc, Malcolm Forbes, H. Ross Perot, and J. W. Marriott. Ken was featured in the book, Las Vegas Dreams by Jim Bickford in 2002. Ken was a loving husband, father and grandfather and will be greatly missed. Services will be held at Calvary Chapel Reno, 220 Edison Way, Reno, on November 2, 2019 at 2pm. A second celebration will follow near his birthday in March in 2020, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Incline Village, NV.

Born August 7, 1939 to James Vincent Smith and Esther (Pjerrou) Smith in South Gate, California, he passed peacefully on October 10, 2019 from complications of Parkinson's, a disease he valiantly fought for 23 years.Don was a native Californian and a lifelong resident. Born and raised in South Gate where he attended Junipero Serra High (class of 57), after which he moved to Hermosa Beach and graduated from Cal State University, Los Angeles. He taught at Junipero Serra High School before moving to San Francisco to hang out with the beat poets and write. He returned to Hermosa and started work at the Los Angeles City Housing Authority.

Over the next 30 plus years he worked at both the Los Angeles City and Los Angeles County Housing Authorities. He retired as the Executive Director of the Los Angeles City Housing Authority. Don was an advocate for the underserved and a leader many respected for his commitment to helping people get the resources they needed and deserved. For the last 25 years, he and his wife Julia, have called Monterey Park home.Don was a voracious reader who could speak and debate on any topic, a prolific writer of the short story and Haiku, a music aficionado with a collection and sound system envied by many, a talented athlete who lettered in four sports in high school, was drafted into minor league baseball, played tennis in college and ran his first marathon at 40.

He loved to watch sports, especially the Lakers, Dodgers, Golf and Tennis. Later in his life he was a practicing Vajrayana Buddhist, and in his earlier years he was in the seminary for a year. Don was an eclectic, fascinating and funny man who will be so missed by his family and friends.Don was preceded in death by his parents, and is survived by his beautiful and loving wife Julia, his daughter Cara Peck (Jeffrey), son Michael Smith, and step-son Rene Lopez Sr. (Sueann), grandchildren Ella Smith, Rene Lopez Jr., Ava Peck and Mattea Peck. Don was the oldest of five children and is survived by his three brothers, Vince Smith (Annette), Trayce Pjerrou and David Smith (Theresa), and one sister, Martha Morrow (Glen).

He is also survived by his best friend of 60 years, George Schmeltzer.There will be a celebration of life at 11:00 am with a lunch following on Saturday, November 16th at Luminarias, 3500 W Ramona Blvd, Monterey Park, CA 91754.

Alan Louis Zaslove, 91, of Sherman Oaks, CA, passed away peacefully on October 2nd, 2019.

Born in New York City, on December 9th, 1927, son of the late Joseph and Sadie Zaslove. He is survived by his wife, Nancy Gordon-Zaslove, his daughters Mara Zaslove and Diana Zaslove Kahn, son Mark Zaslove, and stepchildren Lesley Ford and Michael Ford, and his grandchildren Alyssa, Benjamin, Evan, and Cole.

A fine artist, animator/director/producer, Alan was 15 when he got his first job in animation at Warner Brothers. He then went to the prestigious Chouinard Art Institute, while at the same time, began work at the pioneering UPA studio. He later worked at every studio from Hanna-Barbera to Disney, on such notable titles as "A Charlie Brown Christmas," "The Jetsons," "Tom Terrific," "The Smurfs," "Duck Tales," and "Chip & Dale's Rescue Rangers," with his last work being at Universal on "The New Woody Woodpecker Show."

On a parallel path, his fine art career was strong into the late '70s, and he was head of the drawing department at Otis Art Institute.