Theater advocate succumbs to ALS
WALNUT CREEK: 'Jann' Schaub worked tirelessly on behalf of area arts for a quarter of a century
By Jeanine Benca
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

Article Launched: 05/18/2007 03:07:51 AM PDT


Janet Rose Schaub, a tireless local arts enthusiast who helped build theater programs in Diablo Valley for more than 25 years, died Monday at her home in Walnut Creek.
"Jann" Schaub was passionate about promoting the legacy of American playwright Eugene O'Neill, especially among young people. She served on the board of the Eugene O'Neill Foundation from 1987 until her death, coordinating the foundation's "Student Days" program, a popular arts workshop for East Bay students held each spring at Tao House, O'Neill's one-time estate in the Diablo hills.

Throughout the 1980s, Schaub hosted a popular community access cable program, "Walnut Creek in Focus." The weekly television show examined issues in local schools and government.

A native of Detroit, Schaub studied drama at Michigan State University and Wayne State University. After moving to California in 1974, she became active in community theater, performing with Center Repertory Company, ACT Now, J&L Players and Town Hall Theatre.

Schaub gave her last stage performance in 2006 at the Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church in Walnut Creek in a production of "Handy Dandy," in which she played an activist nun leading a peace march on a nuclear power plant.

In November, Schaub was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), known as Lou Gehrig's disease, a chronic neuromuscular disease.

"She never made an issue of it. Her focus was not on herself," said longtime Eugene O'Neill Foundation board


member Bob Rezak.
In Schaub's final community theater performance, "she brought the same conviction and passion she has demonstrated for issues she cares deeply about -- world peace, the environment, her church, her community, her country, people and, above all, the arts," Rezak said.

Schaub is survived by her husband of 37 years, Gary Schaub; her brother, Robert Rose of Irvine; and two nephews, Matthew and Scott.

A celebration of her life will be held at 3 p.m. June 2 at the Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the ALS Association, Greater Bay Area Chapter, 131 Steuart St., San Francisco, CA 94105 and to the Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church, 55 Eckley Lane, Walnut Creek, CA 94596.

Former disc jockey dies at 56
By ROBERT WILSON, rlwilson2594@msn.com
May 18, 2007


Though Bill Purdue never got to see this world, he tried to experience it in every way he could.
Through it all, his wife said, "he didn't hold back."





"He always said being blind could be an ability or a disability. He made his an ability," Sandra Purdue said.

William Ray "Bill" Purdue died Monday at age 56, a victim of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Mr. Purdue was blind almost from birth, said Sandra Purdue. He was born prematurely in East St. Louis, Ill., and weighed 2 1/2 pounds. He spent four months in an incubator where, she said, an overabundance of oxygen in his system cost him his eyesight.

He was educated at the Illinois School for the Blind in Jacksonville and the Missouri School for the Blind in St Louis and was one of the first vision-impaired students in the public school system there.

His father, a Baptist pastor, accepted a job at a church in East Tennessee, and Mr. Purdue wound up getting a degree from Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City.

"He would rather have been an auto mechanic," Sandra Purdue said.

She told how his college friend, John Abbott, would place a piece of cardboard on his bike so that it made a sound as the spokes hit it and that Mr. Purdue would follow the sound around campus riding on his own bike.

Mr. Purdue got his degree in sociology and was for a time a social worker. But his prime vocation was in radio. He worked as a disc jockey at stations in Morristown, Alabama, West Tennessee and other places. His wife said he had an ear for classic country and rock music.

"He always called his show the 'Wild Bill Extravaganza,' " Sandra Purdue said, adding he also worked in gospel radio.

Mr. Purdue got his chance to try driving with the help of some of his buddies in a church parking lot once, according to longtime family friend Mary Mitchell.

And Sandra Purdue said that Mr. Purdue also got the chance to drive a boat and pull his friend Abbott as he skied behind.

"I would tell him which way to steer," she said.

"My husband was nothing but a gentleman."

Former owner of Burroughs Appliance dies on his birthday
BETTY TYLER, News Editor
Article Launched: 05/17/2007 02:56:23 PM PDT


John A. Lehman, a longtime Redlands businessman who was active in the community, died on his 81st birthday, May 11, at Redlands Community Hospital from complications of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
Lehman was well-known in Redlands as the manager and then owner of Burroughs Appliance Center on East State Street, and he was active in the community, especially with Rotary Club projects.

He was born May 11, 1926, in Loma Linda, grew up in Beaumont and finished high school in Compton, where he also attended college.

It was in high school in Compton that he met some of his lifelong friends, his son Jack Lehman said. Those friends included Pete Rozelle, who was commissioner of the National Football League from the 1960s through the '80s.

Lehman and Rozelle were best men at each other's weddings, Jack Lehman said, and they remained close through the years.

The group of friends from Lehman's Compton years, including some from college, became the "Super Bowl" group, about a dozen men and their wives who got together every year at the Super Bowl and visited with Rozelle, Lehman's son said.

After high school, Lehman served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and when he returned to


California he married and raised his family in Colton and Redlands.
He worked for Sears, then for the Edison Co. before he settled into what became a career in the appliance business.

After leaving the Edison Co., he began working with his father in the appliance business, then had an opportunity in the early 1950s to work in sales at Waldo F. Burroughs Appliances in Redlands. He later became the store's manager and then owner after Waldo Burroughs retired.

Lehman retired in 1993 and sold the business to Jim Thorpe.

In recent years, the store switched from appliances to a cabinets, tying in with Lehman's passion for woodworking and his skill as a master cabinetmaker.

After his retirement, Lehman enjoyed making cabinets, furniture, toys and other projects in the workshop of the home in Angelus Oaks that he and his wife Martha built together.

His son said everyone in the family, including every grandchild, has something he made, as do many other families.

In addition to cabinets and furniture, his son recalled the toy wagons made of wood, with wooden building blocks fit into them, that he made for his grandchildren and for other people's grandchildren.

His woodworking skill was also appreciated in the Rotary Club of Redlands. He had been an active member of the club since he joined in 1971.

Bill Hatfield, a member of Rotary and owner of Hatfield Buick-GMC Truck in Redlands, said Lehman was always there whenever Rotary members had a major project, such as building a shade cover at a community garden.

"He was an excellent woodworker," Hatfield said. "He knew how to build and fix anything - always hands on."

Hatfield said Lehman also took on the job of standing at the door during Rotary's annual Red Wine and Blues wine-tasting fundraiser, greeting people and handing out glasses and plates.

He said Lehman was also one of the people who made sure the room was ready for Rotary meetings. "He was one who did all the grunt work," Hatfield said.

Lehman's skill with people equaled his skill in the workshop, according to Hatfield.

"He made sure he got to know everyone in the club," Hatfield said, "and when you saw him, you felt better having visited with him, whether it was just hello or quite a conversation.

"He would compliment you, tell you you were doing a good job. He cared about you."

Lehman was also a "wonderful guy to deal with" as a businessman, Hatfield said.

He recalled the time the icemaker in his first refrigerator broke down the day before the Fourth of July and said Lehman was at his house until 8 that night, fixing it.

In the Rotary Club, in addition to the many hours he gave working on service projects, he was also a multiple Paul Harris Fellow.

A few weeks ago, the Redlands club honored him for his many years of service and made a donation to the ALS Association in his honor.

Lehman's other community involvement included serving on the Redlands school board in the 1960s and serving many years on the board of the Salvation Army.

He had also been a member of the Redlands Business Improvement District and had been active in the First Congregational Church of Redlands, holding many offices.

He had been a member of the Order of DeMolay as a youth and later was a member of the Redlands Masonic Lodge. He had also been a Boy Scout leader and a member of the Exchange Club and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Survivors include his wife Martha Lehman of Angelus Oaks; his son and daughter-in-law Jack and Tawnie Lehman of Brea; his daughters and sons-in-law Susan and Russ Nelson of Belgrade, Mont., Lori and Kent Porter of Bozeman, Mont., and Mari and Cliff DeManty of Fullerton; his former wife Donna Lehman of Bozeman, Mont.; eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; and friends Ken and Donna Goodner of Angelus Oaks who were like family to him.

A celebration of his life and sharing of memories is planned for 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 20, at the Tartan Restaurant, 24 E. Redlands Blvd., Redlands. Private family services will be held later.

Memorial donations may be made to the ALS Association.

Leonard H. Peterson

Leonard Haley Peterson, 67, passed away on May 5, 2007, in Lodi, Wis., after a two-year battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Lenny was born to Dora Mae and Haley Peterson on Aug. 30, 1939 in Tacoma, Wash. He served as a jet mechanic in the U.S. Air Force, a pumpman on oil tankers in the Merchant Marine, and a cement truck driver in Santa Rosa, Calif., Cottage Grove, Ore., and in Fairbanks from 1989-2001.

Lenny loved people and cherished all those he knew. He loved restoring and driving antique cars and his Harley. He loved his trees, yard, cats and dogs.

Lenny was preceded in death by his parents, Haley and Dora.

He is survived by his wife, Julie Wojtalewicz Peterson; daughters and sons-in-law, Kim and Jeremy Delich of Normandy Park, Wash., and Christine Peterson Schwab and Jason Schwab of Federal Way, Wash.; grandchildren, Graysen and Annie Delich; stepchildren, Jackie and Mike Sill of Lodi, Wis., Brad Schmauss and his partner Kym Bartlett of London and Ben and Christy Schmauss of Las Vegas; step-grandchildren, Cassidy Sill and Ruby Schmauss; and brother and sister-in-law, Doug and Debbie Peterson of Maryville, Mont.

Condolences may be sent to Julie Wojtalewicz Peterson, N2860 Trevor Ridge Road, No. 12, Lodi, WI 53555.

Fundraiser loses battle with ALS
Local News - Tuesday, May 22, 2007 @ 02:00

A popular financial services agent, who tried to raise awareness about Lou Gehrig's disease after being diagnosed three years ago, has died.

Daniel "Dan" Gentilcore passed away Friday at Greater Niagara General Hospital, surrounded by members of his family.

He was 49.


Gentilcore, who worked in the insurance industry for more than 25 years, was diagnosed with the progressive and slowly debilitating disease in 2004.

He was the subject of a feature article in The Review published in November 2005, while trying to raise awareness and funds to find a cure for the disease, which is also known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

"People are not aware, they don't know what ALS is," Gentilcore said at the time. "You mention Lou Gehrig, and they know a little more, but it's not well understood. I want people to be able to understand."

A funeral mass will be celebrated today at 10:30 a.m. at St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Church. Entombment will follow at Fairview Mausoleum.

In memoriam donations can be made to ALS Research, c/o Dr. Turnbull at McMaster University.

Marlin E. Johnson, 75, of New Underwood and formerly of Lead, passed peacefully to walk eternally with the Lord Wednesday, May 16, 2007 after his battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) and his brief stay at the Fort Meade VAMC in Sturgis.
Marlin was born March 15, 1932 in Lead to Marion and Margaret (Killoren) Johnson. The family purchased and moved to a ranch south of Lead where Marlin grew up and attended school at the Hillside School on the ranch and later in Lead where he graduated High School in 1952. Marlin enlisted in the Army in 1953 until 1955 when he returned to Lead.
After working briefly with the Corps of Engineers as a laborer on Pactola Reservoir, Marlin began work at Homestake Gold Mine in 1957 until retiring as an electrician in 1992 after 36 years. Shortly after retiring Marlin moved from the family ranch to New Underwood where he remained until he became ill at which time he moved to his Son, Ross', home in Spearfish prior to his final days.
Marlin spent his life enjoying ranching, hunting and fishing, with his children, brother, John, and numerous nieces, nephews and grandchildren. He always remained a jokester and loved socializing with all he met.
He will be dearly missed by his son, Ross (Carolyn) Johnson and two grandchildren of Spearfish, daughters Marcia (Jack) Davis and grandson of Moravia, Iowa, and Jolene Geer and three grandchildren of Clinton, Mo.
He is also survived by his brother's John (Phyllis) Johnson, Deadwood, and Theron (Grace) Young, Huntington Beach, Calif. and their children and numerous other nieces, nephews and cousins. He is also survived by two great-grandson's Raymond Olsen of Moravia, Iowa and Austin Clark of Spearfish.
Marlin was preceded in death by his parent's and one sister, Lavonne Libby of Grants Pass, Ore.
Visitation will be Sunday May 20, from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. at Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapel in Spearfish. Services will be conducted Monday, May 21 at 2 p.m. at Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapel, with Chaplin Charley Conger officiating and burial to follow at Mountain Lawn Cemetery in Lead.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established to benefit research for Lou Gehrig's Disease.
Arrangements have been placed in the care of Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapel of Spearfish. Online condolences may be written at: www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com

Arlene Ranshaw Wetzel

CHESTERHILL - Arlene Ranshaw Wetzel left this world to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus on May 21, 2007, after a long battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease).

Mrs. Wetzel was a music teacher in the Morgan Local Schools for 27 years. She graduated from Moon High School in Coraopolis, Pa. and received her bachelor of music education degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She was a student of organ performance of Dr. Robert Sutherland Lord at the University of Pittsburgh, and served as organist at numerous Pittsburgh area churches including Brookline United Presbyterian, Sharon United Presbyterian, Mount Lebanon United Presbyterian, University and City Ministry (UACM), and Heinz Chapel. After moving to Chesterhill in 1970 she continued her organist career at various churches in Marietta and Parkersburg, most recently at Trinity Episcopal Church, Parkersburg.




She enjoyed more than 50 years of marriage with her husband, Richard D. Wetzel. She is also survived by her four children, Richard (Diana) Wetzel, Erika (John) Paradiso, John (Celia) Wetzel and Dara (Mark) Gillis; four grandchildren, Laura and Andrew Wetzel, and Mark and Jessica Gillis; and her sister, Joanne Pettit of Erie, Pa.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John Dressel Ranshaw and Mildred Cole Ranshaw.
Calling hours will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 24, at Stone- Matheney Funeral Home, Chesterhill and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 25, at Matheney Funeral Home in McConnelsville.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 27, 2007, at Trinity Episcopal Church, 430 Juliana St., Parkersburg, W.Va.

Former Van Buren Mayor Dies

POSTED: 8:06 pm CDT May 27, 2007
UPDATED: 8:16 pm CDT May 27, 2007

VAN BUREN, Ark. -- A former mayor of Van Buren has died, officials confirmed.

John Riggs, who had lived with Lou Gehrig's Disease for several years, died at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Riggs retired as mayor last December because of his battle with the disease.
He served as Van Buren's mayor for 12 years and is known not only for his genuine love for the city but also his accomplishments such as successful road projects, the capital improvements program and a community effort to rebuild following the 1996 tornado.

http://www.4029tv.com/news/13398425/detail.html

'Will' Weir carried Olympic torch in 2004

By Sharon Boase
The Hamilton Spectator
(May 28, 2007)
A powerful flame has been extinguished.

The worlds of elite triathlons, theatre, modern dance, kick-boxing and ALS advocacy have all lost a leading light since William ("Will") Weir succumbed to ALS, or Lou Gehrig's Disease, on May 21. He was 58.

Friends and family remember Weir most fondly at a moment in which he truly shone -- carrying the Olympic torch during the Canadian leg of the Olympic Torch Relay leading up to the Athens Games in 2004.

"It was a very proud moment for him, regardless of the illness," said long-time friend Steve Lessy of Weir's participation in his wheelchair. Accompanied by his wife, Jennifer, and then one-year-old son Billy, in carrying the torch in Montreal, it was a moment of joy.

"He used that opportunity to give a very passionate speech about movement -- whether related to dance or sport. He was able to articulate some of his philosophy of life and try to promote ALS issues because it just doesn't get the same attention as cancer or heart and stroke."

Born and raised in Toronto, Weir excelled at swimming, cycling and running. He swam while at university and competed in triathlons for 20 years, winning many top level awards. He also dabbled in kick-boxing, theatre and modern dance.

In 1999, he was diagnosed with ALS, a rapidly progressing disease that causes nerve cells to degenerate and muscles to become paralyzed while leaving the intellect and senses intact. It is incurable and generally fatal within two to five years of onset.

From the age of two, Billy would scramble up his father's wheelchair and plop himself in Weir's lap. Unable to move his arms and hold his son, Weir had a ritual of rubbing noses with his little boy.

In 2004, Weir and his wife (who studied in Steeltown) moved to Hamilton after Weir had to give up his business staffing pools in condominiums with lifeguards and they could no longer afford to live in Toronto.

Jennifer, a nurse, found a job at Dofasco and Weir continued his advocacy work with the ALS Society in Toronto.

"His contribution was immeasurable," said Corina Chevalier, with the ALS Society of Ontario. "He was a pillar of strength and hope for people with ALS because he was always so positive."

Weir had to be moved to St. Joseph's Healthcare where he received complex continuing care after Jennifer was diagnosed with cervical cancer last year. When the cancer returned in her lymph nodes, she went for a second round of chemotherapy but is now part of a clinical trial receiving a drug that targets cancer cells.

Meanwhile, Weir developed a blood clot in his lung. Although doctors managed to clear it up, complications from ALS eventually took his life.

"For someone to have been athletic his whole life, who never smoked or drank or abused his body to be stricken with something like this ... nobody can know unless you walk in his shoes," Lessy said.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the ALS Society of Ontario (alsont.ca).

sboase@thespec.com 905-526-2452

May 28. 2007 6:59AM

Ex-Irish star Demmerle dies
Former Notre Dame standout receiver Pete Demmerle, lost his battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) on Thursday at the age of 53.

He played from 1971 to 1974 and was a starting wide receiver for Ara Parseghian's national championship team in 1973.

A funeral mass will be celebrated Wednesday at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Greenwich, Conn.


A knee injury in his final college game reduced his chances at a pro career, although he was drafted by San Diego in the 13th round. Instead, he attended Fordham University Law School in 1976.

He joined the international law firm of LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae in 1979 as an associate tourney.

Demmerle received the 2003 Edward "Moose" Krause Monogram Club Member of the Year Award.

He was Notre Dame's leading receiver in '73 and '74 (43, then sixth-best in ND history), when he helped the Irish post a pair of season-ending bowl victories over Alabama. His three first-quarter catches and a later two-point conversion helped spark the 1973 team to the 24-23 Sugar Bowl victory over the Crimson Tide.