Visalia Times-Delta from Visalia, California • 12

2B FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2010 V1SALIA TIMES-DELTA Defiance, resilience marked Curtis' career Detective: LAPD and FBI solve 27 killings THE ASSOCIAIfcDPRtSS Tony Curtis is shown on SepL 19, 1961, with his first wife, Janet Leigh, and their children, Kelly 5, and Jamie, 2 12. The Associated Press LOS ANGELES Raul Vergara was standing at a bus stop when a man with a handgun ran up to him and shot him at least four times. The 29-year-old carpenter died shortly after. Within minutes of Tuesday morning's attack, more than a dozen detectives from a Los Angeles police homicide unit flooded the streets, talking to witnesses and working leads. By nightfall, a suspect was captured at a house where he had been hiding.

Detectives credit the swiftness of the arrest to a novel arrangement made by Los Angeles police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Over the summer, federal officials paid for the overtime of detectives who would have been ordered to take time off instead of pursuing a case. The money "allowed detectives to work their cases," Detective Sal La-Barbera said. "They were unrestricted to go about and do what they normally do." The results were dramatic, with 27 homicides solved. And at one unit, the clearance rate for cases rose from 42 percent to almost 70 percent.

In the midst of a financial crisis in Los Angeles, the police department has been told to cut costs, including by slashing the amount of overtime detectives can work. Clear-up rates dropped as detectives were forced to take days off. Recognizing the problem, the FBI in July started a special task force with the LAPD's criminal gang homicide unit. Besides loaning out six of their gang and violent crime agents, the federal agency agreed to cover overtime costs for detectives for three months. Detectives also benefited from FBI resources such as surveillance equipment and a crime lab.

Los Angeles saw a spike in gang-related homicides early in the summer, which FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Clark noted. He also noticed the reduction in detective work load and figured the bureau could help. The approximately $250,000 used to pay LAPD overtime costs came from money already in the FBI's budget for partnerships with local agencies, Clark said. The Associated Press From dressing in drag to posing nude for his 80th birthday, Tony Curtis truly was a defiant one. He overcame early typecasting as a lightweight pretty boy to become a serious actor in such films as "Sweet Smell of Success," "Spartacus" and The Defiant Ones," the latter earning him an Academy Award nomination.

He resisted obsolescence, continually reshaping himself and taking lesser roles to find steady work in a business that prizes youth. He subdued alcohol and drug addictions, lived through six marriages and five divorces and found peace as artist. Curtis, whose cast of characters ranged from a Roman slave leading the rebellious cry of "I'm Spartacus!" to a Jazz Age musician wooing Marilyn Monroe in "Some Like It Hot," died Wednesday night. The actor, 85, suffered cardiac arrest at his home in Henderson, the coroner saidThursday. "My father leaves behind a legacy of great performances in movies and in his paintings and assemblages," said Jamie Lee Curtis his daughter with first wife Janet Leigh, co-star of leaves behind children and their families who loved him and respected him and a wife and in-laws who were devoted to him.

He also leaves behind fans all over the world." Swashbuckling heartthrob Starting his career in the late 1940s and early 1950s with bit parts as a juvenile delinquent or in such forgettable movies as the talking-mule comedy "Francis," Curtis rose to stardom as a swashbuckling heartthrob, mixing in somewhat heftier work in the boxing drama "Flesh and Fury" and the title role in the film Hindered early on by a Bronx accent that drew laughs in Westerns and cheesy sex comedy "Some Like It Cool." "I wasn't happy with my marriages. I wasn't happy with the films I was getting. The next thing I know, I'm using cocaine and alcohol. And the next thing I know, I'm immersed in said. He checked into the Betty Ford Center and got himself clean and sober in the early 1980s, then spent time in Hawaii, where he sought solitude and painted.

Although he acted in small parts fairly regularly through the 1990s and took occasional roles over the last decade, Curtis continued to enjoy life away from Hollywood. Reconciled with daughter Curtis had six children from his marriages. He was estranged for a long period from daughter Jamie Lee Curtis. They eventually reconciled, and Curtis took great pride in her Hollywood success. Curtis was born Bernard Schwartz in 1925, the son of Hungarian Jews who had immigrated to the United States after World War I.

His father had yearned to be an actor, but settled for tailoring jobs, moving the family as he sought work. After serving on a submarine during World War II, Curtis enrolled in drama school on the G.I. Bill and was doing theater work when an agent lined up an audition with Universal, where he signed a seven-year contract starting at $100 a week at age 23. The studio gave him a new name: Anthony Curtis, taken from his favorite novel, "Anthony and the Anglicized name of a favorite uncle. He later shortened it to Tony Curtis.

As his big-screen star faded in the 1960s, Curtis remolded himself as a character actor and turned to television with the 1970s action series The Persuaders" and a recurring role on the crime the Navy farce "Operation Petticoat." In Stanley Kubrick's "Spartacus," Curtis played star Kirk Douglas' loyal follower, leading a chorus of captured slaves shouting "I'm Spartacus!" to confound Roman oppressors seeking the ringleader of a rebellion. His other credits included "Captain Newman, M.D.," "The Vikings," "Kings Go Forth," "Sex and the Single Girl" and "The Boston Strangler-." He also did a wryly self-deprecating cartoon gig, providing the voice of his prehistoric look-alike, Stony Curtis, in a television episode of "The Flintstones." Curtis and Lemmon collaborated again on 1965's "The Great Race." More than 40 years after "Some Like It Hot," Curtis co-starred in a stage version, playing the role originated by Joe E. Brown in the film as a millionaire smitten by Lemmon's female alter-ego. To mark his 80th birthday in 2005, Curtis posed nude in Vanity Fair alongside his dogs. By then, his shiny-black hair had turned silver, he had long since kicked booze and drugs, and painting his Matisse-like still lifes filled much of the creative space left as his acting career waned.

In a 2002 interview, Curtis talked candidly about where his life was in his 50s, when he was relegated to television work and such movies as "The Bad News Bears Go to Japan" or the other period adventures, Curtis smoothed out his rough edges and silenced detractors with 1957's "Sweet Smell of Success," in which he played a sleazy press agent who becomes the fawning pawn of a ruthless newspaper columnist (Burt Lancaster). Yet it was sheer stardom, not critical acclaim, that drove Curtis, said his sixth wife, Jill Curtis. "All Tony ever wanted to be was a movie star. He didn't want to be the most dramatic actor," she said. A year after'Sweet Smell of Success," Curtis was nominated for a best-actor Oscar in "The Defiant Ones" as a white escaped prisoner forced to set aside his racism to work with the black inmate (Sidney Poitier) to whom he is handcuffed.

In 1959, Curtis teamed with Monroe and Jack Lem-mon for a screwball landmark, B.illy Wilders "Some Like It Hot," which ranks No. 1 on the American Film Institute's list of 100 best U.S. comedies. Curtis and Lemmon starred as 1920s musicians who disguise themselves as women in an all-girl band to hide out from mobsters after they witness the St. Valentine's Day Massacre.

It was a masterful comic performance by Curtis, whose character pursues the band's singer (Monroe) both in drag and in another charade as a Shell Oil heir who talks like Cary Grant, with whom Curtis Co-starred later that year in Thousands show up for free mortgage help The Associated Press LOS ANGELES Armed with folding chairs, coolers and jugs of water, thousands of people who want to avoid losing their homes lined up around the Los Angeles Convention Center on Thursday seeking help with mortgages they can no longer afford. The nonprofit Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America, which is offering homeowners the chance to restructure their loans at lower rates, said about 5,000 people were in line when the doors opened at 8:30 a.m. Thousands more were expected over the next five days, during which counselors will be helping people at risk of foreclosure around the clock. Bruce Marks, chief executive of NACA, said at similar events around the country, one-third of the applicants have reduced their mortgage rates on the spot. OBITUARIES OBITUARIES i.

I Jf -Ah 1 Eduardo "Eddie" Aldaco, age 50, of Tulare, passed away, Sept. 24, 2010. A Memorial Mass will be held at 10 a.m., Oct. 1, 2010 at St. Rita'sCatho-lic Church, 954 So.

Tulare with burial following at Tulare District Cemetery. Arrangements by Peers Lorentzen Funeral Chapel, Tulare. Francisco "Frank" C. Freitas, of Chowchilla, passed away on Sept. 26, 2010.

Visitation will be held on Sept. 30, 2010 from 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M., at the Wilson Family Funeral Chapel of Merced, 525 West 20th Street, Merced, CA. Rosary will be held at St. Columba Catholic Church in Chowchilla at 7:00 P.M.

Mass will be held at 1:00 P.M. Oct. 1, 2010 at St Columba Catholic Church. A Graveside Service will follow at Arbor Vitae Cemetery, in Madera. Arrangements entrusted to Wilson Family Funeral Chapel of Merced.

Kenneth Ray Shelton, age 84, of Terra Bella, passed away on Sat, September 25, 2010. A memorial will be held at United DEATHS Betty Lou Thomas, 74, Sept. 28, 2010. Services: October 4, 2010, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day, 4000 W. Caldwell, Visalia, at 10 a.m.

Visitation: from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Condolences may be offered at www.millerchapel.com under the direction of Miller Memorial Chapel, Visalia. Faustino Sanchez Rodriguez, age 83, of Porterville, passed away on Tue, September 28, 2010. Visitation will be held on Sun, October 3, 2010 from 4pm to 7pm at Myers Chapel in Porterville.

A rosary will also be on Sun, October 3, 2010 at 6pm at Myers Chapel. A service will be held on Mon, October 4, 2010 at 11am at St. Anne's Church in Porterville. Burial to follow at Vandalia Cemetery in Porterville. Arrangements by Myers Funeral Service Crematory of Porterville.

Marjorie V. Berry, 92, passed Sept. 29, 2010. Visitation: Miller Memorial Chapel Oct. 6, 2010 from 10-1 lam.

Service: Miller Memorial Chapel Oct. 6, 2010 at 11am. Arrangements by Miller Memorial Chapel, Visalia, CA. Michael John Morriss, age 52, of Porterville, passed away on Mon, September 27, 2010. A Memorial Service will be held on Sat, October 2, 2010 at 10am at Community Bible Church, 3747 S.

Demaree, Visalia. Following Cremation at Myers Funeral Service Crematory, interment to be private. Arrangements by Myers Funeral Service Crematory of Porterville. Pearl Irene Richardson, 80, passed Sept. 28, 2010.

Graveside services: Oct. 8, 2010 at 11am at the Mt. View Cemetery in Beaumont, CA. Arrangements by Miller Memorial Chapel, Visalia, CA. Shirley Hinson, age 62, a resident of Tulare, passed away August 24, 2010.

Memorial services will be at 10 a.m., Oct. 3, 2010, at Jesus Is Lord Church, 1917 W. Inyo Tulare. Arrangements are by Peers Lorentzen Funeral Serv- sonality and exceptional humor. Once you met him you never forgot him.

The world is poorer because he is no longer in it, however, he is in a better place. Condolences may be e-mailed to salseranddillardaol.com Services Monday, October 4, 2010, 6:30 PM and Tuesday, October 5, 2010, 10:00 AM both at the Visalia First Assembly Church, 3737 S. Akers, Visalia. Visitation Monday, October 4, 2010, 5-6 PM at Visalia First Assembly Church. Burial following service on Tuesday at the Visalia District Cemetery-Funeral Services arranged by Salser Dillard Funeral Chapel.

John Eugene Bohrer Visalia resident was born in Visalia on July 24, 1933 to John Louise Bohrer and passed away in Visalia on September 29, 2010 at the age of 77. Eugene grew up and attended schools in Visalia. He served his country in the Army during the Korean conflict. Returning home he went to work for Southern California Edison Company as a supervisor Field Services. He worked 38 years with Edison.

Survivors include his wife; Donna Bohrer; children; Douglas Bohrer, Michell and husband Jeff Brown, Mona and husband Greg Gray, Candy and husband Brian Wilson; 4 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. Preceded in death by brother Mark and his parents. Graveside service Monday, October 4, 2010 at 1 p.m. Visalia Cemetery. Arrangements by Smith Family Chapel, Exeter.

Condolences: www.smithfamilychapel.com In lieu of flowers donations to Parkinson's Disease Foundation, 1359 Broadway Suite 1509, New York, NY 10018. Services Friday Bernice Tyler, age 86, of Lindsay, passed away on Tues, September 21, 2010. A Graveside service will be held on Fri, Oct 1, 2010 at at Hill-crest Memorial Park in Porterville, burial, to follow. Arrangements by Myers Funeral Service Crematory. Sidney (Sid) DeBoer 70, a Dairyman Owneroperator of Visalia passed away Sept.

24, 2010. A memorial service will be at Tulare Community Church in Tulare on October 1st, at 11 a.m. Visitation will be on Sept. 30th, from 4 p.m. till 7 p.m.

at Salser Dillard Funeral Chapel. Private burial Condolences may be e-mailed to salseranddillardaol.com Thomas Daniel Mendez, 56, passed September 23, of life: October 1, 2010 at 10 A.M. at mom and dad's church: Walnut Grove Assembly of God, 32576 Road 160, Ivanhoe, CA. 93235. Services Saturday Deborah (Debbie) Lynn Bratt, 49, passed September 21, 2010.

Private celebration of life: Kaweah Oaks Preserve October 2, 2010 at 2pm. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to Sequoia Riverlands Trust by calling 559-738-0211, ext. 108, or donate directly online, in Debbie's honor, at www.sequoiariverlands.org. Frank J. Cruz Jr, 46, passed away Sept.

17, 2010. A rosary will be said at 1 1:00 AM on Oct. 2, 2010 at Evans Miller Guinn Chapel. Burial will in the Exeter District Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.evansmillerguinnchapel.c om.

Services entrusted to Evans Miller Guinn Exeter Chapel. Michael John Morriss, age 52, of Porterville, passed away on Mon, September 27, 2010. A Memorial Service will be held on Sat, October 2, 2010 at 10am at Community Bible Church, 3747 S. Demaree, Visalia. Following Cremation at Myers Funeral Service Crematory, interment to be private.

Arrangements by Myers Funeral Service Crematory of Porterville. Wallace "Wally" J. Eddy 65, of Visalia passed away Sept. 19, 2010. A celebration of life gathering will be held Oct.

2, 2010, 2:00 p.m. at the Eddy Family Residence. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Salser Dillard Funeral Chapel. Condolences may be e-mailed to salseranddillardaol.com. Bella Amor Mendoza GLAMOROUS.

DRIVEN. GENTLE HEARTED. VIVA. SPONTANEOUS. PURE.

FIERCE. INSPIRATIONAL. VIBRANT. CHARISMATIC. YOUNG.

BOLD. DEFINITION: BELLA AMOR MENDOZA "PERFECT" say's Mom. Bell was a 21 year old young beautiful daughter born on 12-04-1988, to Juan and Lupe Mendoza. She was a full-time COS student, and worked part-time. She was a fashionable, ambitious, loving, fire cracker with high expectations for herself.

With her high maintenance attitude, she mentored Carlos and Serina, with a "you'll settle for nothing less mentality," and taught Mari, Mel, Nanna, Chongy, Ciera, and Jayla to be who they wanted worry free. She was an inspiration to her sisters Julie, Delia, Marivel and her favorite Pita and to brother Cannelito and two brother inlaws Mike and her Bro Manny. So even though she is not with us, remember her always and La Vida es una Bella Amor Rage In Paradise. Condolences may be e-mailed to salseranddillardaol.com A Rosary will be recited Sunday, October 3rd at 6 p.m. at Salser Dillard Funeral Chapel.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Monday, October 4th, at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Visitation will be on Sunday, October 3rd, from 4 p.m. till 9 pm.

at Salser Dillard Funeral Chapel. Burial Visalia District Cemetery. Bishop Daniel Jauhall Bishop Daniel Jauhall passed away peacefully on Sept. 26, 2010 in Portland, Oregon surrounded by his loving family. Daniel was bom on 4-15-31 to Hakum Singh Jauhall and Marciana Jauhall in Pixley, Calif.

He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Angela, daughters, Drucilla Jauhall and Danelia Gamboa, son-in-law Eddie Gamboa and grandson, Marcus Gamboa. He is also survived by two sisters, Dora Zubillaga and Mary Ares. Daniel dedicated his life to the service of the Lord at the age of 25. One of the many positions he held with the Apostolic Assembly in the Faith of Christ Jesus, was as Pastor of the Apostolic Church in Visalia from 1990 to 1999. He also served as Bishop of the Central California district.

Daniel served as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict and received an Honorable discharge. During his tenure with the Army he traveled extensively to the Orient. The many other positions he held with the Apostolic Asembly took him to the Middle East, Asia, South America, Central America and the entire United States. He was an accomplished and experienced world traveler.

At the present time he had held the position of Bishop and then lately as Pastor of the Apostolic Church in Tigard, Oregon where he leaves a beloved congregation that will never forget him. Bishop Jauhall will always be remembered for his love of people and for his winning per Presbyterian Church of Terra Bella on Fri, October 1, 2010 at 11am. Following cremation at Myers Funeral Service Crematory, interment to be private. Arrangements by Myers Funeral Service Crematory of Porterville. Maxine B.

McConathy, age 78, of Porterville, passed away on Fri, September 24, 2010. A Graveside service will be held on Fri, October 1, 2010 at 10am at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Porterville, burial to follow. Arrangements by Myers Funeral Service Crematory of Porterville. Mirl G. Tatp, age 77, of Tulare, passed away, Sept.

26, 2010. Visitation is being held at Peers-Lorentzen Funeral Chapel on Sept. 30, 2010 and Oct. 1, 2010 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.

The funeral will take place at Peers Lorentzen Funeral Chapel on Oct. 1, 2010 at 1 p.m. Graveside service will follow at Tulare District Cemetery. Robert John Hernandez, 22, passed September 18, 2010, Visitation: People's Funeral Chapel, 501 N. Douty Han-ford, CA September 30, 2010 at 4-9pm with Rosary: 6pm.

Mass: Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Han-ford October 1, 2010 at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Hanford, CA. Condolences may be offered at www.peoplesfuneralchapel.co m. Arrangements are entrusted to People's Funeral Chapel, 501 H. Douty Hanford, CA all of our Obituaries appear on Legacy.com Invite family and friends from across the country to sign the guestbookatLegacy.com Legacy.com offers you a full listing of local funeral homes.