Updated October 17, 2005 URL is
www.tentativetimes.net/05memo/service.html
Updated October 17, 2005 URL is www.tentativetimes.net/05memo/service.html
The audience and speakers at the 2005
Memorial Service for James Byron Dean.
Christine White who studied with Jimmy
and was his friend in New York City, shared her memories with the
crowd, followed by Lew Bracker, a friend of Jimmy's in the
last two years of Dean's life, as well as his insurance agent.
I was unable to hear the speakers this year, as I had no seat.
Whatever I pass on to you is from newspaper coverage by Rachel
Kipp.
The church pews filled, the chairs in the
aisles filled, the chairs in the hallway filled, and finally the
carpeted floor filled with fans. Many more stood outside in
the sunshine, periodically peering in the window.
Sound-system speakers broadcast the speeches
into the fellowship hall, but people in that room began
chatting, so we couldn't hear in there. It was wonderful to
have such a well-attended 50th Anniversary Memorial Service in
James Dean's Memory.
Two more speakers, Jim Grindle in the middle and Bob
Pulley in the yellow shirt, were Jimmy's classmates at
Faimount High School. Bob Pulley told of childhood
memories with Jimmy as well as later incidents. Jim Grindle
spoke about their classmate, Barbara, the quiet lady in the pink
tee shirt at the service.
Phil Zeigler of Fairmount contributes each year. Somehow
we got to talking and I forgot to shoot him this year.
Here's a Phil photo from another event. Phil read a greeting
from Perry Lopez (Lt. Escobar in the movie Chinatown.) Perry
was a friend of Jim's in Hollywood. they played chess at the
Villa Capri. He noted that Jimmy liked Elvis, and he liked
Natalie Wood like a kid sister. Perry said Jim loved Pier
Angeli always and that she admired Dean's imagination, talent and
persona. Perry said Dean was a prankster with great insight
into peoples' behavior patterns. Phil then read his Rebel Star
poem.
Mattie Sellers plays the organ for all the Back Creek Meeting
services. She took on the job when Ortense Winslow
retired. Do you recognize Mattie from when she worked with
the President of Taylor University in Upland? Read more about our
Mattie on the previous years' memorial pages listed on
www.tentativetimes.net/05memo/brunch1.html
Here's the play list for the service, kindly provided by Mrs.
Sellers: Let
There Be Peace On Earth, Amazing Grace, When The Saints Go
Marching In, Back Home Again In Indiana, The Missouri Waltz,
Love Me Tender, Somewhere My Love, Sweet Adeline, Goin'
Home (Dvorak), and Precious Memories. Postlude: Auld
Lang Syne and God Be With You 'Til We Meet Again.
Tom Berghuis from Michigan is the co-chairman of the James
Dean annual Memorial Service.
Phil Zeigler is the other co-chairman.
Nicky Bazooka arrived traditionally in time to lead the
traditional walk to the cemetery after the speeches. Nicky
made a public statement that the part of Jimmy we still see is his
soul.
Here is Barbara Middleton of Anderson, Indiana another
classmate of James Dean, Fairmount class of 1949. The beautiful
flower arrangement is from Jim Curran of Massachusetts, who
was at this service this year.
Mary Emmerick from Chicago explaining a fine point of James
Dean "trivia." It's never "trivia" to us.
Mari vdAnker from the Netherlands with another fan from the
Netherlands, sitting beside Charles Gallmeier, Ph.D.,
Associate Professor and Chairperson, Department of Sociology and
Anthropology, Indiana University Northwest, in Gary IN. Yes,
of course he is involved in Dean research for a book, with his co-prof
Dr. Stephanie L. Shanks-Meile. Emails are Chuck:
cgallmei@iun.edu and
Stephanie at sshanksm@iun.edu
and Dr. Shanks-Meile's photo is on the Park Cemetery page.
Travel on
to the hubbub outside the church,
please, before we march to the cemetery.
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| Dust and Clay | The Romance of Rebellion | Lyrics for East of Eden |
Here's a link to the
index for this year's Fairmount September James
Dean Festival
Here's a link to the deaners.net
index
Here's the CMG's
James Dean website
Page made by Sandra Weinhardt, email editor@tentativetimes.net
The 2005 James Dean Memorial Service
Poetry and Lyrics by Charles Barnes