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: [email protected] and Stephanie at [email protected] 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 |
Poetry and Lyrics by Charles Barnes 
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 [email protected]