#116) Services for Henry (Hank) Pinczower

Hank Pinczower, retired Vice President of Programs at Librascope, passed away from leukemia at his home early Saturday morning, November 8th.

Hank, who came to the U. S. from Germany in the late 1930's, was a proud c. 1952 electrical engineering graduate of CCNY, and a varsity soccer player. He was also a 20+ year Libravet who was perhaps best known for spearheading the Company's many significant programs with the U. S. Army. Hank retired in 1994, and last attended the 2012 Librascope Reunion.

Funeral Services for Hank will be held at Mount Sinai Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills on Tuesday morning, November 11th at 9:00 AM.

The address for the early service is;
5950 Forest Lawn Dr.
Los Angeles, CA

#110) In Memoriam - Jerry Deitz

Jerry Deitz, retired Vice President of Engineering, passed away at his home in Los Osos, CA on July 5, 2014. Jerry joined the Shipboard Engineering group at Librascope in 1956 and retired in 1989. Throughout those years, stories about Jerry's countless engineering activities and accomplishments at Librascope were published in dozens of Librazettes.

Jerry last attended the 2012 Librascope Reunion (Blog Post #82), and will certainly be missed at the 2014 Reunion on November 1st.

A Memorial/Celebration of Jerry's life will be held at 1:00 PM on Sunday, August 10, 2014 at the Morro Shores Mobile Home Park's Club House, located at 633 Ramona Avenue, Los Osos, CA 93402. 
Family Contact: Telephone 1-805-528-7136 or e-mail jerryelsie@aol.com.

Please visit the following link for driving information: 

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Morro+Shores+Mobile+Home+Park/@35.32028,-120.842004,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0xd44a343556f415b

Also, you may wish to sign the Guest Book for Jerry at:

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/sanluisobispo/obituary.aspx?n=jerry-deitz&pid=171712782

The following obituary was provided by Jerry's loving wife Elsie. 

Jerry Deitz a gentleman in every sense of the word died on July 5, 2014, just shy of his 89th birthday. He left peacefully and quietly in the afternoon, true to his character of never wanting to be a burden to anyone. Jerry was molded by his growing-up years in Brooklyn and enjoyed all the advantages of life in the big city. He liked the adventure of riding in the front subway car where, for just five cents, he was able to spend hours traveling wherever his imagination would take him. Museums, family outings to concerts in the parks, were all a part of his early history, as was his time spent as a volunteer with the fire department. Jerry's mother, Ray, impressed on him the value of education and he listened. He enjoyed learning and excelled in school. City College (now University) provided a splendid, almost free education, for an aspiring electrical engineer. His first choice would have been medicine, but entrance to medical schools was limited for Jews, and so he worked to become a valued contributor where he was able to make his mark. Like many other young men, he enlisted in the army to serve his country during WWII. Underage, and knowing his mother's distaste for the military implanted from an immigrant's experiences, he forged her signature and became a member of the United States Army assuming that it was better to volunteer than be drafted. He was one of the few who served in both the European and Asian campaigns. Jerry served with the 86th Blackhawk Division and continued to be an active part of the organization with involvement in their reunions over the years. The last one took place at Camp San Luis Obispo, where Jerry trained for a period of time and where the seed was planted to return to live in this area, which we did in 1988. A permanent memorial to the Division was dedicated at the time of the last reunion. Jerry and I met on a blind date in 1951 shortly after his return from Japan and Korea as a civilian who taught army personnel technical skills. We decided that getting married was a good idea, and so we tied the knot on April 6, 1952. A honeymoon trip to California made it clear that this would eventually be our permanent home. In 1956, it became reality with Jerry driving across country in five days, followed by our then two-year old daughter Carla and her seven-months' pregnant mother. Armed with a Master's Degree from NYU, Jerry joined the Librascope Corporation in Glendale. Over the years he rose to be the corporation's Senior Vice President of Engineering. Jerry always spoke of his relationships with the 200 or so employees he managed as being the most pleasurable part of his thirty-two year career with the company. His expectations regarding those he supervised were known. He had the ability to leave them alone to achieve these levels and they always strived to reach them. Music nourished his soul and sailing brought pleasure and release from the stress of the workplace, two lifelong passions in Jerry's life. Shortly after our move to Los Osos, we became involved in the Bud Laurent campaign for Supervisor where close bonds with friends were forged. This group went on, over a period of years, to make possible the acquisition of the Elfin Forest. Jerry's next involvement was with the Central Coast Veterans Museum as board member, treasurer and eventually head of the Library of Congress Oral History Project which recorded life experiences of Veterans of all wars. From all of these ongoing involvements, Jerry was often referred to as "Village treasurer". His leadership in volunteer activities spanned almost as long a period of time as his paid career. Jerry's primary concerns were focused on his family's wellbeing. It is with great pleasure that I see in Carla glimpses of his humor and sensitivity to others. Children are not supposed to precede their parents in death. The loss of our son Gary at age 50 was a dark time for us. Bud Laurent said it best: "Anyone who knew Jerry knows the truth that he towered over us in height and character as a kind, considerate and giving person. And, of course, when thinking about Jerry, the phrase is really Elsie and Jerry because they were together in everything. And I can't think of anything they gave themselves to that wasn't in the community's interest and welfare. Los Osos is immeasurably better because of Jerry - and Elsie". Jerry, and all that he was and stood for, will be sorely missed by all his friends and family. A Celebration of Life will be held shortly. Sign his guestbook at sanluisobispo.com/obituaries


Published in the San Luis Obispo Tribune on July 13, 2014

#82) The 2012 Librascope Reunion

As some of you know, I missed the November 3rd Librascope Reunion because I fractured my back just two days before the event took place. Now I'm feeling much better though, and finally able to report here on the 2012 Reunion.

First of all, Georgine Archer says the 2012 Reunion was “very successful”. As expected, a little over 100 Libravets attended, including first-timers Mark Ferry, Norris Guy, and Pete Maimone. She also said the food was good, and it was a beautiful location. About half the attendees were subscribers to this Blog.

A hugely successful “50/50 Raffle” was held to help support the ongoing expenses associated with our three main websites (Librascope Memories, Librascope Search, and this News Blog). Georgine also reported that there was a very generous, but anonymous donor. And, our thanks to Jeff Luther, and Jim Carpenter who sold $420 worth of the above raffle tickets. The happy raffle winners were Barbara Herrick, Al Mohill, and Marty Rudolf who each received $70.

A lot of good pictures were taken at the reunion, which are now posted on the Photos page of the Librascope Memories website (click here). Note, there are two 2012 Reunion Albums. One album is for all the “table photos” that Georgine normally takes at each reunion, and the other album is a collection of candid photos that were taken by Georgine, Charlotte Ashby, and Don Chen. The “Tables” Album includes a list of all the people at each table. This list is also on the Librascope Search website. In addition, Ray Hand took a short video which we hope to publish at a later date.

On a sad note, Georgine also made available a list of the Libravets who had passed away since the 2010 Reunion. A current version of that list of 35 Libravets is published on the Librascope Memories website History page (click here), Section IV. It is also on the Librascope Search website.

Finally, I wanted to mention again that I will soon be publishing over 100 new candid and table photos that were taken at the 2006 and 2008 Reunions, so stay tuned.

#80) 2004 Reunion Photos Published on LM

Table 2 of 21 Tables

The complete set of table photographs from the 2004 Librascope Reunion were published today on the Librascope Memories (LM) website at http://www.librascopememories.com. The photo album consisting of twenty-two (22) photographs may be viewed in the Photos section of the website. A link to the index of names for each table is also available when the 2004 Reunion album is opened.

The 2004 Reunion was held at the Castaway Banquet Center in Burbank, CA on November 20, 2004. Approximately 200 people attended.

The Advertisements album in the same Photos section was revised to include four (4) more vintage Librascope advertisements from the 1950's and 60's. The total is now fifty-two (52).

Over one-hundred (100+) additional photos from the 2006 and 2008 Reunions will also be published soon, so watch for future announcements on this Blog.

Finally, you'll note on the Librascope Memories web-site's Welcome page countdown counter that there are now less than twenty-five (25) days until the 2012 Reunion,  Georgine Archer will need to provide the host facility a final headcount soon, so please RSVP to her ASAP. If you can't attend, please let her know that too.

PS: Have you checked the "Currently Lost Libravets" list lately at http://goo.gl/siDji? If you know the whereabouts of anyone on this list, please let us know.

#76) REM - Make Your 2012 Reunion Reservations Early!

You are invited to a

Librascope Employee Reunion

A time to greet and enjoy your Librascope friends and colleagues

And view Librascope memorabilia.

Saturday, November 3, 2012

9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

 

Angeles National Golf Club

9401 Foothill Blvd, Sunland, CA

(818) 951-8771

For directions please visit: http://angelesnational.com/directions.html

Buffet Luncheon - $40.00 per person

Coffee at 9 a.m., No Host Bar at 11:00 a.m., Lunch at 12:45 p.m.

Please RSVP to Georgine Archer by October 26, 2012:

By E-mail:  geoarcher@netzero.net            By phone:  (818) 848-5664

With confirmation by check payable to and sent to:

Georgine Archer

509 East Andover Drive

Burbank, CA  91504

No refunds after October 26, 2012.

WIVES, HUSBANDS, SIGNIFICANT OTHERS ARE INVITED

Please help us spread the word to all former Librascope employees and their guests.

Former associates of Librascope are, of course, welcome too.

Enjoy almost 300 scanned Librazettes from 1940 to 1999 and

many other Librascope documents at www.librascopememories.com

 

To share YOUR Librascope memorabilia at the reunion,

Contact Don Tubbs, 818-249-7242 (Pdtubbs@earthlink.net).

#69a) 2012 Librascope Reunion - Only 96 Days Away!

Angeles National Golf Clubhouse in Sunland, CA

As announced last February 24th in Blog Post #54 (click here), the 2012 Librascope Reunion will be held on Saturday November 3rd, at the Angeles National Golf Clubhouse in Sunland, CA. Please help us spread the word to all former Librascope employees and their guests. Former associates of Librascope are, of course, welcome too.

Detailed invitations will be sent out in late August, shortly after Georgine returns from vacation. Meanwhile, please mark Saturday November 3rd on your calendar and await further information next month.

#56) Librascope Memories Website Updated (Rev. #38)

The Librascope Memories website was updated recently to reactivate the 2012 REUNION COUNTDOWN counter at the very bottom of the Welcome page. See Figure 1.

Figure 1. Librascope Memories Reunion Counter Reactivated for the 2012 Reunion

Also note that on the bottom line of the above image, a link to "item #38" has been added. This links you to a Blog that summarizes all the significant updates made to the Librascope Memories website since the previous update (#37). This is the 38th update since the website was first released in April, 2009. See Figure 2.

Figure 2. A Summary of the Updates Made Since the Previous Update

IMPORTANT - Please note that five (5) URL's were corrected. They should now be accessable by everyone.

#54) 2012 Librascope Reunion Update

The responses to the 2012 Librascope Reunion Survey Questionaire are now in, the results have been analyzed, and today Georgine Archer made the necessary reservations and advance deposit. Mark your calendars, the Reunion will be held Saturday November 3, 2012 at the Angeles National Golf Club in Sunland, CA. Click here for a map and directions to the Club.

Angeles National Golf Club Clubhouse at Night

Over 200 responses to the survey were received, and it appears probable that 130 or more Libravets and their guests will attend. The cost per person will be $40, which includes a very nice buffet lunch complete with a coffee/tea station and a dessert table. Georgine will send out the more detailed formal invitations by e-mail in early August.

Thanks to all that participated in the "one minute" survey. It made the planning a lot easier this year.

#51) 2012 Reunion Plans Discussed at "Has Beens" Luncheon.

Nearly 30 Libravets attended Ralph Simon's "Has Beens" luncheon today in Burbank, CA. After lunch, Georgine Archer announced preliminary plans for the 2012 Librascope Reunion. Currently, two locations are being considered; one in Burbank and the other in Sunland, CA. Two dates are also being considered, October 27th and November 3rd. Tickets will cost about $40 each. Carl Sorensen then announced that he would soon send out a short Internet survey to all Libravets on his "master" mailing list, in order to determine how many would attend, etc. He also briefly discussed the Librascope Memories - News Blog, and addressed a privacy concern that an attendee had expressed about subscribing. Afterwards, the non-subscribers Carl asked said they would now like to subscribe.