Writer and former Idyllwild resident Gene Thompson died of complications from cancer April 14, 2001, at his home in Culver City. He was 76. Mr Thompson lived here for 20 years.

He was born June 28, 1924, in San Francisco and wrote for radio shows featuring Groucho Marx and sitcoms starring personalities like Lucille Ball. he then switched to dramas working on such shows as “Colombo” in the 1970s.

Mr. Thompson also wrote four novels, three of them while an Idyllwild resident. Actress Gloria Stewart, who appeared in the movie “Titanic,” was his mother-in-law.