Michael Melvyn Bassman died Monday, Feb. 9, 2009, of complications from Alzheimer’s disease a few days before his 88th birthday. He was born in Boston to Fannie and David Bassman. The family came to California when Michael was in his teens. He graduated from UCLA and went into the building business. Michael met his wife,…

Patricia Jeanne Abbott (formerly Patti Cooper) died Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017, in Llantwit Major, Wales. She had recently married the love of her life, Anthony (Tony) Abbott, on Oct. 30, 2016. A resident of Idyllwild since 2010, Patti was an active volunteer, serving on the Art Alliance board with then-President Gary Kuscher, driving golf carts…

On Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009, Reva Ballreich, widely known as “The Lilac Lady,” died peacefully in Rancho Mirage at the age of 84, three days after her birthday. A piano prodigy who gave her first concert in Germany at age 8, Ballreich enjoyed a luminous career as a concert pianist primarily in Europe. Vladimir Horowitz,…

Dorothea Farrar Gorzny, 78, of Idyllwild, died Monday, Sept. 15, 2003, at Hemet Valley Medical Center after complications from diabetes. She was born Oct. 19, 1924, in Greenville, Calif. She graduated with honors from Mt. San Jacinto Community College in 1972 with an associate’s degree and a certificate in library science. In 1974, she graduated…

On the morning of Wednesday, March 13, 2016, 48 days after losing his wife, Robert Paul Crimi died peacefully in his Idyllwild home. Bob earned diplomas from Pasadena High School, Aurora College and USC, and was drafted into the U.S. Navy serving two years during WW II before being honorably discharged as an officer. He…