Videogram ALERT
March 12, 2023
In Memoriam
Video Club Bids Farewell to Three Good Friends
Bob D'Evelyn
Video Club members and friends are invited to attend Bob D'Evelyn's Celebration of Life on Saturday, March 18, at 11 am at Lutheran Church of the Cross, 24231 El Toro Rd., Laguna Woods, followed by a luncheon.
 Robert Paul D'Evelyn passed away on March 2, 2023 while under hospice care at home. He had been suffering from Alzheimer's, was hospitalized with a respiratory virus, and subsequently suffered a stroke.
Born in North Dakota, Bob grew up in Minnesota. Mentored by a disabled veteran, he built a radio at the age of 14, leading him to his later career path. In 1952, he received a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Minnesota. During college, Bob worked summers at Yellowstone National Park, which became his “favorite place on earth.” His many adventures included performing in nightly vaudeville shows and climbing the Grand Tetons for his 21st birthday.
Bob enlisted in the Navy during the Korean War and moved to Southern California after discharge. He worked for North American Aviation/Rockwell International for 30 years, retiring in 1985. His projects included the NASA Space Shuttle, avionics for the F-111 fighter jet, as well as missile and submarine systems.
Bob was twice a widower with three children from each marriage. In 2001, he married the former Barbara Reppenhagen Smith, also the mother of three. They later moved to Laguna Woods Village. The two were married for 21 years, enjoying more adventures together.
In addition to the outdoors and the church (where he was an enthusiastic choir member and congregation president), Bob's passions included video production. He and Barbara brought these skills to the Video Club, where hey participated in Project Days, Annual Short Video Contests, Video One Productions, and other club activities.
Bob is survived by his wife, Barbara, six children, 16 grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren, including his stepfamilies. In tribute to his lifelong love of Yellowstone Park, the family invites you to consider donating on his behalf to Yellowstone Forever, a non-profit partner of the park, at yellowstone.org/ways-to-give.
Sheila Bialka
A Celebration of Life is anticipated for Sheila at the next meeting of The Old Pros on Monday, April 10 at 3 pm in Clubhouse 7. (Watch for more details.)
Sheila Bialka passed away comfortably in her sleep on March 10, 2023, according to her friend and fellow resident, David Dearing. Recalls David: “For many years Sheila was involved in not only live theater but also film in Laguna Woods Village.
“In 2004, Sheila co-founded The Olds Pros theater group which has brought many live productions to audiences here in the Village. Among her talents is directing, notably “Driving Miss Daisy,” “Thirty Seconds to Broadway,” and “Gin Game.” She helped bring Shakespeare to the Clubhouse 1 gazebo by directing “Twelfth Night” among others. She was also an accomplished actor, starring in “See How They Run.” For Theater Guild, she co-authored and directed “Aquarius to Woodstock” and “Night on Broadway.” Her association with the Video Club includes both acting and directing (in the club's Short Dramatic Film series), and she was a driving force behind The Old Pros' podcast series, produced in the Video Studio, where she served as both director and reader for many podcasts.”
Portraying a psychologist in the Video Club's first Short Dramatic Film, Sheila Bialka (left) advises memory-challenged senior (Jules Zalon) to :write it down," as his wife (Gila Zalon, the script's author), signals approval.
Originally from the UK, Sheila became an active part of the Video Club with the introduction of our Short Dramatic Film series. She co-starred in our first film, “Write It Down,” which began shooting in December, 2018. Production-wise, she served as Casting Director and filled other key behind-camera roles on our next two films, “What? You, Too?” (2020) and “The Hole in One” (2022). HIO director Lucy Parker described Sheila as a “life saver” when she attended all cast rehearsals as that film's Dramatic Advisor.
Phil Doran
Much of this article is taken from Phil's obituary in the March 9, 2023 Globe.
 Former Village resident Phillip G. Doran brought his professional comedy-writing talents into play between 2014 and 2016 when he guided Video Club members through the ambitious production of a TV show he and his team originated for Village Television – “Never Too Late to Date.” (Take a trip down “memory lane” and view the first episode on YouTube.)
Phil followed his initial resident-participation hit with “Never Too Late to Know Your Mate,” produced by Village Television, starting in October, 2016. Phil's “first big gig in television” had been on “a new show called 'The Dating Game,'” which -- along with ABC's “The Newlywed Game” -- served as the inspiration for his Laguna Woods Village send-ups, featuring senior contestants.
At the time of his death on February 4, 2023 at age 78, Phil was living in Lake Elsinore.
 “Phil made everyone...laugh...and if you owned a television between ...1970 and 1995, he probably made you laugh, too.... Phil grew up in...Indiana... (and) received a degree in Broadcasting from Indiana University, then set out for Los Angeles to pursue a career as a writer in Hollywood.” Phil worked on some of television's best-known comedy series', including “The Bob Newhart Show,” “All in the Family,” “Sanford and Son,” and “The Wonder Years.”
“In 1985, Phil married his second wife and the love of his life, Nancy Fields. After his retirement from Hollywood, they bought a fixer-upper in Tuscany. Phil turned the experience of navigating...Italian society and politics into a successful comedy novel entitled The Reluctant Tuscan, published in 2001. Returning to the States, Phil and Nancy lived...in Laguna Woods Village until her death in 2013.” Shortly thereafter, Phil became active in the Video Club – and the rest, as they say, “is (Video Club) history.”
Phil is survived by two sons from his first marriage, David Doran of Portland, OR, and Jordan Doran of Lake Elsinore; and a sister, Deborah Feinberg of Ft. Myers, FL. Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.
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