By Valerie J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times
Rene Verdon was hired by Jacqueline Kennedy after she interviewed him in French. The first professional chef to work in the White House went on to open Le Trianon in San Francisco.
Tony Malinosky, oldest living major leaguer, dies at 101; Gary Moore, Thin Lizzy guitarist, dies at 58; Irving Feintech, longtime Cedars-Sinai board member, dies at 92.
DEC played a key role in creating the market for smaller computers for scientists and researchers who didn't need larger mainframes. At its peak in the early 1980s, DEC was the second-largest computer firm.
By Anne-Marie O'Connor, Special to The Times
The 82-year-old grandmother went to the U.S. Supreme Court in successful battle for famous portrait of her aunt and other artworks.
By Don Heckman, Special to the Los Angeles Times
With a deep dedication to the writers and composers of the Great American Songbook, Mary Cleere Haran brought new perspectives to classic popular songs.
By Valerie J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times
Jack Popejoy was a distinguished earthquake reporter for more than 25 years and created the annual Great California ShakeOut, a statewide program on quake preparedness. Last month, he received his 27th Golden Mike award.
By Elaine Woo, Los Angeles Times
J. Paul Getty III was kidnapped in Italy in 1973. The kidnappers severed his ear and sent it to Getty's father and grandfather as proof. His grandfather then paid $2.2 million. Getty was incapacitated by a stroke in 1981.
By Thomas H. Maugh II, Los Angeles Times
The work of Danish paleoclimatologist Willi Dansgaard helped revolutionize scientific understanding of the mechanisms of climate change.
By Keith Thursby, Los Angeles Times
Satana gained cult status for her role as Varla, 'the Arnold Schwarzenegger of bad girls,' in the 1965 Russ Meyer film.
By Valerie J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times
Elsa Rady was known for elegantly simple porcelain vessels of 'delicacy and grace.' Her work is in the collections of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Lee K. Harrington, businessman and civic leader, 64; Charles Sellier, creator of 'The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams,' 67; Lena Nyman, Swedish actress in explicit films, 66; Margaret Price, noted Welsh opera singer, 69.
By Thomas H. Maugh II, Los Angeles Times
His pioneering work with biophycisist James E. Till opened the door to bone marrow transplants and to what researchers believe eventually will be a host of treatments for a broad spectrum of diseases.
By Valerie J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times
The images by photographer LeRoy Grannis helped popularize and immortalize the sport —and the life behind it — at a crucial point in its history. 'His photos captured the real thing,' wrote surfing journalist Steve Barilotti.
By Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune
She was associated with the theater for all but one of its 50 years and found and nurtured such comedy giants as John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Chris Farley and Bill Murray.
By Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times
The publicist was also a jazz buff, Padres fan and Hemingway enthusiast. 'He really was a master at combining business and fun,' his son says.
By Dennis McLellan, Los Angeles Times
'Last Tango in Paris' is considered a classic, but it also included notorious sex scenes. In her later years, Maria Schneider expressed regret about appearing in the film, saying 'I felt a little raped' by costar Marlon Brando and director Bernardo Bertolucci.
By Thomas H. Maugh II, Los Angeles Times
UCLA researcher Leon Knopoff was widely seen as the father of theoretical seismology, applying mathematical principles to the study of earthquakes. His work contributed to improved earthquake forecasting.
The service for the former Times editorial writer will be Feb. 27 in Santa Monica.
Charles Nolan, fashion designer who modernized American classics, dies at 53; Doyce Nunis Jr., USC historian and Southern California Quarterly editor, dies at 86
From Los Angeles Times staff and wire reports
Milton Babbitt, known for his complex orchestral compositions, was a consultant to RCA as it was developing the Mark II synthesizer in the 1950s. He taught at Princeton University for many years.