Page 4 - Cla Delta Spotlight - Winter 2009-10

Alumni News:Chapter Eternal Father of the Modern Grammy Awards and Phi Delt Brother Passes Cossette, continued from page 1 used throughout his life to remind himself that no matter what setback series for Williams, Sammy he might be experiencing, “At least I’m not on the truck.” Davis Jr., Glen Campbell and Upon his discharge, he enrolled at USC as a journalism major -- he rock oldies group Sha Na Na, belatedly took great satisfaction in writing his 2003 memoir, “Another among more than 100 TV Day in Showbiz: One Producer’s Journey,” unaided -- and continued specials, awards shows, movies booking entertainment for campus events. of the week and miniseries. When Cossette approached offcials at the National Academy of Cossette also produced Recording Arts and Sciences in 1970 about making a live broadcast several Broadway shows, out of what until then had been a private ceremony mostly for record including the six-time Tony executives held in local hotel banquet rooms, they were skeptical. They Award-winning “The Will had packaged their own Grammy highlights shows in the ‘60s, “Best on Rogers Follies.” He had recently Record,” but they were low-rated affairs that ran months after awards been developing a new musical had been handed out and all suspense was lost. based on the life of Woody Cossette fgured he could do with music what the flm and TV Guthrie. academies had done since the ‘50s with the Oscar and Emmy telecasts, In an interview before the and paid $150,000 for the right to broadcast the award ceremony. 2009 Grammy Awards, Cossette He used money he had received from selling his interest in Dunhill said the acknowledgment served Records, the label that he and Lou Adler formed in the early ‘60s that as validation of his life’s work. signed the Mamas & the Papas, Barry McGuire, Steppenwolf and In addition to his son John, Pierre holding his Canada Walk of Fame Three Dog Night. Cossette is survived by another induction certifcate. He was inducted into the Canada Walk of Fame in 2005. Still, it took considerable prodding before ABC bit. (After two son, Andrew, from his marriage years, the show moved to CBS, where it has remained.) Even after to Dorothy Foy, who died in Cossette’s diligent campaigning, a network would only consent to 1982; as well as his second wife, Mary; fve stepchildren, Jennifer broadcast his live Grammy Awards show after Andy Williams signed Bontempo, Anne Casey, Christopher Ufand, John Ufand and Joslin on as host. Weiner; and eight grandchildren. Outside of the Grammy Awards show -- which yielded Cossette a trustee’s award in 1995 for contributions by a non-musician -- and the A special thanks to Randy Lewis of the LA Times for allowing us to use excerpts Latin Grammy telecast that he also oversaw, he produced syndicated from his September 12, 2009 article regarding the passing of Pierre Cossette. Don Kott 12-21-2009 Ed Neil 10-15-2009 on Kott, the man who put the town of Carson, Calif., on the map with his dmund Robbert Neil, born in Muscatine, Iowa Dchain of car dealerships, died Monday, December 21, 2009, at his Long Beach Eon December 12, 1927 and died on October home after a fve-year battle with throat cancer, according to the Long Beach Press 15, 2009 after a long battle with cancer, with his Telegram. 5 loving family by his side. Survived by his devoted Kott was the state’s ninth largest car dealer when he sold his business to wife of fourteen years Lill, children, Eddie, Jessica, Sonic Automotive in 2002. The dealerships closed in 2008 when Ford Motor Co. William, Son-in-law Darren J. Hume, Daughter- consolidated its franchises. in-law Elizabeth Perry Neil and along with his Kott was born on March 21, 1931 in Los Angeles to Karl and Dora Kott. Don grandchildren, Jessica Dorothy Hume, Hope 9 attended USC before going to work for his father’s Ford dealership in 1953. The Josefna Hume, Shannon Louise Hume, Alexandra dealership had been located in Wilmington, Calif., since his father opened it in Elizabeth Neil and Robert William Neil. Ed was 1929. a well-respected leader in the escrow business as After taking over the business when his father retired in 1971, Kott then moved well as in the Catholic Church and community. His the business to Carson, Calif., in 1974 in an effort to expand the business. The family and friends will remember him as a loving, sprawling lot in Carson was dominated by a giant electronic sign that displayed kind man and how much he enriched their lives. We inspirational messages as well as sales pitches aimed at drivers on the 405. know he has gone to a better place and is watching In additional to his wife Margaret, Kott is survived by two sons, Jeffrey and down upon us occasionally sharing a laugh. He is Christopher Childers, a daughter, Kelley Hall; and four grandchildren. Through already missed by all. the years, Kott volunteered with local charities, including the Wilmington YMCA and Boys Club and the Boys & Girls Club of Carson. Published in Pasadena Star-News on October 31, 2009 Alumni communication services provided by The Laurus Group | www.thelaurusgroup.net | 770-903-3987