PASSAGES
Sydney Gottlieb
Picture Editor
1904-2005
 Sydney Gottlieb Picture Editor 1904-2005 |
Syd Gottlieb, retired film editor––and formerly the oldest living Editors Guild member at 100––passed away peacefully and with dignity on March 10 at Providence St. Joseph’s Hospital in Burbank, California, after taking a minor fall. He was alert and friendly until the moment he passed, according to his family.
Just last November, Gottlieb, who has been a member of the Guild for 62 years, celebrated his 100th birthday with many friends and family members. In fact, his family decided to let that birthday party serve as Gottlieb’s memorial. In the near future, a family cruise is planned to scatter his ashes in the Pacific Ocean, as he wished, with his favorite music playing in the background.
Gottlieb’s last months were filled with love, humor and joy. He made a remarkable recovery from the stroke he suffered in November 2004. With determination and in good spirits, he was able to regain his strength, appetite, continence and some of his speech. He could get himself up and out of bed, walk around the block with his trusty walker, climb up and down the stairs, eat, shave and brush his teeth mostly on his own––and watch (and get angry at) his favorite TV news shows. He also listened to history and biography books on tape.
Until his final day, Gottlieb looked healthy and robust. He even gained 10 pounds during his final month. Best of all, he felt his family’s immense love and respect and responded with his characteristic warmth, wit and gratitude.
He and his wife, Dorothy, celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in June 2004. This milestone was duly noted when Gottlieb was honored at last year’s Editors Guild Retirement Luncheon, where he and Dorothy enjoyed visiting with many Local 700 friends, and took a few amazing spins on the Sportsmen’s Lodge dance floor.
Gottlieb was born in New York City on November 7, 1904––the day Teddy Roosevelt was elected President of the US. He migrated to Los Angeles in 1921. He married Dorothy Glick and the couple designed and built a home in North Hollywood, where they have lived ever since.
Gottlieb started his career initially as a photographer and used an airplane, a burro and, finally, Billy the Alligator (star of Tarzan movies), as props. In early 1941, Gottlieb went to work for 20th Century-Fox in the laboratory and soon became an assistant film editor at Universal Studios, working on the Ma and Pa Kettle movies (1949-1954), Bonzo Goes to College (1952), The Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) and most of Universal’s early 3-D movies––all without credits.
In 1955, Gottlieb left Universal to become one of the first film editors to work in the television industry. During that time, he edited the Lassie series (1954-1974).
Eventually, Gottlieb moved on to create film trailers at National Screen Studio. He enjoyed working on film trailers because the tasks called on his creative capabilities. Gottlieb retired from National Screen Studio as a film editor 35 years ago.
Syd Gottlieb will be remembered, loved and missed by his family and friends. He is survived by his wife Dorothy, sons Dan and Ray, daughters-in-law Judy and Rebecca, granddaughter Kindred and grandsons Alex and Jacob, plus five great-grandchildren.
Sharon Benoit
In Memoriam
Joyce O. Breeze
Librarian
(August 23, 1919 – December 21, 2004)
60 years as a member
Robert Golden
Film Editor
(January 29, 1912 – April 6, 2005)
67 years as a member
William G. Lindemann
Film Editor
(February 7, 1926 –April 25, 2005)
51 years as a member
NOTICE
In order for Editors Guild members or retirees who have passed away
to be listed in Editors Guild Magazine’s “In Memoriam,”
the deceased’s family must notify the Guild of the death. Please
call Fred Arteaga at 323-876-4770, ext. 243 with information.
Also, if family members or friends would like to write an obituary for their loved ones in the “Passages” section of the magazine, please contact Tomm Carroll at 323-876-4770, ext. 222 for guidelines and due dates.