GEORGE CHRISTY
Shera Danese Falk Archives
George Christy
Some of the special decorations at the pet cemetery’s gravesites
Photographed for their Christmas card from several years passed, Shera Danese Falk and Peter Falk posed with their best friends Misha, Chloe, Jezebel, Zelda, Taffey Lucia, Giovinna, James, Rudolf and Scarlet. James, who kneels at Peter’s feet, is still with us. All others are buried at the Los Angeles Pet Memorial Park & Crematory located in Calabasas.
P
eter Falk was recollecting his passionate chase for Dreamgirl Shera Danese Falk. How did the twain ultimately connect? She conceded to a hello over a cocktail.
T
a! ta! -- and va-voom! – who knows how these things happen, but, like the mysteries of creativity, whatever happened happened. Besides his iconic role in the Columbo series (10 seasons, 69 episodes), Peter is a fine artist of portraiture, as evidenced with his drawings on this page.
Not
long ago, proud and devoted Shera organized a vernissage of his works at the Bulgari jewelry boutique on Rodeo Drive where Dabney Coleman, Ed Begley Jr. and wife Rachelle, Joanna Carson, Corinna Fields, Tracey Danza, Mark Rydell were awed.
Shera,
born to Catholicism, exchanged her marriage vows with Peter at our Church of Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills. After our asking what made the marriage a success, Peter smiled, “We both like the color blue.”
A
nd “we love dogs,” he added. Alluding to Shera’s menagerie of rescues and purebreds. Never have beloved canines (14 at the moment), warmed to a more adoring and lush life.
“O
ne night over dinner when my family was discussing colleges for we young ones, my grandfather Vicenzo Danese shrugged, ‘Shera’s already decided. She’ll major in cats and dogs. It’s funnier as he said it in Italian.’
“L
ast week, I rescued a Saint Bernard mix, and now will need to buy three more plots for him at the pet cemetery … I own 22, and was bowled over that near one of my dearly departeds there is a neighboring gravesite marked Shera. Go figure.”
A
ctress, singer, comedienne, model, sexy and gorgeous Shera is People You Should Know. A no-bullshit and trustworthy friend, unlike the characters in Washington D.C. Shera’s even managed to solve one of our fitness problems, which fazed experts and pharmacists.
S
hera presides over the Los Angeles Pet Memorial Park & Crematory located at 5068 Old Scandia Lane in Calabasas 818-591-7037. On October 24, she’ll be honored, along with Priscilla Presley, during the Last Chance for Animals charity dinner at the Beverly Hilton.
“The pet park is 87 years
Page 6 | August 7, 2015
old …. ten green acres in the
San Fernando Va l l e y,” informs Shera.
F
ounded by the Rollins and Dr. Eugene Jones family that Shera’s recently rescued Saint Bernard mix Tabitha The painting of Lucia Genette Falk by artist Zolf hangs in Shera’s Malibu beach house recognized the Petunia with Shera’s favorite friend Cornelius need for decent and dignified pet buri- Chaplin’s cat Scout; Humphrey tional clergy. Also arrangeals – they owned and operated Bogart’s dog Boots; Rudolph mens are made for the release the facility for more than 40 Valentino’s Great Dane Kabar; of butterflies or doves. Custom years, and then kindly donated also animals from the Our caskets in pine or hardwood are available, and pet lovers the cemetery to the Society for Gang and Tarzan movies. are invited to the monthly canthe Prevention of Cruelty to ot only do we bury dlelight vigils that begin at the Animals in 1973. dogs and cats,” says the pet St. Francis of Assisi statue and fter managing the prop- cemetery’s Marie Beavers, “we proceed to the mausoleum. erty for a decade, the SPCA bury family hamsters, turtles, People cry. Uncontrollably. considered selling it to devel- squirrels, chimps, lizards, fish, opers. When a group of pet ferrets and we’ve even buried a owners learned this, they lion.” established S.O.P.H.I.E. (Save aretakers arrange for Our Pets History in Eternity), a non-profit public benefit cor- services, if desired, with Online at poration dedicated to the priests, rabbis, non-denomina- www.bhcourier.com/category/george-christy preservation of this fine-looking sanctuary parkland.
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A
C
S
.O.P.H.I.E. initiated a fundraising drive to purchase the grounds, and lobbied the State Legislature in Sacramento to enact the firstever state law to protect pet cemeteries. Once escrow was closed, the membership dedicated the Los Angeles Pet Memorial Park in perpetuity. This is the second largest pet cemetery in the nation (New York being first).
Shera Danese Falk Archives
“N
ot easy. This was Philadelphia, where I spotted her now and then, and began my pursuit. Only to be sloughed off. Not interested, she backfired. I kept at it, but felt like a Nowhere Man.”
S
hera and Peter’s loved ones are here. As are the best friends of Diana Ross; William Shatner; Lauren Bacall; the hiho Silver horse from the original Lone Ranger; Hopalong Cassidy’s Topper; Charlie
Peter Falk’s portraiture is praised by the art crowd
BEVERLY HILLS