Obituaries

Related: Death Notices

*Index*
Allen Funt	Nancy R. Comeau
Dorila Landry, 94	Edna E. Ziemba, 92
Marcilio DeSousa	Heather Ruth Ann Phillips
Julia E. Regula	Anna T. Branchini, 90
Joseph Bourassa Jr.	Florence E. McCann

Allen Funt, creator, host of 'Candid Camera'

By The Associated Press

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. -- Allen Funt, the television prankster whose "Candid Camera" thrived on America's willingness to laugh at itself and created a trademark phrase, has died. He was 84.

Funt died Sunday at his home here of complications from the 1993 stroke that forced him into retirement, the show reported in a statement.

"Candid Camera," which aired off and on from 1948 to 1990 with Funt as host, secretly filmed people confronted with talking mailboxes or trick coffee cups. "Smile! You're on 'Candid Camera!'" was the victim's tip-off.

Startled bowlers would see balls returned minus finger holes. A car would roll down a hill and stop, and passersby asked to check on the trouble would find it lacked an engine.

The show was a precursor of reality-genre television shows such as "Cops" and "World's Most Dangerous Animals."

"People toss around the word pioneer all the time but Allen Funt was really one of those rare people who was a pioneer. He created what has become an entire programming genre," said Michael Naidus, a spokesman for CBS-TV.

CBS now airs "Candid Camera," with Funt's son Peter Funt and Suzanne Somers as hosts, on Friday evenings.

Funt himself appeared in many of the gags, along with such regulars over the years as Dorothy Collins (in the 1960s) and comedian and author Fannie Flagg ("Fried Green Tomatoes") in the 1970s. A young Woody Allen appeared in some early shows.

The TV program was born of Funt's "Candid Microphone," a radio show the New York native originated after his Army service in World War II. He was working as artist for an ad agency but looking for a different job.

"I learned the power of radio watching Eleanor Roosevelt do her show," he recalled in a 1987 interview with The Associated Press. "I used to go up to Hyde Park and hold her papers. I was just a messenger, but it planted the bug of radio in me.

"I got my hands on an old wire recorder that was the forerunner of tape recorders," Funt said. "That's how it began. In those days, we had to lug around these enormous recorders and camera equipment and find a place to conceal them."

The show had its television premiere, still called "Candid Microphone," on ABC in 1948. It bounced from one network to another in its early years, eventually getting picked up by CBS in 1960 for a seven-year run. In 1960-61, it was the seventh-best rated show in the nation.

A syndicated version ran from 1974-78. In the 1989-90 season, CBS aired a number of "Candid Camera" specials featuring Funt and son Peter as co-hosts.

In 1991, Funt produced a new version with comedian Dom DeLuise as host.

Throughout the years, Funt was never trapped by a hidden camera.

"When I'd travel, a location station might try it," he told the AP. "But it's awfully hard to catch someone who does this for a living. ... No, nobody ever really turned the tables on me."

Funt was born in New York City and graduated from high school at age 15. He later earned a bachelor's degree in fine arts from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y.

After his stroke, Funt remained an inspiration to his family, Peter Funt said.

"He endured many hospitalizations and treatments, yet did so with good spirit and a ferocious will to live," he said in a statement yesterday.

Funt is survived by his five children.

Nancy R. Comeau

FALL RIVER -- Nancy R. (Medeiros) Comeau, 58, of Melrose Street, died Monday, Sept. 6, 1999, at her home after a long illness. She was the wife of Bernard E. Comeau.

Born in Fall River, the daughter of the late Arthur and Angelina (Viveiros) Medeiros, she lived in the city all of her life.

A communicant of Notre Dame Church, she served for 10 years as youth advisor for the Notre Dame Christian Youth Organization.

She was a medical assistant for the Fall River Community Development Center for 11 years. Previously she was a health aide coordinator for the Fall River Visiting Nurse Association and an aide at the medical office of Drs. Pulaski and Martelli. She was also a teacher's aide for five years at Talbot Middle School.

Survivors include her widower; three sons, Michael Comeau of Assonet, David Comeau of Tiverton, R.I., and Christopher Comeau of Fall River; two daughters, Donna DaPonte and Michele Comeau, both of Fall River; and 10 grandchildren.

She was the mother of the late Mary Anne Comeau and sister of the late Priscilla Medeiros.

Her funeral will be at 9 a.m. Thursday at the Hathaway Home for Funerals, 1813 Robeson St., with a funeral Mass at 10 a.m. at Notre Dame Church.

Interment will be at Notre Dame Cemetery.

Dorila Landry, 94

NEW BEDFORD -- Dorila (Denault) Landry, 94, a retired stitcher for Cape Cod Manufacturing, died Monday, Sept. 6, 1999, at Hathaway Manor after a long illness. She was the widow of Alfred J. Landry.

Born in New Bedford, the daughter of the late David and Mathilde (Lemieux) Denault, she lived in the city all of her life.

She was a communicant of St. Joseph's Church.

Mrs. Landry enjoyed making jewelry and was an avid bingo player.

Survivors include two sons, Roger Landry of Garden Grove, Calif., and Wilfred Landry of New Bedford; two daughters, Jeannette Whitlock and Elaine DaCosta, both of New Bedford; two sisters, Jeannette Yates of New Bedford and Lillian Blazic of West Warwick, R.I.; 15 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was the mother of the late Rita Motta.

Her funeral Mass will be at 9 a.m. Thursday at St. Joseph's Church.

Arrangements are by the Rock Funeral Home, 1285 Ashley Blvd.

Edna E. Ziemba, 92

FAIRHAVEN -- Edna E. (Aceino) Ziemba, 92, formerly of New Bedford, died Friday, Sept. 3, 1999, at Alden Court Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center after a brief illness. She was the widow of Peter P. Ziemba.

Born in New Bedford, daughter of the late Charles and Anna A. (Steves) Aceino, she lived in Fairhaven for the past 18 years.

She was a communicant of St. Kilian Church.

Mrs. Ziemba was a clerk in the treasurer's office for the city of New Bedford for 15 years until her retirement in 1972.

She leaves her son, Paul Ziemba of Fairhaven and a grandson.

Her funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Kilian Church.

Interment will be at St. Mary's Cemetery.

Arrangements are by the Austin-Carney Funeral Home, 549 County St.

Marcilio DeSousa

DARTMOUTH -- Marcilio DeSousa, 55, proprietor of Cafe Portugal, died Monday, Sept. 6, 1999. He was the husband of Virginia (Verissimo) DeSousa.

Born in Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel, Azores, Portugal, he was the son of Lucinda (Miranda) DeSousa of Sao Miguel and the late Guilherme DeSousa.

He was a communicant of St. Mary's Church, Padanaram.

Mr. DeSousa was a member of the Portuguese-American Club of New Bedford; Club Recordacoes of New Bedford; and the Portuguese Business Association of Fall River.

He was the founder and member of LASA of New Bedford.

He served in the Portuguese Army for three years and fought in the Portugal-Angola War.

Survivors include his widow; his mother; a daughter, Leslie A. Crane of Dartmouth; two brothers, John DeSousa of Dartmouth and Hernani DeSousa of New Bedford; a sister, Fatima Bonventura of Canada; a grandson, Logan T. Crane of Dartmouth; and several nieces and nephews.

His funeral service will be at 8:45 a.m. Wednesday at the Perry Funeral Home, 111 Dartmouth St., New Bedford, followed by a funeral Mass at 10 a.m. at St. Mary's Church, Padanaram.

Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery.

Heather Ruth Ann Phillips

BOSTON -- Heather Ruth Ann Phillips, 19, of Sharps Lot Road, Swansea, died Sunday, Sept. 5, 1999, at Massachusetts General Hospital after an extended illness. She was the daughter of Alan Charles Souza and Heidi Phillips of Swansea.

Born in Fall River, she lived in Swansea for most of her life.

Survivors include her parents; her maternal grandmother, Ruth Rogers of Somerset; and two brothers, Trevor Gerald Phillips and Shawn David Phillips, both of Swansea.

Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. at the Manuel Rogers & Sons Funeral Home, 1521 N. Main St., Fall River.

Interment will be in St. Patrick's Cemetery, Fall River.

Julia E. Regula

NEW BEDFORD -- Julia E. (Pisz) Regula, 84, died Sunday, Sept. 5, 1999, at St. Luke's Hospital after a brief illness. She was the widow of Joseph Regula.

Born in New Bedford, daughter of the late Andrew and Frances (Pinkos) Pisz, she was a lifelong resident of the city.

She was a communicant of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church.

Mrs. Regula was employed by St. Luke's Hospital until her retirement, and had previously worked at Arista Sportswear.

In her leisure time, she enjoyed sewing.

Survivors include two sons, Randolph L. Regula and Joel J. Regula, both of New Bedford; two brothers, Alexander A. Pisz and Antone Pisz, both of New Bedford; and several nieces and nephews.

Her funeral Mass will be at 9 a.m. Wednesday at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church.

Arrangements are by Rock Funeral Home, 1285 Ashley Blvd. Mrs. Branchini

Anna T. Branchini, 90

NEW BEDFORD -- Anna T. (Pezzoli) Branchini, 90, of Acushnet, died Saturday, Sept. 4, 1999, at SunBridge Care & Rehabilitation for New Bedford after a long illness. She was the widow of Charles R. Branchini.

Born in Wareham, daughter of the late Guiseppi and Emma (Guidiboni) Pezzoli, she lived in New Bedford before moving to Acushnet 25 years ago.

Mrs. Branchini's love lived with her family and friends. She enjoyed crossword puzzles and her cats.

Survivors include a daughter, Barbara Branchini of Acushnet; a son, Charles R. Branchini of Enfield, Conn.; a brother, Raymond Pezzoli of Hawaii; two grandchildren, Tristan Branchini and Jennifer Branchini, both of Enfield; and several nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at St. Mary's Cemetery.

Arrangements are by the Fairhaven Funeral Home, 117 Main St., Fairhaven.

Joseph Bourassa Jr.

FALL RIVER -- Joseph Bourassa Jr., 64, of Lafayette Street, Somerset, died Sunday, Sept. 5, 1999, at the Catholic Memorial Home. He was the husband of Claudette (Beaulieu) Bourassa; they were married 34 years.

Born in Fall River, the son of the late Joseph and Marilda (St. Laurent) Bourassa, he lived in Somerset for the past 34 years.

A graduate of Rhode Island College, he was a sheet metal worker for 25 years, then a vocational teacher at Bristol Plymouth Regional Technical High School for 17 years, retiring in 1994.

An Army veteran of the Korean War attaining the rank of master sergeant, Mr. Bourassa was a member of Amvets Post 72, Somerset.

In the Knights of Columbus, he was both a fourth degree member of the Bishop Stang Assembly and a member of Council 86, Fall River.

He was a member of the Holy Name Society of St. Louis de France Parish, Swansea; the Massachusetts Teachers Association; Ocean Grove Sams; the Sheet Metal Workers Union Local 501. He was a former member of the Attleboro High School Advisory Board.

Survivors include his widow; three daughters, Anne Costa of Rumford, R.I., Rochelle Almeida of Somerset and Denise Moniz of Fall River; two sons, Marc Bourassa and Kevin Bourassa, both of Somerset; two brothers, Henry Bourassa of Westport and Adrien Bourassa of Somerset; two sisters, Eva Gibson of Fall River and Rosilda Mikesell of Indiana; two grandsons; and nieces and nephews.

His funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Auclair Funeral Home, 690 S. Main St., with a funeral Mass at 11 a.m. at St. Louis de France Church, Buffington Street, Swansea.

Interment will be in St. Patrick's Cemetery, Somerset.

Florence E. McCann

SOMERSET -- Florence E. (Clarkson) McCann, 83, of Buxton Street, died Saturday, Sept. 4, 1999, at her home. She was the widow of Raymond Albert McCann.

Born in Fall River, the daughter of the late William and Mary Bertha (Murphy) Clarkson, she lived in Somerset during her earlier years, then moved to Fall River for many years before returning to Somerset in 1964.

She was a communicant of St. Thomas More Church.

A homemaker, Mrs. McCann was a 1933 graduate of Somerset High and attended Bradford Durfee Technical School, Fall River.

She was a member of the St. Thomas More Church Seniors Club. She enjoyed traveling, was an avid reader and a collector of knickknacks.

Survivors include a daughter, Susan E. McCann of Tarpon Springs, Fla.; two sons, Michael M. McCann of Swansea and Timothy P. McCann of Norwood; two sisters, Ruth A. Clarkson of Somerset, and Irene Tracey of Walpole; a brother, Robert Clarkson of New Orleans; 11 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Her funeral will be at 9 a.m. Thursday at the Rose E. Sullivan & Waring Funeral Home, 866 County St., followed by a funeral Mass at 10 a.m. at St. Thomas More Church, Luther Avenue.

Burial will be in St. Patrick's Cemetery, Fall River.