Obituaries : * Joseph E. Romero; Music Supervisor, Editor

Joseph E. Romero, a music supervisor and music editor whose work was used in hundreds of television shows, has died. He was 73.

A Sherman Oaks resident, Romero died June 24 at St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank of bronchial pneumonia, said his wife, Noreen.

Romero was born and raised in South Pasadena, where he taught himself to play harmonica and piano while in high school. After studying music briefly at USC, he began his career in the entertainment industry in the early 1940s as a messenger at RKO Pictures, then eventually became one of the studio’s music editors.

In the mid-1950s, Romero moved to Revue Productions, a television studio later purchased by Universal Pictures. While at Universal, he worked as a music editor and later as music supervisor on such programs as “Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” “The Jane Wyman Show” and “Wagon Train.”

According to his wife, much of Romero’s uncredited work involved combining existing short segments from the studio’s vast music library into an original background score. He retired in 1977.

Services were held Monday.

In addition to his wife of 37 years, Romero is survived by a granddaughter and a great-granddaughter. The family requests that donations be made to the Motion Picture & Television Fund, 23388 Mulholland Drive, Woodland Hills 91364.

*

Austin, W. Wayne, 94, of Studio City, retired electrical engineer for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Pierce Brothers Valhalla Mortuary, North Hollywood.

Clasen, Jacqueline E., 70, of Sherman Oaks, retired credit manager for Sloane Manufacturing. Forest Lawn Mortuary, Hollywood Hills.

Cooper, Roy, 89, of North Hollywood, retired security guard for Litton Industries. Forest Lawn Mortuary, Hollywood Hills.

De Velbiss, Alice, 74, of Northridge, homemaker. J. T. Oswald Mortuary, Reseda.

Erdos, Agnes, 58, of Canoga Park, bookkeeper. Glasband-Willen Mortuary, North Hollywood.

Fiorillo, Antonio, 85, of Granada Hills, retired cook. Bastian & Perrott Mortuary, Northridge.

Gandara, Joyce L., 33, of Sherman Oaks, registered nurse at St. Joseph Medical Center. The Valley Funeral Home, Burbank.

Gentner, Harland J., 41, of Van Nuys, general manager for Sizzler International. Forest Lawn Mortuary, Hollywood Hills.

Green, Afton Oscar, 84, of Lancaster, retired restaurant owner. Halley-Olsen Funeral Chapel, Lancaster.

Hauenstein, John LeRoy, 80, of Canoga Park, retired machinist for the Bendix Corp. Pierce Brothers-Praiswater Mortuary, Canoga Park.

Heininger, Chester Alvin, 66, of Palmdale, consultant for Ford Motor Co. Halley-Olsen Funeral Chapel, Lancaster.

Hernandez, Ruth, 62, of Northridge, teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Bastian & Perrott Mortuary, Northridge.

Herrera, Jose Luis, 91, of North Hills, retired electrical company owner. Pierce Brothers-Meyer Mitchell Mortuary, Van Nuys.

Johnson, Arthur Franklyn, 66, of Palmdale, truck driver. Halley-Olsen Funeral Chapel, Palmdale.

Karr, Bonnie Jean, 53, of Palmdale, homemaker. Halley-Olsen Funeral Chapel, Palmdale.

Laber, Lawrence E. (Larry) Jr., 49, of Westlake Village, sales representative for Pacific Bell. Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Mortuary, Westlake Village.

Le Nay, Patricia, 57, of Encino, electronic assembler. Forest Lawn Mortuary, Hollywood Hills.

Munoz, Augusto M., 41, of North Hollywood, floral designer for Toluca Lake Florist. Pierce Brothers Valhalla Mortuary, North Hollywood.

Olocki, Lucille, 65, of Reseda, assembler for Harris-Dracon. J. T. Oswald Mortuary, Reseda.

Rawlins, Kenneth L., 78, of Glendale, retired manager for Prudential Insurance Co. Forest Lawn Mortuary, Hollywood Hills.

Robison, Ruth Josephine, 74, of Lancaster, homemaker. Halley-Olsen Funeral Chapel, Lancaster.

Whitesell, Lena Marie Rachel, 80, of Lancaster, homemaker. Halley-Olsen Funeral Chapel, Lancaster.

Wright, Lewis B., 45, of Lancaster, horse rancher. Chapel of the Valley Mortuary, Palmdale.

Zeimis, Elida L., 56, of Burbank, laboratory technician. Scovern Mortuary, Glendale.

Obituaries are published free of charge as a public service to readers. They are based on information provided by mortuaries.