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64 • THE ARTISAN WINTER 2021 EXTENDED FAMILY NEWS Leonard Drake joined Local 706 in 1977. He was a unique individual, remembered by journeyman make-up artist Laini Thompson as "witty, kind, helpful, and caring, always putting others' needs ahead of his own. He was selfl ess in every sense of the word. He had an incredible larger-than- life attitude, always full of laughter." Brother Drake was a friend and mentor to many of our members and a gifted hair stylist. He has numerous fi lm and television credits, including Roots: The Next Generation, A Soldier's Story, The Shield, Seven Pounds and was Emmy nominated for The Silent Lovers and Don King: Only in America. Leonard was blessed with an incredible gift of gab and loved to barter down any price whether it was on sale or at retail, earning him the nickname "The Negotiator." He had impeccable taste, amassing a huge collection of antique In Memoriam furnishings, artifacts and artwork, as well as more than 150 pairs of Nike shoes. Leonard was an incredible cook, with short ribs of beef being his favorite. Costume designer Ruth Carter remembers: "As much as Leonard was a great hair designer, committed to details, he was an equally committed human being for the betterment of our collective sharing on this earth. A relentlessly giving friend, I will miss him deeply." Leonard was blessed with insight into the world and human race; whatever ailed you, he could and always did make you feel better. He will be greatly missed. Leonard died peacefully in his sleep due to complications of heart trouble. There are no plans for a memorial service. New Addition Retired Local 706 journeyman make-up artist & proud grandpa Mark Sanchez announces the birth of his new granddaughter, Brielle Helene Mendoza. She was born October 31 at 10:49 a.m. and weighed 10 lb 2 oz and was 16 inches long. Her parents, Nova (Mark's daughter) and Johnny Mendoza, also welcome her to the family that includes big sister Sky Ella Mendoza who is 2 years old. Leonard Ralph Drake (1949-2020) Journeyman Hair Stylist At a time in the early 1960s when fi lm and television production was in abundance in Hollywood, the union had more jobs than they could provide qualifi ed hair stylists. Although she had fi lled out an application for the union two years prior upon the recom- mendation of Helen Turpin, the head of hair styling for 20th Century Fox Studios, she never heard from anyone. They called Lynda Gurasich at 6 p.m. on a Monday and asked her to report to Warner Bros. at 5:48 a.m. (set up time was 12 minutes at that time). She would be working on The Great Race. Lynda was told to bring her kit, but since she was working in a salon at that time, she didn't have a kit or even know what to put in it. She packed a little square overnight case with a comb and brush and put it by the door, ready to go the next morning. In the dark the next morning, Lynda wandered around Warner Bros. until she found the right stage. She spent three days on The Great Race teasing the backgrounds' hair into big, high hair styles and pinned huge hats on top. When she arrived on the stage that morning, she met Jean Burt Reilly, the head of Warner Bros. hair styling who graciously and kindly gave her enough equipment to work with and showed her what to do. There were about 15 other hair stylists on a big empty stage and they worked nonstop every morning, broke for lunch, did touch ups and did it all again the next day. Within a short time, her kit grew to be able to handle all situ- ations and became two large duffl e bags. She even carried Sterno to heat her curling irons in case they were out in the woods with no electricity. Lynda was called to CBS for work on Cinderella with Leslie Ann Warren, Ginger Rogers, Walter Pidgeon, Celeste Holm and Jo Van Fleet. When The Sound of Music returned from working on location in Austria, Lynda did the Von Trapp children on Los Angeles unit for the musical numbers. She fi lled in at CBS on variety shows for Red Skelton, Danny Kaye and others, but when she became pregnant and was visibly showing, CBS fi red her because of insurance liability. After her son Chris' birth, she returned to work and fi nally had achieved enough days that she could take "the test." Although it was gru- eling, she passed the practical, written and interviews that were Lynda Gurasich (1940-2020) Journeyman Hair Stylist