Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1382552
55 S U M M E R Q 2 I S S U E I N M E M O R I A M GEORGE OHANIAN SEPTEMBER 30, 1924 — APRIL 20, 2021 "I love my craft. Each assignment presents to me a thrill and a challenge. It is my firm belief that the cooperative spirit that prevails between the produc- er, writer, director and editor is what ultimately results in an entertainment product that everyone can be proud of." — George Ohanian, ACE George Ohanian, age 96, passed away April 20 in the comfort of his home in Glendale, Calif. Born and raised in Hart- ford, Connecticut, George was a combat veteran of World War II who fought in Eu- rope, including at the Battle of the Bulge. After the war, he relocated to California and graduated from UCLA in 1952 with a BA in English. During his last year of college, George began what would become a successful 38-year career in the entertainment industry when he got a job at Universal Studios as a helper in the Still Depart- ment. He was soon promoted to printing publicity photos of the stars and then transferred to the Editorial Department in 1955 as an apprentice film editor. En- amored with editing, he worked his way up through the ranks and, in 1963, was promoted to film editor. One of George's f irst and favorite c r e d i t s w a s a s l e a d s o u n d e f f e c t s editor on the television comedy "The Munsters." George was also very proud to have worked earlier in his career for Orson Welles as dialogue editor on the classic film "Touch of Evil." He found Welles to be every bit the genius that many claimed him to be, and it was an experience George never forgot and often recounted. Executive producer/writer Harve Bennett was another of George's early mentors when he worked on "The Six Million Dollar Man" and "The Bionic Woman." During his stint as senior film editor on "The Six Million Dollar Man," George wrote an article for American Cin- ema Editor Magazine (Winter 1975/76) detailing both the editorial challenges he faced and the innovative techniques he employed while on the series. George had many fond memories of working with executive producer/ writer/director Ken Johnson on multiple series, including "Cliffhangers" and "The Incredible Hulk." George and Ken became friends and stayed in touch for many years after. George also enjoyed working with executive producer/writer/ director James D. Parriott on several projects, notably Parriott's time travel series "Voyagers." In later years, George worked for executive producers Dean Hargrove and Fred Silverman, editing a two-hour "Perry Mason" for them as well as the hit series "Matlock." George retired in 1989 but remained active as a member of the American C i n e m a E d i t o r s ( AC E ) , t h e M o t i o n Picture Editors Guild, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and the American Film Institute. In addition to being a lifelong fitness enthusiast, he en- joyed taking road trips, doing crossword puzzles, watching college football games (especially his Bruins) and visiting with his children and grandchildren. George is survived by his beloved wife of 46 years, Eileen Stecyk Ohanian; three daughters, H e a t h e r ( S c o t t ) W h i t b e c k , Ta m a ra (Josh) Harker, and Jennifer (Brian) Fink; f ive grandchildren, Nicholas, Ashlyn and Lily Whitbeck, and Theodore and Felix Fink; and his sister Gladys (late George) Danielson. ■ — Jennifer Fink P H O T O : O H A N I A N F A M I L Y