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51 SEP-OCT 14 / CINEMONTAGE PASSAGES vice president of post-production at Fox from 1979 to 1992, and executive vice president of post-production at MGM/UA until his retirement in 2000. A Los Angeles native who attended Hollywood High School and San José State University, Gerlich began his career in the film industry in 1954 as a film processor for Technicolor. He went into film editing at Ziv Television and United Artists Television before joining Columbia. His father, Edward C. Gerlich, worked as a film editor and Technicolor film processor and his mother, Sebastian (Betty), was a negative cutter. Gerlich earned a very respectable career in Hollywood in charge of post-production for many major motion pictures for various studios. He was also known as a straightforward executive and always had all Editors Guild members' utmost respect. As a senior vice president at many studios, he went on to enjoy a successful career and enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. Survivors include his wife of 27 years, Robyn; sons Gary S. Gerlich, a retired sound effects editor, Gregory M. Gerlich, a supervising sound editor; daughter Stacy, a Captain in the Los Angeles Fire Department; grandchildren Garret, Gina, Genelle and Marissa; and sister Judith. Gary, you will truly be missed. A memorial service is pending. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Motion Picture & Television Fund, ATTN: Foundation, PO Box 51151, Los Angeles, CA 90051- 9727. JAMES NELSON (JAMES M. FALKINBURG) SOUND EDITOR SEPTEMBER 25, 1932 – JUNE 18, 2014 James Nelson, born James M. Falkinburg, passed away on June 18. He is most well known as the uncredited associate producer of Star Wars, and as one of the most respected and prolific sound effects editors, sound designers and post- production supervisors of his time. Jim's work helped gain sound effects design and editing the recognition it now has as both an artistic and a technical achievement. As a governor of the Sound Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, he lobbied strongly for the establishment of a permanent annual Academy Award for Sound Editing. He was also known for his generous support and mentorship of many young filmmakers in all fields. Jim began working in the movie industry at age 17. From 1954, he was a sound effects editor for Bing Crosby Enterprises and the TV series Medic. In 1959 through 1964, as vice president of the Primrose Company, he supervised sound effects editing and re- recording for all Columbia Pictures features and Screen Gems TV shows. In 1965, he co-founded Edit-Rite and Synchrofilm, Inc., the industry's premier post-production facility at the time. Some of the TV series (comprising over 1,700 episodes) he worked on were Love American Style, The Brady Bunch, The Monkees, Get Smart and The Andy Griffith Show. Among the 142 feature films on which he functioned as sound editor or supervisor, are Freebie and the Bean (which won the Motion Picture Sound Editors' Golden Reel Award), The Exorcist (which won the Oscar for Best Sound and the Golden Reel Award for Sound Editing), American Graffiti, Cabaret, The Last Picture Show, Five Easy Pieces and Easy Rider. In 1972, he formed James Nelson Enterprises, Inc., and expanded into the production of feature films. From 1975 through 1977, he was responsible for the administration and management of the newly created Industrial Light & Magic (ILM). In 1978, he became the associate producer and unit production manager for The China Syndrome. He also produced Borderline in 1980 and, in 1984, helped Richard Edlund found the visual effects company Boss Films, functioning as vice president and consultant for four years and advising on such films as 2010, Poltergeist II and Ghostbusters. In 1991, he produced Solar Crisis with Edlund and executive produced The Seventh Con in 1993. Jim semi-retired in 1994, acting until his death as advisor and mentor to those who sought him out. TOM ROLF, ACE FILM EDITOR DECEMBER 31, 1931 – JULY 14, 2014 Tom Rolf, the Oscar-winning editor of 1983's The Right Stuff and many other acclaimed films, died July 14 at the age of 82. During a holiday in France, he broke his hip and had successful surgery, but 10 days later, while recovering at a hospital, unexpectedly passed away from a pulmonary embolism. Born Ernst Rolf, Jr., in 1931 in Stockholm, Sweden, to the legendary Swedish singer, composer, musical review artist, director and producer Ernst Rolf and actress Tutta Rolf, he moved to New York with his mother and stepfather at the age of eight. When they moved on to Los Angeles, he was sent to a Catholic military boarding school, then worked as a ski patrolman and as a seaman for the Norwegian Merchant Marine