Farlan Irving Myers 463S

Farlan I. Myers, a lifelong resident of Los Angeles, passed away, at his home, on May 27, 2008, with his family by his side. He was 89. Farlan worked in the entertainment business for more than six decades, as a musician, composer, and a business and creative affairs executive with Young and Rubicam and the J. Walter Thompson advertising agency, where he spent most of his career. Farlan studied piano from the age of five, performing in recital and concert throughout Southern California as a young man. After he graduated with an B.A. in political science from the University of California at Los Angeles. Just before World War II, he worked in Washington, D.C. on the staff of Eleanor Roosevelt, and then joined the Army Air Force, as a pilot, after the United States entered the war. Back in civilian life, after the war, Farlan studied music at the New England Conservatory, in Boston, and the Julliard School of Music in New York. Upon graduation, he joined the fledgling television industry and combined his talents in music with advertising, creating jingles for Ford and Hunt Foods, among others, writing children's music for several Disney record-books, and composing the theme song for the television series "Our Miss Brooks" and scoring several documentaries, including "Brats, Our Journey Home". Farlan was an honored member of the UCLA alumni association and an avid Bruins basketball fan. He was also a member of the Hollywood Radio and Television Society in the early 70's, where he served as its President. He was invited to join the Board of Directors of Survival Anglia, a London-based production company specializing in Wildlife documentaries. He composed the music for the organization's 1972 film, "The Flight of the Snow Geese". A. J. Walter Thompson company newsletter once stated that Farlan "brought to his work a warmth of personality and a professional competence that won him many friends. Being creative himself, he had a rare and valuable respect for creative people – producers, directors, writers, and stars, as well as agency clients. This smoothed out many a rough edge and eased many a potentially tense situation." He is survived by his loving wife, Peggy, of 51 years, and their daughter Nancy. Services will be held Sunday, June 1, 2008 at Hillside Memorial Park, (800) 576-1994.