Los Angeles, CA — Huell Howser will be honored at a sunset memorial at Griffith Observatory next Tuesday.
Howser, the longtime host of PBS’s California’s Gold , died early Monday at 67. Initial indications were that he passed away from natural causes but NBC is now reporting that he died of cancer.
California’s Gold is a travel program that explored different natural, cultural, and historical landmarks in the Golden State. The show is currently in its 19th season, with 443 episodes airing so far.
Originally from Tennessee, Huell Howser was a Marine and former aide to US Senator Howard Baker before going into television. He had revealed in late November that he was retiring from the show and no further original episodes would be forthcoming.
In announcing the plan for the public memorial, Los Angeles City Councilman Tom LaBonge had this to say according to the Los Angeles Daily News :
“Huell had a tremendous enthusiasm for California landmarks like the Griffith Observatory. And now we must say goodbye to our own California landmark, Huell Howser.”
The Los Angeles Times provides the agenda for the upcoming Huell Howser memorial:
“The ceremony will begin at 3:30 p.m., at the steps of the observatory, where there will be speeches given in tribute until 5:07 p.m., when there will be a sunset salute.”
A Howser spokesman, according to NBC , noted that Huell Howser was an intensely private man who actually didn’t want any kind of service. The spokesman suggested that the best way to honor his memory would be to visit the Chapman University library in Orange, California, where Houser apparently donated his art collection and other archival material.
Watch some clips of Huell Howser from California’s Gold :
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