John Charles Herklotz was born in Chicago, Illinois on April 7th, 1924 and passed away in Mission Viejo, CA on December 29th, 2019 at the age of 95. He is preceded in death by his loving wife Dale Melbourne Herklotz.

John was raised in Chicago and graduated from high school at age 15. In 1943, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and completed his service with the 191st Signal Repair Company in the China-Burma-India area.

Following his military service, John continued his studies at DePaul University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. Price Waterhouse employed him for two years during which time he obtained his C.P.A. license. His professional experience includes employment for the Chicago Tribune as an Internal Auditor, Manager of the Tax Department, and Chief Financial Officer for the Tribune’s subsidiary companies. In addition, he was Auditor and Controller for WGN Continental Broadcasting during seven years of their expansion.

In 1968, John left corporate life to pursue a career as a media financial consultant and broadcast station broker. He formed the Cellular Financial Corporation and actively pursued opportunities in the new and expanding cellular telephone industry.

In 1990 he sold his company to pursue his lifelong dream of devoting time and resources to charitable and worthwhile causes. John established a legacy of giving as financial contributor and Chairman of the Board of Directors of American Happenings, a philanthropic corporation dedicated to supporting hospitals, educational institutions, presidential foundations, civic awareness projects, religious organizations, and many more. Much of his support was in recognition of his wife Dale. In 1998, The Vatican conferred the Papal Knight of St. Gregory on John for his significant service and assistance to the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.

During his final years, John also produced many films including, The Giant of Thunder Mountain and Have You Seen Clem. At 94 he executive produced In a Booth at Chasen’s a stage play about the love story of Ronald and Nancy Reagan which premiered in North Hollywood on November 11th, 2018, and screened recently at The Kennedy Center, Washington D.C. on September 25th, 2019 both of which he attended.

He was a loving husband, a loyal friend, and an example of giving. John was laid to rest at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, CA next to his wife Dale on January 6th, 2020.

Mauricette Macgillicuddy (1921 - 1998) (aka Dale Melbourne Herklotz). Melbourne-born daughter of Maurice MacGillicuddy (uncle of Cyril) and his wife, Nell Morris. Sister of Joan, both musical prodigies. She trained at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music until 1936, performed movements from the Schuman Concerto in gowns designed by Sir John Longstaff, then sought fame abroad.

She became a Hollywood stage actress under the stage name of Dale Melbourne and married the Orange County business man, John Herklotz. She contracted Alzheimer's disease in 1997 and passed away the following year. Her husband made many donations worth millions of dollars to perpetuate her memory. These included expansion of laboratory space for brain research at the University of California, and the John and Dale Melbourne Herklotz Letterwinners Plaza and Champions Courtyard west of Cacciatore Stadium for De Paul Athletics.