North County Residents Remember Mouseketeer Annette Funicello

North County residents joined millions in remembering the late actress Annette Funicello on Monday. Funcillo died at 70 after a long battle with multiple sclerosis.

North County Dr. Donald Ponec, a researcher and board member with the Annette Funicello Research Fund for Neurological Diseases, said Funicello and her husband Glen Holt were brave throughout her struggle with MS, a disease she battled for 25 years.

"She and Glen faced this with grace and a generous spirit... I think they've been incredibly brave, loyal and are wonderful people," said Ponec, who first met Funicello two years ago. 

The Research Fund is dedicated to funding research into the cause, treatment, and cure of MS and other neurological diseases.

Walt Disney Co. officials issued praise Monday for the legacy of actress who was personally recruited by Walt Disney as one of the original Mouseketeers on The Mickey Mouse Club before starring in a series of beach party movies with Frankie Avalon.

Funicello died Monday at age 70 at Mercy Southwest Hospital in Bakersfield. She succumbed to complications of multiple sclerosis, according to Burbank-based Walt Disney Co.

"Annette was and always will be a cherished member of the Disney family, synonymous with the word Mouseketeer, and a true Disney legend," Disney Chairman/CEO Bob Iger said. "She will forever hold a place in our hearts as one of Walt Disney's brightest stars, delighting an entire generation of baby boomers with her jubilant personality and endless talent.

"Annette was well known for being as beautiful inside as she was on the outside, and she faced her physical challenges with dignity, bravery and grace," he said. "All of us at Disney join with family, friends, and fans around the world in celebrating her extraordinary life."

Walt Disney discovered the Utica, N.Y., native while she was performing in a production of Swan Lake at the Starlight Bowl in Burbank at age 13. He invited her to try out to be a Mouseketeer, and she was hired on the spot. The show debuted Oct. 3, 1955, and Annette soon became the most popular member of the group. The series ran for three seasons and in reruns through the 1990s.

"Everyone who knew Annette loved and respected her," Disney's daughter, Diane Disney Miller, said. "She was one of the loveliest people I've ever known, and was always so kind to everyone. She was also the consummate professional, and had such great loyalty to my father."

Funicello remained under contract to Disney after The Mickey Mouse Club ended its run, and she appeared in shows such as Zorro and The Nine Lives of Elfego Baca and films including The Shaggy Dog and Babes in Toyland.

She made her biggest mark on the big screen, however, appearing opposite young singing sensation Frankie Avalon in a series of beach movies, including Beach Party, Muscle Beach Party, Bikini Beach, Beach Blanket Bingo and How to Stuff a Wild Bikini in the 1960s. The pair reunited in 1987 for the nostalgic Back to the Beach.

Funicello also had a successful singing career, with hits including Pineapple Princess and Tall Paul.

"Annette's sweet, unassuming spirit, her love of people, and her capacity to exude kindness and good feelings to everyone she met was part of her beautiful charisma," composer Richard Sherman, who wrote hits for Funicello with his late brother Robert, said. "Because the songs we wrote for her brought us to the attention of Walt, Bob and I always referred to Annette as our lucky star."

Funicello was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1987. She quickly established The Annette Funicello Research Fund for Neurological Diseases, which raised money for research into the cause, treatment and cure of multiple sclerosis and other neurological diseases.

Funicello had three children from her marriage to Jack Gilardi: Gina, Jack Jr. and Jason, along with three grandchildren. She married Glen Holt in 1986.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Annette’s memory can be made to The Annette Funicello Research Fund at annetteconnection.com.

—City News Service contributed to this report.

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