FRENCH WOMAN SEEKS OWNER OF WWII BRACELET.

Byline: DENNIS MCCARTHY 

Odds and ends from around the Valley:

Eileen Hochstein sat down last week at her computer in Springfield, Va., and wrote everything she knew about the gold bracelet.

It had been owned by Army Pfc. Zachariah Edward Bishop, whose plane was shot down June12, 1944, over France. He and another soldier parachuted to safety and were given refuge by Georges Marchand, who owned a small farm outside the city of Tours.

"After a few days, the family became worried because the Germans were searching the area for survivors," Hochstein said.

"Marchand turned the two men over to local gendarmes (police) he knew sympathized with the French Resistance and could get the U.S. soldiers safely out of the country."

Before he left, Bishop thanked the farmer, then took the bracelet off his wrist and gave it to Marchand.

"It's a gift for the baby," he said, referring to Marchand's 2-day-old granddaughter -- born the same day Bishop's plane had been shot down.

That baby, Nicole Grenouilloux, is now 62, and she still lives on her late grandfather's farm. After her parents died in 2001, she launched a search to find Bishop's family so she could return the bracelet.

"Her family cherished it, and they often wondered whatever happened to the young serviceman," said Hochstein, whose mother-in-law lives on a farm near Nicole in France.

"Nicole feels if she can find his family and tell them the story behind that bracelet, they would also cherish it."

Through the bracelet's serial numbers and military records, Hochstein learned Bishop died at 54 on May 3, 1966, in Van Nuys. He is buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego.

"I know 41 years is a long time ago, but we're hoping he still has family in the San Fernando Valley," she said.

"I think they would like it. I know I would."

If you have any information on the family of Zachariah Edward Bishop, contact Hochstein at [e-mail] or at [phone].

If you want to laugh for a great cause, plan to attend Wednesday's benefit for the Special Olympics Tri-Valley Chapter, featuring comedian Jay Leno.

The local chapter offers 14 sporting venues to more than 1,000 mentally challenged athletes in the San Fernando Valley and surrounding areas.

"Even though we use sports as our vehicle, what we are really trying to do is eliminate the stigma and stereotypes associated with individuals with mental handicaps," said Jan Maseda, area director for the Tri-Valley Special Olympics.

The show will be held at the Canyon Club, 28912 Roadside Drive, Agoura Hills. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster or by calling the Tri-Valley Special Olympics office at [phone]. For guaranteed seating, call the Canyon Club at [phone].

More than 300 of Al Viola's friends from the music industry packed Barone's Italian Restaurant in Van Nuys on Monday to pay final respects to the legendary guitar player who died last week of cancer at his Studio City home. He was 87.

"It was overwhelming, all the love in that room for Al," said his wife, Glenna Viola. "I think Al went through life never knowing how many people really loved him."

Many more knew Al from his unique sound, including his beautiful mandolin performance in "The Godfather," and playing guitar for Frank Sinatra on such standards as "My Way" and "Witchcraft."

"Frank Sinatra Jr. came and talked for 30 minutes on how his father loved Al, and how his guitar playing knocked him out," said Tom Monteleone, co-owner of Barone's.

"Al Viola was an incredibly talented, sweet, honorable man."

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Photo:

Nicole Grenouilloux is looking for the family of Zachariah Edward Bishop, a U.S. soldier who gave her family his gold bracelet after his plane was shot down in France in World War II.