NELSON JOHN MONCEAUX, 56 STARTED ELITE SPECIAL-EFFECTS CAMERA FIRM ON HIS OWN.Byline: Holly Andres Staff Writer Starting his company out of his truck, John Monceaux built Optical Camera Service Inc. into a special-effects camera company that gained world- wide renown in the motion picture industry. Monceaux died Jan. 13 of lung cancer lung cancer, cancer that originates in the tissues of the lungs. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States in both men and women. Like other cancers, lung cancer occurs after repeated insults to the genetic material of the cell. at his Sun Valley home. He was 56. ``The moment I saw him I thought, 'Here's a cute one,''' said Angela Monceaux, who met her future husband in 1975 at a dance at the old Ambassador Hotel. ``I was smitten by his gentle eyes - they said it all. ``You could tell he cared about people. I think that is his legacy.'' Even though Monceaux and Angela Dawson Angela Dawson was the most prominent member of a family — five children, herself, and husband Carnell — who were all murdered in Baltimore, Maryland, on October 16, 2002. both grew up on the Caribbean island of Trinidad, they had never met. They were married on May 3, 1980. Nelson John Monceaux was born Aug. 11, 1948. He moved from Trinidad to the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. with his parents when he was 16. He became a naturalized citizen NATURALIZED CITIZEN. One who, being born an alien, has lawfully become a citizen of the United States Under the constitution and laws. 2. He has all the rights of a natural born citizen, except that of being eligible as president or vice-president of the United in 1970. Monceaux served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War Vietnam War, conflict in Southeast Asia, primarily fought in South Vietnam between government forces aided by the United States and guerrilla forces aided by North Vietnam. . He returned to the Valley and founded Optical Camera Service Inc., designing and repairing cameras for post-production special effects for motion pictures. ``He was honest, caring and humble,'' Angela Monceaux said. ``He was asked many times to have the company name listed in the credits. He said yes once and you can see it on 'The Secret of NIMH.''' Monceaux also had a passion for collecting butterflies that dated back to his childhood. His collection was displayed on the walls in his home. He loved gardening and planted fruit, nut and pepper trees on his 13-acre property. ``He loved getting a shovel in his hand or getting on his bulldozer,'' said eldest son John Garron garron a type of large, sturdy pony bred in Scotland; originated in cross between Percheron and Highland pony. Also used generally to describe the native ponies of Scotland and Ireland. Monceaux. ``He was a workaholic work·a·hol·ic n. One who has a compulsive and unrelenting need to work. , 10 to 12 hours a day, plus he worked at home. Getting into the bulldozer was a source of relaxation to him.'' John Garron Monceaux also said his dad served as a father figure to many young people in their Sun Valley neighborhood. ``He was incredibly intelligent. He was outgoing and a friend to all,'' John Garron Monceaux said. ``He always said, 'A man is only as good as his word.' I'll always remember him saying that to me.'' Monceaux is survived by his wife of 24 years, Angela; daughters, Dana La Monica and Marissa Monceaux; sons John Garron and Michael Shane; his parents, Wilbur and Monica Monceaux; and his brother, Nigel Pechenik. A funeral Mass was held Friday at St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church Roman Catholic Church, Christian church headed by the pope, the bishop of Rome (see papacy and Peter, Saint). Its commonest title in official use is Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. in Burbank. Cremation cremation, disposal of a corpse by fire. It is an ancient and widespread practice, second only to burial. It has been found among the chiefdoms of the Pacific Northwest, among Northern Athapascan bands in Alaska, and among Canadian cultural groups. was held. Valley Funeral Home in Burbank handled the arrangements. Memorial donations may be sent to Brentwood Biomedical Research Institute, c/o Cancer Information Center, VA of Greater Los Angeles 11-H, 11301 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 90073. Holly Andres, (818) 713-3708 holly.andres(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: MONCEAUX |
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