Barbara Best

Barbara Best Born to Leila and Charles Lewis Best in Coronado, California on December 2nd, 1921, Barbara died at The Rafael Convalescent Center in San Rafael, CA of heart failure at the age of 85 on February 22nd, 2007. Her nieces, Barbara Best Trigg of Napa, CA, Betsy Best-Martini of Fairfax, CA, Lindsay Best Ellis of Phoenix, AZ, and Mary Kathleen Lockett of Burke, VA, mourn her. A woman who was a pioneer in the entertainment industry, she will be missed by her many dear friends, family and business associates throughout the state. Barbara attended the University of Southern California on a full scholarship and graduated from the School of Journalism in 1943. She was recruited by 20th Century Fox upon graduation and for six years was the youngest unit publicist, and the rare woman, in the motion picture industry. From 20th Century-Fox she moved to the Stanley Kramer Company at Columbia Pictures where she served as Assistant to George Glass, Vice President of Advertising, Publicity, and Public Relations. Ten years out of college, she went into business as Barbara Best, Inc. She was General Manager and Vice President of the Vikki Carr Company. In 1975, Barbara continued to represent Vikki along with taking on the position of personal manager for Marion Ross from "Happy Days". She and Marion worked together through 1996. Marion was and still is a devoted friend. Barbara was twice President of the Hollywood Women's Press Club and was a member of Women in Communications and of Women in Film. She was a co-founder and former chairman of the board of the Vikki Carr Scholarship Foundation, which awarded more than 100 college scholarships to Mexican-Americans. She has been listed in Who's Who of American Women since 1974. As a member of the Hollywood Women's Club, she assisted in the planning of the Golden Globe Awards for many years. Funeral arrangements will be private. Her family wishes to extend sincere thanks to the genuinely caring and loving staff at Long Life Living and The Rafael Convalescent Center in San Rafael where she spent her last happy years; they became part of our family. In lieu of flowers, donations should be sent to the Vikki Carr Scholarship Foundation, www.vcsf.net, LITA at 4340 Redwood Highway, Suite 101, San Rafael, CA 94903 or The Rafael Resident Fund, 234 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael, CA 94903.