Julian Burgoyne Ely

ELY, Julian Burgoyne Julian Burgoyne Ely passed away at St. Mary's Medical Center in Long Beach on January 22 after an adventurous 93 years. Back injury forced his early retirement from the State Department's U.S. AID (Aid for International Development), in which he taught film production and communications in four countries - a mission he loved. Although health challenges persisted for decades, he dearly wanted to live in service of God and mankind by fulfilling his God-given potential. Born the third of seven children in Texas on October 19, 1915, Julian became valedictorian, but, unable to afford college even with scholarships, he ventured into Los Angeles during the Great Depression and Dust B owl. In time, he got into Lockheed, taking rapid promotions as war industries boomed. Patriotic but immune from the draft, he asked himself what he would answer if ever asked, "What did you do in the War, Daddy?" So, he quit and volunteered for induction, eventually transferring around to become a photographer for the Army's Stars & Stripes in the Occupation of Japan.
One of Julian's greatest known encounters with destiny was that he was able to make a suggestion directly to the Imperial Household of Japan regarding the Showa Emperor (Hirohito). Julian was (at least one of) the source(s) of the idea that the Emperor should renounce any claims of divinity. The Emperor's doing so facilitated his crucial role in the rebuilding of war-torn Japan into what is still the second largest economy in the world and a steadfast ally of the United States. (Story in World War II magazine, Nov., 1995.) Back home, after kissing the ground at San Francisco, Julian finally got to college, always thankful for the GI Bill. He earned a Bachelor's and Master's (Theater Arts, 1954) degree from UCLA. His Advanced Master's from USC later did nothing to diminish his fanatic love for the Bruins, and he held season football tickets for close to a quarter century. Returned to aerospace, this time as a film writer, director, and producer, Julian co-founded IFPA (Industry Film Producers Association (now International Association of Audio Visual Communicators) in the mid-50s. Julian loved but lost his family to divorce. By the grace of God, he and his son did become close, and Julian was grateful that amicable ties could be restored with the others. Julian surely wanted his son to believe in Christ, Whom he had accepted as a boy. Trumping all, Christ and the faithfulness of God assure members of his family that Julian is now praising God in a way they could not imagine. Julian is survived by his older sister Jewel, younger brother Paul and baby sister Leslie, as well as by the son who knows that his Dad dearly loved him, Julian Byron; as well as other family members and many loyal friends. A celebration of his life will take place at Forest Lawn in Cypress (Church of Our Fathers) on Saturday, February 7, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. (A visitation will also take place the previous day, Friday, Feb. 6, from 3-7 p.m. in the Mortuary Building.)