Obituary of June Springer

JUNE ALICIA SPRINGER A lifelong New Yorker, June enjoyed the natural beauty and friendly spirit of Chico, where she lived for the past year and died peacefully on September 27, 2013 at the age of 85. Born in 1928 in Hackensack, NJ to Alice and Rudolph Reimer, June became a professional singer at 18, appearing in several musicals on Broadway and on national tours (she recalled auditioning before Cole Porter himself for the Broadway production of "Kiss Me Kate". In the 1950's, under the stage name Monica Lane, June joined crooner Cass Franklin as a popular singing duo playing New York nightclubs such as The Latin Quarter, pioneer television variety shows such as The Colgate Comedy Hour, and Catskills resorts (Monica's publicity pin-up became the source material for Roy Lichtenstein's famous "Girl With Ball", in NYC's MoMA). In 1953, June married John Springer, whose career as a film and theater public relations agent became legend. With John, she enjoyed the glamour of the New York and international entertainment, arts and journalism worlds, but she was far more devoted to family: children Gary, Alicia, and Cynthia; grandchildren Nicholas and Olivia Springer, Zachary Gilman, and Anthony and Zora Thomas; and her sister Marilyn and family. Along with their parents, June and Marilyn and families shared a multigenerational country home in rural New Jersey, June's "other life" outside Manhattan. Warm, funny, beautiful, and generous, June was beloved by loyal friends and family. A Memorial will be held in New York City, but June's California family gratefully thanks the staff and residents of The Terraces Senior Living and the many devoted and kind healthcare professionals who helped make June's sojourn in Chico comfortable and happy.