Former News-Press photographer Louie Deisbeck dies

Louie Deisbeck, news photographer for the Glendale News-Press for 20 years and a local businessman, died Dec. 31 in his Glendale home. He was 85 years old.

Deisbeck was born in Illinois to Louis and Thelma Deisbeck. At age 10, he moved with his family to Glendale. After graduating from Hoover High School and the Art Center School of Design, he worked as a photographer on the luxury liner Lurline.

He worked with Hollywood photographer John Engstead, and fashion/celebrity photographer Richard Avedon. He continued with fashion and movie star photography for magazines and newspapers until the end of his career.

In 1957, he joined the photography staff at the Glendale News-Press. During the next two decades, he became chief of the department. His photographs were widely distributed by Copley Newspapers. The only known photograph of Marilyn Monroe’s mother, taken near the end of her life by Deisbeck, earned front-page coverage in newspapers around the world.

In Southern California, Deisbeck was best known for breaking-news photographs that won numerous awards including the Penney-Missouri Award.

In the late 1970s, Deisbeck co-founded the Glendale public relations firm New Image. In the 1980s, he moved on to a career in building and development with James Pollard & Sons.

In his personal life, he was an avid collector of antiques, art and artifacts.

After his wife Mary died in 1999, Deisbeck began to devote more time working on building projects and traveling to racing events with his son and his family.

Diesbeck is survived by his daughter, Mary Lou Grove of Glendale; son, Rusty (Jodie) of Canyon Country; five grandchildren; and his sister, Betty Perry of Glendale.

Memorial services will be held be held at 11 a.m. on Jan. 30 at Holy Redeemer Church, 2411 Montrose Ave., Montrose.

Avery Keener Econome is a former news editor for the Glendale News-Press.