* Pat Shields; Producer of Commercials

Pat Shields, a commercial producer and television director for nearly three decades, has died. He was 70.

A resident of Glendale since 1978, Shields was found dead in his car in Death Valley on Aug. 16, an apparent victim of heat exhaustion, said his wife, Elinor Shields.

Shields was born in Red Oak, Iowa, and came to California with his family during the Depression. He served as an aerial gunner for the Navy during World War II before attending USC, where he received a bachelor of fine arts degree.

After completing a master’s degree in cinematography, Shields began his career as a film editor at Telepix in 1963. He later became a commercial producer at Carson/Roberts Advertising and its successor, Ogilvy/Mather.

Among the clients Shields worked for as a producer were Mattel, Baskin-Robbins and Gallo Wine.

During the early 1970s, Shields directed several children’s television programs, including “Villa Allegre,” “Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp” and “Curiosity Shop.” He also directed the 1973 feature film “Frasier, the Sensuous Lion.”

Beginning in 1984, Shields served as an executive producer at Dailey & Associates. He also served as the advertising agency’s head of television production during much of the late 1980s.

In recent years, Shields produced a series of commercials for Great Western Bank and Ford Dealers of Southern California. He retired in 1992.

In addition to his wife, Shields is survived by a brother, Ellis F. Stickel of Downey.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Crippen Mortuary, 2900 Honolulu Ave., La Crescenta. Shields’ cremated remains will be scattered at sea in a private ceremony Tuesday, which would have been the Shields’ 25th wedding anniversary.

The family asks that donations be made in Shields’ name to the Wildlife Waystation in Tujunga or to L.I.F.E. (Love Is Feeding Everyone) in Los Angeles.