Howard ‘Bud’ Barish, 76; Auto Dealer to the Stars

Howard “Bud” Barish, Hollywood car dealer who counted movie stars among his clients and headed local and national industry associations, has died. He was 76.

Barish died Wednesday while swimming in the pool of his Beverly Hills home.

After graduating from USC, Barish joined his father in establishing Barish Chrysler-Plymouth on La Brea Avenue. The younger Barish operated it for more than 40 years, selling cars to such entertainers as Bob Hope, Cary Grant, Fred Astaire and Michael Landon.

Ahead of other dealers in hiring women to sell cars, Barish told The Times: “We find that women are more patient than men, they follow up more, they keep records better and they’re more orderly, stable and dependable.”

Barish served as president of the Los Angeles Motor Car Dealers Assn. and the Chrysler National Dealers Council.

Also active in the community, he helped raise funds for the American Cancer Society, the American Film Institute and the Young Musicians Foundation. He served as a director and secretary of the Beverly Hills Tennis Club.

A World War II veteran, Barish earned a Purple Heart in the Battle of the Bulge. Fifty years later, he was able to track down and thank the Army sergeant who saved his life.

Barish is survived by his wife, Dorothy; two children, Robert Barish and Laurie Barish Pereira, and three grandchildren.

Services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday at Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary.

The family has asked that memorial contributions be made to the American Cancer Society or Children’s Memorial Hospital of Chicago.