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- Obituary: Sacramento Bee 5 Sep 2001
John Bassett, Marketing Specialist
John Bassett, a marketing specialist who ran the successful 1988
campaign to block PG&E's attempt to take over the Sacramento Municipal Utility
District, died Thursday of complications of bladder cance
He was 66.
For the past eight years, he was employed by the Sierra College Small
Business Development Center in Auburn as a marketing counselor and publ
information officer.
In 1988, his Bassett Communications in Sacramento was hired by public
power advocates to marshall position to the Pacific Gas and Electric Co
unsolicited bid to take over SMUD.
Mr. Bassett named the position group "Keep Electric Energy Public"
(KEEP) and talked the late B.T. Collins into serving as president and chief
spokesman of the organization.
At numerous community meetings, Collins stressed the importance of
leaving control of SMUD's Rancho Seco nuclear power plant in the han
Sacramento County residents.
PG&E soon withdrew its takeover offer.
"John was a guy who worked behind the scenes," said Ron Roach,
director of communications for the California Taxpayers Association. "He had a
real talent for solving problems and cutting to the chase and getting things
done."
As a marketing executive, Mr. Bassett was the recipient of numerous
awards from the American Advertising Association, Sacramento Advertising
Association and Sacramento Public Relations Association.
His accounts included Oakland International Airport, the Port of
Oakland, Northern California Pontiac Dealers and SMUD.
He was an honors graduate of Kent State University and began his
career working in advertising and public relations for Ohio Edison Co. He came
to California in 1960 as a reporter for Fairchild Publications in San
Francisco.
During the 1970's, Mr. Bassett took a break from the marketing
business and moved to Amador County, where he owned and operated the Wheel
Inn, a Jackson dinner house, for seven years.
He established Bassett Communications Inc. in Sacramento in 198
after a stint as creative director for the advertising and marketing firm of
Craig & Honcock in Sacramento.
Mr. Bassett was divorced from his first two wives, Joanna Ahrens of
Little River, Mendocino County, and Susan Bassett of Citrus Height
Survivors include his wife, Marta Voigtlander Bassett of Sacramento; a
son, Brian Bassett of Citrus Heights; daughter, Beth Reynolds of West
Hollywood and Katie Bassett of San Francisco; stepdaughters, Michelle
McPherran of Beaverton, Ore., and Monique Belisle of Sacramento; and a
grandchild.
At his request, no services are planned.
Marquis Who's Who on the Web, 3 Aug 2006
John Leslie Bassett (Deceased)
Occupation: communication executive
Born: Cleveland, March 5, 1935
Education: BS in Journalism, Kent State University, 1957
Career: Editor Ohio Edison Co., Akron, Ohio, 1957-60; reporter Fairchild
Publications, Inc., San Francisco, 1960-62; advertising manager North America
Securities Co., Inc., 1962-65; account executive Pacific Advertising Staff,
Oakland, California, 1965-70; president Creative Department Inc., San
Francisco, 1970-73; Bassett Communications, Inc., Sacramento, 1986-88;
Thomas/Rahm/Bassett Communications, Sacramento, from 1988; senior vice
president, creative director David W. Evans, Inc., San Francisco, 1973-74;
owner, principal John Bassett Communications, Sacramento, 1974-86.
Creative Works: Creative director magazine media Bay Area Health Association,
1973, TV media Sacramento Municipal. Utility District, 1977, No. California
Pontiac Dealers, 1984 (Golden Crest award 1985).
Awards: Recipient Am. Advertising Federation National award, 1974.
Memberships: Member Sacramento Valley Marketing Association (director 1988-),
Sacramento Pub. Relations Association
Hobbies and Special Interest: Camping, softball
Family: son of Leslie M. and Jean Clark (Primrose) B.; married Susan M., March
23, 1969 (div. 1983); children: Elizabeth, Brian, Kathryn; married Marta V.,
January 1, 1984.
Address: Office: Thomas Rahm Bassett 1825 Los Robles Blvd Sacramento CA 95838-
4620.
Death: Died August 30, 2001.
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