Cher’s father dies in Oklahoma City
Cher (AP file)
Gilbert Hartmann LaPiere, adoptive father of Grammy- and Oscar-winning singer/actress Cher, died Tuesday in his hometown of Oklahoma City. He was 88.
Gilbert LaPiere
LaPiere was born June 29, 1923 in Irvington, N.J., to Tillie and Albert LaPiere. He attended grade school and high school in Newark, N.J., according to his obituary in The Oklahoman and on NewsOK.
He attended the University Of Missouri School of Mines at Rolla, Mo., and graduated with a degree in petroleum engineering. World War II interrupted his college education; he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and became a bombardier on B-24s in the Western Pacific arena, accumulating 35 missions and surviving “ditching” his airplane into the ocean after a bombing mission.
After graduating from college, he went to work as an evaluation engineer for City Service Oil Co. in Bartlesville and was later offered the same position at the Chase Bank in New York City. He worked on oil and gas loans, mergers and sales for major oil and gas companies and independent producers.
In 1952, he accepted the position of managing the Oil and Gas Department for W.E. Hutton and Co. on Wall Street, advising on oil and gas stocks as well as public offerings. After Hutton, he was employed as a vice-president of the newly formed oil and gas division of the Union Bank of California. Later, he decided to go into business for himself as a financial oil and gas consultant, mostly working as a “troubleshooter,” helping companies and independent operators to establish financial stability, merge or sell.
Cher was born Cherilyn Sarkisian May 20, 1946 in El Centro, Calif. Her biological father, John Sarkisian, who left the family when she was a little girl, was a truck driver who married and divorced her mother twice. Cher’s mother, Georgia Holt, was married six times; her fifth husband, LaPiere, adopted Cher, according to the star’s Hello magazine biography.
At age 16, Cher moved to Los Angeles, where she met entertainer and songwriter Salvatore “Sonny” Bono, according to Encyclopædia Britannica. The couple married in 1964, began singing together, and scored their first big pop hit came in 1965 with “I Got You Babe,” which sold more than three million copies. The duo went on to score a number of hits, and in 1971 they launched the television variety show “The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour,” which ran until 1974. Cher and Sonny divorced in 1974, though they appeared as cohosts of another TV show, “The Sonny and Cher Show,” in 1976–77.
After Sonny left show business, Cher cultivated a successful nightclub act and revisited an earlier interest in acting, according to Encyclopædia Britannica. She appeared in the Broadway and film versions of “Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean ” (1982) and received an Academy Award nomination for her supporting role in “Silkwood” (1983). In 1988, she won a best actress Oscar for her starring turn as an Italian-American widow who finds love in the romantic comedy “Moonstruck” (1987).
Her other films include “Mask” (1985), “Suspect” (1987), “The Witches of Eastwick” (1987), “Mermaids” (1990), “Faithful” (1996), “Tea with Mussolini” (1999) and “Stuck on You” (2003). In 2010, she starred opposite Christina Aguilera as a nightclub owner and performer in the cinematic musical drama “Burlesque,” and she provided the voice of a lioness in 2011 live-action comedy “Zookeeper.”
After releasing two successful albums in the late 1980s — “Cher” (1987) and “Heart of Stone” (1989) — Cher’s music career waned, but she made a comeback in the late 1990s/early 2000s with the albums “Believe” (1998) and “Living Proof” (2002). In 2000, she won a Grammy Award for the dance single “Believe,” and she has become an entertainment icon.
After repeated trips to Oklahoma City from California, LaPiere and his wife, Beverly, moved to the Sooner State capital in 1966, and he carried on his consulting work from Oklahoma City. He was in the oil business since 1947 and helped many oil companies and individuals open businesses both in Oklahoma and other states, according to his obituary.
In 1997, his wife, Beverly, preceded him in death after 34 years of marriage. LaPiere is survived by four daughters, Vema Bullock of Oklahoma City; Cher of Malibu, Calif.; Georgeanne Bartylak of Ventura, Calif.; and step-daughter Diana Spahn of Santa Fe, N.M. Daughter Deborah Avery,preceded him in death. His grandchildren include Stacy Starchman, Kelly Hill, Christopher Borgen, Elisha Almond, Chas Bono and step-grandson Darren Lazarus.
A memorial service is planned for Friday in Oklahoma City. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions may be made to All Souls Episcopal Church, Habitat for Humanity or the charity of your choice.
-BAM
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Comments
I just hope cher is doing ok along with chaz and the family just think of it as he is not in anymore pain if he was cause that is how I think of my grandfather who was more like my father than anything.
Very interesting and enjoyed reading. Didn’t know alot of that about her and her family. Very impressive write up about them. Bless his family.
Very well written article on Cher’s step-dad (father). Thank you—-I too, had no idea of him, ties to OKC or Oklahoma! So sad for her and kids, I’m sure! Have been/still are fans from 60′s and now our grown kids/grandchildren are too!
Thank you for the research and sad news!
Fans from Blanchard/Newcastle, Ok.
Lots of Okie love/support!!!
My prayers & thoughts r with the family.I also agree,well written article on Cher’s father. May the stars carry your sadness away,
May the flowers fill your heart with beauty,
May hope forever wipe away your tears,
And, above all, may silence make you strong.
Does anyone know id All Souls is in Norman or OKC? Just curious. Sending good thoughts to the family of comfort and calm. He sounds like he was a very nice man.
I myself do not know chers father but he must have been a wonderful person he raised a great person in cher i hope the family has a peace full time and remember all the good times you had with your father cher much love and peace from the cole family.
Mr. LaPiere sounds like a wise and successful man. I appreciate his service to our country. The one time I talked to Cher, she told me her dad lived in my hometown. Our thoughts are with the Goddess and her entire family.
sorry for your lost.thinking of you…as you lay to go to your sleep may the Lords angels comfort you.God is with you he cares,Psalms 91:4 He shall cover thee with his feathers,and under his wings shalt thou trust:his truthshall be thy shield and buckler.my heart is with you and your family Amen! sister…
Sorry for the loss of Gilbert LaPiere. He was a very nice person. Enjoyed it when we would see him and he was always kind to everyone. He knew the fact that I am a big cher fan and he brought me a very nice snap shot of her. It isn’t a phote that everyone has it’s one that only I have and he made sure to see to it that I got it. He alway had a smile for us and the world has lost a great man. He is with the lord young and very handsome as should be My families prayers are with his family
Your step-father must have really loved and carried for you as his own. The loss of a parent is so painful! May the personal memories you have of him bring you peace and joy throughout your life…many blessings to your and your family!
Very impressive man, father and grandfather.
-M