One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Tribute for 'Missing Violinist' Planned, Location of Death Explained
Robert Korda
Earlier this month, Robert Korda's family used the internet to round up help to find a missing loved one. Van Nuys resident and Los Angeles Philharmonic veteran Robert Korda never showed up to work after suffering a heart attack the night before. But when his body was brought to the coroner's office, sans identification, fingerprint databases were used and he was erroneously identified as Robert Norda, not Korda. That prompted a manhunt over next few days until the misspelling was figured out. In an article about Korda's memorial tribute in August, the Daily News explains that Korda died while doing some do gooding:
The tribute, tentatively planned for August 25 at Canoga Park's Madrid Theatre will include a serenade by strolling violinists, orchestral music and Dixieland music. Those wanting to donate in Korda's memory can by sending money to the non profit he helped: The Music Guild, 6022 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 203, Los Angeles 90036-3616.
Korda had suffered a heart attack on July 8, when he was at a home in Glendale, negotiating the purchase of a violin for The Music Guild, which provides musical instruments to inner-city schools, said his ex-wife, Venida. He was rushed by ambulance to Glendale Adventist Hospital, but he died an hour later. He wasn't carrying any identification, Venida Korda said, so coroner's officials used his fingerprints to try and determine his identity. They got a hit on a Department of Justice database used to screen applicants for various licenses, but it incorrectly listed the name as "Norda."
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
