Mary Ann Ganser sang with the vocal group Shangri-Las in the '60's.
(Hits:Leader of the Pack(#1,'64), Give Him a Great Big
Kiss(#18,'65),Remember Walking In the Sand(#5,'64). She was born in
Oceanside,LI,NY on Nov.8,1947 and died in a Queens,NY hospital,
possibly in 1976 of encephalitis, contracted from a mosquito bite. I
need her date of death. I can pay $3.00.

---

Clarification of Question by bluestreak-ga on 07 Dec 2002 16:51 PST

Hi luciaphile,                                                        
         To the best of my findings, Marguerite (Marge)(Ganser)Dorste
was born Nov.8,1947 in Oceanside,Long Island,NY. She was indeed the
twin of her sister,Mary Ann Ganser. Marguerite died in Valley
Stream,NY on July 28,1996.  I too have searched the SS death index and
Latter Day Saints site, to no avail. The Encyclopedia of Rock
Obituaries by Nick Talevski(1999)lists both twins as having been born
in 1947, with no dates. Of course, this is the same book which gives
Mary Ann's death yr. as 1976, in loud contradiction to all online
sources. The Encyclopedia of Rock Stars by Dafydd Rees & Luke
Crampton(1996),which lists almost all rock musicians birth & death
dates, as well as the chronology of each band's evolution, does not
list any yr. or dates of birth for the Ganser twins, although it gives
everything else about the Shangri-Las. I can't be sure at this moment,
but I think I got the Nov.8 date from an online source.  I believe it
was a "Born on this day" website, of whcih there are many.  I HIGHLY
recommend the above rock stars book for all things concerning rock.
You couldn't believe how detailed it is. It alone supplied most of my
data for rock musicians.  Bluestreak

---

Clarification of Question by bluestreak-ga on 11 Dec 2002 14:24 PST

Tutuzdad,                                                             
         Did you ever hear back from the source who was going to try
to get us that information of the Ganser twins?  It would be nice to
also finally be able to nail down the birth dates for the twins. The
reference books can't seem to agree. If you'd like, you could pass me
the info on your source and I'll gladly make contact, if that's
comfortable to you. Anything I get will be credited to you, of course.
Only trying to get you a match. Advise.  bluestreak

Hi bluestreak,

I was unable to find an actual date for you, but it would seem that
she died in 1971 and not 1976...................

" Mary Anne Ganser died in 1971 of encephalitis."
http://www.holeintheweb.com/drp/bhd/ShangriLas.htm

"Mary Ann Ganser - Died 1971 - Encephalitis ( Rock ) Born 1947"
http://users.efortress.com/doc-rock/1970.html

"Mary Ann Ganser died of encephalitis in 1971."
http://www.jandr.com/JRMusicArtistPage.process?P_Id=P%20%20%20124063

Regards

THX1138

Although I could not find the actual day of death, I did find that, by
most accounts, Mary Ann died in 1971, not 1976.  Perhaps this will
help other researchers find the precise date for you.

Good Luck,
gitana

Woops, sorry for the repeat info.  I shouldn't have scrolled down so quickly.
gitana

Her sister is partially buried in the same place:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=8458

That's strange:

"A couple of years after The Shangri-Las break-up, tragedy struck.
Mary Ann Ganser took ill, she was diagnosed with a disease called
enchepillitus, and unfortunately in her case it was fatal. Although it
has been inaccurately written in various books and articles that
MaryAnn died from drugs, this could not be farther from the truth. The
disease she died from is contracted from a mosquito bite and once
infected, it breaks down your nervous system, eventually killing you.
Mary Ann passed away in _1970_ at only 22 years old."
http://www.geocities.com/tggf/shangrilasbio2.html

This just corroborates what the other comments say, but thought I'd
add it here. Found an entry in Contemporary Musicians that confirms
she died in 1971 and of encephalitis. No month or date though.

Regards,
luciaphile-ga

I am awaiting a response from somone who had personal dealings with
Mary Ann Ganser and her sister. He advised me he will do what he can
to find any additional information. If/when that information arrives I
will let you know.

Please bear with me.

Regards;
tutuzdad-ga

Tutuzdad,                                                             
         That's just great! I want the researchers to know that I've
accepted the 1971 year. I had the 1976 yr. from the hard cover book
The Encyclopedia of Rock Obituaries by Nick Talevski(1999). But all
the online references do indeed list 1971 as the year of her death. So
now maybe we wil get some authoritative info. At least I hope so.
Bluestreak

According to the obit I found for the sister Marge (Marguerite Ganser
Dorste), she and Mary Ann were twins. The sister's YOB was 1948. I've
searched the SSDI and Family Search but can't find an entry for the
sister, which is too bad, because if we found Marguerite's DOB, we'd
have Mary Ann's . . .

luciaphile-ga

Sorry blue, but as of yet I have heard nothing back from the source.
If/when I do I will certainly get back to you the minute something
develops.

Regards;
tutuzdad-ga

Thank you tutuzdad!                                                   
         I'd so much like to have closure on this one. Seems like 2
very authoritative books devoted to rock stars' deaths don't know this
one. Even their birth dates seem disputed.  So any light that you
could throw on this would be welcomed with relief and a nice tip.  If
case the researchers don't notice, my questions are expiring quickly. 
I'm willing to repost the unanswered ones soon, if anyone continues to
show any interest.  Best of the holidays goodwill to you, good
researcher tutuzdad!!  bluestreak