John Haase

German-born John Haase moved to San Francisco, with his family, in 1936 during Adolf Hitler's rise to power. He practiced dentistry for 40 years and would often write out plot lines for his stories in between appointments. Haase wrote 11 books, the last published in 1983. "Me and the Arch Kook Petulia" was turned into the quirky Richard Lester film Petulia (1968). "Erasmus with Freckles" became Dear Brigitte (1965), starring James Stewart. He was friendly with the band Van Halen, who played at his 1975 wedding.