Bestler | Legend of James Dean still enthralls this rebel

It's not the most celebrated of anniversaries, but on Wednesday some of us sadly marked the 60th anniversary of the death of James Dean on Sept. 30, 1955.

The 24-year-old Dean, who had starred in just one film at the time, “East of Eden,” already had the hearts of a generation of teenagers firmly in his grasp. Still to be released were the iconic “Rebel Without a Cause” and “Giant.”

I was 15 when he died and my hometown paper carried only a brief article about his death. As soon as I could, I raced to the public library to read the full account in The New York Times. It confirmed the worst.

Dean had been driving his Porsche 550 Spyder on a lonely California highway, on his way to a road race in Salinas, Calif.

According to his passenger, mechanic Rolf Wutherich, who survived, Dean saw a car coming on an adjacent road, but knew he had the right of way. He expected the other driver to slow down or stop, but the driver, who also survived, said he never saw Dean's car until it was too late. There was little left of the Spyder.

The accident left a lasting impression and I can attest that I think of James Dean whenever I approach a similar intersection, always making sure the way is clear.

Today, the intersection of California Highways 46 and 41 is known as James Dean Memorial Junction and marked with a sign that, according to the California Highway Patrol, is routinely stolen.

His fans are like that. On Wednesday, the spot where he died was marked with various pieces of memorabilia in honor of the rebel that Dean represented -- among the items were beer bottles, cigarettes, sunglasses and a bra.

It's difficult, even now, to understand my own infatuation with James Dean.

I had seen “East of Eden,” but it was “Rebel Without a Cause” that I and other 1950s delinquents (rebels?) identified with. In my senior year of high school I even wore a blue collared jacket resembling the red one he wore in “Rebel.” I wish I had it still.

One thing that may have drawn me to Dean were his Midwestern roots. Indeed, he is buried in his hometown of Fairmount, Ind., which is also the location of the James Dean Museum (one for my bucket list?).

Fairmount may seem an unlikely place for a star that once shone so brightly, yet somehow it seems fitting.

James Dean was a rebel who shunned the Hollywood spotlight in life and has since shunned Hollywood in death.

This story was originally published October 2, 2015 at 10:53 AM with the headline "Bestler | Legend of James Dean still enthralls this rebel."