A Pittsfield, Massachusetts funeral home wants to add chili cookoffs, murder-mystery shows and a visit from the Easter Bunny to its offerings -- via the Berkshire Eagle.
Interesting, overlooked, and significant obituaries from around the world, as they happen, emphasizing the positive achievements of those who have died. Member, Society of Professional Obituary Writers.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Sammy Drake
Infielder was one of first pair of African American siblings in Major League Baseball -- via the L.A. Times
Claude Dorsey
Jazz pianist was fixture of Milwaukee scene -- via the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. And here's a nice profile from 2003 via Maximum Ink.
Alert: Charles B. Pierce
The man who made this drive-in classic and "The Legend of Boggy Creek" has died.
More details coming! This Arkansas filmmaker made a movie for $160,000. It earned $25 million. An outsider artist par exellence. Via the Clarksville Leaf Chronicle.
Philip Langridge
Brilliant English tenor was best known for his performances in the works of Benjamin Britten -- via WhatsonStage.com. A nice tribute in the Guardian; another from the New York Times and still another from the Times of London. Here he is singing the Hymn from Britten's Serenade....
Friday, March 5, 2010
Allan Wicks
Brilliant English organist was also a divine choirmaster at Canterbury Cathedral-- via the Guardian and the Times of London.
Here he is at work in this 1986 documentary -- listen to the wonderful sound he evokes.
Robert T. McCall
This inspiring artist was best known for his imaginative canvases and murals that depicted the conquest of space -- via the New York Times.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Ron Banks
Ron Banks (second from left) in the 2001 configuration of The Dramatics.
Founder of soul group The Dramatics -- via Detroit Free Press
Barbara Bray
One of the most amazing editors and translators of the 20th century. She supported Pinter and Beckett, and championed Duras, and brought us Sartre, Genet and Anouilh. Via the Guardian and the Times of London
Nan Martin
Nan Martin (left, with Cloris Leachman in "Mrs. Harris") specialized in scandalized old ladies.
You remember her -- she was in everything. During the last part of her career, she was typecast as an old dragon, but her work was much broader and more varied. Via the L.A. Times
Sergey Kozlov
Kozlov's "Hedgehog in the Fog" delighted millions.
Beloved Russian author of children's stories and fairy tales -- lovely tribute from translator Ekaterina Godunova, with a link to some of his work; via Rossiskaya Gazeta
Vladislav Ardzinba -- hero or villain?
First leader of independent Abkhazia was either a war criminal who orchestrated an ethnic cleansing campaign that forced 250,000 -- half the population -- out of his breakaway republic; or a great guy who dedicated his life to Abkhazia's self-determination and freedom. Depends on who you read. Via CBS News and the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization.
Robert Crafton III, aka Chilly B
Chilly B, left, with Lady E and Cozmo D.
Newcleus bassist and rapper was old-school -- via the New York Times
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Richard Devon
Ubiquitous character actor died Feb. 26; was best known as a bad guy in Westerns and crime dramas -- via IMDb and Western Clippings
Who will rate inclusion in the Oscar montage-of-the-dead reel?
A good story about Chuck Workman, an awesome documentary filmmaker and editor who creates many of the Academy Award ceremony montages. Evidently, it's a cutthroat competition to get into In Memoriam, which commemorates film business people who passed away during the year -- via Yahoo News
Michael Foot, Mervyn Jones
Foot.
A double death -- within days of each other, former British Labour leader Michael Foot and his biographer, Mervyn Jones -- via the Guardian and the Times of London. The Guardian ponders further on Foot here.
Al Meiklejohn
This Colorado state senator was the first politician I ever met (I grew up with his son Scott) -- a nice guy with a great sense of humor. Via the Denver Post --
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Gene Greytak
Gene Greytak (left) in papal drag at a book promotion. He did a lot of charity work.
He looked a lot like Pope John Paul II -- via the L.A. Times
Winston Churchill
The grandson of the historic leader and author was quite an interesting fellow, in his own way. Please note: British obituaries are remarkably more forthright and judgmental than their American counterparts. Via the Times of London and Yahoo News.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Bernard Coutaz
Bernard Coutaz, who founded the wonderful classical music label Harmonia Mundi, has passed on -- via Gramophone magazine and Harmonia Mundi
Bill Francis
The British photographer captured images of jazz and pop stars -- via the Guardian and Flair Photography
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