Friday, April 2, 2010

Mike Cuellar


Gifted pitcher won the fifth and deciding game of the 1970 World Series. Via the Baltimore Sun. Four times, he won 20 or more games. Seven times, he pitched more than 248 innings in a season! First Latin American to win the Cy Young Award. And he was profoundly superstitious. I loved him! God bless you, Crazy Horse.

"I gave Mike Cuellar more chances than my first wife." -- Earl Weaver

John Forsythe


Dapper actor will always be remembered for his work on TV's "Dynasty" -- via the Insider. Here are tributes from the L.A. Times and the New York Times. Although he had a straight-arrow demeanor, he made some interesting choices -- including playing roles in films such as "In Cold Blood," "Kitten with a Whip," "Scrooged," "...And Justice for All," and two films for Hitchcock.

John Bunch


Pianist started out in the swing era, moved to bop and beyond -- via the New York Times

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Who gets an obit?


Good story from the Chicago Reader about the criteria for inclusion in a major paper's obituary section --

Jerald F. terHorst


He served as White House press secretary for 30 days, resigning on principle when Ford pardoned Nixon. A man with character. Via the Washington Post

Tom Dixon


Radio host was the voice of classical music in L.A. -- via the L.A. Times

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Joe Gates


Played 24 games for the White Sox; he was a beloved coach for the Gary Southside Railcats -- via the Railcats Web site

Jaime Escalante


Legendary teacher inspired "Stand and Deliver" film -- via the L.A. Times



Digital death


Social networking spreads the word faster; online memorials abound. From Matt Frassica of the Louisville Courier-Journal

Paul Dunlap


Film composer scored 133 movies, including many for Sam Fuller -- via Variety

Monday, March 29, 2010

Blanche Thebom


Opera singer was Met favorite -- via the New York Times

Herb Ellis

Jazz guitar great -- via the Washington Post. Finally! 24 hours later, the L.A. Times



Sunday, March 28, 2010

June Havoc


Child star, fine comic actress, director and author; younger sister of Gypsy Rose Lee immortalized as Baby June in "Gypsy" -- via Playbill. Additional material from the New York Times and the L.A. Times.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Alberto Arroyo, the Mayor of Central Park


Remember this guy? I do. They called him the Mayor of Central Park. He was the father of jogging, circling the Central Park Reservoir countless times during his life, a city landmark in and of himself.

John Ciambotti

 John Ciambotti, third from left. Ah, the '70s.
Bass player with Clover backed up Elvis Costello on his first album -- via the L.A. Times. "My Aim is True" is a great recording. Listen to John's line on "Blame It on Cain" -- it puts him up there with Larry Graham and James Jamerson.