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.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
The business of obituaries
A story from Poynter Online regarding paid obituary notices -- just FYI. This includes links to previously cited studies and comments, but they are useful to look at and keep in mind!
Harvey Fuqua
Singer, songwriter, music producer and label exec and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member -- via Yahoo News. He gave Marvin Gaye his start. He distributed Detroit's very first hit single, Barrett Strong's "Money (That's What I Want".) He co-founded the Moonglows ("Sincerely," "The Ten Commandments of Love"). He put Tami Terrell and Marvin Gaye together, produced their hits together, as well as Gaye's later "Sexual Healing." He discovered disco queen Sylvester and the Weather Girls. He's responsible for a lot of great American music.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Robert Neil Butler
Gerontologist and psychiatrist coined the word "ageism," fought for the rights of and understanding for older people -- via AP
Monday, July 5, 2010
Cesare Siepi
Legendary operatic bass -- via Reuters.
There are plenty of clips that illuminate his genius -- the next clip is his great turn as Philip in "Don Carlo":
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Israel Hicks
Theatre director was the first to preside over all 10 parts of August Wilson's cycle of history plays -- via the Denver Post. A really nice tribute from John Moore at the Denver Post.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Bob Waller
Entertainment designer, best known for his giant Coca-Cola bottle at the Giants' ball park -- via the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat
Friday, July 2, 2010
Geoffrey Hutchings
Prolific English actor -- via the BBC. You may remember him as the father in "Wish You Were Here" or Nym in Branagh's "Henry V."
José María Díez-Alegría Gutiérrez
Liberation theologist lived his beliefs -- he defied Vatican censorship, was thrown out of the priesthood, and dwelt with and ministered to the poor ever after, continuing to write provocative challenges to the Catholic Church -- via the Guardian
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Louis Moyroud
Moyroud at center in photo.
Co-creator of phototypesetting process, which changed the printing industry -- via Print CEO. More info from the New York Times --
Alfred Donath
Professor and activist aided victims of the Holocaust and their families -- via the Philadelphia Inquirer
Burl Franklin Ellison
Honky tonk guitarist -- via http://groups.google.com/group/alt.obituaries/topics and the San Antonio Express-News
Joyce Parkinson
A child-welfare worker for most of her life, she entered the Belsen concentration camp and aided the survivors -- via the Guardian
Elliott Kastner
Film producer -- via Variety. I have a lot of personal affection for his work, as he produced such films as "Where Eagles Dare," in which the highest number of Nazis are killed in cinema history, at least until "Inglourious Basterds": the incredibly strange Brando/Nicholson Western "The Missouri Breaks," which must have strained his patience to the limit; the underrated "Harper" with Paul Newman; and three films based on Raymond Chandler novels, all of which I love -- Altman's "The Long Goodbye," and two with Robert Mitchum as the definitive Philip Marlowe -- "Farewell, My Lovely" and "The Big Sleep." Thanks, Mr. K!
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