Sunday, September 5, 2010

Jim McKeown

Episcopal priest who focused on social issues -- via the Boulder Daily Camera

Noah Howard

Jazz saxophonist -- via allaboutjazz.com. I can't embed a video sample of him at work, but you can find it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N2A1g2du1o.

Oleg Bebenin

Web activist and opposition leader -- via Aljazeera. His supposed suicide is extremely suspicious and it is thought the totalitarian government of Belarus played a role in his death.

Larry Ashmead

A brilliant editor -- via the New York Times. Not only that, but he compiled the hilarious "Bertha Venation and Hundreds of Other Funny Names of Real People"!

Mike Edwards aka Deva Pramada

Cellist and founding member of ELO -- via the Daily Mail

Kihachiro Kawamoto

Animator and puppet maker -- via the Guardian

Shirley Evans

Accordionist -- via the Guardian

Yusof Chong

Malaysian comedian -- via bernama.com

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Paul Conrad

Political cartoonist -- via the New York Times. His brilliance earned him three Pulitzer Prizes.

Friday, September 3, 2010

Bob Schimmel

There is no link to an official announcement as yet. One of the funniest and most honest and uncompromising comedians of my time passed away this evening. One of the risks of keeping memorial sites such as this is -- one day you post someone you knew and admired. God bless you, Bob.
UPDATE: Here's the New York Times story, and Bob's home page. I encourage you to find out more about his work and life there. And buy something! It will help his kids. The best write-up so far is this piece in the L.A. Times.

Vasundhara Patwardhan

Writer - via DNA

Thursday, September 2, 2010

John Louis Mansi

British actor -- via the Guardian. Best known for his supporting roles in films such as "Help!" and "The Italian Job," and TV shows such as "'Allo 'Allo" and "Ripping Yarns."

Shmuel Eisenstadt

Sociologist -- via Yodioth Internet

Vance Bourjaily

Novelist -- via the Iowa City Press-Citizen

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

George Hitchcock

Poet and publisher of the literary magazine 'kayak' -- via the L.A. Times

Cammie King

Child actress who played Bonnie Blue Butler in "Gone With the Wind" -- via the Santa Rosa Press Democrat

Jim MacLaren

An extraordinary athlete -- via Triathlon. A leg amputation did not deter his competitive drive. Another accident left him a paraplegic. He didn't give up!

Dr. William P. Foster

Conductor who revolutionized the art of the marching band -- via the New York Times

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Eric J. Hartglass aka Mister Bagel

Restaurateur opened first bagel shop in Maine -- via groups.google.com/group/alt.obituaries and the Portland, ME Forecaster. You could do much worse in life than to be remembered as Mister Bagel!

Mick Lally

Quite a wonderful actor -- via Irish Central

Courtney Milne

A pretty amazing nature photographer -- via the CBC. Here's just one example of his work:
Most importantly, he listened to his higher power and followed that impulse. Please read this statement from his website! It's quite inspiring.

Stephen Wall

Writer, editor, teacher and advocate for the disabled - via the Independent

Raymond Hawkey

Innovative graphic designer -- via the Telegraph

Monday, August 30, 2010

Alain Corneau

Film director and screenwriter -- via the CBC. He is best known for his period drama "Touts les matins du monde," but he was equally at home with epics, comedies and especially crime films and thrillers. His last film "Love Crime" has not yet reached the U.S.

Lamar 'Jake' Jacobs

Outfielder for Senators/Twins -- via Bill Schenley, groups.google.com/group/alt.obituaries and the Youngstown, Ohio Vindicator

Victoria Longley

Actress -- via the Sydney Morning Herald

A.C. Baantjer

Crime novelist -- via DutchNews