Monday, January 10, 2011

Carlton Chester "Cookie" Gilchrist

Football player -- via the Buffalo News. An amazing player who was an offensive and defensive wonder (and he kicked!); he ran for 243 yards and FIVE TOUCHDOWNS against the New York Jets as a member of the Buffalo Bills in 1963. Saw him play for the Broncos in the mid-'60s; he was also a vocal civil rights advocate, and stood up resolutely for professional treatment, during his career -- in a time when African-American athletes were by and large expected to "shut up and play."

Richard Winters

Citizen soldier -- via AP. An exemplary and dedicated participant in World War II. I rarely highlight the lives of veterans or combatants, but Winters inspired such devotion, and accepted his honors with such humility, that he deserves mention here. Much of his story was adapted into one of the best television docudramas in history, "Band of Brothers." Judging by his own statements, and those that served with him, he embodied the virtues of great leadership -- honesty, fairness, concern for his men, quick and decisive (and correct) thinking, and equanimity in life-and-death situations. His efforts stand for those of millions of others who, in all wars, attempt to end them as soon as possible by doing the right thing.

Peter Yates

Film director -- via Deadline Hollywood. He worked his way up in the British film industry, and got started as a director in TV, on series such as "The Saint" and "Secret Agent." He filmed a few clinkers, but produced a diverse body of great work -- "Bullitt," "The Hot Rock," "The Friends of Eddie Coyle," "Breaking Away" and "The Dresser," to name a few.




Bernard Harper Friedman

Novelist, art critic and biographer -- via the New York Times.

Louise Zibold Reiss

Scientist who helped produce data that led to banning of atmospheric nuclear testing -- via the New York Times.

The Tuscon Massacre victims

For the first time, a list of all the victims to date of the shooting in Tucson on Jan. 8, 2011 -- via the Huffington Post. Regretfully, the mainstream media initially covered only the two most marketable deaths -- that of a federal judge and that of a 9-year-old of notable descent. All the victims are to be mourned by their loved ones, regardless of their media appeal.

Debbie Friedman

Singer/songwriter -- via the Jewish Daily Forward. UPDATE: on her funeral services, from my rabbi:
"Debbie Friedman's great musical and spiritual legacy will continue for sure. Alah hashalom, peace on her gentle, sweet soul.  Strength and comfort to her mother Freda and her sister Cheryl.  The funeral is today (Tuesday) at 11am Pacific time (1/11/11 @ 11) and will actually be streamed live if anyone wants to watch.  It will be at noon mountain time. You may access the live streaming video of the funeral at: www.tbsoc.org/debbie
May the memory of this righteous person who contributed and gave so much to the world, always be a source of blessing."

Sunday, January 9, 2011

David M. Sisler

MLB pitcher -- via usatoday.com.

Jack Rowzie

Police officer turned pioneering DJ -- via the Washington Post.

Peter Donaldson

Actor -- via The Globe and Mail.

Cyril Harris

Acoustical engineer -- via the New York Times.

Jiri Dienstbier

Journalist, then dissident, and finally government minister -- via the New York Times.

Bobby Robinson

Legendary record producer, label owner and music retailer -- via the New York Daily News. His record store, Bobby's Record Shop aka Bobby's Happy House, was the first business owned by an African-American on Harlem's 125th Street. He moved on to produce everything from blues to R & B to doo-wop to rock 'n' rool to soul to rap to hip-hop -- over 50 years of musical history! Elmore James, the Shirelles, Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five, Doug E. Fresh, Gladys Knight & the Pips, King Curtis, "Kansas City," "Ya Ya," Arthur Crudup's "That's All Right," "Tossin' and Turnin'" . . . No Bobby Robinson, no Elvis -- no Beatles -- no rap. Thank you, sir!

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Aron Kincaid aka Norman Neile Williams Jr.

Actor, voice actor and model -- via the L.A. Times. A regular in several '60s beach films, his hunky blond look later filtered down to the characters of Fred in the cartoon series "Scooby Doo" --
. . . Rocky from "The Rocky Horror Show".

Jerry Weist

Comics expert and author -- via sfscope.com

Sylvia Bursztyn

Cruciverbalist (as you might guess, someone who constructs crossword puzzles -- what a wonderful noun!) -- via the L.A. Times.

Rev. Willie Lockett

Civil rights activist -- via floridatoday.com.

From Singapore Seen: A taxi of the dead


From a citizen journalist, an odd story about an obituary-obsessed jitney driver -- via singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Carl "Gator" Wallace Nelson

Neighborhood activist -- via the Duluth News Tribune.

Wendell "Bud" Hurlbut

Ride creator -- via the Orange County Register. Best know for his work in the creation of Knott's Berry Farm.

Phil Kennemore

Rock bassist -- via Billboard.

Krzysztof Kolberger

Actor -- via thenews.pl.

Gad Granach

Memoirist -- via voy.com.
 

Richard Wiedamann

Jazzman -- via Bayerisher Rundfunk.

Jeff Jacobs

Trumpeter -- via the S.F. Weekly. The ensemble he worked with, The Drift, is a highly interesting ambient/avant-garde combo.

Grady Chapman

Lead singer with the Robins -- via voy.com.

Gary Claxton

Singer/songwriter/guitarist -- via Austin360.com.

Herman Groves

Prolific screenwriter for television -- via classictvhistory.wordpress.com. Although not a household name, he was one of the many unsung talents who kept us entertained for decades. Thank you, sir!

Derek Dugger

Drummer -- via NewsOK.

Ryne Duren

MLB pitcher -- via MSNBC.A legendarily  hard and wild pitcher; he later became an inspiration to many for his open-book fight to overcome alcoholism.

From the L.A. Times: "La Santa Muerte," the marginalized's goddess of death

The arrest of cult leader David Romo in Mexico City brings focus on unrecognized religious organization --

From Jade Walker's "Blog of Death": A look back at 2010

She lists the 10 deaths that most resonate with her:

From Slate: "Deadly Images" -- News and the implications of showing the dead and dying

An interview with Barbie Zelizer, professor of communications, about her new book "About to Die: How News Images Move the Public."

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Margot Stevenson

Actress of stage, screen, TV and radio -- via voy.com. Her 50-plus year career included roles in the original Broadway productions of "You Can't Take It with You" and "Stage Door"; she appeared in films such as "Invisible Stripes" and "Castle on the Hudson"; and she performed extensively on radio, most memorably as the 1938 summer replacement for Agnes Moorehead in the character of Margot Lane, the "friend and companion" of Lamont Cranston, "wealthy young man about town" who is, in reality, the mysterious crimefighter The Shadow.

Jean Benson Wilkinson

Teacher and activist -- via the Berkeley Daily Planet.

Raphael Hillyer aka Raphael Silverman

Violist and founding member of the Julliard String Quartet -- via the New York Times.

Brian Rust

Authoritative jazz discographer and writer -- via rustbooks.com. Here's a more comprehensive look at his career from the New York Times -- and another wonderful writeup from the Telegraph.

Keijiro Yamashita

Rockabilly singer -- via Tokyograph.

Helio Ary

Actor -- via g1.globo.com.

Jonas Falk

Actor -- via Svenska Dagbladet.

Patricia Smith Lasell

Actress -- via Legacy.com.