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 1, 2015
Richard Bakalyan
Actor -- via the Hollywood Reporter. One of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood, Bakalyan played gangsters and the like for more than 50 years.
"The Face is Familiar" - Dick Bakalyan from Encore Video Services on Vimeo.
"The Face is Familiar" - Dick Bakalyan from Encore Video Services on Vimeo.
Minnie Miñoso
Great left fielder for the Chicago White Sox -- via the Chicago Tribune. AKA Saturnino Orestes Armas Miñoso Arrieta, the Cuban Comet, Mr. White Sox. A power hitter, he was fast on the bases as well, second only to Willie Mays at the time. He was also noted for standing in and getting hit by pitches. He is referenced in a notable comedy routine by Robert Klein -- One of those guys I think should be in the Hall of Fame.
The Minnie bit comes at 4:30 in this clip --
The Minnie bit comes at 4:30 in this clip --
Friday, February 27, 2015
Leonard Nimoy
Actor, director, poet, singer, and photographer; our beloved Spock from the original "Star Trek" TV series -- via the New York Times. He enacted one of the most memorable and enduring characters in American culture -- as the Vulcan science officer of the starship Enterprise, he played a brilliant but tormented outsider who struggled to keep his all-too-human side at bay. Nimoy was a versatile actor who later figured prominently in shows such as "Mission: Impossible"; he directed two "Star Trek" films successfully, and the comedy hit "3 Men and a Baby" as well. Lest we forget, he served as the host of the syndicated series "In Search of . . . ", and did a nice turn as a therapist in the remake of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers." Famous for what some might consider a silly role, he took it all with good humor.
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Gerardo Reyes
Ranchera singer -- via El Siglo de Torreon. AKA The Son of the People, the Godfather of Cinco de Mayo.
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Marlene Barrow-Tate
Marlene is center in photo. |
Bobby Emmons
Songwriter and keyboardist -- via Rolling Stone. A long-time, expert session musician in Memphis, he wrote some beautiful songs, including "Luckenbach, Texas" and "The Wurlitzer Prize."
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Monday, February 23, 2015
Deathcetera: the week in death and mourning
DEATH
Neurologist and
writer Oliver Sacks on learning of his terminal cancer – via the New
York Times
Re: Oliver Sacks
– is writing about death online helping us deal with it? – by Sarah
Seltzer at Flavorwire
More on the
debate on doctor-assisted death – from Elizabeth Picciuto at the Daily
Beast
Woman will
receive rose on V-Day from dead husband until she dies – from the Good
News Network
MOURNING
Against
euphemizing in grief
– by Julienne Grey in the New York Times
On
art and mourning – via jordansarti at creative
communityreview.wordpress.com
FUNERALS
Making the
funeral process more transparent and participatory – via Rolf Boone
at the Oregonian
Wrong
corpse buried – via AP
OBITS
The joys of
being an obit writer
– by Alena Hall at the Huffington Post
Funny obits
compiled
– by Jackie Taurinanen at HLN
Dave Cloud
Outsider musician and actor -- via the Nashville Scene. What a wonderfully strange person! An icon in the southeastern underground scene (ang big in Scandinavia), Cloud was an early punker who moved into his own inimitable area -- collage tape compositions, contemptuous/worshipful covers of bubblegum, psychedelic, and schmaltz, and his own songs. A frenetic performer who Phil Hebblethwaite referred to as a "garage rock lounge lizard extraordinaire."
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