Friday, May 8, 2015

Weekly reader: a roundup of world news on death, mourning, and more

DEATH

Studying death: forensic investigators step up science of human decomposition – via Mo Costandi at the Guardian. Thorough reporting!


They used to take pictures of the dead – via Mike Cahill at ViralNova

Superrich funding search for immortality – via Ariana Eujung Cha at This Week


How a Death Row inmate’s altruistic request to make organ donations may prevent him from being executed – via Devi Nampiaparampil in Newsweek. A painful and thorough examination, this story is not for the immature. As even-handed a reporting job as I have seen in many a day.


Baghdad cellist transmutes bombing site with solo concert – via Louisa Lovelock at the Telegraph

Keeping Lenin fresh – via Erin Blakemore at Smithsonian


Want to talk about death? Come to dinner – via Leslie McClurg at NPR


MOURNING

Social media and mourning – boundaries – via Leanne Italie at AP


And a response to Sandberg’s message – from Katie Lyon in Medium



FUNERALS

Feds crack down on funeral homes – via Kate Gibson at CBS

Five fascinating funeral rituals – via Jenna Murrell at the Seeker


Finding beauty, closure in another faith’s funeral – via Barb Abramson in the Huffington Post


Funeral directors stashed bodies at their city-morgue jobs –via Susan Edelman at the New York Post


OBITS


How strange: the weird life and death of Leon Shaw – via Andy Binion at the Kitsap Sun



Save time and maintain creative control – write your own obit – via Laura La Rose at the Canadian Press

Jerome Cooper

Jobst Brandt

Cyclist, inventor, engineer, and author -- via beezodogsplace.com.


Ryan McHenry

Director -- via the Daily Record.



Novera Ahmad

Sculptor -- via newagebd.net.

William Bast

Guy Carawan

Folk singer and civil rights activist; one of the creators of "We Shall Overcome" -- via the New York Times. Another exquisitely researched and written obit from Margalit Fox.

John Tout

Keyboardist for Renaissance -- via renaissancetouring.com.

Alexander Kok

Cellist -- via the Telegraph.


Edward Wright

Mystery writer -- via the L.A. Times.


Philip Perlman

Character actor -- via the Hollywood Reporter.

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Craig Gruber

Marcia Brown

Multiple Caldecott Medal-winning Illustrator -- via the New York Times. Who doesn't love her?





Katy Jones

Journalist and TV producer -- via the Guardian.

Val E. Lewton

Exhibition designer, and artist -- via the Washington Post.


Anne Warren Smith

Writer -- via the Corvallis Gazette-Times.


Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Errol Brown

Singer and songwriter, best known as the front man of Hot Chocolate -- via the Guardian. Biggest hits: "You Sexy Thing" and the original version of "Brother Louie."



Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Ann Barr

Journalist and writer -- via the Guardian.


Ellen Albertini Dow

Actress -- via Deadline. Best known for her more recent comedic roles, she spent decades on stage, performing comedy, mime, and Yiddish theater.

Eva Aeppli

Artist -- via bzbasel.ch.

Travis Hill

Trumpeter -- via the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

Revaz "Rezo" Chkheidze

Film director -- via Democracy & Freedom Watch.

Su Wenmao

Erin Myers

Actress -- via the Chicago Sun-Times.

Norman Thaddeus Vane

Writer and director -- via the Hollywood Reporter. AKA Norman Theodore Vein. 

Jose Canalejas

Actor -- via El Mundo.

Alfred Schreyer

Fiddler and singer -- via wyborcza.pl.



Monday, May 4, 2015

Konstantyn Kuzminsky

Performance poet -- via svoboda.org.

Philip S. Goodman

Clarice Carson

Soprano -- via the Toronto Globe & Mail.




Joseph Lechleider

Jean Lescot

Actor -- via panoranews. AKA Jean Wajsbrot.

Nigel Terry

Actor -- via the Guardian. Best known for his roles in films such as "Excalibur," "The Lion in Winter," and "Caravaggio."




Ruth Rendell

Maya Plisetskaya

One of the 20th century's great ballerinas -- via the New York Times.

Michael Blake

Amar Laskri

Film director -- via El Watan.

Grace Lee Whitney

Actress -- via the New York Daily News. AKA Mary Ann Chase. Best known for her role as Yeoman Rand on the original "Star Trek" series, she would prefer to be remembered as someone who overcame some serious addictions. (And in the Star Trek universe, she eventually role to the rank of Commander!)

Sunday, May 3, 2015

Stuart Archer

World War II bomb disposal officer -- via the Telegraph. He dismantled more than 200 bombs successfully; awarded the George Cross. Either the luckiest man in the world or the one with the biggest balls, I'm not sure which. The truth I believe lies somewhere between and is termed bravery. Some of his experiences were related in James Owen's "Danger UXB."






Maria Elena Velasco

Actress, comedian, singer, songwriter, dance, film producer and director -- via the Huffington Post. Best known for her comedic person, La India Maria.







Stephen Milburn Anderson

Film producer and director -- via Variety. Best known for "South Central."






Ronald Senator

Composer -- via CBS New York.

Steven Goldmann

Film and music video director -- via All Access.



Carlos Calderon Fajardo

Writer -- via Peru This Week.





Patachou

Singer and actress -- via Le Figaro. AKA Henriette Ragon. Played Yvette Guilbert in Renoir's "Can Can."






The Last Mr. Bigg

Rapper -- via Billboard. AKA Donald Maurice Pears.