Jazz pianist -- via the Jazz Times.
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.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Jack Levine
Painter who was not afraid of the human figure, or making a political point, or stepping on toes -- via the New York Times.
Noel Taylor aka Harold Alexander Taylor Jr.
Award-winning costume designer for stage, film and television -- via the L.A. Times. Interesting sidebar -- a privileged youth, he summered in Austria in the 1930s. He saw the rise of Hitler, and out of conscience he raised $200,000 to help the Jews escape. Finally, he was caught organizing against the Nazis and thrown out of the country. An honorable man.
Jay Van Noy
Respected BYU coach who played six games with the Cardinals in 1951 -- via the Salt Lake City Tribune.
Princess Irmingard of Bavaria
Her family knew Hitler was nuts and dangerous, and fought his rise to power. Of course, he put them all in concentration camps. Somehow, she survived! Via the Telegraph
Don Liberto
Actor/singer/dancer worked on stage, in radio and on television -- via http://groups.google.com/group/alt.obituaries. His first Broadway credit? 1937.
Richmond Harding
Film and television director and producer -- via the Telegraph. He learned the trade on pivotal British films such as "Tight Little Island," "The Blue Lamp" and "Passport to Pimlico." He moved on to classic TV series like "The Avengers" and "Z Cars." He's supposedly the one who put Cathy Gale in the catsuit. Oh, you devil!
Monday, November 8, 2010
Charles Reynolds
"The magician's magician" -- via the New York Times. He produced, directed, invented and conceived some of stage magic's most impressive tricks and illusions,including sawing some one in half with a length of rope and two ways to make an elephant disappear.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Geoffrey Crawley
Photographic scientist -- via the New York Times. He was also a skilled pianist, linguist, editor, chemist and inventor. His claim to fame was debunking the "Cottingley fairies mystery" of 1917-1920, in which faked photographs purported to show fairy creatures. Crawley almost hated to tell the world his findings; he understood the human need to believe in the mythic.
Shirley Verrett
Amazing mezzo and soprano of the opera and concert hall -- via the New York Times. Another glorious singer who could actually ACT! Her Lady Macbeth is justly renowned, as was her Norma, Aida, Tosca and Dido. One of my touchstone recordings, and one I play when I am trying to convince others how exciting and beautiful opera is, is her 1975 live concert recording of "La Favorita" with Alfredo Kraus, Pablo Elvira, Barabara Hendricks and James Morris, under the baton of Eve Queler. I urge all to learn more about her work: below is her exquisite rendition of Mozart's "Exultate Julbilate."
Friday, November 5, 2010
Jill Clayburgh
Actress on stage, film and television -- via the New York Times. Intelligent, funny, beautiful, vivacious, compelling -- I loved her! "Silver Streak," "An Unmarried Woman," "Starting Over," "Running with Scissors" -- on Broadway in "Pippin," "Jumpers," "The Rothschilds." A consummate performer; what a wonderful voice.
Charles "Charley" McDowell, Jr.
Reporter and columnist -- via the Washington Post. He was seen frequently as a commentator on "Washington Week in Review" on PBS; his rich and expressive voice was heard on the Ken Burns' documentaries "The Civil War" and "Baseball."
Hotep Idris Galeta
Jazz pianist and educator -- via www.channel24.co.za. In addition to his massive talents, he had the most beautiful name I have ever heard!
James Freud
Vocalist and bassist for the Australian band Models -- via Gibson.com. He wrote extensively about his struggle for sobriety.
Olga Nardone
Olga Nardone is the middle of the three Lullabye League dancers.
One of the last surviving Munchkin portrayers from "The Wizard of Oz" -- via Tributes.com.
One of the last surviving Munchkin portrayers from "The Wizard of Oz" -- via Tributes.com.
Georg Straka
Double bassist with the Vienna Philharmonic -- via ABC News. He died while climbing Mount Fuji in Japan -- he was 41.
Jule M. Sugarman
Public administrator who founded the Head Start program, which helped impoverished children to get a decent education -- via the Washington Post.
Rudolph Barshai
Conductor and violist -- via the Telegraph. He was a supreme interpreter of Shostakovich; Soviet oppression caused him to seek asylum in the West in 1977.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
George Lee "Sparky" Anderson
Hall of Fame baseball manager -- via the Associated Press. What can I say? I cried a little when I heard this. He was a genius:
Here's his bio from the Baseball Hall of Fame website: "Known for his jovial disposition, George 'Sparky' Anderson was the first manager in history to win World Series championships in both the American and National Leagues. His career totals include 2,194 victories, the third most in Major League history, two Manager of the Year Awards, five league pennants and three World Series crowns. His heavy use of the bullpen staff earned him the nickname 'Captain Hook,' but this practice has now become the standard for Major League Baseball."
He was not only a brilliant leader, he had a great attitude about people and life, and taught me much about the game I love and inspired me when things got me down. Here's a link to his Hall of Fame induction speech -- read it, it says it all. If you don't have time to read the whole thing, here's a very important quote from it for you:
" . . . what my father said, when I was 11 years old. My father never got past the third grade, but there ain’t a guy that ever went to Harvard smart as my Daddy. My Daddy said this. He said, 'I’m gonna give you a gift, it’s the greatest gift to take all the way through your life. And if you live with this gift, everything will work perfect,' and he said, 'Son, I’m gonna give you a gift that will never cost a dime, and that gift is this, if every day of your life, and every person you meet, you will just be nice to that person, and treat that person like they are someone.'”
God bless you, Sparky.
Here's his bio from the Baseball Hall of Fame website: "Known for his jovial disposition, George 'Sparky' Anderson was the first manager in history to win World Series championships in both the American and National Leagues. His career totals include 2,194 victories, the third most in Major League history, two Manager of the Year Awards, five league pennants and three World Series crowns. His heavy use of the bullpen staff earned him the nickname 'Captain Hook,' but this practice has now become the standard for Major League Baseball."
He was not only a brilliant leader, he had a great attitude about people and life, and taught me much about the game I love and inspired me when things got me down. Here's a link to his Hall of Fame induction speech -- read it, it says it all. If you don't have time to read the whole thing, here's a very important quote from it for you:
" . . . what my father said, when I was 11 years old. My father never got past the third grade, but there ain’t a guy that ever went to Harvard smart as my Daddy. My Daddy said this. He said, 'I’m gonna give you a gift, it’s the greatest gift to take all the way through your life. And if you live with this gift, everything will work perfect,' and he said, 'Son, I’m gonna give you a gift that will never cost a dime, and that gift is this, if every day of your life, and every person you meet, you will just be nice to that person, and treat that person like they are someone.'”
God bless you, Sparky.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Bernard Musson
Actor - via next.liberation.fr. He was ever-present in so many significant French and Hollywood films: "Gigi," "Lola Montes," "Forbidden Games," and several works with Bunuel -- "Diary of a Chambermaid," "Belle de Jour," "The Phantom of Liberty," "That Obscure Object of Desire."
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