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.
Friday, December 3, 2010
From Obit Magazine: "A Death Notice for Obituaries?"
A lovely and thought-provoking piece by James M. Naughton on the art, business and significance of obituaries. I hope that The Obit Patrol contributes to the appreciation of this essential part of the journalism world.
Ron Santo
Iconic third baseman for the Chicago Cubs -- via ESPN. He later became a hugely popular broadcaster for the team, despite or because of his vociferous partiality.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Gene Polito
Cinematographer -- via Dignity Memorial. He did a lot of TV work, and helped create such memorable films as "Colossus: The Forbin Project," "Prime Cut" and Westworld."
Helen Strassburger Boatwright
Soprano -- via the Syracuse Post-Standard. She was a champion of new music, and was the first to record the songs of Charles Ives.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Terry Hayes Sales
Singer, actress and a member of the American Foundation for the Blind's Talking Book Hall of Fame -- via the Louisville Courier-Journal. She recorded more than 900 works!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Peter Hofmann
Tenor who appeared frequently at the Metropolitan Opera in Wagner productions -- via the Baltimore Sun. He was equally at home with rock music and music theater.
Walter Soplata
A collector of vintage warplanes who kept and restored them in his backyard airplane graveyard/sanctuary -- via Jalopnik.com.
John William Steakley, Jr.
Science-fiction writer -- via the Dallas Morning News. His novel "Vampire$" was adapted for film by John Carpenter.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Giorgos Foundas
Actor - via the Athens News Agency. He appeared in classic films such as "Zorba the Greek," "America, America," "Stella" and "Never on Sunday."
Eileen (Zimmer) Deneen Yaseen
Soprano and voice teacher who specialized in "mono-operas," which she adapted and in which she played all the parts -- via the Chicago Tribune.
Gil McDougald
Yankee baseball great -- via the New York Daily News. He made the All-Star team five times, at three different positions! His career was marred by the line drive he hit into the face of Indians pitcher Herb Score on May 7, 1957. Although Score recovered, his career was never the same; some say McDougald's wasn't, either. His last game was October 2, 1960 -- the day I was born!
Mario Monicelli
Screenwriter and director -- via the L.A. Times. His biggest hit was the hilarious "Big Deal on Madonna Street," but he also made the acclaimed "The Great War," "Casanova 70," "Brancaleone," and "Amici miei."
Irvin Kershner
Film director and educator -- via the L.A. Times. He will be best remembered for his direction of the best movie in the Star Wars series -- "The Empire Strikes Back." Yet he made a lot of interesting films. Roger Corman gave him his start with "Stakeout on Dope Street" in 1958. He created the Western TV series "The Rebel." He made the silly "S*P*Y*S," the strange "Eyes of Laura Mars," and Connery's final Bond outing, "Never Say Never Again."
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Leslie Nielsen
Actor in film and TV -- via the New York Times. After decades as a "serious" actor in films such as "Forbidden Planet," "Tammy and the Bachelor" and, perhaps the nadir of his career, "Day of the Animals," he went against type as the poker-faced idiot doctor on board "Airplane!" This led to a string of vastly more successful and more enjoyable comic performances -- he became one of the best comic actors of his time. His genuine skills, combined with his ability to mock his deadpan seriousness, were priceless.
Here's a masterly analysis of his appeal by A.O. Scott in the New York Times --
And here's a lovely tribute from his friend and co-worker, Robert J. Elisberg --
Here's a masterly analysis of his appeal by A.O. Scott in the New York Times --
And here's a lovely tribute from his friend and co-worker, Robert J. Elisberg --
Palle Huld
Danish actor whose world-wide travel as a Boy Scout in 1928, in honor of the 100th birthday of Jules Verne, was the inspiration for the famous "Tintin" comic adventure books -- via kpn.dk.
Here is an explication in English of Huld's connection to Herge's character--
Here is an explication in English of Huld's connection to Herge's character--
Frederick Zenone
Cellist who became expert on resolving labor-management disputes -- via the Washington Post.
Bernard Matthews
Europe's largest poultry farmer -- via the Guardian. Known for his turkeys, he died, ironically, on Thanksgiving.
Mike Craig
Comedy writer and producer, as well as one of Britain's chief experts on the history of its comedy -- via the Telegraph.
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