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, March 9, 2010
Karl Malkames
This amazing man first made his name as a cameraman and cinematographer (he shot the car chases for "Thunder Road"); then, he saved hundreds of films as a pioneer of restoration and preservation -- including "Tillie's Punctured Romance," "Tumbleweeds," "The Iron Horse" and "The Big Trail." -- from NitrateVille
Sir Kenneth Dover -- a life measured three ways
Sir Kenneth Dover (left) awarding a honorary Doctor of Music degree to a Mr. Robert Zimmerman of Hibbing, Minnesota.
A renowned scholar of ancient Greece -- depending on which obituary you read, he was either a beloved academic, a bold analyst of the birth of homosexual culture . . . or a guy who wished an employee would just drop dead.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Martin Benson
Benson in a signature role, Solo in "Goldfinger."
Wonderful character actor -- via the Times of London.
Elsie Phelps
She gave birth to five children in a tent -- she riveted bombers together in WWII -- she hunted, cleaned and canned meat for her family -- and believed in the healing power of whiskey. Quite an extraordinary life -- thanks to Mike Long for pointing this out! Via the Durango Herald
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Putting the fun back in funeral
A Pittsfield, Massachusetts funeral home wants to add chili cookoffs, murder-mystery shows and a visit from the Easter Bunny to its offerings -- via the Berkshire Eagle.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Sammy Drake
Infielder was one of first pair of African American siblings in Major League Baseball -- via the L.A. Times
Claude Dorsey
Jazz pianist was fixture of Milwaukee scene -- via the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. And here's a nice profile from 2003 via Maximum Ink.
Alert: Charles B. Pierce
The man who made this drive-in classic and "The Legend of Boggy Creek" has died.
More details coming! This Arkansas filmmaker made a movie for $160,000. It earned $25 million. An outsider artist par exellence. Via the Clarksville Leaf Chronicle.
Philip Langridge
Brilliant English tenor was best known for his performances in the works of Benjamin Britten -- via WhatsonStage.com. A nice tribute in the Guardian; another from the New York Times and still another from the Times of London. Here he is singing the Hymn from Britten's Serenade....
Friday, March 5, 2010
Allan Wicks
Brilliant English organist was also a divine choirmaster at Canterbury Cathedral-- via the Guardian and the Times of London.
Here he is at work in this 1986 documentary -- listen to the wonderful sound he evokes.
Robert T. McCall
This inspiring artist was best known for his imaginative canvases and murals that depicted the conquest of space -- via the New York Times.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Ron Banks
Ron Banks (second from left) in the 2001 configuration of The Dramatics.
Founder of soul group The Dramatics -- via Detroit Free Press
Barbara Bray
One of the most amazing editors and translators of the 20th century. She supported Pinter and Beckett, and championed Duras, and brought us Sartre, Genet and Anouilh. Via the Guardian and the Times of London
Nan Martin
Nan Martin (left, with Cloris Leachman in "Mrs. Harris") specialized in scandalized old ladies.
You remember her -- she was in everything. During the last part of her career, she was typecast as an old dragon, but her work was much broader and more varied. Via the L.A. Times
Sergey Kozlov
Kozlov's "Hedgehog in the Fog" delighted millions.
Beloved Russian author of children's stories and fairy tales -- lovely tribute from translator Ekaterina Godunova, with a link to some of his work; via Rossiskaya Gazeta
Vladislav Ardzinba -- hero or villain?
First leader of independent Abkhazia was either a war criminal who orchestrated an ethnic cleansing campaign that forced 250,000 -- half the population -- out of his breakaway republic; or a great guy who dedicated his life to Abkhazia's self-determination and freedom. Depends on who you read. Via CBS News and the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization.
Robert Crafton III, aka Chilly B
Chilly B, left, with Lady E and Cozmo D.
Newcleus bassist and rapper was old-school -- via the New York Times
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Richard Devon
Ubiquitous character actor died Feb. 26; was best known as a bad guy in Westerns and crime dramas -- via IMDb and Western Clippings
Who will rate inclusion in the Oscar montage-of-the-dead reel?
A good story about Chuck Workman, an awesome documentary filmmaker and editor who creates many of the Academy Award ceremony montages. Evidently, it's a cutthroat competition to get into In Memoriam, which commemorates film business people who passed away during the year -- via Yahoo News
Michael Foot, Mervyn Jones
Foot.
A double death -- within days of each other, former British Labour leader Michael Foot and his biographer, Mervyn Jones -- via the Guardian and the Times of London. The Guardian ponders further on Foot here.
Al Meiklejohn
This Colorado state senator was the first politician I ever met (I grew up with his son Scott) -- a nice guy with a great sense of humor. Via the Denver Post --
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