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.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Crispian St. Peters aka Robin Peter Smith
English musician best remembered for his cover of "You Were on My Mind," and his big hit, "The Pied Piper" -- via Mi2N.com
John McCormick
Professor studied Santayna, wrote much, lived a life of adventure -- via the Telegraph
Michael Sayers aka Michael Connor
Irish writer was forced to use pseudonym after Red Scare blacklisting -- via the Guardian
The elusive dead
Who was Ndoc Gjetja? Viana Junior? What did Ella Braginskaya do? How would Eduard Khrutsky or Esma Agolli like to be remembered?
These are people I note in my sources who have passed on, and whose lives may be of interest to my readers. They are, in order, an Albanian poet, a Brazilian comic, a Russian translator, a Russian crime novelist, and an Albanian actress. Their obituary notices are in their native languages. Other evidence of their lives, in English, is miniscule or nonexistent.
I do have my own idiosyncratic criteria for inclusion on the site -- you can find it on a previous post. Another set I should have included is that information on them is available in English and that visual, audio or other documentation can be posted that will help the reader to understand them.
Are these people insignificant simply because we can't access perspectives on them? How many figures around the world escape our ethnocentric focus? Perhaps, if this site ever moves beyond being a hobby, the time and effort can be exerted to dig deeper and reveal talents, characters and actions that otherwise would remain unknown.
These are people I note in my sources who have passed on, and whose lives may be of interest to my readers. They are, in order, an Albanian poet, a Brazilian comic, a Russian translator, a Russian crime novelist, and an Albanian actress. Their obituary notices are in their native languages. Other evidence of their lives, in English, is miniscule or nonexistent.
I do have my own idiosyncratic criteria for inclusion on the site -- you can find it on a previous post. Another set I should have included is that information on them is available in English and that visual, audio or other documentation can be posted that will help the reader to understand them.
Are these people insignificant simply because we can't access perspectives on them? How many figures around the world escape our ethnocentric focus? Perhaps, if this site ever moves beyond being a hobby, the time and effort can be exerted to dig deeper and reveal talents, characters and actions that otherwise would remain unknown.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Tony DiPreta
Comic strip artist worked on series such as "Joe Palooka" and "Rex Morgan, M.D." -- via the ctpost.com
Andreas Voutsinas
Greek director, actor and teacher -- via WTOP. Best remembered here as Carmen Ghia in the original film of "The Producers."
Monday, June 7, 2010
Robert L. Healy
Long-time reporter, editor and columnist for the Boston Globe -- via the Globe. He kicked the gun from the hand of Sirhan Sirhan; he later made Nixon's enemies list.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Himan Brown
Radio producer during the medium's glory days; he later created the revival series, CBS Radio Mystery Theatre -- via the New York Times. P.S. -- although the obit writer states that "while radio dramas are now celebrated as wistful nostalgia by people in their 70s and 80s," I can state that my affection for and belief in the power of radio has grown since my boyhood days (I am 49), and that I have created and produced several radio projects, and would love to keep the tradition alive! Thanks, Mr. Brown -- you have been a life-long inspiration!
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Friday, June 4, 2010
John Wooden
Greatest college basketball coach of all time -- via the New York Times. A more comprehensive tribute is here, via the L.A. Times.
Johnny Gibson
Tuscon icon was barber, health enthusiast -- and here he relates his hair-raising memories of battle in World War II -- via KOLD-TV and ww2paratroopers.com.
Joseph Strick
Film iconoclast did the impossible -- adapted James Joyce for the screen. He also won an Oscar for his documentary efforts. Via the L.A. Times
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Giuseppe Taddei
Wonderful operatic baritone, who worked with Callas, Pavarotti, Nilsson, Toscanini and many more -- via Wikipedia
Josefa Cotillo Martinez aka 'La Polaca'
Dancer and actress -- via La Verdad. A summation of her career in English at the excellent requiem site Boot Hill (westernboothill.blogspot.com).
Lorrie Otto
Environmentalist and educator was known as the "mother of natural landscaping" -- via the Seattle Times
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