Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Bob Feller aka Robert William Andrew Feller

Hall of Fame pitcher for the Cleveland Indians -- via WHO. He grew up 100 miles east of where I grew up, in the beautiful fields of Van Meter, Iowa. He grew up working on the farm. He started playing in the major leagues at the age of 17; he never spent a day in the minors.

266 wins; 2,581 strikeouts. He set a modern record of 18 strikeouts in one game. He's the only man to pitch a no-hitter on Opening Day, one of his three no-hitters. He had amazing stamina and discipline, and is estimated to have been one of the three hardest-throwing pitchers in baseball history. His nicknames: "the Heater from Van Meter," "Bullet Bob," "Rapid Robert."

A legend, a near-mythic figure. One of my heroes. God bless him.



J. Michael Hagopian

Documentary filmmaker -- via the L.A. Times. Much of his work centered on a catastrophe he survived, the Armenian genocide of the early 20th century.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Stuart "Woolly" Wolstenholme

Keyboardist and singer, most notably with prog-rock group Barclay James Harvest -- via woollywolstenholme.co.uk.

Jacob Lateiner

Classical pianist, professor and scholar -- via the New York Times. He commissioned Elliott Carter's Piano Concerto, and premiered Roger Sessions's Third Piano Sonata.

Eric Fullilove

TV director best known for "Skippy the Bush Kangaroo" -- via the Guardian.

Wayne Ruppert Sr.

A police officer and, eventually, Police Chief of York City, PA -- via the York Dispatch. He mentored kids in trouble, he helped the community, he saved lives -- he cared and went that extra mile!

Donald Locke

Artist -- via the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Richard Holbrooke

Diplomat and foreign-policy expert -- via the Washington Post. Although his death has been covered extensively in the mainstream media, I provide the Post's comprehensive summary of his life for reference purposes, and to emphasize his last chilling words -- "You've got to stop this war in Afghanistan."

Monday, December 13, 2010

Remmy Ongala aka The Doctor

Singer and guitarist -- via the BBC.

Sherrill "Shaun" Nielsen

Gospel singer - via APP.com.

Sid Whatley

Voice artist, musician sometimes known as the "Voice of Texas" -- via allaccess.com.

Enrique Morente

Flamenco singer -- via spinner.com.

Michael Sharvell-Martin aka Michael Ernest Martin

Comedic actor who was a stalwart supporting performer -- via the Independent.

Jacob J. "Jake" Zagger

Accordionist -- via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Legacy.com.

Dorothy Knowles

Champion fencer, French scholar and dancer -- via the Guardian.

George Paul Solomos

Editor, writer and filmmaker -- via the Guardian.

Robin Thornber

Regional theatre journalist and critic -- via the Guardian. And here's a tribute page -- as a theatre writer, it's gratifying to find someone in the biz who is remembered fondly, although their work was fair and probing!

Nassos Daphnis

Artist -- via the New York Times.

Adele Starr

Gay rights activist -- via the L.A. Times.

Manuel Caballero

Historian, journalist, writer and professor -- via letralia.com.

Marina Nemet

Actress -- via index.hr.

Danny Daniels

Film and television actor -- via Kaieteur News.

James Dibble

Pioneer TV newsreader -- via the Australian.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Peter Andry

Classical music producer -- via overgrownpath.com.

Peter C. Marzio

Museum director -- via the New York Times.

Boris Tishchenko

Composer -- boristishchenko.inmemoriam.org.

Tony Schilder

Jazz pianist -- via iol.co.za.

John Fenn

Research chemist whose discoveries won him a Nobel Prize and helped in the development of pharmaceuticals, especially AIDS-fighting drugs -- via the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Fighting age discrimination that limited his funding and laboratory space, his great successes took place after he reached the age of 70.

Simona Vere Pakenham

Writer and actress -- via the Telegraph.

Weldon A. Macdougal III

Soul singer (part of one of many groups named The Larks), record promoter, producer . . . oh yeah, and he discovered a brother act called the Jackson 5. Via philly.com.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

George Alvin "Bingo" Binks Sr. aka George Binkowski

Outfielder and first baseman for the Brewers, Senators and Browns -- via Bill Schenley and groups.google.com/group/alt.obituaries.

Pedro Vidal

Assistant director -- via El Periodico. A favorite of many directors such as Orson Welles, David Lean and Stanley Kramer. A key player in the years that Spain really blossomed as a filming location for many "Hollywood" films.

Frederick Profitt aka Dready, Junior, Mackie, McCut

Musician and seaman -- via Kaiteur News.

Alexander Kerst

Film and television actor -- via westernsallitaliana.blogspot.com.

James Moody

Beautiful jazz musician -- via the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Murray Armstrong

Famed University of Denver hockey coach and NHL player -- via the Denver Post.

Sandra Ellis-Troy

Actress -- via KBPS.

Hendrik Coetzee

Outdoorsman and wilderness guide -- via the Daily Mail. He was eaten by a crocodile. More on this from Outside magazine --

Frank S. Emi

Rights activist and conscientious objector -- via the L.A. Times.

Heda Margolius Kovaly

Writer -- via the New York Times.

Geoffrey Wright

Composer who specialized in musical revues -- via the Independent.

Bobra Ballin Goldsmith

Llama rancher -- via the Boulder Daily Camera. Before her pioneering work in this field, she was a classical musician and French professor.

Sergiu Luca

Violinist -- via the New York Times.

Alan Armer

TV producer -- via the L.A. Times. He is responsible for some classic series such as "My Friend Flicka," "Broken Arrow," "The Untouchables," "The Fugitive," "The Invaders" and "Cannon."

Chane't Johnson aka A'Drewana Chane't Johnson

Actress -- via the L.A. Times.