Friday, May 27, 2011

Gil Scott-Heron

Port, musician, and writer -- via the Washington Post. Known today as "the godfather of hip hop," Scott-Heron slashed into prominence as a performer who would cut loose with brilliant streams of words against a background of jazz. His radical political statements made him a household word. Later, his career was slowed by drug addiction. Still, beautiful songs such as "I Think I'll Call It Morning" and "Lady Day and John Coltrane" were inspirational. A great soul.




Jeff Conaway

Actor -- via the New York Times. He will be best remembered as Kenickie in the film adaptation of "Grease," and Bobby in the TV comedy series "Taxi."

Michele Fawdon

Actress -- via encore.

Jim Rothermel

Masterful woodwind player -- via the Marin Independent Journal.

Jack Wolf

Engineer and computer theorist -- via the New York Times.

Eugene Iwaniczko

Scientist -- via the Denver Post.

Rachel Avnery

Peace activist -- via 972mag.com.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

William Kloefkorn

Poet and educator -- via the Omaha World-Herald.

Stephen De Staebler

Sculptor -- via the Philadelphia Inquirer.

John Cigna

Radio host -- via the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Delphine McClellan

Activist -- via the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Sid Cutter

Founder of the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta -- via KASA.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Leonard Kastle

Opera composer and film director -- via the New York Times. His single film is a classic -- the low-budget, compelling and critically acclaimed "The Honeymoon Killers."

Bob Gould

Bookseller -- via the Sydney Morning Herald.

Kathy Kirby

Singer -- via the Telegraph.

Paul Splittorff

Long-time pitcher and broadcaster for the Kansas City Royals -- via the Kansas City Star.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Walter Soboleff

Tribal leader, minister and activist -- via Alaska Dispatch.

Dick Wimmer

Writer and educator -- via the L.A. Times. He holds the distinction of being the most-rejected published novelist in history. His first novel was rejected 162 times. Way to hang in there, Dick!

Jim Pyburn

Long-time assistant coach in college football, he played outfield for the Orioles for three seasons -- via the Daily Journal.

Dagmar E. Burbriski

"Community activist, commentator, columnist, radio host, gadfly and energetic proponent of civic engagement" -- via iberkshires.com. She must have been quite a character -- she inspired another remembrance here in the Berkshire Eagle.

Willard S. Boyle

Physicist and inventor -- via the L.A. Times. He co-created the charge-coupled device, the basis of all digital imaging.

Ron Bone

Artist -- via the Guardian.

Marian Pankowski

Writer, critic and translator -- via the Guardian.

Michael Ward

Photographer -- via the Guardian.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Donald Krim

President of Kino International -- via the New York Times. His taste and sense of the possible made Kino one of the primary sources of endangered and esoteric films. He worked with Wong Kar-Wai, Haneke and Gitai. He issued the definitive Keaton and Fairbanks restorations -- he saved "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari," "The Last Laugh" and "Metropolis." Kino distributes Klimov's wrenching 1985 "Come and See," Tartovsky's "Stalker," the bewitching 1935 "She," "Fantomas." Thank you, sir!