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.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Martha Gifford Parker Melahn
Botanist, construction worker, decorator, executive secretary, reporter, businessperson and writer -- via the Miami Herald.
Cesaria Evora
One of the greatest singers of the past half-century -- via dn.pt. The chanteuse from Cabo Verde was "discovered" when she was 47 -- proof that you should follow the commands of your heart and have faith that you will be heard! Specializing in momas, fados, modhinas and coladeras, her haunting, clear, penetrating voice had an effortless and intimate power that could rivet your attention instantly.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Slim Dunkin aka Mario Hamilton
Rapper -- via wsbtv.com. UPDATE: Thanks to some diligent readers, I pulled down my incorrect photo and have placed a proper one where it belongs.
Christopher Hitchens
Journalist and writer -- via the New York Times. A remarkable and witty contrarian, he was an atheist and a Jew; a left-winger who supported the Iraq War; a socialist who loved to drink and smoke and hobnob with the rich and powerful. He was cranky and funny, my favorite combo!
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Joe Simon
Comic book writer, artist, editor and publisher -- via Comics Beat. With Jack Kirby, the creator of Captain America.
Kevin Sharpe
Historian -- via the Guardian. "Kevin's writing was characterised by his lucid, reader-friendly prose; he always believed that proper scholarship need not be obscure and that historians should always make their arguments accessible without compromising their standards." Yes! Exactly.
Akihiro Takahashi
Director of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum -- via the Telegraph. He survived the bombing of Hiroshima, and built on his personal experience of the horrors of atomic warfare to work for disarmament.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Edgar "Chico" Edwards
Vocalist with the Spinners from 1956 to 1958 and 1962 to 1967 -- via the Motown Alumni Association.
George Whitman
Proprietor of the Shakespeare & Co. bookstore in Paris -- via the New York Daily News.Of course, Adrienne Monnier and Sylvia Beach ran the original Shakespeare and Co. in Paris, but Beach willed her stock and the store name in 1962, 11 years after George had opened his own English-language book shop at 37 rue de la Bucherie. A delightful eccentric and cultural sparkplug!
Russell Hoban
Writer -- via the Guardian.Although he is referred to in the obit as a "cult writer," he is one of my favorite writers of all time and, I think, one of the best writers of the last century. First of all, he wrote the classic "Frances" series of children's books, as well as the brilliant "The Mouse and His Child." He could write in a wide variety of genres, and composed the novel "Turtle Diary" and most importantly "Riddley Walker," an insanely ambitious, complex and disturbing novel of the future with its own weird meta-English.
Samuel Bosch
Tzaddik (righteous one) -- via citizensvoice.com. He served bravely in WW II; he served as a Jewish chaplain and emissary, he worked as an activist. His trademark was a pre-printed card containing a creed of tolerance that he gave to all. It said:
"In my opinion, we will never have peace in this world until all religions make peace with each other.
"I consider a true religion any that will accept and treat the stranger as one of his own and will work to making all people of the universe ONE HUMAN FAMILY.
"I believe that all who are of this universe, no matter the color of our skin, the difference in our features, the way we address and pray to our Creator, are all ONE HUMAN FAMILY, and that Creator loves every one of us."
Read more: http://citizensvoice.com/news/samuel-bosch-who-shared-knowledge-of-judaism-has-died-1.1243461#ixzz1gWJvcWzB
"In my opinion, we will never have peace in this world until all religions make peace with each other.
"I consider a true religion any that will accept and treat the stranger as one of his own and will work to making all people of the universe ONE HUMAN FAMILY.
"I believe that all who are of this universe, no matter the color of our skin, the difference in our features, the way we address and pray to our Creator, are all ONE HUMAN FAMILY, and that Creator loves every one of us."
Read more: http://citizensvoice.com/news/samuel-bosch-who-shared-knowledge-of-judaism-has-died-1.1243461#ixzz1gWJvcWzB
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Dorothy Krasovec Ebersbach
Member of the Womens Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) in WWII, and nurse -- via the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Loretta Loach
Journalist, broadcaster, historian, documentary filmmaker, activist -- via the Guardian.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)