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.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Jerome Horwitz
Researcher who created AZT, the first effective drug to fight AIDS -- via the New York Times.
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Lia Lee
Victim of epilepsy whose treatment inspired a book that led to new understanding about the intersection of Eastern and Western medicines and cultures -- via the New York Times.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
R.B. Greaves aka Ronald Bertram Aloysius Greaves
Singer and songwriter -- via the New York Times. He wrote and recorded the hit "Take a Letter Maria."
Stephen Dunham
Actor -- via the Hollywood Reporter. His last role, a starring one in "Paranormal Activities 4," will be seen on Oct. 19.
James "Sugar Boy" Crawford
R & B singer and composer -- via nola.com. He wrote "Jock-A-Mo," which morphed into "Iko Iko," and has been recorded by countless artists around the world.
Pedro Guerrero
Photographer -- via the New York Times. Most noted for his portraits of the works of Frank Lloyd Wright.
Monday, October 1, 2012
Barry Commoner
Pioneering environmentalist; biologist, professor and politician -- via the New York Times. His name was a bugbear to conservatives for decades. He was a visionary thinker: not merely a reflexive defender of ecological systems, he tied these concerns in with the concepts of sustainability and social justice. He is still hundreds of years ahead of us. Thank you, Barry!
He drafted the famous Four Laws of Ecology --
He drafted the famous Four Laws of Ecology --
1. Everything is Connected to Everything Else. There is one ecosphere for all living organisms and what affects one, affects all.
2. Everything Must Go Somewhere. There is no "waste" in nature and there is no “away” to which things can be thrown.
3. Nature Knows Best. Humankind has fashioned technology to improve upon nature, but such change in a natural system is, says Commoner, “likely to be detrimental to that system.”
4. There Is No Such Thing as a Free Lunch. Exploitation of nature will inevitably involve the conversion of resources from useful to useless forms.
Michael Rye aka John Michael Riorden Billsbury aka Rye Billsbury
Voice actor -- via Variety. A remarkable, hard-working, and long-lived performer, he began in radio and ended up working in video games to boot. He played Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy; he was the announcer on "The Cisco Kid"; and guested on dozens of other shows. He played the prototype for Matt Dillon on the audition show of "Gunsmoke." He later worked in TV cartoons, TV and radio commercials, videos, and training films. He was the first person to record a full-length audiobook ("The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin").
Rollin "Oscar" Sullivan
Musician and comic -- via the Tennessean. PArt of the Grand Ole Opry duo Lonzo and Oscar; he was the first to perform the comedy hit "I'm My Own Grandpa."
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