Sunday, March 10, 2013

Edith Houghton

Outstanding baseball player and scout -- via the New York Times.


John E. Karlin

Industrial psychologist -- via the New York Times. The father of human factors engineering, he worked at Bell Labs, studying and testing in order to create the most efficient dials and keypads for phone use. By extension, his designs have permeated modern life and manufacturing.

Sipo Mzimewa

Minister -- via the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Shelby Whitfield

Broadcaster -- via the Washington Post.

Patricia Hughes

Announcer -- via the BBC.

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Claude King

Singer and songwriter -- via  . Famous for his hit rendition and co-writing of "Wolverton Mountain."

Brenda Box

Editor -- via NPR. A CSU alum!


Allan Calhamer

Postal worker and inventor of the game "Diplomacy" -- via the New York Times. This obit shows you why Margalit Fox is the best. What a great story.



Kenny Ball

Trumpeter -- via the Telegraph.

Mohammad Asfour

Demonstrator -- via the BBC.

Harrison Groutage

Artist -- via the Salt Lake City Tribune.

Ceal Phelan

Actress -- via philly.com.

Robin Sachs

Actor and voice actor -- via the BBC. Seemingly destined to work in sci-fi and horror, he started his film career in the cult classic "Vampire Circus," and moved on to play in "Galaxy Quest," "Babylon 5," and other such shows and video games.




Jackie Kastrinelis

Cruise-ship singer -- via ABC.

Ira Rubin

Bridge champion -- via the New York Times.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Alvin Lee aka Graham Alvin Barnes

Guitarist; best known for his work with Ten Years After -- via Spinner. Alvin Lee! I loved him. I wore out my copy of the "Undead" LP, which tutored me as to the blues-jazz-rock continuum and how Brit rock spun the American idiom into new forms. What an amazing sound and presence.










Stuart Freeborn


Makeup artist -- via the New York Times. The "grandfather of modern make-up design" created the look for Yoda and many other "Star Wars" characters; among his other outstanding jobs include Lean's "Oliver Twist," Korda's "Thief of Baghdad," the first run of "Superman" films, "The Bridge on the River Kwai,"  "2001: A Space Odyssey," "Murder on the Orient Express," and "Dr. Strangelove."


Alexander Dolmatov

Dissident -- via the BBC.

Archie Roy

Astronomer, writer, proofreader, and psychic researcher -- via the Guardian.

Shpritz Anthony

Theater guy -- via the Sacramento Bee.

Larry Killick

Athlete, soldier, businessman, writer, nice guy. I knew Larry until after his death only as a sweet guy and a friend. He was related through marriage to my wife through his wife. We met several years ago, and discovered quickly that we both loved jazz; how pleased he was when he found I could identify "Big Noise from Winnetka"! Soon we were chatting about old-time radio, 20th-century history, and more, laughing and joking despite the 40-year difference in our ages. Despite our brief time together, I really hit it off with him and had a lot of fun with him. Thanks, Larry! You are awesome!

It wasn't until he passed on that I found out that he had been a famous athlete! Who'd a-thunk it?

Lawrence Findley Killick was born in Burlington, VT on May 31, 1922, and departed this earth on January 31, 2013 at the age of 90.

Larry attended the University of Vermont and Dartmouth, playing basketball for both schools. He was in the UVM Basketball Hall of Fame and the New England Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, and was one of Sports Illustrated, "50 Greatest Sports Figures of the Century", from the state of Vermont. After playing college ball, he played professional basketball for the Baltimore Bullets.

A patriotic American, he was a captain in the Marine Corps, serving in the Pacific Theater during WWII, as well as the Korean War.

Larry married Rhoda Hershoff in 1960 and they moved their family from New York City to Brevard County in 1962. He worked with Carroll Distributing and soon became an active member of the business community, serving on several boards of directors.

One of his personal successes was having his memoirs published; his book, Boots, Hoops and Troops, recounted his time in the Marines, basketball and the war.

Larry Killick was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Rhoda; his daughter, Debbie; his sons, Alan (Holly), Tom (Kellie) and Barrett (Heather); and six grandchildren, Leighton, Ariel, Aiden, Joelle, Brody and Kyson.

A celebration of his life will be held at the Holiday Inn Melbourne-Viera Conference Center (8298 N. Wickham Rd.) on Saturday, March 2nd at 2 pm. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Space Coast Honor Flight (PO Box 560975, Rockledge, FL 32956).

He will be missed by many. We love you Larry. Semper Fi!

Nir Toib

Filmmaker -- via Haaretz.

Garrett Lewis

Set decorator -- via the Hollywood Reporter. Formerly a dancer, he worked extensively on Broadway.

'Uncle Cliff' Hammond

Amusement park owner -- via the ABQ Journal.

Shanu Lahiri

Artist -- via indiatvnews.com.

Mohammed El-Gindy

Activist -- via the Huffington Post.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Jim Zarichny

Activist -- via the Boulder Daily Camera.

Ferrol Sams

Doctor and novelist -- via the New York Times.

Les 'Metro' Pavelik

Comedian and singer -- via the Calgary Herald.

Frank Green

Artist -- via the Cleveland Plain Dealer.


Harold Drake

Journalist -- via the Inquisitr.

Hugo Chavez

President of Venezuela -- via the BBC. Demon? Saint? Fit subject for Oliver Stone? All three? Don't know.

Earl Williams

Former MLB player -- via the New York Times.

Isisdor Saslav

Violinist, concertmaster, and teacher -- via the Baltimore Sun.

Oldrich Kulhanek

Painter, graphic designer, teacher, illustrator, and stage designer -- via Radio Prague.


Jean-Leon Destine

Dancer and choreographer -- via the New York Times.

Ceija Stojka

Artist and writer -- via the Huffington Post.

Benedict Zilliacus

Journalist, author, screenwriter, and translator -- via svd.se.

Aleksander Bednarz

Actor -- via wiadomosci.onet.pl.

Eamon de Buitlear

Filmmaker, writer, and musician -- via the Irish Times.

Bryan Carlstrom

Sound engineer -- via loudwire.com.

Sukekiyo Kameyama

Voice actor -- via animenewsnetwork.com.

Chris Canavan

Actor -- via the Daily Mirror. Best known for his many background roles on "Coronation Street," on which he appeared for more than 50 years.

Muslum Gurses aka Müslüm Akbaş aka Müslüm Baba

Singer and actor -- via the Huffington Post.

Peter Harvey

Journalist -- via the Australian.

Mary Ellen Moore-Richard aka Mary Crow Dog

Memoirist -- via the New York Times.


Joseph Frank aka Joseph Nathaniel Glassman

Writer; biographer of Dostoevsky -- via the New York Times.

Monday, March 4, 2013