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.
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Vincent Harding
Civil rights leader, activist, teacher, and speechwriter -- via the Denver Post. What an incredibly inspiring man!
New links on my sidebar, including a new friend from Belgium
In my continuing effort to provide a wider range of voices and ideas, you will find an updated list of prominent death, obituary, and mourning sites on my right-hand sidebar. I was pleased to hear from Jean-Marc Gilles, who runs the Deces des Celebrites (Celebrity Deaths) site in Wallonia, the French-speaking southern area of Belgium. His mission statement: "Honoring the dead mentioned in the international press, notable, famous or less known." Welcome, kind sir!
Noribumi Suzuki
Screenwriter and director -- via asahi.com. Best known as the creator of the highly successful "Torakku Yaro" film series.
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Arthur Gelb
Journalist, critic, writer, and editor -- via the New York Times. An excellent newspaper man, I am particularly fond of his comprehensive two-volume biography of Eugene O'Neill, penned with his wife Barbara. (Louis Sheaffer's "O'Neill: Son and Artist" is the other great work on the life of the playwright.)
Monday, May 19, 2014
Clarence "Cubie" Burke Jr.
Lead singer for the Five Stairsteps -- via NewsOne. As the "First Family of Soul," their big hit was "O-o-h Child."
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Gordon Willis
Oscar-winning cinematographer -- via Deadline. One of the 10 greatest directors of photography of all time, he was known as "The Prince of Darkness" for his dense, high-contrast textures. A beautiful artist -- here are but a few of his triumphs:
The Godfather
The Godfather II
Annie Hall
Manhattan
All the President's Men
Klute
Little Murders
Stardust Memories
The Purple Rose of Cairo
I saw the first screening of "Manhattan," the day it came out, in Manhattan. The opening sequence captures perfectly my first memories of the city, and still encapsulates everything I love about the greatest city in the world. Thanks, Gordon.
It is absolutely ridiculous that he never won an Oscar straight-out for his work. He was given the Honorary Award by the Governors of the Academy for his lifetime body of work in 2009. He's still way ahead of his time.
The Godfather
The Godfather II
Annie Hall
Manhattan
All the President's Men
Klute
Little Murders
Stardust Memories
The Purple Rose of Cairo
I saw the first screening of "Manhattan," the day it came out, in Manhattan. The opening sequence captures perfectly my first memories of the city, and still encapsulates everything I love about the greatest city in the world. Thanks, Gordon.
It is absolutely ridiculous that he never won an Oscar straight-out for his work. He was given the Honorary Award by the Governors of the Academy for his lifetime body of work in 2009. He's still way ahead of his time.
Hugh Martin
Composer, lyricist, arranger, and pianist --via the New York Times. Best know for his trio of hits for the film "Meet Me in St. Louis": "The Trolley Song," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," and "The Boy Next Door."
William Worthy
Journalist -- via the New York Times. Immortalized by Phil Ochs in "The Ballad of William Worthy," he persisted in going to places the U.S. State Department deemed he shouldn't go, to report on issues the U.S. government didn't want him to cover. So they revoked his passport. He went anyway.
Friday, May 16, 2014
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