Prominent AIDS researcher . . . and as many as 100 other AIDS researchers bound for a conference in Kuala Lampur . . . along with passengers and crew, leading to a total loss of all on board -- 298 people. All these were killed when separatist rebels, armed with Russian weapons, shot this civilian jet airliner out of the sky. This tragic incident only highlights what happens when lives are taken in combat. In Judaism, it is stated that "He who saves one life, it is as if he saves an entire universe." Conversely, a life lost is a universe snuffed out. Think of all the good these medical experts were doing to alleviate suffering. How many years will this slow down the fight against AIDS? Not to mention the inherent worth of every life on that plane.
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.
Friday, July 18, 2014
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Howard Siler
Bobsledder and first coach of the Jamaican bobsled team -- via NBC Sports. Please note that, in contrast to his portrayal in "Cool Runnings," Howard was neither a washed-up alcoholic nor a gold-medal winner. Just a good guy who knew how to coach!
Louis Herman "Red" Klotz
Basketball player, team owner, coach, and comic foil for the Harlem Globetrotters -- via the New York Times. His team, largely known as the Washington Generals, was the usual opponent of the famous tricksters. It pleases me no end to note that they actually won one game on Jan. 5, 1971.
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Monday, July 14, 2014
Michael Henry Wilson
Filmmaker and writer -- via Variety. Did a great job on "A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese through American Movies," as well as many other projects.
OBIT READER: Our weekly roundup of stories on death, dying, and more
TOP STORIES
From Confessions of a Funeral Director, "The Ultimate List of Mortician Themed License Plates" -- http://www.calebwilde.com/2014/07/the-ultimate-list-of-mortitian-themed-license-plates/
Via Katharine Q. Seelye of the New York Times, death on a island sheds light on a changing funeral industry http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/14/us/even-on-nantucket-a-funeral-home-is-a-luxury.html
R.I.P. T-shirts? Memorial casual wear is the thing in Baton Rouge; the story by Donna Britt of WAFB http://www.wafb.com/story/25991707/rip-shirts-have-changed-how-people-mourn-in-south-louisiana
DEATH
Mike Pleming on Modest Money talks about preparing for death, enotionally and financially http://www.modestmoney.com/prepare-financially-emotionally-death/
Is he dead? Wait just a minute, per ghanaweb.com http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=316513
A dying skill: film program cancelled due to projectionist's demise -- from Meredith Moss of the Dayton Daily News http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/news/projectionists-death-results-in-cancellation-of-fi/ngZ8D/
There's a story here. Urn abandoned. Why? Via the Arizona Daily Independent http://www.arizonadailyindependent.com/2014/07/10/funeral-urn-ditched-at-phoenix-business/
'Mourning in the age of Skype': Elizabeth Stoker Bruenig in The Atlantic http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2014/07/figuring-out-how-to-mourn-in-the-age-of-skype/374044/
Finding meaning in loss, by Emily Lauren Townsend in Whole magazine http://www.wholemagazine.org/2014/07/death-as-way-to-life-finding-meaning-in.html
Lodro Rinzler in Elephant Journal reports on meditation and mourning http://www.elephantjournal.com/2014/07/meditation-and-mourning-3-obstacles-to-successful-grieving/
Threading through Time's Lady Constance discusses Victorian mourning http://threadingthroughtime.wordpress.com/2014/07/06/the-victorian-in-mourning-who-wore-what-and-for-how-long/
OBITS
Um. Tom Hawthorne of the Vancouver Times Colonist reports on a unique anti-obit: http://www.legacy.com/news/stories-to-share/lovable-con-man-says-goodbye/2477/ and
Lou Nigro
Musician, and one of the country's most expert piano tuners -- via legacy.com. Father of Laura Nyro.
Sunday, July 13, 2014
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