2017: Obits and Tributes
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1CliffBurns
First entry of 2017, a great old sportsman, Milt Schmidt, former captain of my favourite hockey team, the Boston Bruins:
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/milt-schmidt-dead-at-98-1.3921617
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/milt-schmidt-dead-at-98-1.3921617
2CliffBurns
Clare Hollingsworth, war correspondent--she was a true witness to history:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/10/clare-hollingworth-dies-aged-105-tele...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/10/clare-hollingworth-dies-aged-105-tele...
5davidgn
Zygmunt Bauman, perhaps the world's greatest sociologist.
https://www.socialeurope.eu/2017/01/zygmunt-bauman-beacon-hope-darkness/
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2017/01/adieu-zygmunt-bauman-1701121311...
https://www.socialeurope.eu/2017/01/zygmunt-bauman-beacon-hope-darkness/
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2017/01/adieu-zygmunt-bauman-1701121311...
6civitas
Zhou Youguang, the creator of Pinyin:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/14/world/asia/zhou-youguang-who-made-writing-chi...
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/14/world/asia/zhou-youguang-who-made-writing-chi...
7CliffBurns
Gene Cernan, commander of the last mission to the moon:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38641121
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38641121
10bluepiano
Oh thank you anna_in_pdx for linking to that page, what with that wonderful Frigidaire ad which on its own it would make it worthwhile. (Seems to me that MTM & WKRP are the most fetching of all US sitcoms, likely because in each the writers made characters who were all of equal interest.)
11CliffBurns
Just watched Mary in the "Chuckles the Clown" episode. Still made me howl.
Thanks, gal.
Thanks, gal.
12CliffBurns
Farewell Mike Connors, TV's "Mannix":
http://www.avclub.com/article/rip-mike-connors-tvs-mannix-249200
http://www.avclub.com/article/rip-mike-connors-tvs-mannix-249200
13iansales
Discovered recently that Om Puri died earlier this month:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-38527232
14CliffBurns
50th anniversary of the Apollo I fire that cost the lives of three astronauts:
http://www.npr.org/2017/01/26/511660847/on-50th-anniversary-nasa-creates-tribute...
http://www.npr.org/2017/01/26/511660847/on-50th-anniversary-nasa-creates-tribute...
16CliffBurns
Geoff Nichols, of Black Sabbath:
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/geoff-nicholls-black-sabbath-keyboardist-...
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/geoff-nicholls-black-sabbath-keyboardist-...
17Jargoneer
A bad week for deaths - writers Harry Matthews, Bucji Emecheta, and Emma Tennant; singer Maggie Roche (if you haven't heard The Roches they are well worth searching out), and French cinema legend, Emmanuelle Riva.
18CliffBurns
Harry Matthews: the epitome of a "writer's writer".
Aesthetically fearless, from what I've read.
Aesthetically fearless, from what I've read.
19anna_in_pdx
Energy efficiency pioneer Art Rosenfeld (this is one of the most fascinating obits I've ever read).
http://newscenter.lbl.gov/2017/01/27/art-rosenfeld-californias-godfather-energy-...
http://newscenter.lbl.gov/2017/01/27/art-rosenfeld-californias-godfather-energy-...
20Cecrow
>19 anna_in_pdx:, wow, that California-vs-USA energy chart is pretty amazing.
21CliffBurns
David Shepard, film preservationist:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/05/movies/david-shepard-film-preservationist-die...
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/05/movies/david-shepard-film-preservationist-die...
23DugsBooks
>19 anna_in_pdx: Read the article - Great, I had never heard of the guy. I have read stuff from the Rocky Mountains Institute since near its inception, http://www.rmi.org/, but Amory Lovins and his group are all following the path blazed by Mr. Rosenfield evidently.
>20 Cecrow: Yep, that chart is surprising, a wonder it has not been used more often.
>20 Cecrow: Yep, that chart is surprising, a wonder it has not been used more often.
24CliffBurns
Canadian radio personality and storyteller, Stuart McLean:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/stuart-mclean-dead-obit-1.3984826
http://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/stuart-mclean-dead-obit-1.3984826
25Cecrow
>24 CliffBurns:, I always found his stories lie flat on the page, but they had unbelievable life over the radio. Some people are authors, some people are storytellers.
26CliffBurns
It wasn't my kind of thing, honestly, I found it McLean's stories too sentimental, the "humour" bland and forced.
But he was very popular in our country, seemed to be well-liked, so I'll leave that be...
But he was very popular in our country, seemed to be well-liked, so I'll leave that be...
27CliffBurns
Canadian union leader, Bob White:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/bob-white-dead-1.3991048
The National Film Board documentary mentioned in the obit, "Final Offer", gives a behind the scenes look at negotiations between unions and management in the 1980s. The atmosphere poisonous, both sides playing a zero sum game. The movie is likely available on YouTube. I recall it with great fondness.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/bob-white-dead-1.3991048
The National Film Board documentary mentioned in the obit, "Final Offer", gives a behind the scenes look at negotiations between unions and management in the 1980s. The atmosphere poisonous, both sides playing a zero sum game. The movie is likely available on YouTube. I recall it with great fondness.
30CliffBurns
Terrific actor--if you haven't seen "One False Move" or "A Simple Plan", you're missing out on two fine thrillers starring Monsieur Paxton.
He was a gem.
He was a gem.
31bluepiano
I've come across mention of him a couple of times & was all of them disappointed to find that no, Bill Paxton wasn't that guy who was in 'My Favorite Martian'. Forename + disyllabic surname with an 'x' was I suppose what led me to think he was.
'Complications of surgery' as cause of death always makes me mad curious about the specifics.
'Complications of surgery' as cause of death always makes me mad curious about the specifics.
32mejix
Oh man, Howard Hodgkin:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/09/arts/design/howard-hodgkin-dead-british-paint...
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/09/arts/design/howard-hodgkin-dead-british-paint...
34CliffBurns
...by the way, Waller's BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY was written in a mere eleven days.
I have no further comment.
I have no further comment.
39jldarden
So long to another Chuck, Chuck Barris of 'The Gong Show' fame.
www.yahoo.com/tv/gong-show-creator-chuck-barris-dies-87-062200924.html
www.yahoo.com/tv/gong-show-creator-chuck-barris-dies-87-062200924.html
40jldarden
Drummer Sib Hashian, of the band Boston. http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2017/03/23/boston-rocker-sib-hashian-dies-w...
43justifiedsinner
David Storey, novelist and playwright, rugby player. Booker prize winner for Saville. This Sporting Life made into a Lindsay Anderson film. Home won the Tony for best play.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/authors/david-storey-never-fashionable-belongs-...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/authors/david-storey-never-fashionable-belongs-...
46cindydavid4
>44 jldarden: I remember being a little girl sitting between mom and dad, listening them laugh hysterically at this cubby man who I thought was rather rude. A few years later I started getting him, and since then he's made me laugh a thousand times. Most of todays comics owe much to Rickels - if for no other reason that he opened up comedy as a way to speak truth to power
Speaking of which - I wonder what his last words about Trump would have been. Regardless thanks for the laughter, RIP
Speaking of which - I wonder what his last words about Trump would have been. Regardless thanks for the laughter, RIP
50jldarden
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance author Robert Pirsig at 88.
51bluepiano
Michele Scarponi--trust me, he was a very well-known cyclist & winner of the 2011 Giro. Alas.
http://www.velonews.com/2017/04/news/italys-scarponi-killed-training-crash_43611...
http://www.velonews.com/2017/04/news/italys-scarponi-killed-training-crash_43611...
52mejix
The Jonathan Demme close up:
https://vimeo.com/126757480
https://vimeo.com/126757480
55DugsBooks
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-entertainment-news-updates-may-col-br...
Col. Bruce Hampton - I saw him play several times at really small {10 - 15 ft away} venues. Not knowing his musical background {played with Frank Zappa & others} until later, I was impressed with his creativity and obvious effort to not be formulaic. He actually died while preforming onstage in Atlanta at a huge concert being given in his honor on his 70th birthday. There are speculations if he chose to do that and most thought it part of a stage act at first.
Col. Bruce Hampton - I saw him play several times at really small {10 - 15 ft away} venues. Not knowing his musical background {played with Frank Zappa & others} until later, I was impressed with his creativity and obvious effort to not be formulaic. He actually died while preforming onstage in Atlanta at a huge concert being given in his honor on his 70th birthday. There are speculations if he chose to do that and most thought it part of a stage act at first.
56CliffBurns
Hampton sounds like a fascinating man. What a way to go...
58justifiedsinner
>57 anna_in_pdx: Oh! So it wasn't auto-erotic strangulation while watching fake nudes of Megyn Kelly. Must have been a fake nudes story.
59Cecrow
>58 justifiedsinner: *groan*
60CliffBurns
Matt Taibbi's critical take on Ailes and his minions:
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/features/taibbi-roger-ailes-was-one-of-the-...
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/features/taibbi-roger-ailes-was-one-of-the-...
61anna_in_pdx
>60 CliffBurns: I liked that obit. Matt Taibbi at his best.
>58 justifiedsinner: Ugh yeah what a sleaze, right? Glad he's gone.
>58 justifiedsinner: Ugh yeah what a sleaze, right? Glad he's gone.
62CliffBurns
Photojournalist Stanley Greene:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/19/business/media/stanley-greene-dead-war-photog...
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/19/business/media/stanley-greene-dead-war-photog...
63Cecrow
Roger Moore was the second James Bond but he's the first to pass:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/actor-roger-moore-bond-obituary-1.4127297
I liked "Live and Let Die", and highlights from some of his others.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/actor-roger-moore-bond-obituary-1.4127297
I liked "Live and Let Die", and highlights from some of his others.
64anna_in_pdx
>63 Cecrow: I have been humming "Live and Let Die" all morning since hearing this news on the radio followed by the song (of course)
66RobertDay
>63 Cecrow: Actually, Roger Moore was the third Bond, Sean Connery having been succeeded in the role by George Lazenby for 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service'. But AFAIK, no-one had ever re-booted a franchise before and no-one really knew how to go about it. Lazenby was contracted to do 'OHMSS' and 'Diamonds are Forever', but after the first film, his agent went totally off piste and went public, saying that his man wouldn't be doing the next Bond film, probably in the belief that he could leverage a better deal out of the film-makers. So when they said, "OK", he was left with egg on his face and Lazenby was left with a career shot down in flames by someone who was supposed to be looking after his best interests..
Time has suggested that Lazenby was better at the role than many thought (all the best one-liners in the film were Lazenby's own ad-libs); and technically, 'OHMSS' remains one of the most spectacular Bond films. Ultimately, perhaps the biggest mistake that was made in the whole enterprise was trying to cast someone who looked like Connery but wasn't Connery.
Time has suggested that Lazenby was better at the role than many thought (all the best one-liners in the film were Lazenby's own ad-libs); and technically, 'OHMSS' remains one of the most spectacular Bond films. Ultimately, perhaps the biggest mistake that was made in the whole enterprise was trying to cast someone who looked like Connery but wasn't Connery.
68CliffBurns
Jesus, Denis Johnson is gone:
http://www.newyorker.com/books/double-take/denis-johnson-in-the-new-yorker
http://www.newyorker.com/books/double-take/denis-johnson-in-the-new-yorker
69justifiedsinner
Zbigniew Brzezinski, Carter's national security adviser, 89.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/26/us/zbigniew-brzezinski-dead-national-security...
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/26/us/zbigniew-brzezinski-dead-national-security...
71DugsBooks
>70 jldarden: Well there goes my generation. I saw them several times in concert - before and after Duane's passing. I really liked the instrumental improvisation in their live concerts. The group's views on the war in Vietnam, Gregg shot himself in the foot to avoid the draft I heard, were shared by myself and most of my friends.
75CliffBurns
A great human rights campaigner and brave man, Liu Xiaobo:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-40597514
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-40597514
76mstrust
Director George Romero, from lung cancer:
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-me-george-romero-20170716-story.h...
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-me-george-romero-20170716-story.h...
78CliffBurns
Clancy Sigal, British novelist and memoirist:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/21/books/clancy-sigal-dead-author-of-going-away....
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/21/books/clancy-sigal-dead-author-of-going-away....
79CliffBurns
Sam Shepard, actor, director, playwright:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/playwright-director-and-actor-sam-shepard-dies-at-7...
http://www.thedailybeast.com/playwright-director-and-actor-sam-shepard-dies-at-7...
80anna_in_pdx
Oh my
81CliffBurns
My wife had a crush on him and western actor Sam Elliot. My only two rivals.
82anna_in_pdx
Everybody has a crush on Sam Elliott!
83CliffBurns
And, oddly, enough, our youngest son is named "Sam".
I always thought that was in honor of Beckett.
How naive I am...
I always thought that was in honor of Beckett.
How naive I am...
85cindydavid4
Didn't know this: "and did a cameo as an elderly descendant of Cinderella in “Ever After” (1998)" One of my favorite movies.
87Cecrow
>84 Taphophile13:, I remember best her distinctive voice as narrator for the movie version of Marguerite Duras' The Lover, 1992.
89Cecrow
Brian Aldiss, sci-fi author, at 92
90CliffBurns
He had a loooong run.
Good for him.
Good for him.
92cindydavid4
>88 CliffBurns: He certainly did bring MD to the forefront, and perhaps lead other 'rare' disease sufferers to chart their own research, but as an actor and comedian he fell way short for me. Couldn't stand his voice and his sillyness. But Im probably in the minority. Regardless, RIP.
93CliffBurns
He wasn't my kinda comedian either.
My tastes run to Tati, the Marx Brothers and Keaton.
My tastes run to Tati, the Marx Brothers and Keaton.
96mejix
Oh man, Walter Becker from Steely Dan:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/03/arts/music/walter-becker-dead-steely-dan.html...
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/03/arts/music/walter-becker-dead-steely-dan.html...
98justifiedsinner
SF author Jerry Pournelle: https://www.theverge.com/2017/9/9/16279582/jerry-pournelle-science-fiction-autho...
Chris Claremont told me this story once how Pournelle would walk around the streets of LA shooting at the genitalia of various male passers-by. As he was about to shoot at the junk of a large African American the man said 'You shoot it you eat it!". Pournell subsequently gave up this hobby.
Chris Claremont told me this story once how Pournelle would walk around the streets of LA shooting at the genitalia of various male passers-by. As he was about to shoot at the junk of a large African American the man said 'You shoot it you eat it!". Pournell subsequently gave up this hobby.
99CliffBurns
#98--Never liked or respected either his writing or his politics.
"Military science fiction" authors should be seen in the same light as the very worst hacks and literary dregs.
No-talent scum.
"Military science fiction" authors should be seen in the same light as the very worst hacks and literary dregs.
No-talent scum.
100RobertDay
>98 justifiedsinner:, >99 CliffBurns: He had his uses, though. When the management of the main convention hotel, the Brighton Metropole, turned nasty on the con organisers at the 1984 World SF Convention, it was Jerry Pournelle, in his role as then SF Writers of America chairman, that the con chair got out of bed to go and argue with the hotel manager over unfulfilled parts of the contract.
101justifiedsinner
>99 CliffBurns: >100 RobertDay: Used to read his column in Byte which consisted of him describing the vast amount of free tech gear he was given to review. Arrogant, self-aggrandizing, with mediocre talent. Surprised he wasn't given a post in this administration.
105CliffBurns
Grant Hart, from one of the great, under-appreciated bands, Husker Du:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41274059
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41274059
106bluepiano
> 104 So did I.--I'm guessing you are of a certain age; if so, don't put it at top of that pile, as I remember it being much like a campus cult novel & something that might strike you at best as being what reviewers call 'rollicking' rather than a book you and your mates down the pub would discuss at great length because the protagonist is outrageous & cool & iconoclastic. (And I'm rather curious to know did Donleavy himself give his name the US or the Irish pronunciation.)
107CliffBurns
#106--The edition of THE GINGER MAN I have is a hideous green paperback from Laurel/Dell, published back in 1980.
Not the most attractive book I own...
Not the most attractive book I own...
108bluepiano
>107 CliffBurns: http://www.jpdonleavy-compendium.org/ginger_man_70s.html. I linked to pg of 70s editions because the footnote on it is er bemusing. Your hideous green is nothing like so nauseous as the German cover from 1980s. Hebrew edition wins best of, surely.
109iansales
>104 CliffBurns: Same here.
110justifiedsinner
>107 CliffBurns: Mine's a 1965 Penguin paperback. Enjoyed it at the time but can't remember much about it. He always struck me as being in the Brendan Behan mould.
113CliffBurns
Mr. Playboy, Hugh Hefner:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41423845
Who says hedonism shortens your life span?
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41423845
Who says hedonism shortens your life span?
115bluepiano
>114 Taphophile13: Ta--good article.
116Cecrow
Tom Petty
http://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/tom-petty-dead-1.4317148
One of the Travelling Wilburys alongside Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison and George Harrison. With his band the Heartbreakers he was the Super Bowl 2008 halftime show. He successfully sued Sam Smith not long ago for mimicking his chorus from "I Won't Back Down".
http://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/tom-petty-dead-1.4317148
One of the Travelling Wilburys alongside Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison and George Harrison. With his band the Heartbreakers he was the Super Bowl 2008 halftime show. He successfully sued Sam Smith not long ago for mimicking his chorus from "I Won't Back Down".
117DugsBooks
Tom Petty - just great music....Travelling Wilburys excellent stuff without big egos getting in the way of playing wonderfully crafted songs.
118justifiedsinner
>116 Cecrow: Into the Great Wide Open
119Taphophile13
Actor Robert Guillaume, who played Benson on Soap and voiced Rafiki in The Lion King, plus many other roles.
http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2017/10/24/robert_guillaume_star_of_the_lion...
http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2017/10/24/robert_guillaume_star_of_the_lion...
120Cecrow
>119 Taphophile13:, that's quite the coincidence. I've overheard The Lion King many times recently (kids went on a binge) and the Rafiki voice always stops me, just expertly done; always makes me wonder how much of it was ad-libbed. And of course I remember Benson; wow, never put those voices together before, perfect match of course.
121Taphophile13
>120 Cecrow: I too hadn't put those voices together. Made me appreciate him even more.
122cindydavid4
>121 Taphophile13: Heh I didn't realize that either - need to put on the soundtrack and listen more closely.
123Cecrow
Fats Domino
http://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/obit-fats-domino-1.4370915
With him and Chuck gone now, who's left among the big rock names of that generation? Little Richard springs to mind, who else?
http://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/obit-fats-domino-1.4370915
With him and Chuck gone now, who's left among the big rock names of that generation? Little Richard springs to mind, who else?
124jldarden
An odd mix over the weekend: Brian Johnson of AC/DC. Country legend Mel Tillis. Charles Manson. Singer and actress Della Reese.
125mstrust
Brian Johnson is alive, but Malcolm Young of the same band died. You're right, a lot of talent in a short amount of time. And one sociopath no one will miss.
126bluepiano
A chance here to recommend The Family by Ed Sanders (of the Fugs, of which I've no idea whether all the members are alive). Now & again I give myself a swift hard kick for having given away my copy of the uncensored version.
Hadn't dreamed that Della Reese was still alive. Until very recently, that is. >123 Cecrow: Jerry Lee Lewis? Think 'Great Balls of Fire' e.g. would have been considered rocknroll rather than rockabilly.
Hadn't dreamed that Della Reese was still alive. Until very recently, that is. >123 Cecrow: Jerry Lee Lewis? Think 'Great Balls of Fire' e.g. would have been considered rocknroll rather than rockabilly.
127jldarden
>125 mstrust: Ooops! Misread that. My apologies.
128mstrust
>127 jldarden: No problem!
David Cassidy is gone:
http://variety.com/2017/music/people-news/david-cassidy-dead-dies-partridge-fami...
David Cassidy is gone:
http://variety.com/2017/music/people-news/david-cassidy-dead-dies-partridge-fami...
129cindydavid4
Oh my first crush - had lots of his photos hanging up on my teenage bedroom. Whats funny is that I rarely watched the tv show; just hearing his music and seeing his face was enough. Way too young - RIP
130CliffBurns
Ultra-literary author William Gass is gone:
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/missouri/articles/2017-12-07/prize-winni...
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/missouri/articles/2017-12-07/prize-winni...
132justifiedsinner
>131 jldarden: Only made it to Y, unfortunately.
133Cecrow
>131 jldarden:, wow, I hadn't heard that. And she did 25/26 letters? That's like Robert Jordan all over again.