DEATHS ; Notable Passings; The Thread to Pay Last Respects

[Doctor Strange]

Hank Jones Memorial Broadcast

WKCR began their traditional broadcast about six hours ago. It's going to run until 9pm Tuesday (NYC time). They just played all of the incredible 1958 Cannonball Adderley (plus Miles Davis) record Something Else. Amazing stuff!

89.9 FM in the NYC area, and on the Web at:

http://www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/wkcr/

Hank Jones, outstanding jazz pianist (and brother of other famous jazz musicians Elvin and Thad - talk about a musical family!)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/18/arts/music/18jones.html

 

[YETI]

RONNIE JAMES DIO

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1639314/20100516/ronnie_james_dio.jhtml

As a former Bay Area Metalhead in the 80s, I'm very sad to hear this. What many don't know is he was in 2 darned good doowop groups in the early 60s. Ronnie & The Red Caps and Ronnie Dio & The Prophets.
**RIP Ronnie**
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmbuHKuyDRc&feature=related

 

[Feraud]

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127046029&sc=17&f=1001

Player Portrayed In 'A League of Their Own' Dies
by The Associated Press
Dorothy Kamenshek, a former star of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League who helped inspire the lead character in the movie A League of their Own, has died. She was 84.

Kamenshek died of natural causes Monday at her home in Palm Desert, Calif., according to the Riverside County coroner's office. She had been having lung problems, said Jeneane Lesko, vice president of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Players Association.

Kamenshek, who also went by Dottie and Kammie, played for the Rockford Peaches in Illinois from 1943 to 1953. The left-handed infielder was a seven-time All-Star and named in the top 100 female athletes of the century by Sports Illustrated.

"She was the greatest first baseman in the league," said Lesko, who also played for the Grand Rapids Chicks of Michigan. "She's been an inspiration to all the members in the association."

Kamenshek, and other league players, were the basis for Dottie Hinson, Geena Davis' character in the 1992 movie about women's professional baseball in the 1940s and 1950s.

Many players were consulted before the movie was made and several others made cameos, including Sarah "Salty" Ferguson, who played for the Rockford Peaches in 1953 and 1954.

Ferguson, 74, said she remembers Kamenshek as a laid-back person who was a great hitter and "slick first-baseman."

"She knew the game," said Ferguson, of Orangeville, Penn. "She was very, very good."

Private funeral services were planned Tuesday in Cathedral City, Calif.

 

[MrBern]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/22/sports/baseball/22kamenshek.html

 

[LizzieMaine]

Art Linkletter, a towering figure of early daytime television, has died at the age of 97. One of the few show biz figures of his generation to enjoy a long and dignified retirement.

 

[dhermann1]

Art Linkletter

Art Linkletter has died at the age of 97. Those of us of a certain age will remember his daily TV show "House Party", back in the 50's. He also had a weekly evening show called "People Are Funny"
One of the features of his show was the daily interview he did with 4 small school children. This was the source of the TV show "Kids Say the Darnedest Things". He was one of those people you thought would live forever. Aloha, Art.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127140387

 

[Foofoogal]

I met Art when I was about 16.

RIP.

 

[Tomasso]

"Kids Say the Darnedest Things"

I will often respond to bizarre statements made by those younger than me (20-30 somethings) with, "I'm having an Art Linkletter moment here."

 

[DanielJones]

Good Journey Art Linkletter & be at peace. May you continue to hear the darndest things.

Cheers.

Dan

 

[Hondo]

I remember Art Linkletter from the early 1960s, some funny stuff with House Party, and Kids say the Darndess Things, that was with black & white little TV era, No Ipods, No Videos, No Color TV or cell phones, his career had been longer than I can recall, from radio to TV, its a tribute to his longevity, one of the sadness parts of his life was his losing a daughter to LSD suicide, and a son from an accident, Amazing man at 97 years old, I only wish we all could live dignified, Younger people should take notice, if they have elderly or parents who reach or live so long, take care of them, give proper respect, and above all "Forgive" any errors, we are all responsible for our actions, RIP, Death be Not proud.

Art Linkletter, a towering figure of early daytime television, has died at the age of 97. One of the few show biz figures of his generation to enjoy a long and dignified retirement.

 

[Miss Neecerie]

Retired Navy Lt. John Finn, the oldest Medal of Honor recipient from World War II, died Thursday at his Southern California ranch. He was 100.







http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100527/ap_on_re_us/us_obit_war_hero

 

[LocktownDog]

Retired Navy Lt. John Finn, the oldest Medal of Honor recipient from World War II, died Thursday at his Southern California ranch. He was 100.

He was a damn brave man. Rest in peace, sailor!

 

[Amy Jeanne]

Gary Coleman

http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-gary-coleman-hospitalized,0,3156610.story

 

[John in Covina]

http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-gary-coleman-hospitalized,0,3156610.story

*******
Piece of my youth has passed.

 

[Mario]

I was shocked to hear about this.

Indeed. Not so long ago I watched an interview from maybe four years back and kept thinking to me 'what a nice, funny, kind hearted little guy' (boy, was he tiny!). Someone I'd have loved to have a drink with.

He seemed to have a little issue going with Gene Simmons, who obviously tried to register a patent for virtually everything in this wold. During the interview, at one point Ronny suddenly snapped at the interviewer 'oh, watch what you're doing there, dude - Gene Simmons invented breathing and he'll sure claim his royalties!".

So sad to see him gone.

 

[Foofoogal]

RIP Gary Coleman.

whatcha doin Willis?

 

[John in Covina]

I think the catch phrase was "Whatchu talkin' bout Willis?!!!"

 

[Miss Golightly]

Dennis Hopper has just passed away - RIP:

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64S1OJ20100529

 

[Foofoogal]

:eusa_doh: you are correct John.

RIP Dennis Hopper.

 

[DanielJones]

Man, it seems like a slew of entertainers have passed away this year. More so than in past years by this time. Very sad.

Cheers.

Dan