Len Lesser, Character Actor, Otherwise Known As 'Uncle Leo' Passes Away at Age 88

I'm very sorry I was late posting this one.  Mr. Lesser, a terrific actor and extremely humorous playing comedy scenes "straight", died on a Wednesday February 16, 2011.  Mr. Lesser was also great as a "baddy" in Clint Eastwood's film "The Outlaw Josey Wales".  Here is the LA Times obituary link.
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/sns-mct-us-lesser-obit-story,0,3473959.story

Second City's "Mom" Passes Away at 80

Joyce Sloan, who helped discover and nourish the talents of Gilda Radner, John Belushi, Chris Farley, Bill Murray and others passes away.  You can read about it here at the Chicago Sun-Times.

Blogging World Loses a Shining Light/Beacon of Morality and Compassion

Dr. Alison Snow Jones a.k.a. Maxine Udall has passed away.  Seems it happened suddenly and unexpectedly.  Read about it at the following link.
http://www.maxineudall.com/2011/01/to-all-maxine-udall-girl-economist-readers.html

The Death of A Great Writer, A Literary Giant, An American Treasure, and Well.... A Great Person----Reynolds Price

I am extremely sad to pass on the news of the death of a GIANT in the world of American Letters, Literature in general, and great Scholarship---- Reynolds Price

Here is Reynolds Price Video he made For Simon Schuster Publishers where he gives a short talk on traveling.

RIP Professor/Teacher Reynolds Price
Update: Reynolds Price' official Los Angeles Times obituary can be found here.  I was remiss not to mention before Teacher Price was 77.  I would guess his students would say the thing they will miss the most is his kindness, but he had many great qualities.

Famous Polish Composer Henryk Gorecki Dies, Age 76 (Music)

Music can express deep deep emotions which can rarely be expressed in any other form.  And it can carry us through the most difficult times of our lives.  Those who can create it and write it give us a great gift, and we should appreciate that gift.  Here is Henryk Gorecki's a capella "Totus Tuus".  Performed by University of Nottingham's Music Society "Mussoc" Hope it can give some deep or fulfilling feeling on this weekend.  Enjoy the time with family and loved ones.  Turn it up dude.

Ted Sorensen Passes Away (JFK's Speechwriter)

You can read about it all over the internet. Here specifically at the New Yorker magazine.  An extremely articulate man, fun to listen to or read.

A Great Court Justice, and Great Human Being, Marian Opala Dies.

The passing away of some of the greatest human beings often goes unnoticed (by that I mean gets little notice from the news media).  One of the goals of this blog is to give voice to what I like to call the "Quiet Heros".  Marian Opala was such a man.  Many aren't familiar with this great man. I encourage you to read up and observe the acts of a great human being, Marian Opala.  A man with deep knowledge of the law and the United States Constitution. From the Tulsa World newspaper.

Daniel Schorr Passes Away At Age 93

Daniel Schorr formerly of CNN, recently of NPR.

Great journalists never die, they just fade away....

John Wooden Passes Away At Age 99

Los Angeles Times reports on the sad death of Legendary basketball Coach John Wooden.  Many students loved him.  He will be missed by many.  Story and sentiments here.

Hollywood Legend Dennis Hopper Passes Away

Dennis Hopper is probably somewhere in my Top 10 list of actors.  No doubt Top 20.  The obituary from the Los Angeles Times.

Texas Congressman Charlie Wilson Passes Away

Charlie Wilson passed away Wednesday in Lufkin, Texas at age 76.  A hard drinking, "womanizing" man, Charlie Wilson was an overall force for good in his life.  And if people had listened to the man a little more, we might not  be in the mess (it certainly wouldn't be this bad) we are now in Afghanistan and Pakistan.  A stiff drink wouldn't do these war yahoos a bit of bad from my view of things.

Read the New York Times synopsis of his life here.

Professor and Historian Howard Zinn Passes Away

New York Times brings the sad news of Howard Zinn's death.  A Jew from Brooklyn, Zinn was also a soldier in World War II in the Army Air Corps.  Loved by many of his students, but often times had friction with his school administrators.  A great human being.

Say It Isn't So Mr. President (You Want To See a Grown Man Cry?)

Politico says the White House is going dry. Does someone have a handkerchief???

The Founder of Taco Bell Passes Away

A sad day for poor high school students, and college students scraping money for tuition and college textbooks. Glen W. Bell Jr., the founder of Taco Bell, passes away at age 86.  He led an active life, and was a mentor to other restaurant owners.  A great entrepreneur.  Story by Myrna Oliver, of the Los Angeles Times.

Martin Luther King Jr.

One of the great heros of our nation.  A man with a deep message for all peoples.  Nearly everyone has heard King's "I Have A Dream" speech. Fewer people have heard his "I've Been To The Mountain Top" which is also extremely moving.  King's choice of words, and cadence are just amazing.  Many of us can only fantasize about having speech skills (writing and oratory) of Dr. King.  I found a link from this site http://www.drmartinlutherkingjr.com/ which has the audio for the "I've Been To The Mountain Top" speech by King given 1968 in Memphis Tennessee.  He was there in part to support AFSCME sanitation workers.  If you have free time the next couple days (or any day), I strongly encourage you to take some time when the house is very quiet, the wife is out shopping or the kids are asleep, or steal some quiet moment and listen to the audio here.  You won't regret it.

Miep Gies Passes Away at Age 100. She Helped Anne Frank's Family In Time of Need.

Dear Reader,
Well I hate sad news.  But she lived to age 100 and was a blessing to the world.  A woman of true conviction and courage, Miep Gies has passed away. From Haaretz Newspaper

America Loses a Great Mom and Grandma

Vice-President Joseph Biden's Mom, Jean Biden, passed away today, at age 92.  Our sympathies are with all the Biden family during this time.  She represented the best values of America.