Notable Passages: 2021

[RenoZag]

Virginia State Senator, Ben Chafin, age 60, passes on 1/1/21 from COVID-19.

“I knew Ben as a lawmaker, an attorney, a banker, and a farmer raising beef cattle in Moccasin Valley, working the land just as generations of his family had done before him,” Gov. Ralph Northam said. “He loved the outdoors, and he loved serving people even more.”

[RenoZag]

Basketball HOF Member Paul Westphal, Age 70

[23dpg]

Floyd Little

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...little-dies-78

[23dpg]

Tanya Roberts. She was ridiculously good looking.

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/...024300447.html

[RenoZag]

Tanya Roberts. She was ridiculously good looking.

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/...024300447.html

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tanya Roberts, who captivated James Bond in “A View to a Kill” and later played Midge Pinciotti in the sitcom “That ’70s Show,” has been hospitalized after falling at her home. The actor had mistakenly been reported dead by her publicist earlier Monday.

Roberts' publicist Mike Pingel later told The Associated Press Monday afternoon that Roberts, 65, was still alive as of 10 a.m. PST but was in a poor condition. He had said earlier Monday that Roberts collapsed in her home on Dec. 24 and was admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she was believed to have died on Sunday.

Looks like she needs to hire a new publicist. . .

[RenoZag]

Gerry Marsden, whose band Gerry and the Pacemakers proved to be formidable rivals to the Beatles in the early Liverpool rock scene of the 1960s, scoring smash hits like “Ferry Cross the Mersey,” “Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” died on Sunday in the Liverpool area. He was 78.

His death, at Arrowe Park Hospital in the Merseyside metropolitan area, was confirmed by his family in a statement. British news outlets said the cause was a heart infection.

Gerry and the Pacemakers were the second band signed by the Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein, but they earned a No. 1 single on the official United Kingdom singles chart before the Beatles ever did, accomplishing that feat in 1963 with their debut single, “How Do You Do It.” It beat the Beatles’ maiden chart-topper, “From Me to You,” by three weeks.

The Pacemakers’ next two singles, “I Like It” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” followed suit, making them the first act to summit the U.K. singles chart with their first three releases. They held that record for two decades, until another Liverpool band, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, matched it.

[Club Prez]

Tanya Roberts. She was ridiculously good looking.

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/...024300447.html

Like Tom Petty, initial reports of death were premature by a day. But it is now official.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/ne...er-now-reports

[RenoZag]

Neil Sheehan, the Vietnam War correspondent and Pulitzer Prize-winning author who obtained the Pentagon Papers for The New York Times, leading the government for the first time in American history to get a judge to block publication of an article on grounds of national security, died on Thursday at his home in Washington. He was 84.

[RenoZag]

Tommy Lasorda, Age 93. Best known as manager of the LA Dodgers. During his tenure as manager, the Dodgers won 2 World Series titles.

His entry at the BHOF Web Site: https://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/lasorda-tommy

[willandi]

Tommy Lasorda, Age 93. Best known as manager of the LA Dodgers. During his tenure as manager, the Dodgers won 2 World Series titles.

His entry at the BHOF Web Site: https://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/lasorda-tommy

"Lasorda also managed the the Spokane Indians for a period of time. In 1970, the Indians won 94 of 146 games in the regular season to win the northern division by 26 games."

[sittingon50]

"Lasorda also managed the the Spokane Indians for a period of time. In 1970, the Indians won 94 of 146 games in the regular season to win the northern division by 26 games."

I graduated from HS in '70 up in Colville & moved to Spokane shortly thereafter. Was out at the Fairgrounds 2-3times a week to watch all those future Dodgers (including Lasorda).


Saw this on a baseball forum earlier today and thought it so fitting: "All those Hall of Fame players that have passed away in the last year now have a HOF Manager."

[RenoZag]

Sheldon G. Adelson, a cabdriver’s son who built the world’s largest empire of casinos and resort hotels in Las Vegas, Macau, Singapore and other gambling meccas and used his vast wealth to promote right-wing political agendas in America and Israel, died on Monday night. He was 87.

The cause was complications of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a form of blood cancer, his company, Las Vegas Sands, said on Tuesday in a statement. It did not say where he died.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/12/b...lson-dead.html

[willandi]

Siegfried Fischbacher of 'Siegfried and Roy' fame dies in Las Vegas


https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment..._headlines_hed

[RenoZag]

Dr. Harold N. Bornstein, who for a time was President Donald J. Trump’s personal physician and who had attested that Mr. Trump would be “the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency,” died on Friday. He was 73.

His death was announced on Thursday in a paid notice in The New York Times. The notice did not give a cause or say where he died.

[RenoZag]

Joanne Rogers, the widow of Fred Rogers, has died at the age of 92.

"Fred Rogers Productions is deeply saddened by the passing of Joanne Rogers," the statement says. "The loving partner of Fred Rogers for more than 50 years, she continued their shared commitment to supporting children and families after his death as chair of the board of Fred Rogers Productions."

"Joanne was a brilliant and accomplished musician, a wonderful advocate for the arts, and a dear friend to everyone in our organization. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Joanne's family and the thousands of people who had the privilege of knowing and loving her," the statement says.

It's a sad day in the neighborhood. . .

[Jazzgirl_127]

Joanne Rogers, the widow of Fred Rogers, has died at the age of 92.

"Fred Rogers Productions is deeply saddened by the passing of Joanne Rogers," the statement says. "The loving partner of Fred Rogers for more than 50 years, she continued their shared commitment to supporting children and families after his death as chair of the board of Fred Rogers Productions."

"Joanne was a brilliant and accomplished musician, a wonderful advocate for the arts, and a dear friend to everyone in our organization. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Joanne's family and the thousands of people who had the privilege of knowing and loving her," the statement says.

It's a sad day in the neighborhood. . .

This was very sad to see. While I never met her, she did do so very much especially in recent years to carry on her husband's legacy. My kids and I are so incredibly lucky that we grew up watching a show that was often set in our own neighborhood parks or museums or bakeries. But we're even more lucky that the people who worked on the show (and WQED in general) are such truly caring and genuine human beings. Even the new animated episodes often include local things (a few years ago, I called my former employer to let them know their company vehicle was in an episode I was watching with my toddler).

[willandi]

This was very sad to see. While I never met her, she did do so very much especially in recent years to carry on her husband's legacy. My kids and I are so incredibly lucky that we grew up watching a show that was often set in our own neighborhood parks or museums or bakeries. But we're even more lucky that the people who worked on the show (and WQED in general) are such truly caring and genuine human beings. Even the new animated episodes often include local things (a few years ago, I called my former employer to let them know their company vehicle was in an episode I was watching with my toddler).

Cool stories.

I never got to experience Mr Rogers with my kids. Being able to recognize the neighborhood would just be so much better.

[willandi]

Phil Spector, famed music producer and murderer, dies at 81

https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment..._headlines_hed

[RenoZag]

Phil Spector, famed music producer and murderer, dies at 81

https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment..._headlines_hed

Somewhere, Ronnie Spector is having the champagne brunch of a lifetime.

[sittingon50]

Dodger HOF'er Don Sutton:


https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/b...r5e-story.html

Baseball continues to get it's butt kicked.

[RenoZag]

Henry Louis Aaron (February 5, 1934 – January 22, 2021), nicknamed "Hammer" or "Hammerin' Hank," was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) right fielder. He played 21 seasons for the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves in the National League (NL) and two seasons for the Milwaukee Brewers in the American League (AL), from 1954 through 1976. Aaron held the MLB record for career home runs for 33 years, and he still holds several MLB offensive records. He hit 24 or more home runs every year from 1955 through 1973, and is one of only two players to hit 30 or more home runs in a season at least fifteen times.[2] In 1999, The Sporting News ranked Aaron fifth on its "100 Greatest Baseball Players" list.[3] He also later served as the senior vice president of the Atlanta Braves.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hank_Aaron

https://www.baseball-reference.com/p...aronha01.shtml

FWIW: Hank hit three HR off fellow HOF member Don Sutton. . . LINK: http://www.755homeruns.com/aaronvs_pitchers.shtml

[kitzbuel]

Henry Louis Aaron (February 5, 1934 – January 22, 2021), nicknamed "Hammer" or "Hammerin' Hank," was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) right fielder. He played 21 seasons for the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves in the National League (NL) and two seasons for the Milwaukee Brewers in the American League (AL), from 1954 through 1976. Aaron held the MLB record for career home runs for 33 years, and he still holds several MLB offensive records. He hit 24 or more home runs every year from 1955 through 1973, and is one of only two players to hit 30 or more home runs in a season at least fifteen times.[2] In 1999, The Sporting News ranked Aaron fifth on its "100 Greatest Baseball Players" list.[3] He also later served as the senior vice president of the Atlanta Braves.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hank_Aaron

https://www.baseball-reference.com/p...aronha01.shtml

FWIW: Hank hit three HR off fellow HOF member Don Sutton. . . LINK: http://www.755homeruns.com/aaronvs_pitchers.shtml

He also had 5 (or four depending on the source) off of Tom Seaver.

[RenoZag]

He also had 5 (or four depending on the source) off of Tom Seaver.

And 17 off Don Drysdale.

[kitzbuel]

Henry Louis Aaron (February 5, 1934 – January 22, 2021), nicknamed "Hammer" or "Hammerin' Hank," was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) right fielder. He played 21 seasons for the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves in the National League (NL) and two seasons for the Milwaukee Brewers in the American League (AL), from 1954 through 1976. Aaron held the MLB record for career home runs for 33 years, and he still holds several MLB offensive records. He hit 24 or more home runs every year from 1955 through 1973, and is one of only two players to hit 30 or more home runs in a season at least fifteen times.[2] In 1999, The Sporting News ranked Aaron fifth on its "100 Greatest Baseball Players" list.[3] He also later served as the senior vice president of the Atlanta Braves.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hank_Aaron

https://www.baseball-reference.com/p...aronha01.shtml

FWIW: Hank hit three HR off fellow HOF member Don Sutton. . . LINK: http://www.755homeruns.com/aaronvs_pitchers.shtml

My boss and I were talking about this today. There is a full roster of HOF'ers that have passed away over the last year.

[bartruff1]

Hank was the Sandy Koufax of hitters........dominant....... poised..... efficient......elegant ......if you had come from outer space and knew nothing about hitting a baseball........ you would know he was simply the best at whatever it was he was doing.....