Rolling RIP/Obituary Thread 2012

Joe Kubert, comic book artist on Sgt Rock, Hawkman and many others:

http://www.newsfromme.com/2012/08/12/joe-kubert-r-i-p/

Damn, how'd I miss hearing about David Rakoff? That's awful.

My cousin Paul has some great things to say about Kubert, for whom he worked, here: http://kupps.malibulist.com/2012/08/13/joe-kubert/

Great memories from Kupperberg. Thanks Phil, and thanks to your cousin, too.

Al Green??

Hearing things through FB but see no reference to this anywhere yet. Hopefully it's not true

dunno about that but helen gurley brown seems definite

http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Legendary-editor-Helen-Gurley-Brown-dies-3784845.php

hope al green is still with us...

oh man RIP Joe :(

The internet's killed Al Green at least a couple other times.

Just heard about Rakoff. What a bummer.

Ron Palillo, Horshack on Welcome Back, Kotter

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/ron-palillo-actor-best-horshack-back-kotter-dead-63-article-1.1136024

Brett Grulke, SxSW Creative Director

http://www.austin360.com/music/brent-grulke-creative-director-at-sxsw-dies-2435507.html

BRENT GRULKE

A good friend of mine that was a former roommate of his described him once to me as, I wish I could remember the exact wording, one of those guys who seems a little gruff at first and bugs people or rubs them the wrong way but then they all end up liking. RIP.

Harry Harrison: http://io9.com/5934884/rip-harry-harrison-creator-of-the-stainless-steel-rat-bill-the-galactic-hero-and-soylent-green

Oh man! RIP Harry.

another good obit here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/aug/15/harry-harrison

yet another skiffy author i haven't read enough of.

found a paperback of Make Room! Make Room! on the street a few months ago, haven't read yet.

RIP "not the radio guy" Harry.
Mark Evanier's obit, incl. stuff about Harrison's comic book career: http://www.newsfromme.com/2012/08/15/harry-harrison-r-i-p/

Did you get the radio DJ Harry Harrison where you live, William?

I didn't -- wish I had! When I hear his short late 60s interview spots on Psychedelicized Radio (and previously TechWebSound), that slick radio-puker patter always gives me a laugh.

Al Freeman Jr, a volcanic actor from '60s Broadway (Blues for Mister Charlie, The Slave) to his performance as Elijah Muhammad in Spike Lee's Malcolm X:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/15/theater/al-freeman-jr-actor-prominent-in-civil-rights-era-dies-at-78.html

Watched this a few years ago; one of the early made-for-TV movies, and I think considered one of the best.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e0/MySweetCharlie2.JPG/150px-MySweetCharlie2.JPG

RIP Harry Harrison
Heaven needed the Stainless Steel Rat.

Phyllis Thaxter, studio-era "wife" and Ma Kent '78 vintage:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/actress-phyllis-thaxter-dies-superman-mother-362757

William Windom

This obit just highlights his tv work. He also appeared in Brewster McCloud and perhaps most famously in an uncredited part as Steve Martin's indecisive client/boss in Planes, Trains and Automobiles.

I watched My World and Welcome to It as a kid--vague memories of the way that drawings were incorporated into the show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2_w_DnmZkA

http://classified.post-gazette.com/classimages/17125018.jpg

BASILONE, FRANK J., AKA "CHIEF"

88, of Springdale, passed away Friday, August 17, 2012, at Family Hospice Cantebury Center with his family by his side. He was born March 25, 1924 in Springdale to the late Fedel and Anna Basilone and was a lifelong resident. Frank was formerly employed as a supervisor with Duquesne Light Co. before retiring after 35 years of service He was a veteran of WWII, serving in the US Army. Frank was a member of St. Alphonsus Church where he regularly served at weekday mass, the Knights of Columbus, the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars in Springdale, the Allegheny-Kiski Sports Hall of Fame and the American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame. He played football at Duquesne University and was a Pittsburgh Steeler draft selection in 1945. Frank served his community over the years as a former member of Springdale Boro Council, was deeply involved in youth athletics having served as past President of the Lower Valley Little League, a high school and Springdale American Legion baseball coach, and a high school football coach. He will long be remembered for his years as a proud and loving father of three sons and grandfather of six and as a coach for many athletes in the local area.

assistant coach of my high school and american legion baseball teams and just really nice guy. he was as bow-legged as anyone i've ever known. rip chief

William Windom
RIP Commodore Matt Decker and James Thurber surrogate. Even if Norman Spinrad did want Robert Ryan for the role, he did all right in The Wild Bunch while you created one unforgettable Star Trek performance.

Director Tony Scott, (Top Gun, Beverly Hills Cop II) committed suicide this afternoon. Jumped off a bridge in LA.

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/entertainment/post/2012/08/director-tony-scott-jumps-to-death-from-bridge/1?csp=34news

Scott McKenzie
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19312310

Phyllis Diller :( http://www.nbcnewyork.com/entertainment/television/Phyllis-Diller-Dead-at-95-166791256.html

;_;

Just noticed this one

SOLOMON GRUBERGER R.I.P.
October 18, 1951--June 10, 2012
Speaking for the Gulcher/Gizmos gang, we are saddened to note the passing of proto-punk musician and fanzine editor Solomon Gruberger at the age of 60.
Solomon was among the early rock fanzine people in the 1970s, starting his own zine O. Rextasy in 1973. That same year, he and his younger brother Jay met Ken Highland, who visited them in Brooklyn from Upstate New York. The three of them began the living-room band O. Rex, a lengthy relationship that culminated in the 1976 release of their one 7" record: "My Head's In '73"/"Califawnia Gurls"/"Suzi." Proto-punk in its rawest form, Solomon's nonchalant attitude towards recording also made them unintentional pioneers of lo-fi punktitude.
O. Rex led to the Afrkia Korps in 1977, with the Grubergers and Highland being joined by members of the Slickee Boys and other musicians. They released Music To Kill By, one of the earliest US DIY Punk full-length LPs, played a couple of live shows, and went their separate ways. The group reunited in 1987 for God It's Them Again! on New Rose Records in France.
Solomon and brother Jay also continued recording in the 80s, with some of the results released last year by Rerun Records. Jay was killed in a car accident in 1993.
Personally, I met Solomon in early 1976 while traveling around the East Coast with Ken Highland after we recorded the first Gizmos EP. I got to play drums with O. Rex on that trip, and was thrilled when some of those recordings surfaced on their My Head's In '73! double-CD a few years back. I also wrote reviews for Solomon's O. Rextasy fanzine.
He will be missed.
Here are the official obit details: Solomon Gruberger, 60, of Reading, PA, passed away at 1:09 AM, Sunday, June 10th, peacefully, at his residence. Solomon was born in Brooklyn, NY on October 18, 1951, a son of the late Toby (Strasman) and Oscar Gruberger. He is survived by his wife, Jill (nee Wentzel) Gruberger.
--Eddie Flowers

SOLOMON GRUBERGER DISCOGRAPHY:
O. Rex / "My Head's In '73" b/w "Califawnia Gurls"/"Suzi" maxi-single (Oral Records, 1976)
Afrika Korps / Music To Kill By LP (Iron Cross/Dacoit, 1977)
Afrika Korps / Got It's Them Again 12" EP (New Rose, France, 1987)
Afrika Korps / Music To Kill By CD (Gulcher, 2001)
Afrika Korps / Music To Kill By LP (with bonus 7" EP) (Hate/Vulcher, Italy, 2002)
Afrika Korps / Live At Cantone's CD (Gulcher, 2002)
O. Rex / My Head's In '73! Double-CD (Gulcher, 2010)
The Gruberger Brothers / Greetings From Reading, PA LP (Rerun, 2011)

http://gulcher.bigcartel.com/solomon-gruberger-r-i-p

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/story/2012-08-21/ethiopian-prime-minister-dead/57179608/1

authoritarian prime minister of Ethiopia dead

Muppeteer Jerry Nelson (The Count, Lew Zealand, Emmett Otter)

http://www.avclub.com/articles/rip-jerry-nelson,84229/

Aw, no. Such a talented guy.

nbc news reporting that neil armstrong's died

;_;

damn. i literally just finished reading moonshot.

I think he deserves his own RIP thread, surely?

Fuck yes.

RIP Neil Armstrong

Singer Gene Thomas of "Sometimes" and Gene & Debbe's "Playboy" fame.

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/rocks/2012/08/gene_thomas_rip.php

Rhodes Boyson, hero of mutton chops, homophobia, and legislated S+M for minors.

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02322/boyson_2322970b.jpg

RIP big man

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RB3mvNeiNtc

Shulamith Firestone, author of The Dialectic of Sex

http://www.thevillager.com/?p=7172

I only read that a couple of months ago, enjoyed it. Plus, super name. RIP.

Max Bygraves:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19450696

Someone on Twitter posted this: http://www.twitlonger.com/show/1sma8d