Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Ihor or Igor? Now, we know.

On January 5, 2010, the NY Times published Professor Ihor Sevcenko's obituary. Alex Labunka followed with a letter published by Brama News on January 15, which addresses a key omission in the obituary.

In the New York Times obituary (January 5, 2010) for the late Harvard professor Ihor Ševčenko, the pronunciation for his first name was given as [EE-gore]. I immediately dashed off an e-mail to the author, William Grimes, informing him that the correct pronunciation of his name was [EE-hore], the Ukrainian form, and not [EE-gore], the Russian form. He replied that he had learned of the pronunciation with "g" from members of the immediate family.

When I inquired about that, I learned that, indeed, his close family members all used the name Igor. The pronunciation carried with it no disrespect whatsoever for Ihor's Ukrainian heritage, but being more familiar to American ears, it became their private name for him. He himself used only Ihor, the name by which virtually all his colleagues, students, and friends from the academic world and the Ukrainian community knew him.

The family, not wishing to depreciate the otherwise wonderful obituary that Mr. Grimes had produced, decided after due consideration not to request a correction.

Here's the link.

Monday, January 25, 2010

A daily pleasure

Olin loved watching birds from his window which gave him much pleasure on a daily basis.

Read the rest here.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Nothing was an obstacle for Mae

She raised two children by herself with love and support from her family in Lowville, N.Y. Walking two miles every day and snowshoeing in the winter were her favorite forms of exercise. She gardened, spent as much time as possible with her grandchildren and later her great grandchildren, read books, and generally delighted in living her life. Mae made most of her own clothes and loved to knit. She had a smile and a wave for everyone.

In the past three months, as she rode in her wheelchair down Rope Ferry Road and across Niantic Bay Bridge, she would wave to oncoming cars and want to know if they had returned her wave. After Hospice of Southeastern CT was asked to provide services to her, she went to karaoke and sang. Those who came to know her loved her for her energy and enthusiasm for life. She touched everyone.

Alas, I have not got the link to the full obit in The Day.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Intelligent, perceptive, artistic and kind

"Peter Bates Christian of Poquonnock Road, Groton, passed away Monday, April 14, 2008, at Lawrence & Memorial Hospital, age 48 years.

An intelligent, perceptive, artistic, and kind man, Peter none the less drank himself to death.

He is survived by his brother Matthew, friends Lydia Dolan, Ellis Tucker, J. Holmes, John Fridge, and assorted drinking buddies who should consider Peter's death a glimpse into their own possible futures."

I alerted a friend to this when it appeared in our local paper. She cut it out and posted it on her fridge, where I saw it at dinner last evening. This is the entire obit, no mention of funeral or burial plans.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

"A typewriter-banging rewrite man"

Newspapering was ideal for Mr. Kaufman. He was an insatiable schmoozer, loved to travel and wrote fast against a deadline. In 40 years with The Times, he was a typewriter-banging rewrite man, a metropolitan reporter, the newspaper’s bureau chief in Africa, India, Canada and Poland, a deputy foreign editor, a correspondent in Albany and a columnist.

Read all about him here.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Ed Gipstein lived a charmed life

Dr. Gipstein's life spanned the entire twentieth century. He lived to see the advent of cars, airplanes, radio, TV, computers, two world wars, space travel, the internet and unimaginable advances in his own field of medicine. Through it all, he managed to keep an open mind and somehow keep pace with the rapidly changing world around him. He was someone cast adrift from an earlier time who always managed to find solid footing wherever he came ashore. And he never lost his appreciation for a pretty girl, a good boxing match, or a plate of clams casino.

Don't miss the rest of the story!

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

A simpler, gentler way of life

David was a creature of habit, coffee each morning with his lifelong friend, Tom, then Skipper's Dock and the Steak Loft every week for lunch.

Sorry, folks, this is an oldie but goodie and I haven't a link. Sure, it's from The Day of New London.

A simpler, gentler way of life

David was a creature of habit, coffee each morning with his lifelong friend, Tom, then Skipper's Dock and the Steak Loft every week for lunch.

Sorry, folks, this is an oldie but goodie and I haven't a link. Sure, it's from The Day of New London.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Saturday, January 9, 2010

He was a true prince of a guy.

Prince Giorgio established a palace, wrote a Constitution, and set up a cabinet and a parliament. He chose a coat of arms, minted money (with his picture), issued stamps (with his picture) and license plates, selected a national anthem and mobilized a standing army, consisting of Lt. Antonello Lacala. He adopted a motto: Sub umbra sede (Sit in the shade).

Check it out.

Friday, January 8, 2010

A real Renaissance man; mind-boggling!

A man of many interests, his life and career took him to Aspen, Colo.; San Francisco; Paris, France; Stonington; Cambridge, Mass.; Clifton, Ariz.; and Austin, Tex., as well as his beloved camp in Glover, Vt. He worked as an architect, schoolteacher, art publisher, writer, labor journalist, public television producer and bush-hogger.

Always locally involved, he volunteered and served as an emergency medical technician, counselor for the mentally troubled, campaign manager, film-series promoter and town planning and zoning board member.

He was an outdoorsman, accomplished sailor and carpenter, enthusiastic chess and piano player, voracious reader, relentless rationalist, and devoted father and husband.


Check it out.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Great lede on Casey Johnson obit

"Born into the Johnson & Johnson clan's billions, Casey Johnson was among the first celebutantes to decamp to Hollywood in search of 21C fame. She died alone in a crumbling Mulholland Drive manse, her body undiscovered for days."

Check it out.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

A carrier of hard candy

"He was also well known for carrying hard candy with him, and whenever he encountered someone, be it a family member, a neighbor, a co-worker, or even a stranger, John would offer them a piece."

Read more here.

Monday, January 4, 2010

He essayed to perambulate North Yarmouth, Maine

Mr. Smith raised English pointers to serve as birding dogs.

He ran the dogs in field trials -– similar to a horse show –- in Maine and Canada.

"He made a lot of friends in Canada at the field trials," Glavin said.

He became a Registered Maine Guide, taking clients on bird-hunting adventures throughout the state.

And each year Mr. Smith hunted deer and wild turkey.

A few years ago, he sat down and recorded all the dates and places where he bagged a deer.

That was quite a feat, his daughter said, because his hunting career spanned six decades.

Despite his age, he remained in good health, and went deer hunting in October.

"Dad knew everything there was to know about wild animals," Glavin said.

His biggest achievement may have been his effort to perambulate the town.

(H/T to Sarah Mahoney) To read more, click here.

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Who doesn't?

"Mrs. Coleman was a bartender at Two Brothers Café in Voluntown. She was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary at the VFW in Jewett City. She loved to cook and also loved Tweety Bird."

Click here for more.

Saturday, January 2, 2010

An amicable man, survived by ...

"From small repairs to his life-long commitment to rebuilding his 1966 Ford Mustang, no project was too much for him to handle. Michael was a handyman extraordinaire.

"An amicable man, Michael's coworkers and neighbors quickly became friends and friends were soon family. He was an avid boater who loved being out on the water. Very simply, Michael loved, and he loved his family more than words could ever convey.

"Michael is survived by his dear friend, companion, and life partner, Maria Nappi and her two kids, Ian and Chelsea Althouse; his mother, Regina Bain of Lake George; his brother, Daniel and his wife, Melissa; his two nephews, Jason and Eric; his niece, Lisa of Westfield, Mass.; his aunt, Lorraine of Winslow, Maine; and his 1966 Ford Mustang."

Friday, January 1, 2010

"His total lack of tact." Now that's honesty.

"Woody was well-known locally for his generosity and his genial personality. He could start a conversation with anyone, including non-English speakers (yell louder), and felt at home anywhere, no matter what his attire. His position was that a farmer's "uniform" was appropriate anywhere. His real interest in and honest concern for people made him many friends, despite his total lack of tact. He had a short fuse."


To read more, click here.