In memory of my mother, who died Oct. 30, 2009

"Betty was a natural cook who loved nothing more than gathering her family for a meal. She was a quick study with a love of witty banter. She also loved to dance and often performed a soft-shoe tap routine in her kitchen. Short of stature, she vowed to come back as a Rockette at Radio City Music Hall and invites all to look for her there. Whenever a gathering of friends came to visit, you could count on her to get everyone singing. She worked on crossword puzzles until the day she died.

"Her Maine accent was a family treasure. When the Red Sox made it to the World Series in 2004, she said that if they won against those damn Yankees, she’d be ready to go. She was, in the end, a pip."

He's been booked!

James MacArthur passed away early today at his Palm Desert, California home. He was 72 years old.

The son of stage and screen legend and “First Lady of the Theatre” Helen Hayes and writer Charles MacArthur (Front Page), James MacArthur had a long career from his days as a child actor (he starred in the Disney movie Swiss Family Robinson).

H/T to Thom Forbes!

Can't you just picture this?

She loved being a majorette and could be found twirling her baton, at times with the special effects of fire, at New Britain High football games as well other sporting and pep rally events.

All about Jim

Jim also enjoyed woodworking, riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycles, capturing the perfect shot with his camera and creating extraordinary ink sketches.

'The incredible story of Ernie Wallace'

On top of his business savvy and giving nature, he was a man who made people laugh til their sides hurt. He is often remembered singing loudly, encouraging everyone to join in his revelry. Ernie did not simply walk across this world, he left large footprints.

Ann Arbor has lost a gem

He was the quintessential "diamond in the rough", a man of untold mystical wisdom, a walking encyclopedia of botany and natural spaces, a profound and talented artist who created many oil paintings and pen and ink drawings (the majority of which he gave away), a philosopher king who dabbled in religions and theologies, both east and west, and a political spokesperson who, despite his gnome-like size and demeanor, was never shy about sharing his point of view, particularly when it came to cruelty to animals, the abuse of our natural resources, the over-stimulation of technology, or even, as he did, attempting to save seven landmark trees in the parking lot of the Traver Village Mall (he saved just one … see the one tree left standing!)

H/T: Ryan J. Stanton