Well it's like this, lots of you folks have said you love the bulletins the
most. So we figured, why not preserve them for posterity? Here they are,
special for you:
December 30, 2001
Sports Caster Dick Schaap died on December 21, 2001.
To-date, there hasn’t been an AP obit and we didn’t really think he
was all that much a celebrity. But at least one entry for the 2002 had
Dick listed. We’re afraid that the alternate will be needed as the
entry was submitted on Dec. 19, 2001. As for Dick, he’s stiff but not very lively.
December 30, 2001
Actor Sir Nigel Hawthorne, nominated for an Oscar for his role in the "Madness of King George"
died on December 26, 2001. Forget the madness of King George, how about that ticker of Sir
Nigel.
December 30, 2001
Former Dallas Cowboy, Harvey "Too Mean" Martin died on December 24, 2001. This matters mostly
because he was on a 2002 list, making the alternate rule kick in. Interestingly, George
Harrison was on two VERY early entries for 2002 also. Getting back to "Too Mean," after
retirement Martin had problems with bankruptcy, substance abuse, and domestic violence. Unlike
many of his fellow athletes, Martin had the decency to wait until after retirement.
December 23, 2001
Foster (Brooks), Australian for dead, mate.
November 30, 2001
Author John Knowles has died. Knowles is best known for his book, "A Separate Peace." Knowles
wrote the book in 1959 and, after that, no other literary masterpieces surfaced. Talk about
riding out an early success.
November 30, 2001
George Harrison has died. One of the fab four, Harrison was known as the quiet Beatle. Now
he's known as the really quiet Beatle.
November 24, 2001
Yeah, we don't really know who the hell she (Mary Whitehouse) is either.
However, some British dude had her on his list and sure as shot,
she croaked. It's kinda funny because we had thought she was already dead.
For the record, we sent out bulletins in Albert Hague and Carrie Donovan
and our crappy email bot never delivered 'em. Sorry folks.
November 23, 2001
The most famous women in American business, Mary Kay Ash, grew a door-to-door cosmetic business
into an empire. Mary will be buried in a shiny pink casket later this week.
October 19, 2001
Emily "Katie's sister" Couric has died. Ms. Couric, Emily that is, was in the Virginia Senate
and had hoped to run as lieutenant governor before cancer set in. In 1998 Katie's husband died
of colon cancer. Folks, the message is clear here, stay away from Katie, she's a carrier.
October 8, 2001
Quite possibly the best known political cartoonist to-date, Herb Block (aka Herblock), has
died. Block had his first cartoon published in 1929. Herb published his last cartoon in
August of this year. Cartoonist Chuck Jones once called Herb "a tiger posing as a possum." We
presume Chuck meant the kind of possum you see on the side of the road on your way to work.
October 6, 2001
The longest serving Senate majority leader ever, Mike Mansfield, is dead. The guy served as a
Senator from 1953 to 1977. He was majority leader from 1961 to 1977. Some on the hill said
they heard Strom Thurmond chuckle.
October 6, 2001
The actress who played the eldest daughter on Eight is Enough, Lani O'Grady is dead.
Apparently, seven is enough.
September 22, 2001
Master violinist Issac Stern has died. Isaac is credited with saving Carnegie Hall. Stern
inspired and advanced the careers of many of today's most recognized violinists. Hmmm, is that
an oxymoron.
September 21, 2001
Actress Dorothy McGuire has died. Ms. McGuire played sweet, vulnerable heroines in many
pictures including "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" and "Gentleman's Agreement." Dorothy also
appeared in "Old Yeller," "Three Coins in the Fountain," and "The Dark at the Top of the Stairs."
Wait'll she gets a load of the dark at the bottom of the grave.
September 6, 2001
Yup, it's true. Henry Nasiff, a.k.a. Hank the Angry, Drunken Dwarf, is dead. Hank was a
mainstay on the Howard Stern show for years. He had a rotten disposition, he drank like fish,
and he was a dwarf. How the heck can you beat that!
For the record, his disposition isn't the only thing about him that's rotten now!
It's interesting to note that the AP has NOT posted an Obit on Hank to date. So, Grapes is
S-O-L right now.
September 3, 2001
Actor, Troy Donahue, has died. Donahue will, in fact, don a hue. A blue hue.
September 2, 2001
The fella who did the first heart transplant operation, Dr. Christiaan Barnard, has died from
an apparent heart attack. Uh, whatever happen to that whole physician heal thyself thing
anyway?
August 26, 2001
Singer and actress Aaliyah died yesterday in a plane crash. This young lady cut her first
album at fourteen and recently had a string of music and film successes. She was currently
working a role in the sequel to "The Matrix." Last year, Aaliyah appeared in and performed a
song for the picture "Romeo Must Die." Apparently, Romeo is not alone.
August 10, 2001
Yup, Earl Anthony! This guy may have been the best pro bowler in the world. Uh, did someone
say Tad Szulc?
August 16, 2001
Hall of famer Lou Boudreau has died. Lou played for the Indians and was the 1948
American League MVP. And that was back in the day when no one belly-ached when you called a
team the Indians.
August 8, 2001
Maureen Reagan has died. Message to Grim Reaper, "We Said RONALD, R-O-N-A-L-D." Jeesh, talk
about a mistake.
August 6, 2001
It seems that Lorenzo Music, the fella who was the voice of Carlton the Doorman, has
died. After so many years and so much crap about Buddy Holly, we now are
experiencing the REAL day the Music died.
August 3, 2001
Singer Ron Townson has died. Ron was one of thee voices for The 5th Dimension. Ya know,
"Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In" and "Up Up and Away." Actually, it's more like down, down and
away.
August 1, 2001
Pro Bowl offensive tackle Korey Stringer died earlier today of heat stroke. Apparently, the
heavy-set Stringer suffered the onset of heat related illness yesterday during a Vikings
practice and the full effects set in as his organs failed one by one. Just another indication
of what we've known all along, football season starts too early.
July 31, 2001
We couldn't decide whether or not some washed out southern rocker was a celebrity or not, but
we decided, what the hell. Leon Wilkeson of Lynyrd Skynyrd is dead. Southern Rock will never
be the same, thank goodness.
July 24, 2001
Author Eudora Welty croaked yesterday. Of course, our crappy new mailbot was down all day so
we only got around to telling you today. Eudora won a Pulitzer Prize in the early 70s for her
novel "The Optimist's Daughter." She was also from Mississippi. We don't really hold that
against her, we just thought you'd like to know.
July 19, 2001
Gunther Gebel-Williams has expired. This is the dude who used to stick his
head in the lion's mouth at Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
This dude was great! He could train elephants to dance, leopards to purr
and horse to prance. Too bad he couldn't get that tumor to calm the hell down.
July 19, 2001
Sister of folk singer Joan Baez, Mimi Farina is dead. Mimi was a folk
singer too and worked with many a famous musician including Bonnie Rait
and Jackson Browne. Plus Mimi was raised a Quaker. Hmm, Quaker Farina.
Mmmm, just need to add a little bacon, some eggs, a glass of orange juice,
a cup of coffee, oh yeah, and about a ton of top soil.
July 19, 2001
Katherine Graham is dead. Yeah, we know we're a little late on this one, but Katherine is a little
late too! How's this, Washington Post-mortum?
July 4, 2001
After a bit of debate, we've decided Chet rates. He penned such hits as
"Heartbreak Hotel" and Your cheating heart. He also influenced a
generation of rock-n-roll guitarists. Of course, we're skeptical of that
whole protein only diet thing, but that's another story.
June 29, 2001
Mr. Adler dropped out of high school. He went on to become the world's
highest paid philosopher, an educational theorist, the founder of the
"Great Books" program, and the editor of the Encyclopedia Britannica.
Tells ya something, n'est pas?
June 28, 2001
Actor Jack Lemmon has died. Lemmon starred in such classics as "The Odd
Couple," "Days of Wine and Roses," and "The Fortune Cookie."
Unfortunately, it appears Jack got the misfortune cookie this time.
June 21, 2001
Guess who else is dead....Blues great John Lee Hooker. Hooker made his
name with songs like "Boom Boom," "Crawlin' King Snake" and "I'm in the
Mood." For what John, a funeral?
June 21, 2001
Actor Carroll O'Connor died of a heart attack earlier today. O'Connor
appeared on Broadway, in several movies and has a starring role in the TV
series "In the Heat of the Night." What Carrol is best known for though,
is his portrayal of Archie Bunker in the '70s sitcom "All in the Family."
Only now do we find out that, Archie Bunker's heart's a clunker.
June 17, 2001
Alexandru was a dude who opposed communism and ended up doing 15 years in
a Gulag. Interesting thing is Al died on April 27, 2001 and the AP just
posted it. Mike R. has Mr. Salca on his list and has been tracking this
one closely. So to Mike we say, better late than never. Well actually,
just better late.
June 15, 2001
Renowned biologist Viktor Hamburger has died. Mayor McCheese is reportedly
very broken-up about the whole thing.
June 7, 2001
Marie Bremont, formerly known as the world's oldest woman, is dead. As of
Wednesday her title offically changed to the world's newest cadaver.
June 3, 2001
Anthony Quinn has died. Mr. Quinn, a well known actor of stage and
screen, is best known for his work in "Zorba the Greek," "Lawrence of
Arabia," "Viva Zapata!" and "Lust for Life." Quinn won oscars for the
last two. The guy fathered 13 kids! Lust, yes. Life, well.......
June 2, 2001
Emmy award winning actress/comedienne, Imogene Coca, the broad who
co-starred with Sid Caesar on television's classic "Your Show of Shows" in
the 1950s, died Saturday. She was 92 - the cause of death is listed as
'Natural Causes'. But the O.B.E. suspects foul play. First Big Pussy now
Old... well you think about it.
Her career began in Vaudeville and peaked with three sitcoms in the
1950's; she also worked well into the 80's with credits like National
Lampoons Vacation. Although most regard her comedic teaming with Mr.
Caesar as the pinnacle of her career; we at the O.B.E. will probably
remember Ms. Coca best for her famous teaming with Mr. Cola... man that
soft drink really took off.
June 1, 2001
Hank Ketcham, creator of "Dennis the Menace" bought the farm. If you
thought Dennis was a menace, you'd should get a load of what a menace a
bum ticker can be Hank.
June 1, 2001
Arlene Francis, actress and "What's My Line?" regular has died. Guess her
line is flat.
May 30, 2001
Former Florida Gators coach Charley Pell has died. Charley coached the
Gators from 1979 through 1984. During that time he amassed a pretty nice
record including two bowl wins and four bowl visits. Pretty good! Thing
is, Mr. Pell was also pretty good at violating the rules for recruiting,
ticket sales, and athlete compensation among others. This earned him a
whopping 59 sanctions and his ultimate resignation.
Complementary tickets to Charley's funeral will be available from the
athletes outside the funeral home for $200.
May 23, 2001
Whitman Mayo had a long acting career which included roles on TV's
Different Strokes, In the Heat of the Night,
Trapper John M.D., and The Cape. His film credits include John
Singleton's Boyz In the Hood, and The Main Event with Barbra Streisand.
Mayo also taught a film/theatre class at Clark Atlanta University. Of
course we could give a crap about all of that; what really matters is that
the guy played Grady on Sanford and Son.
Trust us Elizabeth, Grady REALLY is coming.
May 22, 2001
Yeah, we know......But he's on someone's list.
Tad was an author who penned biographies of both Pope John Paul II and
Fidel Castro (two REAL celebrities). Tad's last book was about the
assassination attempt on John Paul II and was called "To Kill the Pope."
Interestingly, the Pope was caught giggling today as he read the AP.
Mike R. landed a tie for first with Mr. Szulc. We're thinking we gotta
change the rules next year to fine tune what a celebrity is gonna be.
Jeesh, Tad Szulc.
May 12, 2001
Perry Como is no mo.
May 12, 2001
Author of "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy" trilogy (containing 5
books), Douglas Adams, has died of a heart attack at the age of 49. All
we can say is so long, and thanks for "So Long, and Thanks For All the
Fish"
April 27, 2001
Henry Yunick, famous race car designer and driver, has died. Henry, aka
Smokey, develop Chevrolet's original small-block engine in 1955. His
blueprints for that engine are still used on today's cars. Smokey was a
huge figure in racing though he had a major, long running falling out with
NASCAR over their rules. Yunick was inducted into The International
Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1990.
We're not certain what's more upsetting, Yunick's death or the fact that
there is an International Motorsports Hall of Fame. Actually, yes we are.
April 27, 2001
Hal Haig "Harry" Prieste, America's oldest living Olympian is, well, no
longer living.
April 24, 2001
Emmy award winning producer Jack Haley Jr. died on April 21, 2001. Jack
was the son of Jack Haley Sr., the fella who played the stiff and creaky
Tin Man in the "Wizard of Oz." Come to think of it, Jack Jr.'s been
looking a little stiff recently too.
April 22, 2001
Former Nixon and Ford White House aide Michael Duval died Friday. Duval
joined the Nixon White House in 1970 and left the Ford White House in 1976
along with Gerry.
Duval joined the Nixon White house as an as an advance man. He must have
been great at his job, his illness sure advanced nicely.
April 16, 2001
Joey Ramone, a founding member of the punk rock act The Ramones, has died
from lymphoma. The Ramones were arguably the first punk rock act. These
guys defined a movement that started in the Bowery in NYC in the mid
1970s. How can ya forget such classic tunes as "Rock-n-Roll High School,"
"Blitzkrieg Bop" and "I Wanna be Well." A little late for that one now
Joey.
April 12, 2001
One of Britain's best-loved entertainers, Sir Harry Secombe, has died. The
Brits loved this guy so much they knighted him in 1981. Unfortunately,
poor 'ol Harry had cancer. He tried to fight it, but Marvin M. and
Badbreak knew that Harry would eventually Secombe (Ughh).
April 9, 2001
Baseball great Willie Stargell has slid into that great home plate in the
sky. After battling kidney disease for several years, the former
Pittsburgh Pirate finally had his kidneys give out. That probably
explains why he slid.
April 6, 2001
You folks may know Brother Theodore from his appearances on Letterman or
from his run of the talk show circuit back in the early 1980s. However,
we know Ted because he appeared in a show at the 13th Street Theatre in
NYC. Now Matt, a Guy at the O.B.E., perfomred in a improv group whose
show also went down at the 13th Street Theatre.
The improv show just happened to run each day immediately following
Brother Theodore. Bet you're expecting a cute little chestnut of a tale
know. Guess what kids, the guy was a dick.
April 6, 2001
Hot Rod designer and Rat Fink creator, Ed "Big Daddy" Roth has died. Ed
was a real rebel in the 1950s and 1960s. Then the guy went and converted
to the Mormon church in 1974. Talk about a lifestyle change. Roth was
hoping to tour a new car in 2002. Just for the record, he won't be doing
that now.
March 23, 2001
Seems that William Hanna of the great Hanna Barbara team has died. How
can you forget the greats who gave us "Yogi Bear," "Quick Draw McGraw,"
Magilla Gorilla," "The Flintstones," and many more. We really thought
Bill was gonna live forever....and he would have gotten away with it too,
if it weren't for you meddling kids!
March 18, 2001
Mamas and the Papas songwriter/founder, John Phillips, who wrote
"California Dreamin" and other hits, died Sunday of heart failure. He was
65.
In 1966, the band won a Grammy for best contemporary group performance for
the single "Monday Monday."
Phillips, who received a liver transplant several years ago after years of
drug and alcohol abuse, died at UCLA Medical Center at 8:15 a.m. PST.
Hmmmmmm.... and he thought he'd be safe and warm if he was is L.A. Silly
boy. Better this way... face it, he could have choked to death on Mama
Cass.
March 18, 2001
Glenn Hughes, the leather-dressed biker/singer who performed in the disco
band the Village People, died March 4 of lung cancer at the age 50.
Hughes was one of six who formed the Village People, a disco group that
capitalized off the themes popular in New York's gay nightclubs.
Although disco fell out of fashion in the 1980s, Hughes stayed with the
band until 1996, when he left to sing in Manhattan cabarets.
The band released hit singles such as, "Macho Man," "Y.M.C.A.," "In the
Navy" and "Go West."
Not sincle the 1980 shooting of music great John Lennon, has the music
world suffered such a tragic loss. Our hearts go out to the Indian,
Construction Worker, Police Man, Cowboy and G.I.
March 17, 2001
Ann Sothern, at 92 years old, died March 15 of heart failure.
Ann appeared in such MGM musicals as "Lady Be Good" and "Panama Hattie."
Her film career spanned sixty years and included 64 movies and more than
175 TV episodes.
In 1988 she was nominated for an Oscar as supporting actress in "The
Whales of August," which also starred veterans Bette Davis, Lillian Gish
and Vincent Price.
Ann starred as Masie, in 10 Masie movies for RKO, including: "Congo
Masie," "Up Goes Masie," and "Masie goes to Rio." See her new upcoming
picture, "Masie pushes Dasies."
March 13, 2001
John Schneider was a former North Dakota House Democratic floor leader who
served seven years as U.S. attorney. Also, he was on someone's list.
According to his obit, John "served 10 years in the chamber." The way we
see it, he'll be spending a lot more years than that in a chamber now.
March 13, 2001
Best selling author Robert Ludlum has died. The thing that scares us most
about this one is that the AP ends his obituary with the following
statement from Ludlum's spokesperson:
March 13, 2001
Morton Downey Jr., the fella who invented "trash TV" is dead. The
so-called "loudmouth" of the 1980's died on March 12, 2001.
Interestingly, Downey wrote the surf hit Wipe Out. Really! As for the
cause of death....well the papers are reporting lung cancer but we suspect
a group of radical skinheads got him in an airport restroom.
March 4, 2001
Former Presidential nominee candidate (10 friggin' times) and former
Governor of Minnesota, Harold E. Stassen, has died. Mr. Stassen tried for
to be the Republican nominee for president ten time between 1948 and 1992.
He was never nominated. He was however, the President of The University
of Pennsylvania.
Stassen is quoted as saying the following regarding his many shots at the
big seat:
"You have to run, to be willing to put yourself on the line before you can
be really effective. You can talk or write about something and it has
some meaning, but to be effective you have to lay it on the line. It's my
life."
Actually Harry, it's your death.
February 20, 2001
Producer and director, Stanley Kramer has died. Mr. Kramer was flat-out
amazing. His films drew 80 Oscar nominations and won 16 Oscars. "Guess
Who's Coming to Dinner?," "Inheret the Wind," "Judgement at Nuremberg,"
and "High Noon" just name a few of this fella's great works. Our personal
favorite over here at O.B.E. Central is the best damn comedy movie ever
made, "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World." Hey, guess who's not coming for
dinner.
February 19, 2001
Artist, Balthassar Klossowski de Rola, aka Balthus, died yesterday.
Balthus is among the 20th century's best known realists. Balthus is best
known for his erotic, and some say pornographic, paintings of young girls.
We bet ya Roman Polanski never said that though.
February 18, 2001
Seems that NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt suffered his last wreck. NASCAR is
a sport where you drive really fast and glorify tobacco and beer through
advertising. Now you tell us, are you suprised somebody got killed?
February 18, 2001
Eddie Mathews, along with Hank Aaron, helped Milwaukee win their only
World Series. Mathews is among only 16 players to hit 500 homeruns. In
addition, he was the fella on the first Sport Illustrated cover.
Apparently, Eddie was stepping off a boat when it moved from the dock. He
fell into the drink and was crushed three times between the boat and the
pier. Then, doctors think he had a mild heart attack and came down with
pneumonia while hospitalized. Wasn't Eddie's year, that's for sure.
February 18, 2001 (Kahlid Muhammad)
His Black Panther Party was "New"
Unlike all the crap that he'd spew.
Now Khalid is dead
And quite glad it is said
Are the "Honkies," "Bloodsuckers," and "Jews".
What a dick this guy was!
February 18, 2001
Dr. Masters was a leader in the field of human sexual behavior. This dude
actually watched folks getting it on and called it science. Let us tell
ya something, if that's science then The Guys at the O.B.E. spent plenty
of nights with a VCR involved in serious friggin' research.
February 11, 2001
Abe Beame was Mayor of NYC in the mid-1970's. Here's what the AP said about him
"Beame was an unlikely politician. He was 5-foot-2, soft-spoken and
utterly without charisma..." As of yesterday, he's 5-foot-2, not speaking
and utterly without charisma and a heartbeat.
February 7, 2001
Author, aviator, wife of Charles, and mom of a very well known missing
child (Charles Jr., later found murdered), Anne Morrow Lindbergh has died.
Guess there's gonna be a new spirit of St. Louis, huh.
February 7, 2001
Actress, singer, and Roy Roger's main squeeze, Dale Evans, has died.
Among Dale's accomplishments are her writing of the song "Happy Trails to
You" and her appearing in such notable Saturday matinee features as "My
Pal Trigger," "Apache Rose" and "Don't Fence Me In." Fence you in,
nah...Box you in is more like it Dale.
January 26, 2001
NCAA basketball coach and broadcaster has died. Al was a tough kid from
NYC who made his love of the game a life time career. This one kinda
reminds us of that Mommas and Papas song. Ya know, the one that
goes..."McGuinn and McGuire couldn't get no higher..." In the case of
McGuire, we're pretty certain that's accurate.
January 13, 2001
Seems Rosemary Glancy was a city official in Providence, RI. Furthermore,
she was not the, uh, most honest official. She ends up getting a nice fat
jail sentence. But as fate would have it, after only six weeks of that
sentence, she fell gravely ill. A major court case to get an early
release ensued and was won.
What'd she do? Well, she solicited bribes in exchange for tax breaks.
From what we hear though, she shoulda solicted bribes for a new kideny and
liver.
January 5, 2001
Famed bandleader, Les Brown has died. Les Brown and his Band of Renown
had a No. 1 hit with "Sentimental Journey" during '40s. More
recently, Les got "the big hit" with cancer in his '80s.
January 4, 2001
Long time sports broadcaster and one time track star, Marty Glickman, died
January 3, 2001. Marty was to compete in the 1936 Berlin Olympics but,
because he was Jewish, he was pulled from the team at the last minute. It
seems that American team officials felt a Jewish victory would
embarrass the host Nazis. We can only imagine what these officials
thought of the allied victory nine years later.
January 3, 2001
Wife of Arizona basketball coach Lute Olson, Bobbi Olson died on January
1, 2001. We caught this one earlier but only got a list she appeared on
today. Lute had been on indefinite leave to be with his wife during her
illness (ovarian cancer). According to the AP, assistant Arizona coach
Jim Rosborough would not speculate on when Olson would return to the team.
We presume Jim meant Lute.
January 2, 2001
Holy cow, 2001 is taking off like a rocket. Actor Ray Walston, Uncle
Martin from "My Favorite Martian," has died. You may know Ray from his
Tony Awarding winning performance in the play "Damn Yankees" or as the
judge on the television show "Picket Fences." Matter fact, Ray won an
Emmy in 1995 for "Picket Fences." Wait'll ya get a load of him in his new
effort, "Wooden Boxes."
January 1, 2001
The champagne isn't even flat yet and we have our first death of the year.
Baltimore Sports writer, John Steadman is now more appropriately known as
John Deadman. Bill B. had Mr. Steadman on his list. Because it's so
early in the year, we're not certain if anyone else had Steadman or not.
We'll know that in a few days.
As an aside, all entries will be posted on or before January 10, 2000.