Astrud Gilberto, of “The Girl From Ipanema” fame.
Jim Hines. He set a world record by running the 100 meter dash in 9.95 seconds at the 1968 Olympics: that record stood for 15 years.
Roger Craig, noted split-fingered fastball pitcher.
Bobby Bolin, former pitcher for the Giants (also the Brewers and the Red Sox).
Bolin made his MLB debut in 1961 and was on the 1962 pennant-winning Giants, appearing in two games in the World Series against the Yankees, a series San Francisco would lose in seven games.
The sidearmer went a career-best 14-6 in 1965.
The following season he set career-highs with 10 complete games and four shutouts despite a pedestrian 11-10 record.
Mike the Musicologist sent over an obit for Kaija Saariaho, composer. He says some of her late works are appealing: I am unfamiliar with them myself.
George Riddle, actor. Other credits include “Arthur” and “The Trial of Standing Bear”.
Burning in Hell watch: Robert Hanssen, notorious spy.
A busy day for the obits writers.today, it seems. First, Ms. Astrid Gilberto, whose soulful rendition of The Girl From Ipanema, with a young looking Stan Getz ,I believe, has always been my favorite version, although many other singers have done great jobs also.
Then the other one that touched me was Roger Craig. I actually met him at a high school baseball clinic, held here in Michigan, at I think was Central Michigan University, in Mt.Pleasant. It was geared toward infielders, but our coach took anyone who wanted to go.
It was supposed to be just Freddie Patek, the shortstop from Kansas City. I stood next to him in the hall on break, and myself, at barely 6′ in high school, was a head taller than him.
He had brought another friend with him, Mr. Phil Regan. Phil Regan had a similar story like To get Craig, and was going to coach for Grand Valley State College at the time, now University. And the extra special guest was Roger Craig, who it seemed like he was.just there to go fishing later with Phil and Freddie. But he did meet and greet with the other 2 after the day was through.
The only baseball related thing that I remember learning was about how to anticipate when turning a double plat. As an outfielder, that stuff was not that relevant to me.
What was memorable, however, was how Patel and Regan both spoke for quite awhile about life in general, and how sports, no matter what level you ever make it to, can never take the place of family and friends. Phil Regan especially made mention.about being in the road a lot, but that when you are able to be.with.your family or loved ones, to be there,completely.
I thought of that a couple of times over the years, when working 12 hours per day, 7 days a week, sometimes for several months at a time. I tried to explain it to young guys there, don’t live on your overtime, since oneday, it will slow down, and the 50,000$ truck you bought will no longer seem as shiny, etc. I think I told that to 3 or 4 young men, and none listened. I heard a couple of them trying to sell things when we got slow. Of course it took my wife and myself sometime to figure things out, but once you learn to carry no debt, have mean mine whatsoever, life is a breeze.
I am certain you are tired of my off topic rambling. I just find it serendipitous that so often the things you post including obits, connect with me on some way, that I can’t figure out, but perhaps we have been on similar paths one time or another. Thank you for your blog, and for finding obits of such interesting and important people that while not well known, should be.
I am not tired of your “off topic rambling”. I enjoy it.
I don’t always answer mostly for reasons of time, but you’re always welcome here.