Obituary Stories category, Page 2
Jimmy Cliff, reggae giant and star of landmark film ‘The Harder They Come,’ dead at 81
NEW YORK — Jimmy Cliff, the charismatic reggae pioneer and actor who preached joy, defiance and resilience in such classics as “Many Rivers to Cross,” “You Can Get it If You Really Want” and “Vietnam” and starred in the landmark movie “The Harder They Come,” has died at 81. His...
News industry veteran Robert Hammond remembered for dedication, friendship
Rob Hammond, who rose through the ranks at Trib Total Media to become general manager of The McKeesport Daily News, was remembered by former colleagues this week as much for his leadership as for his passion for the news industry. Hammond, of Elizabeth Township, died Monday at age 75. “Rob...
Former Duquesne journalism professor Maggie Patterson dies
Maggie Jones Patterson, a revered journalism professor who mentored generations of student reporters at Duquesne University, returned to campus in October to help celebrate the student newspaper’s 100th anniversary. Just weeks later, the longtime educator and advocate for young journalists died Monday of a heart attack following surgery, leaving behind...
Paul Tagliabue, NFL commissioner who ran league in era of riches and expansion, dies at 84
NEW YORK — Paul Tagliabue, who helped bring labor peace and riches to the NFL during his 17 years as commissioner but was criticized for not taking stronger action on concussions, died Sunday from heart failure. He was 84. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said Tagliabue’s family informed the league of...
Victor Conte, who sold undetectable steroids to elite athletes in baseball and track, has died at 75
Victor Conte, the architect of a scheme to provide undetectable performance-enhancing drugs to professional athletes including baseball stars Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi and Olympic track champion Marion Jones decades ago, has died. He was 75. Conte died Monday, SNAC System, a sports nutrition company he founded, said in a...
Dick Cheney, one of the most powerful and polarizing vice presidents in U.S. history, dies at 84
Dick Cheney, the hard-charging conservative who became one of the most powerful and polarizing vice presidents in U.S. history and a leading advocate for the invasion of Iraq, has died at age 84. Cheney died Monday night due to complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease, his family said...
Diane Ladd, 3-time Oscar nominee, dies at 89
OJAI, Calif. — Diane Ladd, the three-time Academy Award nominee whose roles ranged from the brash waitress in “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore” to the protective mother in “Wild at Heart,” has died at 89. Ladd’s death was announced Monday by daughter Laura Dern, who issued a statement saying her...
Former Jets center Nick Mangold dies at 41, less than 2 weeks after announcing he had kidney diseaseVideo
Nick Mangold’s long, blond hair and bushy beard made him instantly recognizable. His gritty, outstanding performance on the field for the New York Jets made him one of the franchise’s greatest players. Mangold, a two-time All-Pro center who helped lead the Jets to the AFC championship game twice, has died,...
Former Buccaneers standout running back Doug Martin dies at 36
Doug Martin, a two-time Pro Bowl running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who played seven seasons in the NFL, died Saturday, according to his family. He was 36. “It is with great sadness to inform you all that Doug Martin passed away Saturday morning,” Martin’s family said in a...
Limp Bizkit shares death of bassist Sam Rivers, 48, in emotional post
Bassist Sam Rivers, a founding member of Limp Bizkit, has died. He was 48. News of Rivers’ death was shared by the band’s official Instagram account, which noted he died on Saturday. A cause of death was not disclosed. The statement signed by Limp Bizkit’s Fred Durst, Wes Borland, John...
Ace Frehley, Kiss’ original lead guitarist and founding member, dies at 74
Ace Frehley, the original lead guitarist and legendary “Spaceman” of KISS, has died. Frehley died Thursday, Oct. 16, after reportedly being on life support following a recent fall at his home. He was 74. The rocker’s family said the musician passed away peacefully, surrounded by family in Morristown, New Jersey,...
Joan Bennett Kennedy, first wife of late Sen. Ted Kennedy, dies at 89
Joan Bennett Kennedy, the first wife of the late Massachusetts Sen. Edward “Ted” Kennedy, has died. She was 89. Kennedy died in her sleep at her Boston home on Oct. 8, according to a family statement provided to the Cape Cod Times, part of the USA Today Network. “Besides being...
Joe Grushecky remembers Houserockers keyboardist Gil Snyder
Gil Snyder, keyboardist for the Iron City Houserockers and collaborator with several other groups, died Sunday. He was 72. The Iron City Houserockers were a legendary Pittsburgh band fronted by Joe Grushecky, who posted the news of Snyder’s death on Facebook. “It is with great sadness that our Houserocker family...
Late Trafford Elementary teacher prioritized connection with students
Shannon Dornauer recalls how Trafford Elementary School teacher Mike Martinelli knew how to make all of his students feel welcome in his classroom. “I just remember him being very friendly and outgoing. He always made everybody feel very included and comfortable,” said Dornauer, 37, of Latrobe. “Back in elementary school,...
Wildlife advocate, primate expert Jane Goodall dies at 91Video
Scientist and global activist Jane Goodall, who turned her childhood love of primates into a lifelong quest for protecting the environment, died on Wednesday at the age of 91, the institute she founded said. Goodall died of natural causes, the Jane Goodall Institute said in a social media post. “Dr....
Russell M. Nelson, oldest-ever president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, dies
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Russell M. Nelson, the oldest-ever president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died Saturday night at the age of 101, church officials announced. Nelson died at his home in Salt Lake City, the church announced. Nelson, a former heart surgeon, spent four...
Leo Gerard, United Steelworkers’ longest-tenured leader, dies at 78
Leo Gerard spent nearly two decades running the United Steelworkers, a Pittsburgh-based union with profound ties to American industry, but it was his frequent gaze abroad that labor figures say best defined his leadership. He set the tone early in his tenure, backing Liberian rubber workers in their fight for...
Shawn Clark, UCF offensive line coach and former Appalachian State coach, dies at 50
ORLANDO, Fla. — UCF offensive line coach Shawn Clark died Sunday at 50 years old nearly two weeks after he was hospitalized with a medical emergency, the school announced. Clark suffered the medical emergency on Sept. 9 and had been away from the team. He was said last week to...
Grammy-winning songwriter Brett James who co-wrote ‘Jesus, Take the Wheel’ dies in plane crash
Grammy award-winning country songwriter Brett James, whose string of top hits includes “Jesus Take the Wheel” by Carrie Underwood and “When The Sun Goes Down” by Kenny Chesney, died in a plane crash in North Carolina, authorities said Friday. He was 57. The small plane with three people aboard crashed...
Robert Redford, Oscar-winning actor, director and indie patriarch, dies at 89
Robert Redford, the Hollywood golden boy who became an Oscar-winning director, liberal activist and godfather for independent cinema under the name of one of his best-loved characters, died Tuesday at 89. Redford died “at his home at Sundance in the mountains of Utah — the place he loved, surrounded by...
Ricky Hatton, former world boxing champion, dies at 46
MANCHESTER, England — Former world boxing champion Ricky Hatton, who rose to become one of the most popular fighters in the sport, has died. He was 46. Hatton was found dead at his home in Greater Manchester, Britain’s Press Association reported Sunday. Police said they are not treating the death...
Rick Davies, co-founder and singer of Supertramp, dies at 81
LONDON — Rick Davies, the co-founder, singer and songwriter of British band Supertramp, has died after a long battle with cancer, the band said Monday. He was 81. Davies, who co-wrote the band’s music with Roger Hodgson, was “the voice and pianist behind Supertramp’s most iconic songs, leaving an indelible...
Fashion designer Giorgio Armani dead at 91
MILAN — Giorgio Armani, the Italian designer who turned the concept of understated elegance into a multibillion-dollar fashion empire, has died, his fashion house confirmed. He was 91. Armani died at home, the fashion house said. Armani, one of the most recognizable names and faces in the global fashion industry,...
Ross mourns passings of former police officers Boyd, Freedman
The Ross community mourned the recent passings of two longtime public servants in the township, who died two weeks apart in August. Howard Boyd, a former Ross police officer and code enforcement officer, died on Saturday, Aug. 16. He was 83. Ralph C. Freedman Jr., a former police officer, chief...
CBS News’ Mark Knoller, veteran White House correspondent, dies at 73
Mark Knoller, a longtime White House correspondent for CBS News, has died, according to the network. He was 73. A cause of death was was not disclosed, but he had reportedly suffered from diabetes and was in poor health. “Mark Knoller was the hardest-working and most prolific White House correspondent...
