Obituary Stories category, Page 20
Pittsburgh union leader Jack Shea remembered as a ‘giant’ in labor movement
Jack Shea was the face of the Allegheny-Fayette Central Labor Council when he was its president for close to two decades, speaking at labor rallies and supporting strikers on the picket line. Shea died Monday, Aug. 29, 2022. He was 79. Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald called Shea a “giant”...
Gary Gaines, coach of ‘Friday Night Lights’ fame, dead at 73
LUBBOCK, Texas — Gary Gaines, coach of the Texas high school football team made famous in the book and movie “Friday Night Lights,” has died. He was 73. Gaines’ family said in a statement the former coach died Monday in Lubbock after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Gaines made...
Pete Carril, old-school Princeton coaching maestro, dies at 92
Pete Carril, the rumpled, cigar-smoking basketball coach who led Princeton to 11 appearances in the NCAA Tournament, where his teams unnerved formidable opponents and rattled March Madness with old-school fundamentals, died Monday. He was 92. Princeton released a statement from Carril’s family, which said he died “peacefully this morning. It...
Former KDKA-TV medical editor, husband of Patrice King Brown, dies
Dr. Paul Nemiroff, former KDKA-TV medical editor and husband of retired KDKA-TV news anchor Patrice King Brown, died Aug. 10. He was 73. A cause of death has not been determined. Nemiroff has lived with Myelodysplasia Syndrome (MDS), a blood cancer, since a 1999 diagnosis. KDKA reported on his MDS...
Anne Heche, TV, film and stage actor, dies at 53 from injuries sustained in car crash
LOS ANGELES — Anne Heche, the Emmy- and Tony-nominated actor whose work in “Six Days Seven Nights,” “Another World” and dozens of other projects dovetailed with a groundbreaking romance with Ellen DeGeneres that challenged homophobia in Hollywood, has died. She was 53. Her son Homer confirmed her death in a...
Olivia Newton-John, superstar singer and actress, dies at 73
NEW YORK — Olivia Newton-John, the Grammy-winning superstar who reigned on pop, country, adult contemporary and dance charts with such hits as “Physical” and “You’re the One That I Want” and won countless hearts as everyone’s favorite Sandy in the blockbuster film version of “Grease,” has died. She was 73....
David McCullough, Pulitzer-winning historian and Pittsburgh native, dies at 89
NEW YORK — David McCullough, a Pittsburgh native and the Pulitzer Prize-winning author whose lovingly crafted narratives on subjects ranging from the Brooklyn Bridge to Presidents John Adams and Harry Truman made him among the most popular and influential historians of his time, has died. He was 89. McCullough died...
Unity man remembered for his love of life, family and friends
Kenneth J. Planinsek of Unity was a man who loved life and appreciated family and friends, whether it was cooking for a large gathering of family and friends, organizing a golf outing, decorating a Christmas tree in the woods or being outdoors. “He lived his life with politeness and grace,”...
Nichelle Nichols, Lt. Uhura on ‘Star Trek,’ has died at 89
Nichelle Nichols, who broke barriers for Black women in Hollywood when she played communications officer Lt. Uhura on the original “Star Trek” television series, has died at the age of 89. Her son Kyle Johnson said Nichols died Saturday in Silver City, New Mexico. “Last night, my mother, Nichelle Nichols,...
CentiMark founder Edward Dunlap Jr. remembered as mentor, philanthropist
When you worked for Edward Dunlap Jr., you were more than just an employee. “You were part of his family. You were loved, respected and held accountable for your actions,” said John Godwin, executive vice president of CentiMark Corp., of which Dunlap was founder and chairman. “You were part of...
‘Goodfellas,’ ‘Law & Order’ actor Paul Sorvino dies at 83
Paul Sorvino, an imposing actor who specialized in playing crooks and cops like Paulie Cicero in “Goodfellas” and the NYPD sergeant Phil Cerretta on “Law & Order,” has died. He was 83. His publicist Roger Neal said he died Monday morning in Indiana of natural causes. “Our hearts are broken,...
Champion driver Bobby East fatally stabbed at gas station
WESTMINSTER, Calif. — Bobby East, a three-time U.S. Auto Club national champion driver, has died after being stabbed this week at a Southern California gas station. He was 37. The Westminster Police Department issued a statement Saturday identifying Robert John East of San Dimas as the person stabbed in the...
Ivana Trump, first wife of former president, dies at 73
NEW YORK — Ivana Trump, a skier-turned-businesswoman who formed half of a publicity power couple in the 1980s as the first wife of former President Donald Trump and mother of his oldest children, has died in New York City, her family announced Thursday. She was 73. The former president posted...
Gary Moeller, former Michigan and Lions coach, dies at 81
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Gary Moeller, who succeeded Bo Schembechler as Michigan’s coach and later led the Detroit Lions as interim coach, died Monday. He was 81. The University of Michigan announced his death, and no cause was provided. Moeller was promoted from offensive coordinator to lead the Wolverines’ program...
‘Sopranos’ actor Tony Sirico, ‘Paulie Walnuts,’ dies at 79
Tony Sirico, who played the impeccably groomed mobster Paulie Walnuts in “The Sopranos” and brought his tough-guy swagger to films including “Goodfellas,” died Friday. He was 79. Sirico died at an assisted living facility in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, said his manager, Bob McGowen. There was no immediate information on the...
Larry Storch, zany Cpl. Agarn on TV’s ‘F Troop,’ dies at 99
LOS ANGELES — Larry Storch, the rubber-faced comic whose long career in theater, movies and television was capped by his “F Troop” role as zany Cpl. Agarn in the 1960s spoof of Western frontier TV shows, died Friday. Storch was 99. Storch died of natural causes early Friday in his...
‘Woody’ Williams, last remaining WWII Medal of Honor recipient dies at 98Video
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Hershel W. “Woody” Williams, the last remaining Medal of Honor recipient from World War II, died Wednesday. He was 98. Williams’ foundation announced on Twitter and Facebook that he died at the Veterans Affairs medical center bearing his name in Huntington. “Today, America lost not just a...
Greensburg area car dealer remembered as a ‘people person’
Frank Schimizzi opened Hillview Motors Inc. in Hempfield in 1961 and eventually handed the dealership to his sons and grandchildren. “He was a very personable person. He liked people and dealing with people and that made him good at it,” said his son, Paul Schimizzi, who manages Hillview with two...
U.S. Senate sergeant-at-arms during Capitol riot dies at 71
WASHINGTON — Michael Stenger, who served as the U.S. Senate’s sergeant-at-arms and resigned after the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol, has died. He was 71. Stenger died Monday of natural causes, according to two people familiar with the matter. One of the people said he had been diagnosed with...
James Rado, who co-created groundbreaking ‘Hair,’ dies at 90
NEW YORK — James Rado, co-creator of the groundbreaking hippie musical “Hair,” which celebrated protest, pot and free love and paved the way for the sound of rock on Broadway, has died. He was 90. Rado died Tuesday night in New York City of cardio respiratory arrest, according to friend...
Political commentator and columnist Mark Shields dies at 85
CHEVY CHASE, Md. — Columnist and political commentator Mark Shields, who shared his insight into American politics and wit on “PBS NewsHour” for decades, died Saturday. He was 85. Shields died at his Chevy Chase, Maryland, home, from kidney failure, “PBS NewsHour” spokesman Nick Massella said. Shields was a regular...
Longtime WWE, professional wrestling referee diesVideo
Longtime WWE referee Dave Hebner died on Friday. He was 73. A cause of death was not given, but Hebner had been battling a myriad of health issues across the past several years, according to multiple reports. Hebner and his twin brother, Earl, were both well-known professional wrestling referees. Dave...
‘Pillar of the community’: Former Latrobe mayor, district justice Angelo Caruso dies
Angelo Caruso loved Latrobe, loved what it stood for and loved doing things to make the community better, his son Lee Caruso said. That love manifested itself in decades of service. “He was always involved in this community no matter what,” said Lee Caruso, of Latrobe. “He worked with everybody....
Philip Baker Hall, of ‘Hard Eight,’ ‘Seinfeld,’ dies at 90
NEW YORK — Philip Baker Hall, the prolific character actor of film and theater who starred in Paul Thomas Anderson’s first movies and who memorably hunted down a long-overdue library book in “Seinfeld,” has died. He was 90. Holly Wolfle Hall, the actor’s wife of nearly 40 years, on Monday...
Jim Seals of ’70s group Seals and Crofts dies at age 80
NEW YORK — Jim Seals, who teamed with fellow musician “Dash” Crofts on such 1970s soft-rock hits as “Summer Breeze,” “Diamond Girl” and “We May Never Pass This Way Again,” has died at age 80. His death was announced Tuesday by several people including John Ford Coley, who had formed...
