Neil Sedaka, the singer-songwriter behind dozens of hits of the 1960s and ’70s, dies at age 86
NEW YORK — Neil Sedaka, the hit-making singer-songwriter whose boyish soprano and bright melodies made him a top act in the early years of rock ‘n’ roll and led to a second run of success in the 1970s, has died. Sedaka, whose hits included “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do”...
Upper Burrell Supervisor Mike Conley was devoted to township, friends say
Upper Burrell Supervisor Mike Conley was devoted to the township his entire life, friends said Friday while remembering the lifelong resident. “He loved the community,” Supervisor Ken Slahtovsky said. “Being on the board is a thankless job, and it takes a special person. Mike was one of them.” Conley, 61,...
Bruce Froemming, record-setting major-league umpire, dies at age 86
Bruce Froemming, a major-league umpire for 37 consecutive years who worked the third-most games in big-league history and a record 11 no-hitters, died Wednesday, his son said. He was 86. Froemming fell just after midnight Tuesday and hit his head on the hardwood floor at his home in Mequon, Wisc.,...
Fox Chapel Rotary member Tom Benic remembered for charisma and compassion
Friends are recalling longtime Fox Chapel Rotary member Tom Benic as a kind and consummate professional. But by all accounts, the history buff and avid photographer was — above all else — a pure fun-loving guy. “Intelligence, wit and charm are rare commodities,” said friend Richard Wolf. “Tom had all...
2-time WNBA champion Kara Braxton dies at 43 after being in a car crash
Two-time WNBA champion Kara Braxton died after being in a car crash in Atlanta on Saturday. She was 43. The athletic department at Georgia, where Braxton played in college, texted The Associated Press confirmation of her death on Monday and posted on social media. Her son, Jelani Thurman, posted a...
Robert Carradine, ‘Revenge of the Nerds’ and ‘Lizzie McGuire’ star, dies at 71
Robert Carradine, the youngest of his prolific Hollywood family and whose biggest hit was the 1984 comedy “Revenge of the Nerds,” has died at 71. In a Tuesday statement to Deadline, his family said he lived with bipolar disorder for two decades and died by suicide. “We want people to...
Former 76ers head coach, UNC legend dies at 87
Former NBA coach Doug Moe, who was the head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets during his career, has died. He was 87. Moe spent most of his time as an NBA head coach leading the Nuggets. Denver announced his death this past week. “The...
Willie Colón, architect of urban salsa music, dies at 75
Willie Colón, the Grammy-nominated architect of urban salsa music and social activist, died Saturday. He was 75. Over his decades-long career, the trombonist, composer, arranger and singer produced more than 40 albums that sold more than 30 million copies worldwide. He collaborated with a wide range of artists, including the...
Bill Mazeroski, former Pirates World Series legend, dies at 89
Bill Mazeroski, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Hall of Fame second baseman whose heroic home run to win the 1960 World Series overshadowed his gifted glove and unmatched ability to turn double plays, died Friday at 89. A 10-time All-Star, Mazeroski had 2,016 hits in 17 major-league seasons, all with the Pirates,...
Eric Dane, ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ star and ALS awareness advocate, dies at 53
Eric Dane, the celebrated actor best known for his roles on “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Euphoria” and who later in life became advocate for ALS awareness, died Thursday. He was 53. His representatives said Dane died from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known also as Lou Gehrig’s disease, less than a year after...
Tom Noonan, ‘Manhunter’ character actor who also wrote and directed films, dies at 74
LOS ANGELES — Tom Noonan, a character actor and filmmaker known for playing villains in “Manhunter” and “The Last Action Hero,” died on Valentine’s Day. He was 74. The death was confirmed by Fred Dekker, director of “The Monster Squad,” who wrote on Facebook, “Tom’s indelible performance as Frankenstein …...
Former Steelers safety Mike Wagner, key member of Steel Curtain defense, dies
Four-time Super Bowl champion Mike Wagner, a ballhawk at safety and a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers
Hall of Honor, has died. He was 76. The Steelers, for whom Wagner played all 10 of his NFL seasons, announced his death Wednesday night. “We are deeply saddened by the passing of...
Hall of Fame songwriter Billy Steinberg who co-wrote ‘Like a Virgin,’ ‘True Colors’ dies at 75
Billy Steinberg, who wrote the lyrics to some of the biggest pop hits of the 1980s — including Madonna’s “Like a Virgin,” Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors” and Heart’s “Alone” — died Monday at his home in Brentwood. He was 74. His death was confirmed by his lawyer, Laurie Soriano, who...
Robert Duvall, acting legend known for intense roles, dead at 95
When Robert Duvall was floundering around in college, his father, a career Navy man who retired with the rank of rear admiral, told him to shape up — and start acting. “I wasn’t pushed into it but suggested into it,” Duvall once told an interviewer. “They figured I did skits...
Bud Cort, star of ‘Harold and Maude’ and ‘Brewster McCloud,’ dies at 77
LOS ANGELES — Bud Cort, whose performance as a troubled young man who finds unexpected love with a 79-year-old free spirit in “Harold and Maude” helped turn the 1971 film into an enduring cult classic, died Wednesday morning in Norwalk, Connecticut, after a long illness. He was 77. His death...
James Van Der Beek, the ‘Dawson’s Creek’ star who later mocked his own hunky persona, dies at 48
NEW YORK — James Van Der Beek, a heartthrob who starred in coming-of-age dramas at the dawn of the new millennium, shooting to fame playing the titular character in “Dawson’s Creek” and in later years mocking his own hunky persona, has died. He was 48. “Our beloved James David Van...
Owner of Ruthie’s Diner dies nearly 3 weeks after fire destroyed longtime Ligonier Township restaurant
Doris Ruth “Ruthie” Stevens, owner of Ruthie’s Diner, died at 92 on Saturday — nearly three weeks after the Ligonier Township restaurant was destroyed in a fire. Stevens died in her home in Jenner, Somerset County, according to an obituary. She was born in Addison, also in Somerset County, in...
Dan Kinross, longtime Ross commissioner, remembered for a life of serviceVideo
Dan Kinross may have been the most powerful politician to ever come from Ross, longtime township Commissioner Chris Eyster says. “His forte was campaigning, especially in elections not involving himself,” Eyster said. “He was an indefatigable campaigner for Democratic candidates. He was a tremendous leader in the party and well...
Brad Arnold, lead singer of Grammy-nominated rock band 3 Doors Down, dies at 47Video
LOS ANGELES — Brad Arnold, the lead singer of the Grammy-nominated rock band 3 Doors Down, died Saturday, months after he announced that he had been diagnosed with Stage 4 kidney cancer. He was 47. The band said in a statement that Arnold “passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones,...
Sonny Jurgensen, the strong-arm QB whose personality made him a beloved football figure, dies at 91
Sonny Jurgensen, the Hall of Fame quarterback whose strong arm, keen wit and affable personality made him one of the most beloved figures in Washington football history, has died. He was 91. While a cause was not disclosed, a Washington Commanders spokesperson confirmed Friday the team learned of Jurgensen’s death...
Mickey Lolich, hero of the 1968 World Series for the Detroit Tigers, dies at 85
DETROIT — Mickey Lolich, who earned three complete-game wins for the Detroit Tigers in the 1968 World Series, the last Major League Baseball pitcher to accomplish that feat, died Wednesday. He was 85. The Tigers said Lolich’s wife told them he died after a short stay in hospice care. An...
Former Indiana Rep. Lee Hamilton, leader of Sept. 11 panel, dies
INDIANAPOLIS — Former Rep. Lee Hamilton, a crewcut-wearing Indiana Democrat who was a leading foreign affairs voice during three decades in Congress and helped oversee investigations of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, died Tuesday. He was 94. Hamilton, who also led a congressional probe of the Reagan administration’s Iran-Contra affair...
Three Dog Night’s Chuck Negron, voice behind ‘Joy to the World,’ dies at 83
LOS ANGELES — Chuck Negron, a founding member of Three Dog Night whose lead vocals powered a string of hits including “Joy to the World,” “One” and “An Old Fashioned Love Song” for one of the top rock acts of the late 1960s and early ’70s, died Monday. He was...
‘He cared’: Eugene Khorey, 1st principal of Brashear High School, dies
When Brashear High School first opened in 1976 — uniting racially diverse students in the Pittsburgh Public School District — Eugene Khorey was at the helm as its first principal. Just two months short of turning 100 years old, Khorey, of Munhall, who was known as “Gene,” died on Jan....
Larry Cervi, beloved arts director and founder of East End Kids, dies
Larry Cervi, who spent decades shaping students and stages as an educator and performing arts director across the Pittsburgh region, was a people person at heart. Cervi, of Churchill, died Thursday, after a yearlong battle with bladder cancer, only two days after his 90th birthday. He founded the Larry Cervi...
