2012 CELEBRITY DEATH LIST..

[TEDDYX]

Sarah Burke was an X Games star with a grass-roots mentality — a daredevil superpipe skier who understood the risks inherent to her sport and the debt she owed to it for her success on the slopes.


 
Sarah Burke: 1982-2012
We look back at the life and career of a winter sports star.
The pioneering Canadian freestyler, who helped get superpipe accepted into the Olympics, died Thursday after a Jan. 10 crash during a training run in Park City, Utah.

Burke, who lived near Whistler, in British Columbia, was 29.

"Sarah was the one who, in a very positive way, stood in the face of adversity and asked, 'Why not?'" said Peter Judge, the CEO of Canada's freestyle team. "What she would have wanted was for her teammates and others in her sport to stand up and also say, 'Why not?' To benefit from the significant opportunities available to them, being able to compete in the Olympics and the X Games. Those were the things she wanted and cherished and fought for."

A four-time Winter X Games champion, Burke crashed on the same halfpipe where snowboarder Kevin Pearce sustained a traumatic brain injury during a training accident on Dec. 31, 2009.

Tests revealed she sustained "irreversible damage to her brain due to lack of oxygen and blood after cardiac arrest," according to a statement released by her publicist, Nicole Wool, on behalf of the family.

She said Burke's organs and tissues were donated, as the skier had requested before the accident.

"The family expresses their heartfelt gratitude for the international outpouring of support they have received from all the people Sarah touched," the statement said.


 
In Memoriam
We look back at those we've lost in the sports world in 2012.
Judge said the accident did not come on a risky trick, but rather, a simple 540-degree jump that Burke usually landed routinely.

"It was more the freak nature of how she landed," he said. "The angle of how she hit must have been exactly the right way, to create a very bizarre circumstance."

Burke will be remembered as much for the hardware she collected as the legacy she left for women in superpipe skiing, a sister sport to the more popular snowboarding brand that has turned Shaun White, Hannah Teter and others into stars.

Aware of the big role the Olympics played in pushing the Whites of the world from the fringes into the mainstream, Burke lobbied to add superpipe skiing to the Winter Games program, noting that no new infrastructure would be needed.

Her arguments won over Olympic officials, and the discipline will debut in two years in Russia, where Burke likely would have been a favorite for the gold medal.

She was, Judge said, as committed to mentoring up-and-coming competitors and giving clinics as performing at the top levels.

"She was a kind person who was easygoing and approachable," Judge said. "There was no pretense about her."


 
TRAGIC SPORTS DEATHS
Remembering the many athletes sports lost way too soon.
News of Burke's death spread quickly through the action-sports world, where the Winter X Games are set to start next week in Aspen, Colo., without one of their biggest and most-beloved stars.

"She's probably one of the nicest people I've known in my life, and that's about the only thing I have to say about it," said American superpipe skier Simon Dumont, a multiple X Games medalist.

Jeremy Forster, the program director for US Freeskiing and US Snowboarding, said freeskiers would remember Burke "first, as a friend, and then as a competitor who constantly inspired them to do greater things."

"She was a leader in her sport, and it's a huge loss for the freeskiing community," Forster said.

"I am eternally indebted to Sarah for what she has done for this sport," said American superpipe skier Jen Hudak. "Every turn I ever make will be for her."

A moment of silence for Burke was observed before Canada's women's soccer team played Haiti in an Olympic qualifying match in Vancouver on Thursday night.

Burke's death is sure to re-ignite the debate over safety on the halfpipe.


Pearce's injury — he has since recovered and is back to riding on snow — was a jarring reminder of the dangers posed to these athletes who often market themselves as devil-may-care thrillseekers but know they make their living in a far more serious, and dangerous, profession.

The sport's leaders defend the record, saying mandatory helmets and air bags used on the sides of pipes during practice and better pipe-building technology has made this a safer sport, even though the walls of the pipes have risen significantly over the past decade. They now stand at 22 feet high.

Some of the movement to the halfpipe decades ago came because racing down the mountain, the way they do in snowboardcross and skicross, was considered even more dangerous — the conditions more unpredictable and the athletes less concerned with each other's safety.

But there are few consistent, hard-and-fast guidelines when it comes to limiting the difficulty of the tricks in the halfpipe, and as the money and fame available in the sport grew, so did the tricks. In 2010, snowboarding pioneer Jake Burton told The Associated Press that much of this was self-policed by athletes who knew where to draw the line.

"If the sport got to the point where halfpipe riding became really dangerous, I think riders would do something about it," Burton said. "It wouldn't be cool anymore."

His opinion is shared by many.

"From a safety perspective, it's just very difficult to really understand if there was anything that could've been done any differently to make it any safer," Judge said.


In 2009, Burke broke a vertebra in her back after landing awkwardly while competing in slopestyle at the X Games. It was her lobbying that helped get the X Games to include women's slopestyle — where riders shoot down the mountain and over "features" including bumps and rails.

It wasn't her best event, but she felt compelled to compete because she pushed for it. She came to terms with her injury quickly.

"I've been doing this for long time, 11 years," she said in a 2010 interview. "I've been very lucky with the injuries I've had. It's part of the game. Everybody gets hurt. Looking back on it, I'd probably do the exact same thing again."

She returned a year after that injury and kept going at the highest level, trying the toughest tricks and winning the biggest prizes.

A native of Midland, Ontario, Burke won the ESPY in 2007 as female action sports athlete of the year.

In 2010, she married another freestyle skier, Rory Bushfield, and they were headliners in a documentary film project on the Ski Channel called "Winter."

In her interview with AP two years ago, Burke reflected on the niche she'd carved out in the action-sports world.

"We're all doing this, first off, because we love it and want to be the best," she said. "But I also think it would've been a great opportunity, huge for myself and for skiing and for everyone, if we could've gotten into the (Vancouver) Olympics. It's sad. I mean, I'm super lucky to be where I am, but that would've been pretty awesome."

A little more than a year later, with Burke's prodding, her sport was voted in for the next Winter Games.

[WIL]

That's a really long article about someone dying!

[TEDDYX]

Sorry. I got carried away ..

[TEDDYX]

Some of you might remember him...

Robert Hegyes, who played Juan Epstein on '70s sitcom "Welcome Back, Kotter," died Thursday, the New Jersey Star-Ledger reports. Hegyes, who died of an apparent heart attack after suffering chest pains at his Metuchen, N.J., home, was 60.

Search: Robert Hegyes


Hegyes had not been in good health for the past two years, his brother Mark Hegyes told the paper. The actor had suffered a previous heart attack in recent years.

Police responded to an emergency call from Hegyes' home at approximately 9 a.m. He was transported to JFK Medical Center in Edison, N.J., but at that point he had gone into full cardiac arrest.

Though Hegyes also starred on the detective series "Cagney & Lacey" (as Detective Manny Esposito) and, in later years, guest-starred on shows such as "NewsRadio" and "Diagnosis Murder," he was best known for his role as Juan Epstein -- full name: Juan Luis Pedro Phillipo de Huevos Epstein -- on the 1970s sitcom "Welcome Back, Kotter" from 1975 to 1979. Perpetually scheming and always ready with a self-written note signed "Epstein's Mother" to explain his school absences, Epstein stood out among a group of characters that included the super-cocky womanizer Vinnie Barbarino (played by a young John Travolta) and hip but beleaguered high school teacher Gabe Kotter (played by Gabe Kaplan).

Hegyes' last listed acting role on IMDb is in the film "Hip, Edgy, Sexy, Cool" in 2002. He also appeared with most of the original "Kotter" cast members for a reunion at the TV Land Awards last year, as a commemoration for the series' 35th anniversary.

He leaves behind two children, Cassie and Mack, and two stepchildren, Sophia and Alex.

Related articles from TheWrap:
Jeff Conaway, 'Grease' Star Who Struggled With Addictions, Dies at 60

[WIL]

Dr. Hess from PUPPET MASTER III, and the soul of Blade died 

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ian-abercrombie-elaine-s-boss-285386


Ian Abercrombie, Elaine’s Boss on 'Seinfeld,' Dies at 77


Ian Abercrombie, a busy character actor who gained recognition as Elaine Benes’ (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) eccentric boss Mr. Pitt on NBC’s Seinfeld, died Thursday in Hollywood. He was 77.

Abercrombie seemed to be always working, appearing in scores of films, TV shows and theater productions during his 50-year-plus career in show business. The British actor made his American stage debut in 1955 in a production of Stalag 17 opposite Jason Robards, played the Wise Man in Sam Raimi’s comedy-horror film Army of Darkness (1972) and was 800-year-old wizard Professor Crumbs on Disney Channel hit Wizards of Waverly Place.


Abercrombie also had a recurring role as Palpatine/Darth Sidious on George Lucas’ animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, did voice work on animation hit Rango this year and, just before his death, completed his work on the latest episode of the Green Lantern animated series for Cartoon Network.

In seven episodes of Seinfeld, Abercrombie played Justin Pitt, Elaine’s picky boss who eats his candy bars with a knife and fork and wears white knee socks. He fired Elaine after he became convinced she had tried to murder him using a deadly drug interaction, with Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld) as an accomplice.

Abercrombie’s film credits start with Von Ryan’s Express (1965) and include They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? (1969), The Molly Maguires (1970), Young Frankenstein (1974), Puppet Master III (1991), The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997), Marilyn Hotchkiss’ Ballroom Dancing and Charm School (2005) and Garfield: A Tale of Two Kitties (2006).
On television, he was a regular on the WB Network series Birds of Prey and also worked on such shows as Get Smart, Hunter, L.A. Law, Dynasty, Northern Exposure, NewsRadio, Murphy Brown, Desperate Housewives and dozens of others.

Born Sept. 11, 1934, in Grays, Essex, England, Abercrombie performed on stages in London, Holland, Ireland and Scotland before coming to America at age 17 in 1951. His other theatrical credits include Mary Stuart (with Marsha Mason), The Crucifer of Blood (with Charlton Heston as Sherlock Holmes), The Vortex (with Rupert Everett) and The Arcata Promise with Anthony Hopkins.

Abercrombie was a founding member and former board member of BAFTA-LA as well as a board member for the Actors Fund of America.

[WIL]

[El_Brando_37]

Soul Train's Don Cornelius died yesterday and boxing trainer Angelo Dundee died today.

[WIL]

Bill Hinzman, who played the Cemetery Zombie in George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead, died of cancer this weekend. He was 76.

[Sqwash]

Whitney Houston

[TEDDYX]

Two weeks ago, Hall of Famer Gary Carter made what was to be his final public appearance.

The Palm Beach Atlantic University baseball team that he coached the two previous years was opening its season, and Carter wasn’t about to miss the first pitch, even if it meant he had to ride around the field in a golf cart and then leave after the third inning, a concession to the life-eroding brain tumor that first was diagnosed last May.


 
HERE'S LOOKING AT YA, KID
Take a look back at the career of Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter.
"Let’s get a win tonight," Carter urged the Palm Beach players.

Palm Beach Atlantic won that battle 3-2 against Lynn University.

On Thursday, however, Carter lost his nine-month battle with cancer.

At the age of 57, The Kid, as he was known for his infectious enthusiasm and friendly personality, died.

This is one of those moments when life doesn’t seem fair.

If it were, Carter would have lived forever.

Want to know what kind of a guy Gary Carter was? Biggest knock on him was that he was such a good guy that he couldn’t be for real.

"I try to emphasize what’s good in life," Carter once said. "The Lord, playing ball, my family, meeting people and good health."


 
THE BACKSTOP BOYS
These players wore the Tools of Ignorance with honor. Who are the all-time best catchers?
And he meant it. He lived as good, if not better, a life than he talked. Gary Carter was there for whatever Fans, media and teammates needed, whenever they needed it. He wasn’t looking for anything in return. It was the only way he knew to act.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003, Carter began his career with Montreal, enjoyed being part of a world champion with the New York Mets and made stops with the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers before calling it quits where his career began, with the Expos.

Slowed by knee problems from the middle of the career until its end, he was an 11-tme All-Star and a three-time Gold Glove winner. His 324 career home runs rank 104th all-time, and the 298 he hit while catching rank sixth all-time for that position.

Numbers, however, tell only a small part of what made Carter special.

It was the way he played the game.

He was never afraid to let other players or the fans see he was having a good time, and he never backed down from a challenge. It was, remember, his single in the 10th inning of Game 6 in the 1986 World Series that ignited the Mets' come-from-behind victory and opened the way for his team to claim a seven-game world championship.

But he was never one to pat himself on the back. Asked what his most exciting moment in baseball was, Carter said it was not that well-documented base hit, but rather catching the final pitch in the Game 7 that touched off a world championship celebration.

"Nothing will ever replace the feeling I got when Jesse Orosco struck out Marty Barrett to end the game, and I got the opportunity to run out in his arms," Carter said.

"To me, that was the great accomplishment. Without a doubt, that was my biggest thrill."


 
In Memoriam
We remember those who died in the sports world in 2012.
Makes sense because that was Carter.

"Some relationships are special," Hall of Fame outfielder Andre Dawson, an Expos teammate of Carter, said upon learning of the death. "Some are endearing. Some you even want to forget about. Gary was one of those endearing friendships that is a rare occurrence.

"His peers had the utmost respect for his faith, love for his family and childlike enthusiasm for the game of baseball. 'May the Good Lord bless and keep you' was his favorite inscription. Rest in peace my brother."

Carter carried that love and enthusiasm for the game and its people into his retirement. He spent five years managing in the minor leagues, helping young players attain the same goal he had when he was a third-round draft pick of the Expos out of high school back in 1972.

And then, after deciding it was time for a change, he took on that challenge at the collegiate level.

"My primary goal is to help these young athletes become better Christians and prepare them for life, not just baseball," Carter said on the day his hiring at Palm Beach Atlantic was announced.

Sound like a challenge?

It wasn’t.

Why?


 
TRAGIC SPORTS DEATHS
Remembering the many athletes sports lost way too soon.
Because all Carter had to do was be himself, and anyone who came into contact with him was better prepared for life.

"Nobody loved the game of baseball more than Gary Carter," Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver told the Hall of Fame. "He wore his heart on his sleeve every inning he played. For a catcher to play with that intensity in every game is special."

For a man to live with that intensity every moment of his life is even more special.

But then that’s why Gary Carter was so special, as a player and a person.

[TEDDYX]

Singer Davy Jones of The Monkees has died of a heart attack at 66, the medical examiner's office in Martin County, Fla., has confirmed to NBC News.

The news was originally reported by TMZ.

Jones was most famous for his role in the pop group The Monkees, which was put together in 1965 for the TV show of the same name. Their hits included "Daydream Believer," "Last Train to Clarksville," "I'm a Believer," and "Pleasant Valley Sunday." They also charted with the theme song from the show.

In 2008, Yahoo Music named him the top teen idol of all time.

After "The Monkees" disbanded in 1971, Jones sang solo as well as with various reincarnations of the group.

Advertise | AdChoicesHe also acted on stage and screen, with his most famous TV appearance as himself on "The Brady Bunch," in an episode where Marcia Brady was the president of his fan club and tried to get the singer to appear at her school dance. He also played Fagin in "Oliver!" on Broadway.

Recently, he played himself on an episode of "Sponge Bob Square Pants."

[TEDDYX]

Guitarist Ronnie Montrose dies at 64
March 4, 2012, 12:34 PM EST
RollingStone.com

Ronnie Montrose, who is best known for his fiery guitar work as a member of the band Montrose, died Saturday. It is believed that the cause of death was prostate cancer, which he had been battling for the past few years.

Bing: Watch Montrose videos, hear their music

"A few months ago, we held a surprise party for Ronnie Montrose's 64th birthday," a statement said on Montrose's official website. "He gave an impromptu speech, and told us that after a long life, filled with joy and hardship, he didn't take any of our love for granted. He passed today. He'd battled cancer, and staved off old age for long enough. And true to form, he chose his own exit the way he chose his own life. We miss him already, but we're glad to have shared with him while we could."

Check out msnNOW: The social trends people are talking about

Born in Denver, Colo., Montrose got his first break when he was invited to play on Van Morrison's 1971 album, "Tupelo Honey." Additional appearances on recordings by Herbie Hancock, Boz Scaggs, and the Edgar Winter Group soon followed before he formed his own band, Montrose, in 1973. In addition to the guitarist, the band consisted of a then-unknown Sammy Hagar on vocals, as well as bassist Bill Church and drummer Denny Carmassi.

Keep up with MSN Music: Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

The quartet issued one of rock's all-time great debuts that year, their Zeppelin-esque album, Montrose, which spawned such soon-to-be hard rock standards as "Rock the Nation," "Bad Motor Scooter," "Space Station No. 5," "Rock Candy" and "Make It Last," all of which featured Montrose's tasty guitar playing. Hagar, however, would only remain with the band for one more release (1974's "Paper Money") before exiting the group.

Also on RollingStone.com: Sammy Hagar: 'I Would Love to Make Another Record With Van Halen'

Still, the two Hagar/Montrose albums proved influential to subsequent bands, as evidenced by all the rock acts covering Montrose tunes, including Iron Maiden, who covered "I've Got the Fire" and "Space Station No. 5." Interestingly, Van Halen (the group Hagar would eventually front for two separate stints) would cover the songs "Rock Candy" and "Make It Last" during their early club days.

Montrose the group (with singer Bob James filling Hagar's spot) would soldier on for a few more releases in the '70s before the guitarist issued an all-instrumental solo album, 1978's "Open Fire." He went on to form Gamma, which issued three albums between 1980 and 1983. From the Eighties onward, Montrose would alternate between issuing additional recordings from Montrose, Gamma, and as a solo artist.

Ronnie Montrose and Sammy Hagar appeared to eventually bury the hatchet, as the original Montrose line-up appeared on the singer's 1997 solo effort, "Marching to Mars," for the song "Leaving the Warmth of the Womb," and even played together again on stage several times afterwards. For the past few years, Montrose had played solo shows throughout the U.S.

[TEDDYX]

 Longtime Doobie Brothers drummer Michael Hossack, whose work is heard on the hits "Listen To The Music" and "China Grove," died of cancer at age 65, his manager said Tuesday.

Hossack died Monday at his home in Dubois, Wyo., manager Bruce Cohn said in a statement.

Bing music: Doobie Brothers

Hossack played with the group from 1971 to 1973 and rejoined in 1987. He stopped performing with the band two years ago while struggling with his health,

"Mike has always been a part of my musical life and the life of the Doobie Brothers," said band co-founder Tom Johnston. "He was an incredible musician."

Hossack, who grew up in New Jersey, played in various drum and bugle corps as a youngster. He said the experience prepared him for playing in a two-drummer group such as the Doobie Brothers.

Cohn quoted him as saying: "'People always ask me of it's hard to play with another drummer. I tell them that after playing along with up to 12 other drummers at once in the drum corps, this is a snap!"

After leaving the Doobie Brothers in 1973, Hossack played with two other bands — Bonaroo and DFK — and was a partner at a Southern California recording studio.

Hossack served in the Navy during the Vietnam War and is survived by a son and daughter.

[TEDDYX]

Jim Marshall, founder of the legendary Marshall Amplification company, passed away today, April 5, 2012, at aged 88.

Name any band rock or metal band over the last 50 years and you can almost guarantee they plug their guitars into the same amplifiers. These same bands will all have a similar live set-up: walls of black squares adorned with the famous white signature of their creator: Marshall.

Jim Marshall was born in London, England on July 29, 1923. Due to poor health as a child he was excused military service and found his way into music first as a singer then a drummer. Later, he ran a music shop in West London and through conversations with his guitar playing customers – which included such esteemed talents as Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple) and Pete Townshend (The Who) – founded his namesake company in 1962.


His powerful amps were one of the key components in the creation of rock music and he became affectionately known as the Father of Loud. I think today should be a celebration of loud and proud music. After all, that is why we love Marshall amps. So grab your guitar, crank up your amp and salute the creator of the rock sound, the Father of Loud, the one and only Jim Marshall OBE.

It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved founder and leader for the past 50 years, Jim Marshall. While mourning the Guv’nor though, we also salute a legendary man who led a full and truly remarkable life.

Marshall’s ascent into the history books as ‘the Father of Loud’ and the man responsible for ‘the Sound of Rock’ is a true rags-to-riches tale. Cruelly robbed of his youth by tMechacular bones, Jim rose to become one of the four forefathers responsible for creating the tools that allowed rock guitar as we know and love it today to be born. The ground breaking quartet also includes the late, great trio of Leo Fender, Les Paul and Seth Lover – together with Jim, they truly are the cornerstones of all things rock.

In addition to the creation of the amps chosen by countless guitar heroes and game changing bands, Jim was also an incredibly humble and generous man who, over the past several decades, has quietly donated many millions of pounds to worthy causes.

While the entire Marshall Amplification family mourns Jim’s passing and will miss him tremendously, we all feel richer for having known him and are happy in the knowledge that he is now in a much better place which has just got a whole lot louder!

Rest in Peace & thank you Jim.

Your memory; the music and joy your amps have brought to countless millions for the past five decades; and that world-famous, omnipresent script logo that proudly bears your name will always live on.

[WIL]

Dick Clark finally died. Now Ryan Seacrest can eat his heart and steal his soul!


http://www.tmz.com/2012/04/18/dick-clark-dead-heart-attack/#.T48cYhy9H0M

Dick Clark -- famed TV producer, and "New Year's Rockin' Eve" host -- died from a massive heart attack this morning ... TMZ has learned.

Clark's rep tells TMZ, the TV icon had been in St. John's hospital in L.A. after undergoing an outpatient procedure last night. Clark suffered the "massive" heart attack following the procedure. Attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.

Clark was 82.

Clark's health had been on the decline since he suffered a significant stroke in 2004 -- forcing him to retire from his hosting gig at "New Years' Rockin' Eve," which he created in 1972.

Ryan Seacrest took over in 2006. Dick has appeared on the show sporadically ever since.

Before suffering a stroke, Clark told Larry King he also suffered from Type 2 diabetes.

Clark was married 3 times -- and has 3 children from his first two marriages. He is survived by his current wife Kari Wigton.

"For now, Dick Clark ... so long."