Long-Time NBA Commissioner David Stern Dies at 77

The man who is considered to be the most successful commissioner in American pro sports history died.

The NBA announced the passing of former league commissioner David Stern.

Stern was 77 years old.

The former commissioner passed away as a result of a brain hemorrhage he suffered about three weeks ago, the league’s statement said.

Stern served as NBA commissioner for 30 years, beginning in 1984.

Former URI Golf Coach Drennan Passes Away at 82

Former University of Rhode Island golf coach Tom Drennan passed away.

"I know that I speak for our entire department when I say that we are heartbroken about Tom's passing. It truly was an honor to work alongside Tom. He was a man of great integrity who was an incredible mentor to countless student-athletes, as well as colleagues. I will certainly miss our conversations and the friendship we developed over the past 13 years,” said URI Athletic Director Thorr Bjorn.

He was 82 years old.

Drennan’s Career

In 22 years as the URI head coach, Drennan led the Rams to five A-10 championships, 10 New England Intercollegiate championships and seven New England Division I titles. 

During his tenure, the Rams competed in 13 NCAA Regional Tournaments and one NCAA Championship. URI golfers earned individual entries into the NCAA Regionals on three separate occasions. 

During his career, Drennan was named A-10 Coach of the Year three times, New England Coach of the Year nine times as well as Rhode Island Men's Sports Coach of the Year twice. 

Drennan was inducted into the Golf Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2007, after being voted in by his peers. 

Several years later, he was inducted into the Rhode Island Golf Hall of Fame in 2015.

PBS NewsHour Co-Founder Lehrer Passes Away at 85

PBS NewsHour co-founder Jim Lehrer passed away at the age of 85 in January, PBS announced.

“With heavy hearts we report the death of PBS NewsHour co-founder Jim Lehrer at age 85. A giant in journalist, his tenacity and dedication to simply delivering the news remain the core of our work,” wrote PBS in a tweet.

According to PBS, he died peacefully at his home.

Lehrer at PBS

He first joined PBS as a correspondent for what was called the National Public Affairs Center for Television, or NPAT.

That is where he met Robert MacNeil.

In 1983, the two teamed up for The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour.

MacNeil retired 12 years later and the program became The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer.

Over the course of his career at PBS, Lehrer interviewed leading figures such as Margaret Thatcher and Yasser Arafat, South Korean President Kim Daejung and Chinese leader Jiang Zemin.

He also interviewed President Bill Clinton about accusations regarding his sexual relations with Monica Lewinsky.

Lehrer moderated 12 presidential debates from 1988 to 2012, more than any other person in U.S. history. 

Lehrer stepped down as full-time anchor of the NewsHour in 2011.

Lehrer was given the National Humanities Medal by Clinton, elected as a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and with MacNeil, inducted into the Television Hall of Fame.

RI Education Pioneer Rob DeBlois Passes — Creator of UCAP and Inspiration to All

Robert Charles DeBlois (Rob) died peacefully, surrounded by his family, at home in Seekonk, on January 31.

Born in Providence, RI, he was the son of the late Arthur J. DeBlois, Jr. and Eleanor Hyland DeBlois. 

He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Bonnie DeBlois, his son Justin DeBlois and his wife Ivonne, of Belchertown, MA,  his son Eric DeBlois of Seekonk, his daughter Sherry DeBlois of Stuart, FL., his brothers Arthur DeBlois III and his wife Paula, John DeBlois and his wife Carol, and Mark DeBlois and his wife Chris. Also, many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Rob grew up in Pawtucket, RI, listening to the lions roar at Slater Park Zoo, close to his home.  He loved hanging out in Countryside, at Tarpy’s Pond, or Slater Park, and as a teenager worked cleaning boilers or painting gas stations for the family business, DeBlois Oil.

He attended Cranwell Prep School in Lennox, Massachusetts, where he developed friendships which lasted a lifetime. Here he realized the power of community and brotherhood.  He then attended the University of New Hampshire, which is where he met his wife, Bonnie.  It was Halloween of 1972 - he was a Revolutionary soldier, and she was a witch’s hat, a variation on a theme which continued for the next10 years.  Durham is also where he broke his neck diving into a river, leaving him a quadriplegic.  He later went on to earn a Masters in English from Brown University, a Masters in Education from Rhode Island College, and an Honorary Doctor of Pedagogy from Rhode Island College.

After completing his degree at UNH, Rob began teaching English at Bishop Keough High School in Pawtucket, and began working at Upward Bound, a college prep program for first generation college students.   He developed a relationship with Ted Sizer, founder of the Coalition of Essential Schools and the Annenberg Institute for School Reform.  This led to Rob’s intense focus on creating programs to serve urban kids at serious risk of dropping out of school.  Rob always said he was the lucky one, and that he had less to overcome than the students who attended the programs he founded.

In 1984 Rob founded SPIRIT, a summer program for urban students, which took place in collaboration with four local independent schools, using their campuses and facilities.  Rob being Rob, this was not enough.  From SPIRIT grew two schools - Blackstone Academy, and UCAP.  Drawing on his great strength in bringing people together, in 1989 he founded UCAP, an independent public middle school whose purpose is to identify and intervene in the education of students who are at serious risk of not completing high school.  Rob, a creative thinker and non-conformist, who never cared about norms or paid much attention to inconvenient “rules”,  created UCAP before the idea of charter schools came on the educational scene.  Through pure doggedness and determination, he built a community of public and private support which has lifted UCAP into a model for public education.  He was a demanding, yet forgiving, principal and team leader as he worked tirelessly to develop and improve UCAP.   In all of this, his sense of humor and mischievous spirit endeared him to those he worked with, and made working with him fun - always a goal of his. He never lost his youthful point of view, which made him a constant advocate for his students.  In fact, having fun is included in UCAP’s mission statement.  Rob always said that what was needed was for society as a whole to stop looking at at-risk students as “other people’s children” and embrace them as their own.

During all this, Rob found the time to contribute to numerous other organizations, serving on the boards of Special Olympics, PARI, the Wheeler School, Community Prep School, Summerbridge Program,  Kids Count, the Seekonk Library Trust, the Mission and Social Action board of the Seekonk Congregational Church, and many others.  He received numerous awards and recognitions.  Among his most treasured were the National Caring Award, the 2000 Rhode Island Middle School Principal of the Year, The Martin Luther KIng, Jr. Hall of Fame Award, and the 2018 Murray Family Prize.  Rob was also a life-long prolific writer, with many published articles on both education and life in general.  He valued intellectual curiosity, and wrote on a wide range of topics.  He always said not to confuse school with education.

Rob was a force of nature.  He would say he was “born on third base,” and his sense of justice and the responsibility to give something back led him into the field of education and bolstered his extraordinary accomplishments. His creativity and capacity for imagination seemed limitless.  Tolerant and forgiving, he always found a way around seemingly insurmountable challenges, including physical ones.  His embrace of liberal values made gatherings with his more conservative family lively, yet loving.  The quick give and take of ideas and good-natured insults was a sight to see.  In fact, history and politics were also life-long interests, and he was an activist for causes dear to his heart.

 Always a free spirit, Rob enjoyed new experiences with a wholehearted appreciation for what life could bring.  Due to his physical limitations, he learned to accept help gracefully, giving us the gift of helping him.  He loved his family (including his golden retrievers) and friends above all.  Before his accident he loved hiking and skiing in the White Mountains, and continued to head north as often as possible, reveling in watching his children develop the same appreciation for skiing, hiking, and nature, that he had. Friends in Franconia gave him and his family the use of their accessible home at Mittersill, and it became the preferred family vacation spot.

Former RI Supreme Court Chief Justice Fay Passes Away at 79

Thomas F. Fay, 79, former Supreme Court Chief Justice, passed away on Friday, January 31, 2020, at Grandview Center, Cumberland. He was the beloved husband of Paulette Fay for 54 years.

Born in Lincoln, he was a son of the late Joseph and Ethel (Lupton) Fay. He was a lifelong resident of Lincoln.

He graduated from Central Falls High School (1958), Providence College (1962) and Boston University Law School (1965). He started his legal career with Oster Espo Fay & Groff while representing District 72 in the House of Representatives. He was sworn in as an Associate Justice of the R.I. Family Court in 1976 where he championed many changes to the juvenile justice system. In 1986 he was elevated to Chief Justice of the R.I. Supreme Court where he served until 1995.

He subsequently served as a consultant to many profit and not-for-profit entities throughout Rhode Island. He will be remembered for his caring and compassionate demeanor both on and off the bench.

He is survived by his wife, Paulette Fay, his daughter, Kelly Ann Fay of Lincoln; his son Thomas J. Fay, Esq. and his wife Melissa, of Somerset, Massachusetts; three grandchildren, Leah Pepin Day of Warwick, John R. Silvia, Jr. and Madison E. Silvia, both of Somerset, Massachusetts; and his sister, Patricia Jarbeau of Lincoln. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Joseph Fay, Jr. of Modoc, South Carolina.

Owner of Andreas, Spats and Paragon Andrew “Andy” Mitrelis Passes

Andrew "Andy" Mitrelis of Cranston, passed away on February 20, 2020, at Philip Hulitar Hospice Inpatient Center in Providence.  He was the beloved husband for 63 years of Diane (Fotopoulos) Mitrelis.  Born in Kaletzi Patron Greece, he was the son of the late John and Sophia (Panas) Mitrelis.

Andy was a restaurateur for many years and owner of Andreas Restaurant on Thayer St. in Providence for the past 53 years.

Besides his wife Diane, he was the devoted father of Tammy Maatouk of Cranston; cherished grandfather of Natalia Foussekis and Philippe Maatouk; loving great-grandfather of Giselle Machowski; and dear brother of Paul Mitrelis of Greece and the late Sia Ragkos, George Mitrelis, Theodore Mitrelis, and Solon Mitrelis.

Legendary NASA Mathematician Katherine Johnson Passes Away at 101

Legendary NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson passed away at the age of 101, NASA announced.

Johnson was portrayed in the 2016 film “Hidden Figures,” about African American women whose work at NASA was important during the Space Race.

“We’re saddened by the passing of celebrated Hidden Figures mathematician Katherine Johnson. Today, we celebrate her 101 years of life and honor her legacy of excellence that broke down racial and social barriers,” wrote NASA in a tweet on Monday. 

A cause of death has not been given. 

Johnson at NASA

Johnson began working at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia in 1953.

In her role there, she did trajectory analysis for Alan Shepard’s 1961 mission Freedom 7, which was America’s first human spaceflight.

Johnson was best known for her work that contributed to the first American orbital spaceflight that was piloted by John Glenn.

Johnson’s calculations were important to the start of the Space Shuttle program, and she worked on plans for a mission to Mars.

“Our NASA family is sad to learn the news that Katherine Johnson passed away this morning at 101 years old. She was an American hero and her pioneering legacy will never be forgotten,” wrote NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine in a tweet.

Johnson worked for NASA for over three decades before retiring in 1986.

In 2015, President Barack Obama awarded Johnson the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

In 2019, Johnson was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.

Former General Electric CEO Jack Welch Dies at 84

Jack Welch who served as the CEO of General Electric Co. for two decades died at 84.

“Mr. Welch’s success, driven by a hard-nosed strategy to slash less profitable businesses and unproductive employees, made him an international celebrity in the 1980s and drove GE to become the most valuable U.S. company during the 1990s. He groomed a generation of business leaders who went on to run giants such as Boeing Co. and Home Depot Inc.,” wrote the Wall Street Journal on Monday.

After his retirement in 2001 he wrought the best-selling books about business leadership, but GE’s troubles in the decades after his exit—under his handpicked successor, Jeff Immelt—raised questions about Welch’s management methods and whether he pushed the conglomerate too hard - writes the WSJ.

He is survived by his third wife, Suzy, and four adult children from his first marriage. He married Suzy, a former Harvard Business Review editor, in 2004 after a highly public divorce from his second wife. The couple started an online M.B.A. program and co-wrote several business books.

"GE traces its roots back more than century to Thomas Edison and John Pierpont Morgan, but the modern GE was built by Mr. Welch. He was nicknamed “Neutron Jack” because he eliminated some 100,000 jobs in his early years as chief executive and insisted that managers systematically fire their worst performers. He pressured GE workers around the globe to drive themselves to ever-more-demanding efficiency standards," writes the WSJ.

“My job is not to know everything about each business,” he told The Wall Street Journal in 1999. “It is to pick the people who will run the business and to decide how much money business A versus business B or C gets.”

Virginia Coates Chafee, Wife of Governor and Senator, Mother of Senator and Governor, Passes Away

The Chafee family announced the passing of Virginia Coates Chafee at 93. 

She was the wife of John Chafee — one of Rhode Island’s greatest statesmen and arguably the most pro-environment senator in the history of the chamber.

Her son -- Lincoln Chafee -- served as a United States Senator and Governor of Rhode Island.

The matriarch of Chafee Political Legacy

John Chafee was elected Governor of Rhode Island at the age of 40 years old in 1962.

He then served as Secretary of the Navy and United States Senator — the life took the couple to live in the Washington, D.C. area for decades.

“The companion and confidant of a politician on the national stage, though never a public person herself, she kept well-informed on the questions of the day, formed her own opinions and expressed them well.  She had an unaffected way and a warm human touch that endeared her to those of all ages and stations in life,” the family said in a statement.

Mrs. Chafee was the mother of six children including Lincoln Chafee, the former U.S. Senator and Governor of Rhode Island. Today, he is a potential candidate for the Libertarian Party nomination for president.

“Mrs. Chafee was the backbone of the family — she was an absolute partner with the Senator. She never interfered, but you knew he listened to her advice and counsel. It is a great American story,” said Josh Fenton, CEO and co-founder of GoLocal and who served on John Chafee's staff from 1985 to 1989.

The couple lost one child in a horseback riding accident.

She is survived by her children, besides Lincoln, including Zechariah, Georgia, John Jr., and Quintin.

In addition, she was the aunt of Lisa Najeeb Halaby -- later Queen Noor of Jordan.

Edna O’Neil Mattson, Founder of RI Committee of Democratic Chairs, Passes Away

Edna O’Neil Mattson, the founder of the Rhode Island Committee of Democratic Chairs, passed away, the Rhode Island Democratic Party announced.

Mattson served as the RI’s Democratic National Committeewoman and worked on the campaign for John F. Kennedy in 1960.

She was also the first woman elected to the North Kingstown Town Committee.

Rhode Island Democratic Party Chair Joseph McNamara issued the following statement:

“It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we’ve learned today of the passing of Edna O’Neill Mattson.

Edna was our state’s Democratic National Committeewoman for decades and a legend for her fiery red hair and fiery personality, and her service to the community.

If the late Senator Ted Kennedy was the Lion of the Senate, then she surely was the Lioness of this state’s Democratic Party.

Everything Edna cared about, she cared deeply about: her beloved family, the Community College of Rhode Island, the Democratic Party, the Navy Relief Society and the American Red Cross.

She was the first woman Democratic town chair, a charter member of the state Democratic City and Town Chair Association, and a delegate to every National Democratic Convention since 1976.

Edna proudly served this party her whole life, and fittingly ended it as our state’s Democratic National Committeewoman. We will miss her: there will never be another Edna.”

Harlem Globetrotters Icon Fred “Curley” Neal Passes Away at 77

Harlem Globetrotters legend Fred “Curley” Neal passed away at the age of 77, the Globetrotters announced on Twitter.

“We have lost one of the most genuine human beings the world has ever known. Curly’s basketball skill was unrivaled by most, and his warm heart and huge smile brought joy to families worldwide,” said Globetrotters General Manager Jeff Munn in a statement on Twitter.

According to the Globetrotters, Neal died at his home just outside of Houston, Texas.

Neal's cause of death is unknown, though The Undefeated reports that he had been battling a stroke over the last several years. 

According to the Globetrotters’ website, Neal made more than 6,000 appearances with the team from 1963 to 1985.

“It was Curly's magical ball-handling, shooting, charismatic smile, and iconic bald head, in more than 6,000 games in 97 countries, that made them start to play and fall in love with the game,” writes the Globetrotters in a series of tweets. 

The Globetrotters retired his #22 jersey in 2008 in a ceremony at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

At the time, he was just the fifth player to receive the honor.

Neal joined the Globetrotters after averaging more than 23 points per game during his senior year at Johnson C. Smith University. He led them to the CIAA title. 

Basketball Legend Daniel E. Mazzulla, Jr. Passes

Daniel “Danny” E. Mazzulla, Jr., 61, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 surrounded by his loving family. A lifelong resident of Johnston, he was a son of the late Daniel E. Mazzulla, Sr. and Ann (Pezzucco) Mazzulla.

A treasured staple of the Johnston Community, Danny was employed by the Town of Johnston as the Recreation Director for many years before retiring on January 1, 2020. He was an outstanding coach to his children and all who played for him. Danny made it a point to have a positive impact on everyone he met.

He was the beloved father of Joseph Mazzulla (wife, Camai), Gianna Mazzulla, and Justin Mazzulla; loving grandfather of Jaziah Mazzulla, Michael Harden, and Emmanuel Mazzulla; caring brother of Lois Marandola, Anthony Mazzulla, Michael Mazzulla, Lori Cardillo, Donna Mazzulla, David Mazzulla, and Kristen Mazzulla. He is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins. Danny will also be deeply missed by his dear Johnston community.

Legendary Dolphins Coach Don Shula Dies at 90

Don Shula, the winningest coach in National Football League history, passed away at the age of 90. 

Longtime head coach of the Miami Dolphins, Shula led the team to two Super Bowl victories, as well as the only perfect season in NFL history.

Shula had previously been the head of Baltimore Colts, winning the 1968 NFL Championship. 

Drafted out of John Carroll University in the 1951 NFL Draft, Shula played professionally as a defensive back for the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Colts, and Washington Redskins.

Shula was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997.

The Miami Dolphins said Monday they were “saddened to announce that Head Coach Shula passed away peacefully at his home this morning.”

“Don Shula was the patriarch of the Miami Dolphins for 50 years. He brought the winning edge to our franchise and put the Dolphins and the city of Miami in the national sports scene,” said the team in a statement.

“Our deepest thoughts and prayers go out to Mary Anne along with his children Dave, Donna, Sharon, Anna, and Mike.”

Founder of Ann & Hope Irwin Chase Dies at 93

Irwin J. Chase 93, passed away on Tuesday, May 5, 2020. He was the beloved husband of Phyllis (Freeman) Chase, they were married for 59 years. Born in Providence, he was a son of the late Martin and Helen (Newburger) Chase.

He is a graduate of Brown University. He was on the board of directors of Rhode Island Hospital Trust Bank, and the International Mass Retailing Association.

He was inducted into the RI Heritage Hall of Fame in 2009, and was the founder of Ann & Hope, the 1st discount department store in America. Prior to starting their own businesses, Sam Walton (founder of Walmart) and Harry Cunningham (Kmart) each came to RI to study Ann & Hope's pioneering discount department store concept. In its heyday, Ann & Hope employed 3,000 associates across RI and MA.

Irwin was a US Army infantry veteran, having served during WWII and was awarded the Bronze Star medal. He fought in Germany and Austria in Patton's 3rd Army. His company was the first to cross the Rhine river in Germany, and was involved in the liberation of the Mauthausen concentration camp.

Besides his wife, he is survived by his son Michael Chase; son Bradley Chase and his wife Rebecca; brother Samuel Chase and his wife Eszter, sister Marjorie Torgan and her husband Philip, and granddaughters Lauren, Madeline, Hannah, and Julia. He is predeceased by his brother-in-law L. Saul Alpert. There was nothing more valuable to Irwin than his family. He will be remembered as a kind, humble, and generous man.

Little Richard, Founding Father of Rock & Roll, Dead at 87

Rolling Stone magazine reported, "Little Richard, a founding father of rock and roll whose fervent shrieks, flamboyant garb, and joyful, gender-bending persona embodied the spirit and sound of that new art form, died at 87.

The musician’s son, Danny Jones Penniman, confirmed the pioneer’s death to Rolling Stone.

Richard played Rhode Island a number of times including on July 20, 1994, at the Warwick Musical Tent.

Rolling Stone writes:

Starting with “Tutti Frutti” in 1956, Little Richard cut a series of unstoppable hits – “Long Tall Sally” and “Rip It Up” that same year, “Lucille” in 1957, and “Good Golly Miss Molly” in 1958 – driven by his simple, pumping piano, gospel-influenced vocal exclamations and sexually charged (often gibberish) lyrics. “I heard Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis, and that was it,” Elton John told Rolling Stone in 1973. “I didn’t ever want to be anything else. I’m more of a Little Richard stylist than a Jerry Lee Lewis, I think. Jerry Lee is a very intricate piano player and very skillful, but Little Richard is more of a pounder.” 

PHOTO: Anna Baker CC: 2.0

Comedian Jerry Stiller is Dead at 92, Announces His Son Ben

Actor Ben Stiller announced on Twitter that his father comedian Ben Stiller passed away, "I’m sad to say that my father, Jerry Stiller, passed away from natural causes. He was a great dad and grandfather,  and the most dedicated husband to Anne for about 62 years. He will be greatly missed. Love you Dad."

The senior Stiller, 92, was comedic partners with his wife Anne Marra starting in the 1950s and starred on shows like "The Ed Sullivan Show" and "The Tonight Show."

Marra died in 2015.

In recent years, Stiller has been best known as Frank Costanza in the show "Seinfeld" and about a decade later, as Arthur Spooner in the sitcom, "The King of Queens."

“An Icon in Sports Broadcasting” - Former Miss America Phyllis George Passes Away at 70

Pioneering female sports broadcaster -- and former Miss America -- Phyllis George passed away at 70. 

Her death was confirmed by her children, CNN's senior White House correspondent Pamela Brown and entrepreneur Lincoln Brown, CNN reported. 

A Texas native, George was crowned Miss America in 1971, before joining CBS Sports in 1974 and then the cast of The NFL Today, co-hosting live pregame shows before National Football League games.

George, one of the first women to have a nationally prominent role in television sports coverage, was a trailblazer for female broadcasters. 

CBS Sports released the following statement from Sean McManus, Chairman of CBS Sports, upon her passing.

“The CBS sports family is deeply saddened by the passing of Phyllis George, an icon in the sports broadcasting industry who contributed greatly to the rich history and tradition of CBS Sports. 

Phyllis was not only a key member of a show that remains the gold standard of NFL pregame shows, “The NFL Today” with Brent, Irv, and ’The Greek,’ but also a pioneer for all women in broadcasting.”

George was married twice.  Her first marriage was to Hollywood producer Robert Evans, and her second to Kentucky Fried Chicken owner and former Governor of Kentucky, John Y. Brown Jr.

George served as Kentucky's First Lady during Brown's term in office.

Christo, Sculptor of Massive Public Art, Dead at 84, Created Newport Installation

ARTnews first reported the artist Christo died at 84.

In 1974, he caused great controversy in Rhode Island when for a period of 18 days, he created 150,000 square feet of white woven polypropylene floating fabric covering the surface of the water of a half-moon-shaped cove at King's Beach in Newport, Rhode Island.

ARTnews Reports:

Christo, who with his partner Jeanne-Claude used sculpture as a means to dramatically shift people’s understanding of iconic structures and sites, has died at 84. According to a press release put out by the artist’s office, Christo died on May 31 of natural causes.

“Christo lived his life to the fullest, not only dreaming up what seemed impossible but realizing it,” the artist’s office said in a statement. “Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s artwork brought people together in shared experiences across the globe, and their work lives on in our hearts and memories.”

The news comes as Christo was to take on one of his most ambitious projects to date, a sculpture that would see Paris’s Arc de Triomphe wrapped in 269,097 square feet of fabric. Titled L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped (Project for Paris, Place de l’Étoile – Charles de Gaulle) and first conceived in 1962 by Christo and Jeanne-Claude, the project is still expected to be executed in September 2021, the artist’s office confirmed in its death notice. (The Arc de Triomphe wrapping was originally expected to take place this year, but it was re-dated because of the coronavirus pandemic.)

With Jeanne-Claude, Christo created some of the most iconic sculptures of the past half-century. Many involved temporarily sheathing well-known buildings in hundreds of thousands of square feet of fabric, effectively deconstructing and reconstructing the way we think about how those structures function with respect to the surrounding landscape. Among the structures wrapped by the couple were the Pont Neuf bridge in Paris, Biscayne Bay in Miami, and the Reichstag in Berlin.

Christo PHOTO Martin Durrschnabel CC 2.5

North Kingstown Athletic Director Dick Fossa Passes

Phil Auger, the North Kingstown School Department Superintendent, announced that long-time and well-respected Athletic Director Dick Fossa died.

Auger’s Statement:

It is with great sadness that I share with you the passing of North Kingstown High School’s beloved Athletic Director, Dick Fossa. Mr. Fossa died from heart complications earlier today. 

His passion was high school athletics, and every part of his work was for the benefit of our student-athletes.  He was all about living according to the ideals of good sportsmanship and the joy of sharing school spirit.  Mr. Fossa was also a state leader with the Rhode Island Interscholastic League and was loved and respected statewide for his commitment to the RI middle and high school sports community. Our deepest condolences go out to Mr. Fossa’s family.

After much discussion with the high school administration and many of our coaches who were among his dearest friends, the school department will keep our plans for the Class of 2020 Car Parade tomorrow at 3pm.  We believe Mr. Fossa would want it this way.  We know that, along with honoring our seniors, we will be honoring Mr. Fossa in our coming together for a huge town-wide celebration of NKHS school spirit.

We will also keep in contact with the NKHS and NKSD community with any more information about services on Mr. Fossa’s behalf.

Phil Auger

NKSD Superintendent

Son Of Soviet Leader Khrushchev Dies at Age 84 in Rhode Island, According to Pravda

Pravda, the Russian newspaper, reported that Sergei Khrushchev — the son of the late Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev — died in Rhode Island.

Nikita Khrushchev led the Soviet Union after Joseph Stalin and during the height of the Cold War, serving as premier from 1958 to 1964. 

Sergei Khrushchev was a noted scientist, academic and served as a senior fellow at Brown University.

In July of 1999, the Washington Post reported that the younger Khruschev became a United States citizen in a ceremony in Providence, “`I'm feeling like a newborn. It's the beginning of a new life,’’ the 64-year-old Sergei Khrushchev said Monday after taking the oath of citizenship inside a Roman Catholic school auditorium.

At his side was his wife, Valentina Golenko, who also became an American. The pair became citizens nearly 40 years after the famous Kitchen Debate between former Soviet leader Khrushchev and then-Vice President Richard Nixon in Moscow. `In another seven years, we will be on the same level as America,'' Khrushchev told Nixon then. `When we catch you up, in passing you by, we will wave to you’.’’

According to Sergei Khrushchev bio:

As a Senior Fellow at the Watson Institute for International Studies at Brown University, Dr. Sergei Khrushchev focuses his research on the former Soviet Union's transition from a centralized to a decentralized society, as well as its transformation from a central to a market economy and its international security during this transition.

One of his points of interest is the creation of a criminal society in Russia as a consequence of the mistakes in the early stages of market reformation. He is also interested in the history of the Cold War and the turning points in relations between the US and the Soviet Union in the Khrushchev, Eisenhower, and Kennedy periods. Another focus of Dr. Khrushchev's interests is the history of Soviet missiles and space development, in which he played an active role, from 1958-1968.

Dr. Sergei Khrushchev has been a Senior Fellow since 1996 and a Senior Visiting Scholar from 1991-1996 at the Thomas J. Watson Jr. Institute for International Studies. In 1990, he was a Fellow at the Institute of Politics, John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. From 1968-1991, he served at the Control Computer Institute in Moscow, rising from Section Head to First Deputy Director in charge of research. From 1958-1968, he was an engineer, then Deputy Section head in charge of guidance systems for missile and space design.

In 1958-1968, Dr. Khrushchev participated in the Soviet missile and space program, including work on cruise missiles for submarines, military and research spacecraft, moon vehicles, and the "Proton," the world's largest space booster.

“I ♥ NY” and “Cooler and Warmer” Designer Glaser Dead at 91

Milton Glaser, creator of the iconic “I ♥ NY” logo — and the tone-deaf “Cooler and Warmer” logo for the state of Rhode Island -- died.

The Manhattan graphic designer who revolutionized the visuals of advertising in the 1960s and ’70s died on Friday on his 91st birthday, according to the NY Post.

While his local claim to fame was the graphically catchy, and emoji-prescient, 1977 New York state tourism logo — imparting the message “I Love New York” using just three letters and a heart — the Bronx native was a prolific designer.

His work in Rhode Island, however, was part of an ill-fated multi-million dollar campaign by Governor Gina Raimondo’s administration.

Glaser's firm was paid hundreds of thousands of dollars. 

Raimondo tried to defend the work, as well as a promotional video for Rhode Island that featured footage from Iceland. Within a week, Raimondo had fired her then-director of tourism.

The NY Post Reports:

His noteworthy designs include a psychedelic poster of Bob Dylan that combined Islamic imagery with the art of Marcel Duchamp.

Inserted as a promotion inside the 1967 “Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hits” album, the poster made its way into some six million homes, the Times noted.

He first sketched the “I ♥  NY” design on the back of an envelope — with red crayon — during a taxi ride.

Glaser only closed up shop on his Kips Bay offices — a 10,000 square-foot Beaux-Arts townhouse where he helped found New York Magazine — in April of last year.

“Art is Work” was etched on the glass transom over its front door, The Post noted at the time.

Civil Rights Icon and Congressman John Lewis Dies at Age 80

Civil rights icon John Lewis died of cancer at the age of 80. The Congressman's death was announced by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

Pelosi said in a statement:

Today, America mourns the loss of one of the greatest heroes of American history: Congressman John Lewis, the Conscience of the Congress. 

John Lewis was a titan of the civil rights movement whose goodness, faith and bravery transformed our nation – from the determination with which he met discrimination at lunch counters and on Freedom Rides, to the courage he showed as a young man facing down violence and death on Edmund Pettus Bridge, to the moral leadership he brought to the Congress for more than 30 years. 

In the halls of the Capitol, he was fearless in his pursuit of a more perfect union, whether through his Voter Empowerment Act to defend the ballot, his leadership on the Equality Act to end discrimination against LGBTQ Americans or his work as a Senior Member of the Ways and Means Committee to ensure that we invest in what we value as a nation.

Every day of John Lewis’s life was dedicated to bringing freedom and justice to all.  As he declared 57 years ago during the March on Washington, standing in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial: ‘Our minds, souls, and hearts cannot rest until freedom and justice exist for all the people.’  How fitting it is that even in the last weeks of his battle with cancer, John summoned the strength to visit the peaceful protests where the newest generation of Americans had poured into the streets to take up the unfinished work of racial justice.  His visit with Mayor Bowser, the Mayor of Washington, painted an iconic picture of justice.

“In the Congress, John Lewis was revered and beloved on both sides of the aisle and both sides of the Capitol.  All of us were humbled to call Congressman Lewis a colleague, and are heartbroken by his passing.  May his memory be an inspiration that moves us all to, in the face of injustice, make ‘good trouble, necessary trouble.’

God truly blessed America with the life and leadership of John Lewis.  May it be a comfort to his son John-Miles, his entire family, Michael Collins and his entire staff that so many mourn their loss and are praying for them at this sad time.

Regis Philbin Died at 88

CNN reported that television personality Regis Philbin died, according to a statement shared by his family in July. He was 88 years old.

"We are deeply saddened to share that our beloved Regis Philbin passed away last night of natural causes, one month shy of his 89th birthday," the statement said. "His family and friends are forever grateful for the time we got to spend with him -- for his warmth, his legendary sense of humor, and his singular ability to make every day into something worth talking about."

He hosted the shows "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" and "Live! With Regis and Kathie Lee." 

Beloved Former Paw Sox Executive Lou Schwechheimer Dies at 62 of Coronavirus

Lou Schwechheimer, who spent 35 years with the Pawtucket Red Sox, died from an illness related to the coronavirus. He was 62.

As part of the PawSox leadership with Ben Mondor and Mike Tamburro, Schwechheimer helped create one of the most successful minor league sports teams in history.

After the PawSox were sold by the Mondor family, he left and was instrumental in moving the Marlins Triple-A affiliate to Wichita, Kansas and building the Wind Surge’s Riverfront Stadium. Schweichheimer died Wednesday from complications related to the novel coronavirus. He was 62.

According to Baseball America, he created ownership group and bought the Rays’ high Class A affiliate— the Charlotte Stone Crabs of the Florida State League—and the Triple-A New Orleans Baby Cakes of the Pacific Coast League. “The Baby Cakes moved to Wichita and changed their name to the Wind Surge before the 2020 season, but the team never took the field due to the coronavirus pandemic that canceled the minor league season,” wrote Baseball America.

As an executive for Pawtucket, Schwechheimer twice won the International League’s executive of the year award and was inducted into the International League Hall of Fame in 2019.

“There are no words to express the loss of the entire Wind Surge family,” said Jared Forma, senior vice president and general manager for the Wind Surge, in a statement. “Lou was truly one of a kind, someone who never met a stranger. He will be deeply missed by his family and many friends, which included an extended baseball family. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Lou’s wife and daughter at this difficult time.”

Legendary Voice of URI Sports Jim Norman Dies

Jim Norman, the long-time “Voice of the Rams,” passed away in South Kingstown on Tuesday, July 28, 2020. He was the loving husband of Roberta Homan Norman for 61 years.

Born in Providence in 1935, he was the son of James Eli Norman, one of the first class of Rhode Island State Troopers, and Gladys Whitford Norman, an elementary school teacher at Matunuck School. Growing up in Perryville, Rhode Island, he spent time on the family farm as a child helping to raise chickens, pigs and chinchillas, selling eggs to neighbors, and listening to radio broadcasts of the Boston Braves. He was a civilian aircraft spotter during WW2, and even reported seeing a Japanese Zero plane flying over when he was on duty (it turned out to be a captured plane being flown to Quonset)! He was a graduate of South Kingstown High School, where he first started his training as a sports broadcaster, broadcasting basketball games into a tape recorder in the balcony of Fagan’s Hall in Peace Dale. To pay his way through college, he owned a clam cake and chowder stand at Roy Carpenter’s Beach that he and his sister, Barbara, ran during the summers until it was washed away by the 1954 hurricane.

Jim earned a degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Rhode Island, and was active in his fraternity, Phi Kappa Psi, a member of the Sachems, worked as manager of the baseball team, editor of the student newspaper, manager of the radio station, and treasurer of the student senate, while simultaneously broadcasting basketball and football games on the college radio station. He was also a member of ROTC and upon graduation was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army and served several years on active duty, transitioning into Reserve Status spending his two weeks a year at the Pentagon in Washington DC in the public relations department until he retired as a Major many years later.

Upon leaving Active Duty, he earned a Masters in Radio-Television Communications at Boston University, where he was one of the first sports news broadcasters on Boston television.

His career at his beloved URI, his alma mater, began as a faculty member in the speech department in 1961, coaching URI’s General Electric “College Bowl” team that competed on CBS television with host Alan Ludden. He became the Sports Information Director in 1971, and broadcast the play-by-play ‎for 1,286 consecutive football and basketball games on commercial radio, never missing a contest in 34 years. He single-handedly built the radio broadcast network for URI sports that continues to this day.

During his career, he received more than 60 major awards for his outstanding contributions in the broadcast and sports information fields, and was inducted into seven Halls of Fame in Rhode Island, including the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame, the URI Athletic Hall of Fame, the Rhode Island Radio Hall of Fame, and the Rhode Island Journalism Hall of Fame. The Meade Stadium press box at URI is named in his honor; he was active in Words Unlimited, the Providence Gridiron Club and many other RI professional organizations; and was listed by the Providence Journal in 1995 as among the “Top 40 Most Influential Persons in Sports in the past 40 years in Rhode Island.”

Jim was a long-time member of Peace Dale Congregational Church. In the years where Berta was the chair of the Christmas Bazaar, he would ‎help out as the cashier of the “White Elephant” sale, greeting everyone ‎with a few words and his signature smile.‎ He would lead grace at the dining room table during holidays and would always end with “and God bless all our active duty service members serving everywhere.”

Jim loved and lived sports. Whether it was coaching his daughter Laura on her softball team, teaching his son Jim how to pitch a baseball, teaching both his sons, Jim and David, how to play and love basketball and baseball, or attending his grandchildren’s sporting events and recitals, he included his family in his love of sports. His family were also included in his love of URI sports, helping him during his broadcasting and keeping statistics to be reported to the media and recorded officially for the NCAA.

Jim loved the many family and friend get-togethers where he would ‎regale everyone with his wonderful stories (and if we were lucky, a taste of his famous clam cakes and chowder).‎ Avid travelers, Jim and Berta camped across country twice, and traveled abroad with family and friends, including to such far flung places as China, Russia, Mexico and Europe. They and the family are lovers of Disney, visiting the Florida and California parks multiple times and “treating” the children and grandchildren to many trips to Disneyworld!

As Jim often would say in his broadcasts, “it’s been quite a run.” And that it has.

Besides his wife, Jim leaves his children, Laura Norman Wilkinson and her husband, Robert Steven Wilkinson, of Warwick, James Luther Norman and his wife, Carolyn Snow Norman, of Warwick, and David Whitford Norman of Kingston; his sister, Barbara Norman Fracassa of Snug Harbor; and his grandchildren, Abby and Libby Wilkinson and Jim and Katie Norman.

President Trump’s Younger Brother Robert Dies at 71

Robert S. Trump, the younger brother of President Trump, died at New York-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan, according to the White House.

He was 71.

The official White House statement reads, "It is with heavy heart I share that my wonderful brother, Robert, peacefully passed away tonight. He was not just my brother, he was my best friend. He will be greatly missed, but we will meet again. His memory will live on in my heart forever. Robert, I love you. Rest in peace.

Robert Trump, who took blood thinners, had suffered recent brain bleeds that began after a recent fall, according to a close friend of the family, reports the New York Times.

Robert Trump, two years younger than the president, had been in poor health since last month. Over the past few weeks, he had not been able to speak on the phone, according to the family friend.

Chadwick Boseman, Star of Black Panther, Dies at 43

Actor Chadwick Boseman, who starred in the movie "Black Panther" - passed away at the age of 43 after battling colon cancer. 

Boseman portrayed several real-life historical figures, such as Jackie Robinson in 42, James Brown in Get on Up, and Thurgood Marshall in Marshall.

He also played the superhero Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films, including Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame

He won a NAACP Image Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Black Panther 

Family Statement

Boseman’s family took to Instragram to issue the following statement.

It is with immeasurable grief that we confirm the passing of Chadwick Boseman.

Chadwick was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016, and battled with it these last 4 years as it progressed to stage IV. ⁣

A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all, and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much. From Marshall to Da 5 Bloods, August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and several more, all were filmed during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy. ⁣

It was the honor of his career to bring King T’Challa to life in Black Panther. ⁣

He died in his home, with his wife and family by his side. ⁣

The family thanks you for your love and prayers, and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time. ⁣

Legendary Georgetown Coach and PC Grad John Thompson Dies at 78

John Thompson, one of the most successful college basketball coaches in history, passed at age 78. He transformed college basketball both as a leader of The Big East and as one of the most prominent Black coaches in sports.

As ESPN reported, “Thompson, who led Georgetown to the 1984 national championship, built the program into a juggernaut, taking the Hoyas to three Final Fours in the 1980s while also winning seven Big East titles and leading the 1988 United States national team to a bronze medal in the Olympics.”

His legacy includes the recruitment and development of four players in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning, Dikembe Mutombo and Allen Iverson.

"This is a person that, when I came to college -- I was 18 -- helped me to grow," Ewing, the current Georgetown coach, said during Big East media day last October. "Even though my mom and dad were always there, he was always a person I could pick up the phone and call if I had a problem or if I had a question."

His national title run in 1984 was the first by a Black head coach.

At Providence College

All-New England 1963 & 1964
New England Player of the Year, 1964
All-American, 1964
Career average 19.2 ppg and 13.4 rpg
NIT Championship team, 1963
First Providence NCAA Tournament Team, 1964
Played for the Boston Celtics, 1964-1966
Coached Georgetown University men's basketball, 1972-1999
Thompson's Hoyas made 24 straight NCAA appearances with one National Championship in 1984
Seven Coach of the Year Awards
Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame, 1999

Pitching Great Tom Seaver Dies at 75

The New York Times reported pitching great Tom Seaver died at 75.

Seaver was a star for the New York Mets and led the improbable team to a World Series win in 1969. And Seaver helped the Red Sox get to the World Series in 1986 -- the infamous series in which Boston lost to the Mets.

He was one of baseball’s greatest right-handed power pitchers, a Hall of Famer who won 311 games.

The cause was complications of Lewy body dementia and Covid-19, according to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The New York Times writes:

At 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, give or take a few, with a thick waist and tree-trunk legs that helped generate the velocity on his fastball and hard slider and the spin on his curveball, Seaver at work was a picture of kinetic grace. He had a smooth windup, a leg kick with his left knee raised high, and a stride so long after pushing off the mound that his right knee often grazed the dirt.

With precise control, he had swing-and-miss stuff. He struck out more than 200 batters in 10 different seasons, a National League record, and on April 22, 1970, facing the San Diego Padres, he struck out a record 10 batters in a row to end the game. His total of 3,640 strikeouts in his 20 big-league seasons is sixth on the all-time list.

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Dies at 87

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and women's rights trailblazer died.

"She died of complications of metastatic pancreas cancer,” the Supreme Court announced.

“Our nation has lost a jurist of historic stature,” Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. said in a statement. “We at the Supreme Court have lost a cherished colleague. Today we mourn, but with confidence that future generations will remember Ruth Bader Ginsburg as we knew her — a tireless and resolute champion of justice.”

The development will give President Donald Trump the opportunity to name her replacement, and Senate Republicans have promised to try to fill the vacancy even in the waning days of his first term. This sets the stage for an epic Senate fight.

"President Trump has appointed two members of the Supreme Court, Justices Neil M. Gorsuch and Brett M. Kavanaugh. moving the court slightly to the right. The replacement of Justice Ginsburg, the leader of the court’s four-member liberal wing, could transform the court into a profoundly conservative institution, one in which Republican appointees would outnumber Democratic ones six to three," according to the New York Times.

Rock Legend Eddie Van Halen Dies at 65

Rock and roll legend Eddie Van Halen died at 65. 

Van Halen was the main songwriter and founder—with brother and drummer Alex Van Halen, bassist Mark Stone, and singer David Lee Roth—of the band Van Halen.

Variety writes:

Van Halen, whose innovative and explosive guitar playing kept the hard rock band that bore his family name cemented to the top of the album charts for two decades, died on Tuesday morning after a long battle with cancer. He was 65.

Van Halen’s son Wolf announced the news. “He was the best father I could ever ask for. Every moment I’ve shared with him on and off stage was a gift. My heart is broken and I don’t think I’ll ever fully recover from this loss,” Wolf Van Halen tweeted.

In 2012, Van Halen was voted number one in a Guitar World magazine reader's poll for "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time".

About Van Halen

Born in Amsterdam, Netherlands, “Edward Lodewijk van Halen” moved to the United States with his family in 1962. 

He hand his brother Alex formed a band in 1972, changing its name to Van Halen in 1974. 

The band won the 1992 Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance with Vocal for the album For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge.

As of March 2019, the band was 20th on the RIAA list of best-selling artists in the United States; it had sold 56 million albums in the States and more than 80 million worldwide.

Van Halen charted 13 number-one hits in the history of Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart. VH1 ranked the band seventh on a list of the top 100 hard rock artists of all time.

In January 2007, Van Halen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Photo: CreativeCommons/Flickr/Carl Lender

https://www.flickr.com/photos/clender/7239011528/in/photostream/

Former Providence NAACP President Fowlkes Passes Away

A former President of the Providence NAACP Branch died. 

According to current President Jim Vincent, Joe Fowlkes passed away in Providence. 

“He was real no-nonsense — he really cared about the community," said Vincent. "He suffered no fools."

Fowlkes served as the organization’s president for much of 1984-2000, before serving on executive boards under past president Cliff Monteiro, and Vincent. 

Military Service, RI Football Career

Vincent said that Fowlkes played a number of seasons for the Providence Steam Rollers football team. 

ProFootballArchives.com shows that Fowlkes was born in 1938, served in the United States Marines Corps, and played three seasons in the 1960s for the Steam Rollers.

He also played one season for the Rhode Island Indians. 

Sean Connery Dies at 90

The BBC first reported that Sir Sean Connery died at the age of 90.

The Scottish actor is best known for his portrayal of James Bond, being the first to bring the role to the big screen and appearing in seven of the spy thrillers.

According to his family, Connery died overnight in his sleep, while in the Bahamas. 

"His acting career spanned decades and his many awards included an Oscar, two Bafta awards and three Golden Globes.

Sir Sean's other films included The Hunt for Red October, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and The Rock. He was largely regarded as being the best actor to have played 007 in the long-running franchise, often being named as such in polls," reports the BBC.

He won an Oscar in 1988, when he was named best supporting actor for his role in The Untouchables.

He was knighted by the Queen at Holyrood Palace in 2000.

In August, he celebrated his 90th birthday.

Rhode Island Community Leader Jorge Cardenas Passes Away

Rhode Island community leader Jorge Cardenas passed away.

Lt. Governor Dan McKee and General Treasurer Seth Magaziner took to social media to express their condolences. 

Cardenas was the founder of the “Back to School Celebration of Rhode Island.”

He was involved this past August in the event’s 21st year, distributing 16,000 backpacks filled with school supplies to students throughout the state. 

“Jorge Cardenas believed, with all his heart, in the power of community and bringing people together,” said McKee. 

“He changed thousands of lives and made our state a stronger, kinder place. That is how we will remember him. Rest in peace, my friend.”

Magaziner also expressed his sympathies at Cardenas’ passing. 

“I am devastated to learn of the passing of my friend Jorge Cardenas,” said Magaziner. 

“As founder of the annual Back to School celebration, Jorge helped tens of thousands of students with access to school supplies. He was a kind and generous man, devoted to the community,” he added. “His spirit will live on.”

Celtics Great Tommy Heinsohn Dies at 86

The Boston Celtics made the announcement after the death of Tommy Heinsohn. 

Heinsohn was a six-time NBA All-Star as a player with the Celtics from 1956-1965, winning eight NBA championships. He coached the Celts from 1969-1978. He is one of just four people to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach.

He was 86.

Heinsohn was a college great at Holy Cross.

STATEMENT

It’s hard to imagine the Boston Celtics without Tommy Heinsohn. There isn’t a generation of Celtics fans for whom Tommy’s presence hasn’t been felt. He is the only person to be an active participant in each of the Celtics’ 17 World Championships, an extraordinary and singular legacy.

His career with the Celtics had an auspicious start, as he earned NBA Rookie of the Year honors in 1957. Even more notably, he was the best player on the floor in the decisive Game 7 of that season’s NBA Finals against the St. Louis Hawks, leading the team with 39 points and 23 rebounds as the Celtics delivered their first championship banner. Dominant performances and championships were no mere opening act; they would come to define his NBA playing career (1956-65), in which he was named to six All-Star teams and won eight NBA Championships, the team’s leading scorer for four of those title runs.

Red Auerbach named Tommy the team’s Head Coach in 1969. Like his playing career, Heinsohn's coaching tenure was punctuated by prosperity, as he directed the 1974 and 1976 squads to World Championships, won five Atlantic Division crowns, and was picked the league's Coach of the Year in 1973 during which he won a team record 68 games.

Tommy was honored on multiple occasions as a player, a coach, and a broadcaster. Among those honors, his number 15 was retired by the Celtics in 1965, and he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1986, and then as a coach in 2015. He is one of just four people to be inducted as both a Player and Coach, joining former teammate Bill Sharman, John Wooden and Lenny Wilkens.

For all of his accomplishments as a player, coach, and broadcaster, it is Tommy’s rich personality that defined the man. A loving father, grandfather, and husband. A talented painter and a lively golf partner. Unofficial mentor to decades of Celtics coaches and players. A frequent constructive critic of referees. Originator of the most “Celtic stat” of them all, The Tommy Point. And a boundless love for all things Boston Celtics, a passion which he shared with fans over 64 years.

We take this time to celebrate his life and legacy, and to share in the sorrow of his passing with his family, friends, and fans. As long as there are the Boston Celtics, Tommy’s spirit will remain alive.

STATEMENT FROM WYC GROUSBECK, STEVE PAGLIUCA AND THE BOSTON CELTICS OWNERSHIP GROUP

This is a devastating loss. Tommy was the ultimate Celtic. For the past 18 years, our ownership group has relied hugely on Tommy’s advice and insights and have reveled in his hundreds of stories about Red Auerbach, Bill Russell, and how the Celtics became a dynasty. He will be remembered forever.

Ken Fish — GQ Fashion Director, Top RI Educator, and AIDS Project RI Co-Founder — Passes Away

Kenneth “Ken” E. Fish, Jr., age 78, of East Greenwich, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, November 24, 2020. He was the beloved husband of Trent Ferrara to whom he was devoted for 33 years. Born in the Pontiac section of Warwick, he was the son of the late Kenneth Fish, Sr. and Ruth (Barker) Fish.

Ken graduated from Trinity College and went on to work in the fashion industry achieving a position as Fashion Director for GQ Magazine. After several years in the fashion industry, Ken returned home, earning his Master’s Degree in Education and began a career with the Rhode Island Dept. of Education becoming the Director of the Office of Middle and High School Reform. After 32 years with RIDE, Ken retired and moved on to become the Executive Director of Exchange City. He loved teaching and that passion carried him into his volunteer role with Dorcas House and their literacy program.

His strong devotion to his community also led him to become one of the co-founders of AIDS Project RI in 1985, to become a board member of Youth Pride, a board member of School One, a member of the ACLU, and most recently to become a Board Member of the Pine Glen Home Association. A lifelong fan of the PAWSOX, he could be found at every home game. He was also a huge fan of the Red Sox and New England Patriots. When not watching a ball game, Ken was often on a bike ride with his friends from the Old Spokes Bike Club.

Besides his husband, Ken is survived by his brother, Larry Fish and Sister-in-Law Phyllis, South Kingstown. His Sister-in-Law, Jane Fish, South Kingstown. His Mother-In-Law, Bessie M. Ferrara (Goluses) and Brother-In-Law, Peter Comella, of South Kingstown. His cousin Darlene Williamson, and her children Emily and Andrew. He will be missed immensely by Dena and Rutton Patel, and his nephew Andreas Patel. His fur buddy, Ollie has always been by his side, and will miss Ken. He is pre-deceased by his brother Robert E. Fish. While Ken had no children of his own, he loved his many nieces and nephews attending many of their school and athletic events. He leaves behind his nephews, Brett, Blair, and Brian Fish and nieces Julie Beebe, Lindsay Longval, Kimberly Waeger, and Rebecca Riebe and 21 great nieces and nephews.

Ken freely shared his gifts of being able to listen with patience, council with compassion and to disagree while still being kind, with his many family members and friends.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, there will not be any services at this time. A celebration of Ken’s life will be planned for a future date.

Former RI School of Design President Mandle Passes Away

Former Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) President Roger Mandle passed away.

RISD Statement

"It is with sadness that we share the passing of Roger Mandle, RISD's 15th president. 

Roger devoted his life to arts, culture and humanities education and helped steer the art and design agenda in this country and internationally over many decades. 

During his 15 years as president, RISD grew in stature and impact. Roger took great pride in RISD and always considered the RISD community to be part of his extended family even after his tenure as president. 

His mark on RISD is indelible."

Life After RISD

After his presidency at RISD, Mandle became executive director and chief officer of museums at Qatar Museums Authority. 

He worked on complex projects in Doha, Qatar for several years before returning to the Rhode Island area to serve on numerous boards of nonprofit cultural organizations and for-profit companies, including Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road, Maine Media Workshop, American Association of Museums, Newport Restoration Foundation and the Art Acquisition Committee of the Toledo Museum of Art, where he had formerly served as director for 14 years. 

Mandle was also founder and chair of the Board of Massachusetts Design Art & Technology Institute (DATMA) in New Bedford, MA, where he helped fulfill the organization’s mission of presenting free contemporary art for people of all ages and cultural backgrounds in the Southcoast region and beyond.

Celtic Great K.C. Jones Dies at 88

The Boston Celtics issued the following statement on K.C. Jones death:

Where K.C. Jones went, winning was sure to follow. K.C. – his given name – was a twelve-time NBA champion as player and coach, a two-time NCAA champion, and a Gold medal-winning Olympian and Hall of Famer. In NBA history, only teammates Bill Russell and Sam Jones have more championship rings during their playing careers. K.C. along with Russell, Clyde Lovellette, Jerry Lucas, Quinn Buckner, Earvin “Magic “Johnson and Michael Jordan, are the only players in history to achieve basketball’s “Triple Crown” – winning an NCAA Championship, an NBA Championship and an Olympic Gold Medal. His number 25 has hung from the rafters since 1967.

K.C.’s coaching career was similarly illustrious. He was named to lead the Celtics in 1983, beginning what is one of the most remarkable head coaching runs the NBA has seen. K.C. helmed the Celtics for two of the most memorable seasons in the team’s rich history, first leading the team to a championship in 1984 over the Lakers during a peak of that storied rivalry. Two seasons later, he led what many consider the greatest team in NBA history, the 1986 Champion Boston Celtics. These were the highlights of an astonishing four consecutive seasons in the NBA Finals, one of the most impressive and beloved Celtics eras.

K.C. also demonstrated that one could be both a fierce competitor and a gentleman in every sense of the word. He made his teammates better, and he got the most out of the players he coached. Never one to seek credit, his glory was found in the most fundamental of basketball ideals – being part of a winning team. The Celtics family mourns his loss, as we celebrate his remarkable career and life.

Legendary French Fashion Designer Pierre Cardin Dies at 98

Renowned French fashion designer Pierre Cardin died at 98, according to reports. 

The Italian born Cardin, born in 1922, moved with his family to France at an early age. 

Cardin began his fashion career with Christian Dior before founding his own house in 1950. 

“Cardin was credited with helping revolutionize fashion with his futuristic and stylish designs in the 1950s and 60s,” reported the BBC at his passing.  “He was also a pioneer in business, licensing his name to be used on a range of products such as sunglasses.”

In Rhode Island, Cardin was featured in a fashion show at The Breakers in June of 2017.

The show introduced a new fashion exhibit highlighting some of Cardin's best work which remained on display at Rosecliff through the end of 2017. 

Cardin's Passing

He died in hospital in Neuilly, near Paris, his family told the AFP news agency.

"It is a day of great sadness for all our family. Pierre Cardin is no more," they said in a statement.

"We are all proud of his tenacious ambition and the daring he has shown throughout his life."

Pierre Cardin, 1983, the year he is made Knight of the Legion of Honour and is decorated as “Chevalier des Arts and des Lettres” (courtesy Archives Pierre Cardin)

US Congressman-Elect Letlow Dies of Coronavirus at Age 41

Congressman-elect Luke Letlow (R-LA) died of complications from the coronavirus, a spokesman said.

Letlow was 41.

He was set to be sworn in on Sunday.

His death was confirmed by several politicians, including US Representative Garret Graves of Louisiana, who said in a Facebook post:

I recently learned how 2020 could possibly get worse: my friend, former co-worker, a husband to Julia, a father to two very young children, the former chief of staff to Congressman Ralph Abraham and the Member of Congress-elect to represent northeast Louisiana just died from complications associated with covid.  Luke Letlow is now with our Creator, but his premature departure from this world is a huge loss to Louisiana and America. 

Just weeks ago, voters overwhelmingly chose Luke to represent them in Congress.  They saw what so many of us know of Luke - kind, smart, quick-witted, God-fearing, hard-working, honest and just a good guy.  I looked forward to working with him in our small delegation in Washington. 

This news is hard and words cannot express my sorrow right now.  Life is a fragile gift. Luke's passing reminds me how thankful we should be everyday for all of the blessings and challenges we have.  Please join me in praying for Luke, Julia and their young family.

Gilligan’s Island Star Dawn Wells Who Played Mary Ann Dies at 82 of Coronavirus

Dawn Wells, who starred as Mary Ann in the popular 1960s sitcom “Gilligan’s Island,” died of causes related to the coronavirus in Los Angeles at age 82.

Variety describes her as the “Pig-tailed and attired in her ubiquitous dungarees or gingham dress, which is on display at the Hollywood Museum, the Mary Ann character was the girl-next-door to Tina Louise’s suggestive evening dress-clad Ginger, who was often subjected to leering comments from the male stars in the show’s dialogue.”

She told Smashing Interviews magazine that she was happy to change her image with a role as a prostitute in “The Owl and the Pussycat” soon after the show ended, “Mary Ann was a good girl. She was polite. She was a hard worker. She would be your best friend. She cooked. She cleaned. She did all of those things, and she was a really good role model. But the first thing you want to do is break that character and go do something else,” Wells said.

Pregnant Rhode Island Social Media Influencer and Mother of Four Dies at Age 36

Rhode Island resident Emily Giancaspro Mitchell, a mother of four who was expecting her fifth child, died at age 36.

She passed away at Westerly Hospital along with her unborn child. 

Mitchell ran the Instagram account “The Hidden Way — Rooted in Jesus, home learning + farmhouse living" which has over 111,000 followers. 

Her passing drew national and international attention, from People Magazine to the Daily Mail.

A GoFundMe has been started for her husband and four children, raising nearly $150,000 as of noon on January 1. 

Obituary

Emily A. (Giancaspro) Mitchell, 36, loving wife, mother, daughter, and sister passed into her Savior's arms unexpectedly along with her unborn child, Joey, at The Westerly Hospital on Tuesday, December 22, 2020.

Emily, a devoted wife and incredible mother to her four children, possessed a deep faith that was the foundation for everything in her life. Beautiful inside and out, Emily had an infectious smile and a kind, compassionate spirit. Her exuberant personality radiated outwardly in her interactions and relationships with all who knew her. Emily was a symbol of strength during the most challenging of times for so many. She shared her light and creative, artistic genius through her work as a highly successful, self-employed Instagram Influencer, as demonstrated by her 88,000 followers. Emily's musical ability was enhanced by her degree in psychology and music. She was a talented musician, singer, recording artist, and music teacher.

She will be deeply missed by her husband Joseph Mitchell and their four children Finn, Isla, Eden and Luna, all of Ashaway; loving parents Dr. Joseph and Gail Giancaspro of Westerly; her three siblings, Joseph Giancaspro and his wife Kasey of Ledyard, CT; Michael Giancaspro and his wife Natalia of Coventry, RI and Jessica Giancaspro of Westerly. Emily also leaves her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Robert and Dr. Sally Mitchell of Westerly, sister-in-law Christina Carey and her husband, Nick Carey of Chepachet, RI and brother-in-law Adam Mitchell of Boston, MA, as well as several nieces and nephews.

All services are respectfully private due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Gaffney-Dolan Funeral Home, 59 Spruce Street, Westerly is in care of the arrangements.