Deaths of famous people (2023)

[imref]

Two more from the music world:
- Steve Harwell, lead singer of Smash Mouth, at 56 from liver failure. Reports are that he had been battling alcoholism for years.
- Gary Wright of "Dream Weaver" fame at 80

[English Natsie]

Professor Sir Ian Wilmut (79) - one of the creators of the world's first cloned mammal, Dolly the sheep. His work laid the foundations for stem-cell research.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Professor Sir Ian Wilmut (79) - one of the creators of the world's first cloned mammal, Dolly the sheep. His work laid the foundations for stem-cell research.

he will not be duplicated.

[HondoKillebrew]

he will not be duplicated.

 

[English Natsie]

Ron Barassi (87) - Aussie Rules Legend Of The Game.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/1033509/passing-of-a-legend-afl-great-ron-barassi-has-died

[Natsinpwc]

David McCallum at 90. He had quite the career.

[bluestreak]

David McCallum at 90. He had quite the career.

https://x.com/mikebeauvais/status/1706441312910639292?s=46

[1995hoo]

Brooks Robinson at 86 (breaking news alert at top of Washington Post's site).

[Five Banners]

Brooks Robinson at 86 (breaking news alert at top of Washington Post's site).

Respect

[Dave in Fairfax]

RIP

[Dave in Fairfax]

[Natsinpwc]

Growing up in an NL city never got to see enough of him except some games of the week and post season.  He was amazing in the latter. RIP.

[HondoKillebrew]

RIP, Brooks. 

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Gunnar decided to pay a tribute with his leadoff HR last night.

[imref]

Dianne Feinstein, age 90

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Dianne Feinstein, age 90

she did seem extremely frail, but I had not quite expected it to be fatal at this point. I'm sure there will be lots of discussion of the appropriateness of her remaining in office during her decline, and, on a hard level politics point, the succession to her seat, but I'll defer that.

[imref]

she did seem extremely frail, but I had not quite expected it to be fatal at this point. I'm sure there will be lots of discussion of the appropriateness of her remaining in office during her decline, and, on a hard level politics point, the succession to her seat, but I'll defer that.

probably not that much given she'll be replaced by someone from her own party. The bigger issues are usually when the Governor can replace with someone from a different party.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

probably not that much given she'll be replaced by someone from her own party. The bigger issues are usually when the Governor can replace with someone from a different party.

well, not to dive into the politics too much, but Newsom could tip the Schiff / Porter / Lee were he to tap one of them. More likely he'll pick a placeholder. however, depending on when / if there's a special election and a primary for it, if it is early enough, then the two losers could turn around and run for their old House seats. I'm sure Jeffries would want Porter to run for her old seat because that one is the toughest to retain.

[HalfSmokes]

probably not that much given she'll be replaced by someone from her own party. The bigger issues are usually when the Governor can replace with someone from a different party.

Republicans have to agree to let the replacement onto the judiciary committee and they have already said they won’t. Two democrats holding on too long are going to be instrumental in reshaping the judiciary in ways totally contrary to their views

[HalfSmokes]

well, not to dive into the politics too much, but Newsom could tip the Schiff / Porter / Lee were he to tap one of them. More likely he'll pick a placeholder. however, depending on when / if there's a special election and a primary for it, if it is early enough, then the two losers could turn around and run for their old House seats. I'm sure Jeffries would want Porter to run for her old seat because that one is the toughest to retain.

He’s promised a black woman. Republicans are making hay over it. Asian Americans and Hispanic Americans (both of whom make up a much larger percentage of California’s population) are going to hear a lot about quotas

[JCA-CrystalCity]

There's a couple of statewide office holders (sec of state and the comptroller) as well as London Breed if she's looking for a graceful exit from the Mayor's office. Lee is also in the mix except she would want to continue to run for the office and Newsom has said it'll be a caretaker.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/09/29/dianne-feinstein-senate-replacement/

[English Natsie]

Sir MIchael Gambon (82) - leading thespian.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-39408742

[imref]

Tim Wakefield has passed

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Tim Wakefield has passed

Wakefield baseball story. He's known for giving up Aaron Boone's homer in 2003 ALCS. HE actually had had a fantastic ALCS up to that point. He was incredibly down after that, expecting to be treated like Bill Buckner when he got back to Boston. Instead, there was no criticism. Perhaps it was all focused on Grady Little for how he managed Game 7, including keeping Pedro out too long, but Wakefield actually got pats on the back at fan events and on talk radio after the game.

In college, he was a first baseman and a rival of Tino Martinez in florida.

Wakefield was a generous, charitable man. I believe he may have been either the Red Sox charities head or head of the Jimmy Fund, teh fundrasing arm for Dana Farber's [Harvard Med's] pediatric cancer center.

[imref]

Pretty much everyone is talking about him as a person rather than as a baseball player. That says a lot.