Obit of the Day: “Growing Up Black in Nazi Germany”
Hans Massaquoi was very disappointed when his teacher told him that he could not join the Hitler Youth. Massaquoi’s friends had all joined and he was enthralled with the uniforms, the parades, the camp-outs. But Hans’ desire to join was trumped by the color of his skin.
Born in 1926, Mr. Massaquoi’s parents were a German nurse and the son of a Liberian diplomat. He would grow up in Hamburg as the Weimar Republic was collapsing and the the Third Reich was building up.
When he was in second grade, Mr. Massaquoi was so taken with the Nazi imagery that, at his request, his nanny sewed a swastika to his sweater. Although his mother removed it when he returned home from school, a picture had already been taken. (See above.)
Mr. Massaquoi’s family lived in Germany for the duration of the war. According to Mr. Massaquoi’s memoir, Destined to Witness, he theorized that there were so few blacks living in Germany that they were a low priority for extermination. Eventually he would move: first to his father’s home country of Liberia and later to Chicago.
In the United States, although trained in aviation mechanics, Mr. Massaquoi would become a writer for Jet magazine and eventual move to its sister publication, Ebony, where he became managing editor.
Mr. Massaquoi, who passed away on January 19, 2013 on his 87th birthday, was encouraged to write down the story of his unusual childhood by his friend and author of Roots, Alex Haley.
Sources: L.A. Times and Chicago Sun-Times
(Image is from Mr. Massaqoui’s collection and copyright of William Morrow Paperbacks via spiritosanto.wordpress.com)
Fascinating story. Fascinating life. And a photo that sticks with you.
Obit of the Day: Playlist of the Dead 2012
It is time for Obit of the Day’s annual Playlist of the Dead. So listen to the music, read the posts, and remember some incredible talent we’ve lost over the past twelve months. (The glaring exception is the Beastie Boys’ Adam Yauch, for whom I was unable to write a post, but I did put “An Open Letter to NYC” on the playlist.)
January
Fred Milano – original member of Dion and the Belmonts
Johnny Otis – “The Godfather of Rhythm and Blues”
Etta James – Grammy winning R&B legend
February
Whitney Houston - Grammy Award-winning singer
Kathryn McDonald – member of Duke Ellington’s orchestra
Billy Strange – guitarist and songwriter, part of the “Wrecking Crew”
Louisiana Red – blues guitarist
Davy Jones – lead singer of The Monkees
March
Jimmy Ellis – backup singer for The Trammps
Eric Lowen – Grammy Award-winning co-writer of “We Belong”
Earl Scruggs – Bluegrass legend
April
Barney McKenna – last of the original Dubliners
Andrew Love – saxophonist and member of the “Memphis Horns”
Levon Helm – legend of rock and folk, member of The Band
Pete Fornatele – WNEW rock DJ
May
Charles “Skip” Pitts – bass player on “Theme from Shaft”
Donna Summer – disco legend and Grammy Award winner
Robin Gibb – member of the Bee Gees
June
Herb Reed – original member of the Platters
Graeme Bell – “The Father of Australian Jazz”
July
Jon Lord – keyboardist for Deep Purple
August
Scott McKenzie – singer, “San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)”
Willa Ward – member of the gospel group, The Famous Ward Singers
September
“Sugar Boy” Crawford – writer, and original singer, “Iko Iko”
October
R.B. Greaves – writer and singer, “Take a Letter Maria”
Bil Dees – co-writer, “Oh, Pretty Woman”
November
Cleve Duncan – member of The Penguins and lead singer, “Earth Angel”
December
Dave Brubeck – pianist and jazz legend
Fontella Bass – singer of 1965 hit “Rescue Me”
You should be able to find the playlist on Spotify under “Playlist of the Dead 2012” or through my account, Josh Eisenberg.
For more Obit of the Day:
Clever idea for a playlist.
Obit of the Day (Breaking): Academy Award Nominee Michael Clarke Duncan
Michael Clarke Duncan was a big man, (6’ 5”, 315 pounds) and may have normally been found on the football field. But the Chicago native was forbidden from playing by his mother, so he moved to the stage. After graduating from community college Duncan found himself digging ditches for the local gas company, it was then that he decided to move to Hollywood.
Duncan’s imposing physique and talent earned him a role in the blockbuster asteroid film, Armageddon (1998). The following year, his co-start, Bruce Willis, called Frank Darabont who was directing the film version of Stephen King’s novel, The Green Mile. Willis recommended Duncan for the role of John Coffey the gentle giant who brought magic to Tom Hanks’ death row. For his performance, Duncan was nominated for Best Supporting Actor.
Duncan would be featured in various films and TV series (including Sin City, Talladega Nights, Family Guy, and Chuck). His final two films, In the Hive and The Challenger are not yet released.
In July 2012, Duncan suffered a heart attack. He was unable to recover and died on September 3, 2012. He was only 54.
Sources: Chicago Tribune and IMDB.com
(Image is copyright of PETA and courtesy of ecorazzi.com)
He deserved all the praise he got for “The Green Mile.” It’s sad he died so young.
The highly respected author passed away in Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center as a result of complications related to a bicycle accident that occurred in April. Covey, who Time Magazine once called one of the 25 Most Influential Americans, also co-founded the FranklinCovey consulting firm in Salt Lake City, Utah. He is survived by his wife, nine children, and fifty-two grandchildren. (Photo via Thinkers50) source
BREAKING: Actor Andy Griffith has died, friend says
Andy Griffith died this morning in Dare County, North Carolina, according to former UNC President Bill Friday. Friday, a close friend of the actor, confirmed the news to WITN News.
(Photo: AP file, via msnbc.com)
Insanely sad to hear this; Andy was an icon. He made television worth watching for many.
UPDATE: CBS News is seeking independent confirmation of Griffith’s death, backing off this initial report.
UPDATE 2: The local sheriff’s department has confirmed the report. You’ll be missed, Andy.
Obit of the Day: Inventor of Red Bull
The most famous energy drink in the world was created by a 50-someting, Thai recluse. Chaleo Yoovidhya created Red Bull (which is the English translation of the original Thai name Krathing Daeng) in the 1980s and marketed the high-caffeine carbonated beverage to truck drivers and blue collar workers.
Not long after its introduction, a German pharmaceutical sales rep named Dietrich Mateschitz, tried the drink on his worldwide travels and found that it was the only cure he could find for jet lag. He partnered with Mr. Yoovidhya (each contributed $500,000 and owned 49% of the company) to introduce Red Bull to an international market. Red Bull was introduced first to Austria in 1987.
Twenty-five years later Red Bull owns 70% of the energy drink market and both Yoovidhya and Mateschitz have become billionaires. When Mr. Yoodvidhya died his age was listed by various news outlets as 80, 88, or 90.
(Image of a bottle of Red Bull from Thailand is courtesy of forum.loyat.net)
He gave you wings.
Obit of the day: Ms. May Puffe Weed may find herself on Jay Leno someday. (ht @marisaballetti)
![reuters:
A Beverly Hills Police Crime Lab vehicle is seen outside the Beverly Hilton Hotel where singer Whitney Houston was found dead in Beverly Hills, California February 11, 2012.
Singer and actress Houston, a winner of six Grammy Awards including record of the year for “I Will Always Love You” and album of the year for “The Bodyguard,” has died at age 48, a spokeswoman for the singer said. [REUTERS/Danny Moloshok]
Read more: Whitney Houston dies at 48
This is not a great way to go out; in the highest-profile of ways, before a celebrity-stacked party. So unfortunate. (more at our tag)](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lz9etuMaIa1qmaoalo1_500.jpg)
A Beverly Hills Police Crime Lab vehicle is seen outside the Beverly Hilton Hotel where singer Whitney Houston was found dead in Beverly Hills, California February 11, 2012.
Singer and actress Houston, a winner of six Grammy Awards including record of the year for “I Will Always Love You” and album of the year for “The Bodyguard,” has died at age 48, a spokeswoman for the singer said. [REUTERS/Danny Moloshok]
Read more: Whitney Houston dies at 48
This is not a great way to go out; in the highest-profile of ways, before a celebrity-stacked party. So unfortunate. (more at our tag)
The AP just ran Gaddafi’s obit. That’s significant. (Editor’s note: we’re trying out the Clipboard embed with this one. Work for you? Let us know what you think.)
Warrant’s lead singer dies: The man who belted out the lyrics “heaven isn’t too far away” will now get to find out for himself. (That seems more fitting than a “Cherry Pie” reference, if you ask us.) Jani Lane, the lead singer and lyricist of the band Warrant during their heyday — he’s the blonde dude in the center — was found dead in his apartment last night. He was 47. The cause of death is as yet unknown.
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Betty Ford, the widow of late President Gerald Ford and a co-founder of an eponymous addiction center in California, has died at the age of 93, according to the director of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum.CNN report on the death of Betty Ford, wife of Gerald R. Ford.
Clarence Clemons dies from complications following stroke.
This is the saddest news of the entire week. You will be missed, sax man.
Sidney Harman, he of late-blooming media empire: Last August, audio mogul Sidney Harman bought Newsweek from The Washington Post Company, setting the stage for the blockbuster merger of the magazine with The Daily Beast (that’s Tina Brown tweeting above). He was 91 at the time. Before this, he was largely known for being one of the men behind the modern speaker. His Harman Kardon corporation, founded in the 1950s, was responsible for selling some of the first high-fidelity stereo speakers to large audiences. He also put in some time as a top Commerce official under Jimmy Carter, and his wife is former Democratic Rep. Jane Harman. He lived a pretty full life. He died last night at 92. source
While the goal of all movies is to entertain, the kind of film in which I believe goes one step further. It compels the spectator to examine one facet or another of his own conscience. It stimulates thought and sets the mental juices flowing.Sidney Lumet • As quoted in the New York Times’ obituary on the star. Fun fact about the author of said obit: Out of the 24 articles Robert Berkvist has written for the NYT, ALL of them have been obits.
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