Bobby Cox obit

Bobby Cox, legendary Braves manager, dies at 84

Cox guided the Braves to five NL pennants and the 1995 World Series title

 He was not on the list.

Bobby Cox, who managed the Atlanta Braves to the 1995 World Series and was a four-time manager of the year, died on Saturday, the team announced.

“We are overcome with emotion on the passing of Bobby Cox, our treasured skipper,” the team wrote in a statement. “Bobby was the best manager to ever wear a Braves uniform. He led our team to 14 straight division titles, five National League pennants, and the unforgettable World Series title in 1995. His Braves managerial legacy will never be matched.

“Bobby was a favorite among all in the baseball community, especially those who played for him. His wealth of knowledge on player development and the intricacies of managing the game were rewarded with the sport's ultimate prize in 2014 — enshrinement into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

"And while Bobby's passion for the game was unparalleled, his love of baseball was exceeded only by his love for his family. It is with the heaviest of hearts that we send our sincerest condolences to his beloved wife, Pam, and their loving children and grandchildren.”

Before his run as a Hall of Fame manager, Cox had a short playing career that saw him spend two seasons with the New York Yankees. He would get his start on the bench after his playing career ended in the Venezuelan Winter League. From there, he took on coaching and managing roles in the Yankees' system.

Cox would work his way up and onto Billy Martin's staff for the 1977 season, which ended with the Yankees winning the World Series. That offseason, he was hired as Braves manager, but was later fired following the strike-affected 1981 MLB season. He would then join the Toronto Blue Jays and help the franchise to its first winning record after going 89-73 in 1983 and 1984.

In 1985, Cox's final year in Toronto, he helped guide the team to a 99-win season and an AL East title.

Following the season, Cox resigned and returned to the Braves to become the team's general manager. Over parts of his five seasons in the role, the franchise was responsible for adding talent that would help build its powerhouse roster of the 1990s. Players such as John Smoltz, Steve Avery, Tom Glavine, Ron Gant and David Justice were brought in and Chipper Jones was selected first overall in 1990 MLB draft.

Three months into the 1990 season, Cox was back on the bench after firing manager Russ Nixon. He would remain as GM through the end of the season before naming John Schuerholz as his replacement.

Beginning in 1991, the Braves won the first of five National League pennants under Cox. The team won a second straight pennant in 1992, but it fell in the World Series both times. The breakthrough would finally come in 1995 when the team won the World Series over the Cleveland Indians.

The Braves would reach the World Series twice more under Cox in 1996 and 1999, but both times they lost to the Yankees. Cox would stay on as manager through the 2010 season, guiding the franchise to seven more playoff appearances.

Cox's managerial record ended with a 2,504-2,001 record with five pennants, one World Series championship and four Manager of the Year awards. He currently stands as the fourth-winningest manager in MLB history.

One unique record Cox holds is most times being ejected. Over his 4,508 games as a manager, he was thrown out 162 times, 41 more than John McGraw.

The Braves honored Cox in 2011 by inducting him into the team's Hall of Fame and retiring his No. 6 jersey. Three years later, Cooperstown came calling and he was elected by the Veterans Committee for induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame's Class of 2014.

“We are overcome with emotion on the passing of Bobby Cox, our treasured skipper. Bobby was the best manager to ever wear a Braves uniform. He led our team to 14 straight division titles, five National League pennants, and the unforgettable World Series title in 1995. His Braves managerial legacy will never be matched.” — The Atlanta Braves

“I never wanted to go anywhere else; I wanted to play for Bobby.” — Hall of Fame pitcher and current Fox analyst John Smoltz

“I’m so sad today, but as I sit here watching my two youngest boys play in their championship games on the day he passed, I can’t help but shout the same things he did from the corner of the dugout. ‘Come on kid, u got this!’ We are gonna miss him so much, but his legacy is forever cemented with the success of this franchise for the last 35+ yrs.” — Hall of Fame third baseman Chipper Jones on X

“So thankful for the chance to play for him. What can I say? He saved my career. Hung in there with me during my early days and made the decision to move me to the outfield. Changed my career/life forever.” — Former Braves outfielder and two-time NL MVP Dale Murphy on X

“RIP my second father.” — Hall of Fame center fielder Andruw Jones, who won 10 Gold Gloves with Atlanta, on X ___

“I remember ’99 when we lost the World Series to the Yankees. I mean, to a man, everybody in the room felt like we let Bobby down. That’s how we felt. And that’s powerful, you know, and that doesn’t just happen in professional sports. But that just goes to show how guys felt about Bobby. We, to a man, we felt like we let him down.” — Braves manager Walt Weiss

“My favorite memory of Bobby is 2017 spring training. Charlie was 6 months old. … To see Hall of Famer Bobby Cox, the joy on his face when he saw my 6-month-old son, that’s stuff I will never forget. Him and Pam just, like, loving on Charlie while he was in the stroller, those are the fond memories I have.” — Former Braves and current Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman

“Skip — thank you for helping shape me as a coach and as an MLB manager. Your guidance and belief in me will always mean a lot. Thank you for the time You took in helping me make my transition from player to coach. And I ended up loving cigars after all (smiley face emoji). Much respect always.” — Ozzie Guillen, who played two seasons with Atlanta and won a World Series title managing the White Sox in 2005, on X

“Bobby Cox led one of the greatest eras of sustained excellence in baseball history. As manager of the Braves, his clubs became an October fixture, representing consistency, professionalism, and championship-caliber baseball for an entire generation of fans. Through his leadership, eye for talent, and commitment to player development, Bobby helped shape the careers of numerous Hall of Famers and guided the Braves to Atlanta’s first major professional sports championship in 1995.

“On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest condolences to Bobby’s family, the Braves organization, the many players and coaches whose lives he impacted throughout his 29-year managerial career, and Braves fans everywhere.” — MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred

“We are saddened to learn about the passing of former Blue Jays Manager Bobby Cox. Before tonight’s game, we held a moment of silence to remember one of the game’s greats. Bobby managed us to our first division title in 1985, also winning Manager of the Year that year. Our thoughts are with his family and the Braves organization.” — The Toronto Blue Jays on X

“The Yankees join the baseball community in mourning the loss of Hall of Famer Bobby Cox. We offer our deepest condolences to Bobby’s family, friends and loved ones.” — The New York Yankees on X

“Over 29 seasons as a big league manager, Bobby Cox earned loyalty and respect from his players with his steady hand and passionate heart.” — National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

“Thank you for everything you meant to Atlanta, Skip.” — The Atlanta Falcons on X

“Atlanta has lost a true icon in Bobby Cox. His leadership helped define one of the most successful eras not only for the Atlanta Braves, but for the city's sports identity. Known for guiding the club through a historic run that included a World Series title and sustained excellence, his influence will be felt for generations. Our thoughts are with his family and with the entire baseball community as we remember a figure who meant so much to the City of Atlanta.” — Atlanta United FC on X

“Georgia and Braves Country have lost a true legend today with the passing of Bobby Cox. Shepherding the Braves for over 20 years, he led the franchise to 14 straight division crowns and a World Series title during his second stint, solidifying him in the hearts of generations of fans as the beloved manager we will all remember.” — Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp on X

He recorded a 100-win season six times, a record matched only by Joe McCarthy.

Cox first managed the Braves from 1978 to 1981, and then managed the Blue Jays from 1982 to 1985. He rejoined the Braves in 1986 as a general manager. He moved back to the manager's role during the 1990 season and stayed there until his retirement following the 2010 season. Cox led the Atlanta Braves to the World Series championship in 1995. The Braves retired No. 6 in his honor.

Cox holds the all-time record for ejections in MLB with 158 (plus an additional three post-season ejections), a record previously held by John McGraw.

As a player, Cox originally signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but was never able to make the Dodgers' major league team. Eventually he was acquired by the Braves, but never appeared in an MLB game for them either. Instead, the Braves traded Cox to the New York Yankees for Bob Tillman and Dale Roberts on December 7, 1967. Cox played for the Yankees during the 1968 and 1969 seasons, mostly as a third baseman. The Yankees assigned Cox to the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs for the 1970 season. Cox also played from 1967 to 1970 for the Cardenales de Lara and Leones del Caracas of the Venezuelan Winter League.

Cox began his managerial career in the Yankees farm system in 1971 with the Fort Lauderdale Yankees. He was promoted to the West Haven Yankees in 1972 and to Syracuse in 1973. In 1976, he led Syracuse Chiefs to the International League championship. Cox also managed the Cardenales in the Venezuelan Winter League from 1974 to 1977. He then spent the 1977 season as the first base coach on Billy Martin's staff with the World Series–winning Yankees.

Cox replaced Dave Bristol as the manager of the Atlanta Braves prior to the 1978 season, inheriting a team that had finished last in the National League West during the previous two seasons and, in 1977, compiled a worse record than the first-year Seattle Mariners of the American League. Building from the ground up, the Braves finished last in both 1978 and 1979. Entering 1980, Cox made one of the unusual moves for which he is known, moving power-hitting first baseman–catcher Dale Murphy, who had developed a throwing block as a catcher that hindered his ability to play, to center field. Murphy later won two National League Most Valuable Player Awards and five Gold Gloves, and became one of the premier players of the 1980s. In 1980, the Braves finished fourth with their first record above .500 since 1974.

During the 1981 season, which was shortened by a strike, the Braves finished in fourth place during the first half and in fifth in the second. After the season, owner Ted Turner fired him. Asked at a press conference who was on his short list for manager, Turner replied, "It would be Bobby Cox if I hadn't just fired him. We need someone like him around here." The Braves won the National League West division title in 1982 and finished second in both 1983 and 1984 under Cox's successor Joe Torre. Cox finished his first tenure with the Braves with a record of 266 wins and 323 losses in the regular season.

The Toronto Blue Jays hired Cox as their manager in 1982, and they steadily improved over the four years of his management. Cito Gaston was brought in as a coach for the team because of Cox, and Gaston would be named manager of the Jays years later. In 1983, Cox led the Blue Jays to the first winning record in franchise history. In 1985, Cox's fourth season with the club, the Blue Jays finished in first place in the American League East, the franchise's first division title. That season, the American League Championship Series was expanded to a best-of-seven format after 16 seasons of a best-of-five format. This change ultimately made the difference when Cox's Blue Jays became only the fifth team to lose a playoff series after leading three games to one to the Kansas City Royals, with the decision by Dick Howser to counter Cox's platooning by starting a right-handed pitcher before going with left-handed relievers in the middle innings proving key.

After the 1985 season, the Braves asked for permission to ask him about their general manager position, which Toronto allowed despite nearly signing Cox for the next season. While he didn't think he would be going, he ultimately came to accept their idea. On October 22, 1985, Cox left to return to Atlanta as general manager; he stated that a key reason was to be closer to his family, who had continued to live in suburban Marietta, Georgia. Cox and incoming manager Chuck Tanner both received five-year contracts from Ted Turner. Cox finished his stint as Jays manager with a record of 355 wins and 292 losses for his regular season record. Cox was replaced in Toronto by Jimy Williams.

After going through two managers over the course of less than five years with disastrous results in attendance and performance, Cox fired Russ Nixon in June 1990 and named himself field manager. Cox had spent the prior four seasons accumulating talented players, including Tom Glavine, Steve Avery, John Smoltz, Ron Gant, and David Justice. He was also responsible for drafting Chipper Jones with the first overall pick in the 1990 draft. After the 1990 season, he handed the general manager's post to Kansas City Royals general manager John Schuerholz. Greg Maddux  may have been his best player ever/

Betty Broderick obit

Convicted killer Betty Broderick dead at 78

 

She was not on the list.

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Betty Broderick, one of San Diego's most notorious killers, died Friday morning, ABC10 News confirmed with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

 

She was 78 years old.

According to the CDCR, Broderick was pronounced deceased at 3:40 a.m by a medical doctor "who determined the initial cause of death to be natural." The San Bernardino County Coroner will determine her official cause of death.

On April 18, 2026, Broderick was transported from the California Institution for Women to an outside medical facility for a higher level of care.

The La Jolla socialite was serving a 32-year-to-life sentence for the 1989 murders of her ex-husband, prominent local attorney Dan Broderick, and his new wife, Linda Kolkena Broderick.

On Nov. 8, 1989, Broderick entered the home of her ex-husband and his new wife and shot and killed them both while they slept in bed.

While the case appeared on the surface to be a revenge killing driven by adultery, local real estate broker Kimberly Dotseth offered a different perspective.

"This is the curiosity that I had. Everybody knows what happened. Everybody knows about the murders and what happened after the murders. I wanted to know what happened before and I had a slight idea that it was more than just infidelity," Dotseth said.

Dotseth said she reviewed public records from the county recorder's office and corresponded with Betty Broderick by mail and email from 2020 to 2023. She said she analyzed Betty, Dan and Linda's real estate purchases and how they might have impacted their relationships.

Dotseth said she sensed an emotional urgency in Betty that never faded, even through their written exchanges.

"She is a misunderstood person. She cared deeply about her family and I sense just sort of a franticness in her that just culminated in a terrible action, but that franticness stayed all the way through our correspondence," Dotseth said.

The Broderick family released a statement following her death.

"She passed from natural causes and her children were with her bedside. We loved both of our parents and it was a complicated relationship with our mom for obvious reasons and with her being incarcerated the last 37 plus years. We will always remember her as an amazingly fun, smart, engaging and loving mom," the family said.

Betty Broderick is survived by 4 children and 7 grandchildren.

Festus Mogae obit

Botswana's former president Festus Mogae dies at 86

 He was not on the list.

GABORONE, May 8 (Reuters) - Botswana's former president Festus Mogae, who led ​the diamond-rich nation for a decade ‌and won praise for good governance and the fight against HIV/AIDS, has died at the age ​of 86, the government said, declaring three ​days of national mourning.

Mogae served as ⁠Botswana's third president from 1998 to 2008, ​handing power to his vice president, Ian Khama ​in a smooth transition that highlighted the southern African nation's reputation for political stability.

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An economist by training, ​Mogae was credited with successful management ​of Botswana's economy. He tackled HIV/AIDS openly at a ‌time ⁠when Botswana faced one of the world's highest infection rates, and adopted one of the African continent's most comprehensive programmes against it.

Born ​in Serowe ​on August ⁠21, 1939, Mogae studied in Britain before joining Botswana's civil service ​shortly after independence in 1966. He ​served ⁠as finance minister and vice president before becoming president.

Mogae stepped down after the maximum ⁠of ​two terms allowed by the ​constitution.

Jo Ann Castle obit

Jo Ann Castle Obituary: Lawrence Welk’s Queen of Honky-Tonk Piano Dies

 

She was not on the list.

Jo Ann Castle, the fiery, fearless pianist who lit up television screens across America for a decade, has passed away after years of enduring considerable physical pain.

The news came directly from her husband, who informed the Lennon Sisters, prompting the beloved singing group to share the loss with fans on their official Facebook page.

In their post, Dee Dee Lennon revealed that she and her sister had visited Castle in her final days, prayed with her, sang with her, and told her how much the memories of their time together had meant.

It was a quiet, tender farewell between old friends from an era of television that many still hold close to their hearts.

Born Jo Ann Zering on September 3, 1939, in Bakersfield, California, Castle built a stage name for herself borrowing from the name of an accordion manufacturer, an instrument she played with real skill alongside her beloved piano.

She was, in every sense, a performer from the ground up. By the time she was three years old, she was already singing and dancing for anyone who would watch. By her twenties, she had become one of the most recognizable faces on American network television.

Introduced to Lawrence Welk by singer Joe Feeney in 1959, Castle joined the Welk family just before her twentieth birthday, stepping into the slot left by the departing Big Tiny Little. It turned out to be one of the most inspired casting decisions in the history of the show. Castle did not simply play the piano. She attacked it.

TV Guide once quipped that she did not tickle the ivories so much as hammer them, as if she were building the piano instead of playing it. That image stuck because it was accurate. Her style was physical, joyful, and completely her own.

Welk himself took to calling her the Queen of the Honky-Tonk Piano, a title she wore without pretension. She released sixteen albums over the course of her career and remained the central ragtime performer on the Welk show from 1959 through 1969.

During those ten years, she became a household name, a woman audiences tuned in specifically to see. Her presence on screen carried a kind of electricity that was rare and genuine.

Her connection to the Lennon Sisters ran deep. The Lennon Sisters shared a clip of Castle performing on the final episode of their own series, “The Lennon Sisters Hour,” in 1970, a warm reminder of just how intertwined the careers and friendships of that era’s performers were. These were not merely professional colleagues.

They were people who sang together, prayed together, and showed up for one another when it mattered most.

Castle’s life held its share of hardship. She navigated several solo careers, more than one return to the Welk family fold, three marriages, and a host of personal trials that would have felled someone with less resilience. She kept going regardless.

The piano was always there, and she always found her way back to it.

In the end, after many years of pain, Jo Ann Castle slipped away quietly. The woman who once made Saturday night television feel like a party is gone, but the recordings remain.

The joy she put into every performance was never an act. It was simply who she was. Rest easy, Queen.

Castle was born on September 3, 1939 in Bakersfield, California, USA. She has been married to Lin Biviano since September 3, 2011. She was previously married to Jack Scheiber, Bill Roeschlein and Dean Hall.

Joe Senser obit

Vikings Mourn Passing of Former TE & Broadcaster Joe Senser

 

He was not on the list.

EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings are mourning the passing of former tight end, radio broadcaster and Twin Cities businessman Joe Senser, who passed away Thursday at the age of 69.

Vikings Owner/President Mark Wilf and Owner/Chairman Zygi Wilf issued the following statement:

"The Vikings family is saddened by the loss of Joe Senser. Joe was a Pro Bowler on the field, but his impact on the organization and in the community was felt long after his playing days. Joe was a generous soul with countless charitable endeavors. He brought his positive personality to every interaction he had, whether it be with former teammates, Vikings staff or our family when we became stewards of this franchise. Joe's warmth and welcoming spirit will last in the memories of those who knew him.

Senser joined the Vikings in 1979 as a sixth-round pick (152nd overall) out of West Chester in his home state of Pennsylvania.

Within two years, he turned in one of the most amazing seasons by a tight end in franchise and NFL history with 79 catches, 1,004 yards and eight touchdowns, resulting in selection to the Pro Bowl.

Vikings Ring of Honor linebacker Scott Studwell, who had joined the Vikings as a ninth-round pick in 1977, described Senser as a "late-round steal" who made positive impacts in multiple ways.

"Unfortunately, his career was cut short due to a knee injury, or he would have taken his place as a true Legend and would have had a hugely productive career with the Vikings," Studwell said. "He still impacted Vikings fans on and off the field and made his mark in the Twin Cities in a variety of ways and was such a caring and supportive soul who always had a smile on his face and warmth in his heart. He had more than his fair share of physical pain and setbacks, but he always had such a positive attitude and outlook on life that it always 'picked you up' knowing that he always had your back. Great man, player and person with a warm heart and huge smile."

Punter Greg "Touch" Coleman recalled a rough start with Senser that grew into a lifelong friendship.

Coleman remembered meeting Senser at Vikings Training Camp in 1979, recalling Senser's "chiseled" frame and flowing curly hair.

"I remember running the scout team defense during a walk-through drill, holding a dummy bag, and he ripped and knocked me down," Coleman shared. "Embarrassed by the play and that he was a rookie, I jumped up and shouted, 'Rookie if you ever hit me again during walk-throughs, I am gonna kick your ass.' "

"He looked at me and said, 'Touch, you don't understand. I gotta do everything I can to make this team.' Immediately there was a bond because I totally understood what he was going through, having been a rookie myself only a few years back and having had to prove myself day-in and day out, I got it," Coleman said. "From that day on, I made it a point to watch and encourage Joe Senser as long as he was in a Purple uniform."

The 1981 campaign for the player in the No. 81 jersey, along with his endearing personality, launched him into immense popularity in Minnesota.

But it also turned out to be his apex as a professional football player.

The fateful day proved to be Nov. 29, 1981.

Senser recorded 11 catches for 98 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown in the Border Battle matchup with Green Bay, but he suffered a severe knee injury when enduring a high-low hit.

In a twist of irony, in that day's Minneapolis Tribune, former writer Roman Augustoviz had quoted Senser in a feature written about secondary tight end Bob Bruer.

Augustoviz led with Senser having recorded 60 receptions for 833 yards and six touchdowns through just 12 games, compared to four receptions for 13 yards (three scores, though!) and followed with Senser saying, "If I got hurt, he could come in and do as well, if not better."

Senser grinded through that game and started the final three of the season, but the Vikings closed 1981 — and Met Stadium — by losing the final five contests before heading to the Metrodome in 1982.

After not recording a catch in a 10-9 loss at the Bears the week after the injury, Senser caught five passes for 41 yards and a score in a 45-7 loss at Detroit and then gathered three catches for 32 yards in a 10-6 loss to the Chiefs.

The 79 receptions by Senser in 1981 stood as a Vikings record among tight ends until Kyle Rudolph recorded 83 in 2016. T.J. Hockenson topped that mark with 95 for 960 yards in 2023, but Senser remains the only Vikings tight end with more than 1,000 yards in a season.

Humble and warm-hearted

Quotes from that season revealed Senser staying humble amid stardom cast across the North Star State.

He never forgot humble and hardscrabble roots, that began with hazardous routes from his home to school on the streets of Philadelphia.

A January 1981 feature in the Minneapolis Star ahead of Minnesota's Divisional Round loss at eventual NFC Champion Philadelphia noted Senser's upbringing.

After his father passed away at age 47 due to a brain tumor and left Senser's mother to care for three sons and two daughters, Joe was enrolled at the Milton Hershey School, a cost-free boarding school for children from low-income families. At age 11, Joe headed 120 miles west of his home, and his mom worked two jobs, totaling 16 hours a day to take care of Joe's siblings.

Cow-milking at 5:30 a.m. and curfew at 9 p.m. were part of the program at the school, but Senser also found a new home on the basketball court. He played just one season of high school football before playing both sports at West Chester before becoming one of the NFL's earliest basketball-background tight ends who could be quite productive as passing targets.

A necessary learning curve, however, occurred as Senser jumped from the small school to the pros.

In an August 2005 Star Tribune story, Kent Youngblood relayed Senser's recollection from his first Vikings practice. The 22-year-old lined up across from 41-year-old Ring of Honor defensive end Jim Marshall, who was preparing for his 20th NFL season and 19th with Minnesota.

"When the ball was snapped, he was so fast that all I could do was try to reach back and grab the last three letters on the back of his jersey," Senser said. "He took that big, giant hand, slapped me on the side of the leg and said, 'You'll get it, kid.' "

The duo wound up rooming together during Senser's rookie season.

Toward the end of that first camp, Senser's foot was stepped on during practice, and the Vikings opted to place him on Injured Reserve before reducing the roster to 45 players. At that time, that meant his first campaign was over before it started.

In 1980, however, Senser put the behind-the-scenes learning into play, catching 42 passes for 447 yards and seven scores on just 65 targets.

Almost everyone knows Tommy Kramer found Ring of Honor receiver Ahmad Rashad for a 46-yard Hail Mary to deliver the Miracle at the Met on Dec. 14, 1980, but what about the play before the play?

To start a two-play drive that began with 20 seconds remaining, Senser caught a pass at the Minnesota 29-yard line atop a 9-yard hook route and lateralled the ball to running back Ted Brown, who streaked an additional 25 yards before stepping out of bounds at the Cleveland 46 with five seconds remaining. Kramer and Rashad followed with the deep heave for the 28-23 comeback victory. Senser also turned a tight end screen into a 31-yard touchdown earlier in the game.

The 1982 season was shortened to nine games because of a work stoppage. Senser caught 29 passes for 261 yards and what proved to be his final career TD nearly a year after his initial knee injury (in a 35-7 win over Chicago on Nov. 28, 1982).

Vikings Ring of Honor tight end Steve Jordan was drafted in 1982 and essentially received the baton to provide Minnesota's offense with a dynamic pass-catching threat at the position. Jordan said Senser inspired him during and after his career.

"Our Vikings community will miss our former teammate Joe Senser," Jordan said. "He's been inspirational in terms of his unheralded entry into the NFL and to see his hard work and talent achieve Pro Bowler status. Then, over the past number of years, his battle to recover from the stroke has continued to inspire us."

Senser missed all of 1983, rehabbing his knee long before sports medicine became more advanced.

"I don't feel sorry for myself because every time I want to feel sorry for myself, I think about all the great things that have happened to me in football," he told the Minneapolis Tribune that fall. "I've been so, so lucky."

Senser returned to action in 1984, mustering 15 catches for 110 yards on 24 targets.

Les Steckel, who had coached Vikings receivers and tight ends (and drawn up that hook-and-lateral) before becoming head coach for one season, told former Pioneer Press reporter Chris Tomasson in 2019 that Senser "was the most enjoyable player I ever coached. He always had a smile on his face; he always was laughing. He loved life."

After his playing career, Senser partnered on a chain of sports bars around the Twin Cities that began with locations in Roseville (1988) and Bloomington (1990) and expanded in Eagan (1998) and Plymouth (2007), but those have all closed.

He also worked as a color commentator for the Vikings Radio Network in 1993-94 and from 2001-06.

Coleman appreciated working games as the sideline reporter while Senser was in the broadcast booth. They had stayed connected, making their homes in the Twin Cities after their retirements.

"He was a man with a charitable heart and a giving spirit to a fault. He became one of my closest teammates," Coleman said. "That relationship blossomed even more when we became teammates again for the Vikings Radio Network. Joe and Paul Allen were in the booth, and I was the on the field.

"We had such a chemistry because we had seen and been a part of so much football and friendship," Coleman continued. "We could almost complete each other's sentences because we shared so many memories together as teammates and broadcast partners.

"What I will remember the most how he had to fight to make the Vikings squad and the faith to endure the last 10 years of a difficult journey," Coleman added. "But now I can say that Joe Senser has finished his race. I love Joe Senser."

Pat Caputo obit

Pat Caputo, Metro Detroit sports personality, dies at age 67: 'He was an original'

 

He was not on the list.

Pat Caputo, a longtime Metro Detroit sports columnist and sports radio personality, has died at the age of 67, his family announced via social media Thursday.

Caputo, who worked for 97.1 The Ticket since the early 2000s and was a contributor on WJBK-TV (Channel 2), revealed in January he was battling Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. In his post in January, Caputo said his diagnosis was "commonly referred to as a 'death sentence.'" He also described it as "sudden."

Previously with the Oakland Press from 1983-2020, Caputo covered multiple teams throughout his career, including the Lions and Tigers. He attended Birmingham Groves High School and later Michigan State University.

"We were lucky to have Pat for the time that we did," said Dan Miller, the current Fox 2 sports director who worked with Caputo for nearly three decades. "If you're putting somebody on television, you want them to be engaging, and you want them to be opinionated. You want them to do it in a respectful way, where it's not just flame-throwing, and that was Pat.

"Pat was going to tell you exactly what he thought. But it wasn't like he was making it up just to be compelling on television. That was truly what Pat thought. What people heard on the radio and what people saw on TV was exactly who he was if you talked to him when he wasn't doing something with the media. He just had a way of looking at things and was himself. He was an original."

About three weeks after revealing his cancer diagnosis, Caputo showed appreciation for the support he had received: "Your prayers, support and kind words truly have lifted my spirits during this difficult time," Caputo posted Jan. 28. "I read each comment on X and Facebook and it warmed my heart and made me realize that I am blessed. Thank you so very, very much. God bless."

"Pat was built for having what he believed in and then telling you about it, and then if you wanted to challenge him, he would accept that and he'd come right back at you," Miller said. "I think that's what made him the guy that he was. I think he enjoyed that. I think he enjoyed that back and forth with people, whether it was at a restaurant or on the radio or on TV or at the ballgame or wherever it was. I think he just loved engaging with people over the issues that we talk about every day. It was really what I think motivated him to get up in the morning. I think he loved it."

Caputo had a knack for quickly recalling stats and information related to sports, earning him the nickname "The Book."

"With Pat 'The Book' Caputo, you truly couldn’t judge the book by the cover," said The Detroit News columnist Bob Wojnowski, who worked alongside Caputo at 97.1 and WDFN for about 25 years. "Beneath the gruff exterior was a funny, fascinating man who knew more about Detroit sports than anyone I’ve ever known. He knew so much because he cared so much, about the teams and their connection to the city and the fans. I’ll miss his bluntness. I’ll miss his voice, the most imitated grumble in Detroit media history.

"I’ll miss his insight and strong opinions, a rare, classic book indeed."

Caputo began covering the Tigers in 1986 and remained on the beat until 1998, when he switched his focus to the Lions. Five football seasons later, Caputo became the sports columnist for the Oakland Press. He held that role until he was laid off in 2020.

Shortly after his exit from the Oakland Press, Caputo described himself as the "luckiest guy in the history of the world," and he said there was "no bitterness at all, no anger" toward the newspaper. Caputo, a contributor for FOX 2 Sports Works, went on to write for The Ticket's website.

"Pat was just one of one," Miller said. "There's no two Pat Caputos."

He also covered the Detroit Red Wings.

Joni Lamb obit

 

Joni Lamb, Influential Christian Leader and Daystar Television Network Co-Founder, Dies at 65

She was not on the list.

Joni Lamb, president and co-founder of Daystar Television Network, has died, the network announced Thursday. She was 65.

In a statement released May 7, Daystar said Lamb “has gone home to be with the Lord” following serious health complications that worsened in recent days.

According to the network, Lamb had been privately battling significant health issues before suffering a recent back injury that intensified her medical condition.

Prior to her recent back injury, Lamb had been dealing with serious health matters that she chose to face head on and in private. The back injury compounded those challenges and led to a more serious medical situation than anyone had anticipated. Despite the dedicated efforts of her medical team and the prayers of so many around the world, her condition worsened in the last few days.

Lamb founded Daystar with her late husband, Marcus Lamb, in 1993. What began as a local Christian television station eventually grew into one of the largest Christian television networks in the world, reaching audiences globally through satellite, cable, streaming and digital platforms.

Over nearly four decades in ministry broadcasting, Lamb became one of the most recognizable faces in Christian television, hosting programs, interviewing ministry leaders and helping shape the direction of faith-based media.

The Daystar Board of Directors praised her lasting spiritual legacy and commitment to ministry.

Joni’s love for the Lord and for the people we serve shaped this ministry from the beginning. We grieve her loss, and we are grateful for the legacy of faith she leaves behind.”

The network also emphasized that Daystar’s mission and programming will continue moving forward. According to the statement, Lamb had already worked with leadership to establish an executive team capable of carrying on the ministry without interruption.

Daystar’s mission does not change today. Previously, Lamb worked with the board to ensure an executive leadership team was in place so that the ministry would continue uninterrupted. Programming will proceed as scheduled, with on-air tributes to follow in the coming days.

The family requested prayers and privacy during this time. Memorial service information is expected to be announced later.

During this time, lift up Lamb’s family in this moment of grief.

Joni Trammell was born in Colleyville, Texas, in 1960. She was raised in Greenville, South Carolina. Her family were members of the Tremont Avenue Church of God, where Marcus Lamb ministered as a visiting preacher during a revival. The couple met each other at her home church and were married two years later, in 1982. They traveled for the next few years, visiting churches as evangelists.

In 1984, Joni and Marcus Lamb settled in Montgomery, Alabama where they purchased a full power television station and began teaching the Bible on broadcast television. This continued until 1990, when the couple moved to Dallas and formed another station in the larger Texas market. By 1998, they had raised the funds necessary to start Daystar.

Lamb hosted her self-titled half-hour program Joni Table Talk (initially titled Joni) each weekday on Daystar. The format of the show was typically a round table discussion with other ministers, singers and celebrities discussing a wide range of topics that combine contemporary cultural issues and the Christian faith. In 2004, the show was awarded as the Best Television Talk Show by the National Religious Broadcasters.

Lamb co-hosted the Daystar flagship program Ministry Now! (previously called, Marcus and Joni and initially titled Celebration). The hour-long program was broadcast five days a week on their Daystar network. Joni's children shared host duties and discuss news related to the network, ministry, and issues of interest to the Christian faith with daily guest(s). Joni and her daughters would also perform with the Daystar Singers during the Daystar program.

On June 10, 2023, Joni Lamb married Doug Weiss. Weiss is a television co-host, author and psychologist. At the time of her death, Lamb owned four houses in Texas, a home in Georgia and a beach condominium in Miramar Beach, Florida.

Lamb died on May 7, 2026, at her home in Bedford, Texas, from complications of a back injury, at the age of 65.

Jesse Hector obit

Cult Rock Hero Jesse Hector Has Died

Frontman of Crushed Butler and Hammersmith Gorillas...

 He was not on the list.

Cult British rock figure Jesse Hector has died.

The Kilburn born figure was a teenage Mod in the 60s, drawn to dirty R&B and primitive rock music. As the decade progressed he kept the Mod flame, with Jesse Hector expanding on this to create his own distinctive sideburn clad image.

Leading proto-punk three-piece Crushed Butler, the band’s short, savage songwriting lit up the London club scene but failed to nail down label backing.

Evolving into various guises, Jesse Hector then settled on the Hammersmith Gorillas – amplified pub rock, they arguably presaged British punk by a good five years.

Cult figures in the London underground, they recorded a cover of The Kinks’ ‘You Really Got Me’ for the Penny Farthing label, before signing to the nascent Chiswick imprint.

A series of 45s followed, with the band’s ole studio album ‘Message To The World’ landing in 1978.

Caroline Catz directed a full documentary on Jesse’s remarkable life in 2008, and the social media accounts linked to that film marked his passing:

 

Ted Turner - # 358

Ted Turner, billionaire media mogul and CNN founder, dies at 87

He conquered the broadcasting industry and reshaped the television landscape with CNN, the first 24-hour cable news network in the U.S. 

He was number 358 on the list.

Ted Turner, the high-flying media tycoon, entrepreneur and philanthropist who founded CNN and revolutionized American cable television, died on Wednesday.

He was 87.

Turner’s death was first reported by CNN, citing a Turner Enterprises news release.

"Ted was an intensely involved and committed leader, intrepid, fearless and always willing to back a hunch and trust his own judgment," CNN chairman and CEO Mark Thompson said in a statement. "He was and always will be the presiding spirit of CNN."

In his prime, Turner was one of the kings of broadcasting, a brash but savvy visionary. He turned the Turner Broadcasting System into a behemoth, establishing the “superstation” concept and launching channels such as TBS, TNT, Cartoon Network and Turner Classic Movies.

He transformed culture and politics with Cable News Network, the first 24-hour news channel in the country. CNN helped to fundamentally change the format and speed of TV news, laying the path for competitors such as Fox News and MSNBC, now known as MS Now.

Turner, with his wily grin and thin mustache, jumped into other ventures with the zeal of an Old West prospector. He once owned the Atlanta Braves, marketing the baseball franchise as “America’s Team.” He created Ted’s Montana Grill, a restaurant chain that serves bison meat.

He was a staple of magazine covers and newspaper business sections, cultivating a reputation for keen instincts and a no-filter style. He sometimes ran into trouble for injudicious comments about world affairs or religion, earning the nickname “Captain Outrageous.”

“I don’t have any idea what I’m going to say. I say what comes to my mind,” he told The New Yorker for a profile published in 2001.

He was also a prolific philanthropist, environmentalist and self-described “do-gooder.” He famously gave $1 billion to the United Nations and co-founded the Nuclear Threat Initiative, a nonprofit advocacy organization.

Robert Edward Turner III was born Nov. 19, 1938, in Cincinnati to Robert Edward Turner Jr. and Florence Turner. Turner’s father was a wealthy billboard advertising magnate who owned his own firm, Turner Advertising.

The young Turner enrolled at Brown University in 1956, but he was kicked out three years later, reportedly for having a woman in his dorm room. Turner then joined his father at the family business, headquartered in Atlanta, becoming general manager of a branch office in 1960.

The elder Turner, struggling with financial hardships and mental health issues, died by suicide in 1963; his son took over the advertising company, taking on the roles of president and CEO.

Turner Advertising was renamed Turner Communications with the acquisition of several radio stations. Turner branched out into other media, purchasing a beleaguered UHF television station in Atlanta, as well as the rights to old movies and sitcom reruns.

In the mid-1970s, Turner made one of the most consequential decisions of his career. He was one of the first media company owners to use satellite technology to broadcast his station to a national cable television viewing audience, widening his reach and boosting revenues.

Turner filled the “Super Station” lineup with a combination of vintage Hollywood titles, throwback sitcoms and baseball games.

In 1979, the company rebranded once again, becoming Turner Broadcasting System Inc. and establishing itself as one of the key enterprises of the cable television revolution.

Turner leveraged his media success in sports, buying the Atlanta Braves in 1976 and the Atlanta Hawks in 1977. The Braves won the World Series in 1995 under his ownership.

In the late 1970s, Turner came up with the idea for a 24-hour cable news channel — a significant shift in an era when the “Big Three” network news programs still reigned supreme and many viewers did not conceive of news consumption as a minute-to-minute activity.

CNN aired its first broadcast on June 1, 1980, anchored by the husband-and-wife duo of David Walker and Lois Hart.

In the mid-1980s, as CNN emerged as a cornerstone of the cable lineup and a household name, Turner bought MGM/UA Entertainment Co., which included Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s sprawling library of more than 4,000 movies.

He offended cinephiles and much of the Hollywood establishment with his plans to “colorize” black-and-white films from the MGM library. In a 1989 article, the Los Angeles Times called him “The Man Hollywood Loves to Hate.”

The critic Roger Ebert wrote that Turner’s airing of a colorized version of “Casablanca” was “one of the saddest days in the history of the movies.”

“It is sad because it demonstrates that there is no movie that Turner will spare, no classic however great that is safe from the vulgarity of his computerized graffiti gangs,” Ebert wrote.

Turner eventually backed down, deciding the colorization process was not cost-efficient. He soon sold off MGM/UA, but he retained ownership of the MGM movie library, which later formed the backbone of programming on Turner Classic Movies, or TCM, launched in 1994.

Turner married for a third and final time in 1991, partnering with the Oscar-winning actor and activist Jane Fonda.

The union between an avatar of American capitalism and an outspoken progressive who railed against the status quo raised eyebrows, but the two were smitten from the start and bonded over their shared curiosity about the world.

“In his heart, Ted is not a wealthy, powerful, privileged person,” Fonda told interviewers for “Jane Fonda in Five Acts,” an HBO documentary released in 2018. “He’s a little boy who likes to play, and who has wild brilliance, and that’s what I was attracted to.”

“We were both children of suicide, so we understood each other,” Fonda added.

The couple, by all accounts, savored their years together, spending countless hours in nature — hiking, fly-fishing, horse riding and other “adventures,” Fonda said. But the marriage ultimately ran aground, and they divorced in 2001.

“It was very difficult,” Turner told the HBO documentarians. “I’ve survived, and so has she, but I feel like I was happier when I was with her than subsequently.”

In 1996, Time Warner Inc. acquired Turner Broadcasting System for $7.5 billion. Turner was named vice chairman of Time Warner and presided over the new company’s cable TV brands.

Time Warner then merged with the former Internet giant AOL in 2001, with Turner becoming vice chairman and senior adviser of the newly formed AOL Time Warner Inc. Two years later, he resigned as vice chairman.

It was widely reported that Turner was forced out, and his departure effectively marked the end of his reign as a media industry chief. But in recent decades, he remained productive as a philanthropist and environmentalist.

He donated a staggering $1 billion to the United Nations in 1998; the funds were used to create the United Nations Foundation, a charitable group that supports the goals of the U.N.

He co-founded, with former Sen. Sam Nunn, D-Ga., the Nuclear Threat Initiative, a nonprofit organization that seeks to prevent the use of weapons of mass destruction and advocates for global nonproliferation.

He supported various conservation projects and environmental causes. He was also one of the top landowners in the U.S., and he used the extensive acreage under his care to promote sustainability and ecotourism.

He was particularly invested in growing the country’s bison herd, and in 2002 he co-founded Ted’s Montana Grill, a restaurant chain that purportedly offered the “largest bison menu” on the planet.

In his later years, Turner made comments suggesting he was uncomfortable with the wave of corporate media consolidation he once symbolized.

“In the media, as in any industry, big corporations play a vital role, but so do small, emerging ones. When you lose small businesses, you lose big ideas,” he wrote in a 2004 essay for Washington Monthly.

Turner published an autobiography, “Call Me Ted,” in 2008. Ten years later, he announced that he had been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia.

“It’s a mild case of what people have as Alzheimer’s. It’s similar to that. But not nearly as bad. Alzheimer’s is fatal,” Turner told journalist Ted Koppel in the fall of 2018 from his Montana ranch.

Turner was married and divorced three times. He had five children — two from his first marriage, to Judy Gale Nye, and three from his second marriage, to Jane Shirley Smith.

Turner has been regarded as one of the entrepreneurs who transformed the cable industry and has been referred to as "the Alexander the Great of broadcasting" by Slate magazine:

While Turner has been described as a "valiant liberator" and cast the networks as oppressive scoundrels, in content his programming fell short of inspiring. His network was built on sitcom reruns, old movies, cartoons, and Atlanta Braves games. He found an audience for classics of a bygone time, along with slightly down-market content like professional wrestling. Nonetheless, he would find glorious terms even for retreads and junk, claiming to be pulling America back to television's golden age: "I want to get it back to the principles" he once said, "that made us good." Nostalgic, Manichean, and boot-strappy: like programmer, like programming

The cable industry boomed in the late 1970s and early 1980s, as nearly a dozen cable networks launched based on the Turner model. They include much of what we now consider the staples of cable TV, including ESPN, MTV, Bravo, Showtime, BET, the Discovery Channel, and the Weather Channel. Those are the better-known channels only by virtue of having survived; others, such as ARTS, CBS Cable, and the Satellite News Channel, folded or were acquired by other companies.

Professional wrestling promoter and former Senior Vice President of WCW second in charge after Turner, Eric Bischoff praised Turner claiming "He was an inspirational leader, he was a risk taker, he appreciated people who took risks, he was not afraid of failure while most people are. Ted was not afraid to fail, he was more afraid of not trying and not conquering that next horizon."

On June 24, 1999, Vince McMahon stated on Late Night with Conan O'Brien: "All I'll say about Ted is he's a son-of-a-bitch, other than that, he's probably not a bad guy, but I don't like him at all". Later in 2021, when asked about the upstart AEW in comparison to Turner's WCW, McMahon dismissed AEW, stating that "it certainly is not a situation where 'rising tides' because that was when Ted Turner was coming after us with all of Time Warner's assets as well"

When Turner was 26, he entered sailing competitions at the Savannah Yacht Club and competed in Olympic trials in 1964. He first attempted to win the America's Cup in 1974, losing in the defender's trials, aboard 12 Metre class yacht US–25 Mariner. Turner was defeated by Ted Hood aboard US–26 Courageous.

Turner was asked to join the 1977 America's Cup defense syndicate formed by Hood and Lee Loomis for the New York Yacht Club. That group still owned the Courageous but decided to design and construct a new 12 Metre – US–28 Independence – to defend the 1974 America's Cup victory. However, in the trials, with Turner as skipper aboard the 3-year-old Courageous proved to be the faster than Hood and Independence  and was selected to race in the 1977 races.

From 13 to 18 September 1977 Courageous, with Turner in command, defeated the challenger Australia, skippered by Noel Robins, in a four-race sweep. Courageous' greatest winning margin out of all four races was 2 minutes and 23 seconds.

Awards and honors

Emmy Awards

 

Lifetime Achievement – Sports (2014)

Lifetime Achievement – News & Documentary (2015)

Sports

 

1995: World Series champion (as owner of the Atlanta Braves)

1996: Atlanta Braves home ballpark (1996–2016) named Turner Field

2004: Commemorative banner at State Farm Arena honoring his tenure as owner of the Atlanta Hawks

Media

 

1984: Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement

1989: Paul White Award, Radio Television Digital News Association

1990: Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism.

1991: Time magazine's Man of the Year.

1997: Peabody Award winner

1999: Edison Achievement Award for his commitment to innovation throughout his career

2000: Edward R. Murrow Award for Lifetime Achievement in Communication

Halls of Fame

 

1991: Television Hall of Fame inductee

2004: Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Organizational

 

1991: Audubon medal from the National Audubon Society

2001: Albert Schweitzer Gold Medal for Humanitarianism

2010: Georgia Trustee, an honor given by the Georgia Historical Society, in conjunction with the Governor of Georgia[78]

2013: Lone Sailor Award, which recognizes Navy, Marine and Coast Guard veterans who have distinguished themselves in their civilian careers (Turner is a Coast Guard veteran)

Mert Lawwill obit

Mert Lawwill

September 25, 1940  -  May 6, 2026 

He was not on the list.

Motorcycle Icon, Suspension Pioneer, Grand National Champion, Innovator, and inductee into five halls of fame.

Mert Lawwill, star of On Any Sunday and 1969 Motorcycle Grand National Champion, has passed away at the age of 85 in his home state of Idaho, surrounded by family and friends.

There has been much written about Mert Lawwill, and for good reason.

A 1969 Grand National Champion and inductee into both the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame and the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame, Lawwill built a legacy that bridged motorcycles and bicycles—becoming a motorcycle icon and a pioneering force in modern bicycle suspension design—while inspiring a devoted following that spans generations.

Born and raised in Boise, Idaho, Mert was never one to follow the rules. The son of a house painter and a schoolteacher, both talented artists, and one of seven children, he quickly developed a reputation for finding creative ways to avoid chores—channeling that ingenuity into a life defined by motion, mechanics, and independence.

That spirit found its outlet when his older brother Roy introduced motorcycles into the picture. From that moment on, Mert was hooked.

As captured in the song “Cycle Racin’ Man” from the album Motor-Cycle Man by Buddy Mize:

“Little Mert, Little Squirt got a tricycle they say… rode it down through the town saying watch for me some day, in his heart from the start grew a very special plan, little guys about this size make a mighty big cycle racing man….”

In Boise, alongside close friends including Al Russell, Dean Huskey, and Al Kozak, Lawwill immersed himself in riding and racing. What began as a tight-knit group of local riders evolved into the foundation of a career that would take him to the pinnacle of American motorcycle racing.

As a longtime factory racer for Harley-Davidson, Lawwill rose through one of the most competitive eras in the sport. Early in his career, the support of Dudley Perkins in San Francisco provided Mert with the opportunity to pursue racing full time, a turning point that helped launch his professional career. He would go on to capture the 1969 AMA Grand National Championship. Known for his smooth style and mechanical intuition, he was not only a champion rider but also a technical pioneer. Lawwill developed his own racing chassis design, which became the benchmark for professional dirt track racing throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

His story reached a broader audience through his appearance in the landmark film On Any Sunday, directed by Bruce Brown. Brown’s decision to feature Lawwill introduced him to a global audience—many discovering Mert for the first time through the film—and helped define the culture of motorcycling for generations. Beyond the film, Brown and Lawwill developed a close friendship that endured over the years, a relationship that Mert valued deeply.

Following his racing career, Lawwill brought that same engineering mindset into the bicycle industry, where he became a true pioneer of the sport’s early development. He is credited with producing one of the world’s first production mountain bikes, the PRO CRUISER, in 1977—well ahead of the category’s mainstream emergence.

Lawwill also designed and patented a four-bar suspension system that was adopted by leading brands including Yeti Cycles and Schwinn. In addition, he developed the Lawwill Leader, a groundbreaking leading-link suspension fork that further demonstrated his forward-thinking approach to bicycle design. Throughout the 1990s, elite racers competing on those platforms achieved significant success, further validating Lawwill’s impact on modern mountain bike technology.

Yet among all his accomplishments, the work that meant the most to Mert was deeply personal.

Motivated by his close friend and fellow dirt track competitor Chris Draayer, who lost his arm in a racing accident but was determined to ride again, Lawwill set out to find a solution. The result was a prosthetic innovation known as “Mert’s Hands”—a device that allows riders who have lost a hand or arm to maintain a secure connection to the motorcycle while still being able to safely release in the event of a fall.

This work opened the door for countless adaptive athletes to return to riding and represented, in Mert’s eyes, his most meaningful contribution.

“From an early age, I understood that my father lived a life that was anything but ordinary. As I began to recognize the respect and admiration people had for Mert, the attention that came with it—even being asked for my own autograph as a child—felt surreal. I started calling him ‘Mert’ as a way to navigate that spotlight. As I grew older and pursued my own career in mountain bike racing, he remained my most steadfast supporter, always encouraging and standing behind me. It was never a question of pride—I have always felt a deep sense of gratitude and honor to call someone so impactful my father.”

— Joe Lawwill

Despite his championships, innovations, and industry influence, those closest to him will remember something less tangible but equally enduring—his independence, creativity, and the unmistakable way he approached life on his own terms. Friends and family remember his unfailing good nature and sense of humor, which remained with him throughout his later years.

Mert Lawwill was preceded in death by his wife, June Lawwill.

He is survived by his son, Joe Lawwill; his daughter, Marcella Lawwill; his stepsons, Rick, Mike, and Tim Suchomel; three grandchildren; and extended family, friends, and a global community of riders and fans who were inspired by his life on and off the bike.

A celebration of life will be held, with the date and details to be announced at a later time.

 

Jake Hall obit

Jake Hall Dies: ‘The Only Way Is Essex’ Star Was 35

 

He was not on the list.

Jake Hall, who previously featured on ITV reality show The Only Way is Essex, has died in Spain. He was 35.

According to The Sun, Hall sustained head injuries and died after an accident at a villa in Majorca.

A spokesperson for the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office told BBC News: “We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities.” This person was confirmed to reporters to be Hall.

The Spanish Civil Guard told BBC News it was investigating the incident, which it said “appears to be an accidental death.”

Tributes came in on social media for Hall, who was also a model and fashion designer and landed a role on ITV stalwart The Only Way is Essex in 2015. He had previously dated co-star Chloe Lewis.

The Only Way Is Essex said in a statement: “Jake was a part of the TOWIE family for a number of years and we send our very deepest sympathies to his family and friends following today’s very sad news.”

Hall is the second The Only Way is Essex star to die this year. In March, Jordan Wright died in Thailand. Local reports said he was found dead in a concrete drainage system on the Thai island of Phuket.

Hall is survived by his daughter, whose mother is Ladies of London and former Real Housewives of Cheshire star Missé Beqiri.

Lawrence Smith obit

Former Congressman Larry Smith dies at 85 

He was not on the list.

Former U.S. Rep. Larry Smith of Hollywood, seen as “Florida’s go-to guy” during 10 years in Congress before his political career ended in scandal, has died at 85.

Smith died on Wednesday, said his son, Grant Smith.

“So many people lost a trusted and loyal friend, and the community lost a man who served and cared deeply about its success,” Grant Smith wrote on Facebook. “Everything he did, whether representing a client or a constituent, was deeply personal to him. His successes were public, but regrettably, so were his failures. … To the end, he was plotting for a better America and teaching us life lessons.”

Smith was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives five times, serving from 1983 to 1993. His district included much of southern and eastern Broward County, and extended into Miami-Dade County.

He was “Florida’s go-to-guy,” U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland said during a 2014 event in Broward County. At the time Hoyer was the No. 2 Democrat in the U.S. House.

Smith served on the Foreign Affairs Committee, where he was an advocate for Israel. His son said work on foreign affairs and Israel “became his calling” in life.

And, his son said, “He was proudly Jewish. He supported Jewish causes and was a fierce proponent and defender of Israel.”

Smith also kept an eye on local priorities, including securing federal funding for a large berm at the south side of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to help reduce the impact of airport noise on nearby residents of Dania Beach.

Smith opted not to run for reelection in 1992, after he was caught up in a major scandal of the era. Members of Congress, including Smith, bounced scores of checks at the House Bank.

The following year, Smith pleaded guilty to felony charges of income tax evasion and making a false statement to the Federal Election Commission in connection with his misuse of campaign funds.

He admitted that he failed to pay taxes on more than $100,000 of income. He also admitted that he lied to the Federal Election Commission about his use of $10,000 in campaign funds, some of which was used to pay gambling debts at a casino in the Bahamas, according to news accounts.

Smith’s attorney at the time said his client’s troubles were “a result of the financial pressures of public service” and that Smith “never misused his public office.”

Smith served a three-month sentence at a minimum security prison camp in Miami-Dade County and paid a $5,000 fine.

Later, he used his knowledge of government and politics to work as a lobbyist, including representing local governments in Broward County before other levels of government.

In the 1970s, Smith was chairman of the Hollywood Planning and Zoning Board, then spent four years as a member of the Florida House of Representatives, before he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1982.

Smith was also a delegate to seven Democratic national conventions.

Lawrence Jack Smith was born in Brooklyn to Martin and Myra Smith on April 25, 1941. After receiving a law degree from Brooklyn Law School he practiced in New York before following his parents and moving to Florida.

In addition to his son, Grant Smith of Fort Lauderdale; Smith is survived by his wife of 64 years, Sheila (Cohen) Smith; a daughter, Lauren Failla of Hollywood; a sister, Ellen Russo of Sunrise, and three grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Temple Solel, 5100 Sheridan St. in Hollywood. Internment follows immediately at Beth David Memorial Gardens (Levitt Weinstein), 3201 N. 72nd Ave. in Hollywood.