Garret Anderson obit

Ex-MLB Star Garret AndersonDead At 53

... After Medical Emergency 

He was not on the list.

Longtime Angels star Garret Anderson -- the franchise's all-time hits leader -- tragically died on Thursday ... TMZ Sports has learned.

We're told the 53-year-old had a medical emergency at his home in Newport Beach, CA ... and dispatch audio details an unconscious male amid the request for service.

Anderson, born and raised in Los Angeles, was drafted by the Angels in 1990 ... and went on to play for the big league club from 1994 to 2008, becoming one of the greatest players in franchise history.

Garret had a ton of personal as well as team success in Anaheim ... making three All-Star teams and winning a World Series in 2002. He also won the Silver Slugger Award twice, in 2002 and 2003.

In 2009, Anderson signed with the Braves, spending a season in Atlanta before ending his career in 2010 with the Dodgers.

Over his 17 seasons, the leftfielder racked up 2,529 hits, 287 home runs, and 1,365 RBIs.

After retiring as a player, GA spent a few years working as an analyst for the team, working pre and postgame for the Angels.

Anderson was inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame in 2016 -- becoming only the 14th person to receive the honor.

Garret was married to his wife, Teresa, his childhood sweetheart. They had three children together.

A three-time All-Star, Anderson helped lead the Angels to the 2002 World Series title, and was named Most Valuable Player of the 2003 All-Star Game. He holds Angels franchise records for career games played (2,013), at bats (7,989), hits (2,368), runs scored (1,024), runs batted in (RBIs) (1,292), total bases (3,743), extra base hits (796), singles (1,572), doubles (489), grand slams (8), RBIs in a single game (10) and consecutive games with an RBI (12), as well as home runs by a left-handed hitter (272).

Garret Anderson attended Kennedy High School in Granada Hills, California. He was a three-sport star in baseball, football, and basketball. In baseball, he won two All-Los Angeles City honors and two All-League Honors, and as a junior, helped his team win the Los Angeles City Championship. In basketball, as a senior he won All-Los Angeles City honors and All-League honors. He accepted an athletic scholarship to attend California State University, Fresno and play college baseball for the Fresno State Bulldogs.

The California Angels selected Anderson in the fourth round of the 1990 MLB draft. He signed with the Angels rather than enroll at Fresno State. He began the 1992 season with the Palm Springs Angels and batted .323 before being promoted to the Midland Angels. In 1993, he played for the Vancouver Canadiens and returned there to begin the 1994 season.

Anderson made his major league debut on July 27, 1994. He had two hits in four at bats in that game, recording his first career hit on a single to right field off Oakland Athletics pitcher Ron Darling in the bottom of the third inning. He appeared in five games with the Angels in 1994, getting five hits in 13 at bats.

In 1995, Anderson was called up to the major leagues on April 26 and spent the rest of the year in the majors. He hit his first career home run on June 13 against Kevin Tapani of the Minnesota Twins. He was named the American League Player of the Month for July 1995, after batting .410 with 22 runs scored and 31 runs batted in (RBIs) in 25 games played. He batted .321 in 106 games with 16 home runs and 69 RBIs, and finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting to Marty Cordova of the Twins. From that point forward, Anderson became a mainstay in the Angels lineup. Over the next eight seasons, he accumulated at least 600 at bats every year, breaking 90 RBIs and 20 home runs five times while compiling a batting average near .300.

While Anderson hit a career-high 35 home runs in 2000, he drew few walks. He became only the second player to conclude a 30-homer season with more homers than walks (35 HR, 24 BB), joining Iván Rodríguez (35–24 in 1999); the dubious feat has since been duplicated by Alfonso Soriano (39–23 in 2002), Javy López (43–33 in 2003), José Guillén (31–24 in 2003), Joe Crede (30–28 in 2006) and Ryan Braun (34–29 in 2007).

The Angels said they would honor Anderson with a memorial patch on their jerseys for the remainder of the season. There also will be a moment of silence and a video tribute prior to Friday's game.

Anderson's 272 home runs with the franchise are third in Angels history, behind Mike Trout and Tim Salmon. Only Trout has scored more runs in Angels history than Anderson.

In 2002, Anderson batted .306 and drove in a team-leading 123 runs for the then-Anaheim Angels, who won 99 games and earned a wild-card playoff berth. The Halos stormed through the playoffs to the franchise's only championship, overcoming a 3-2 series deficit to Barry Bonds and the San Francisco Giants to win the World Series.

Anderson was a key factor in the Fall Classic, batting 9-of-32 with six RBIs. He drove in the final three runs of the Series with a tiebreaking three-run double in the third inning of the Angels' 4-1 victory over the Giants in Game 7.

“Garret played hard, he wanted to win,” then-Angels manager Mike Scioscia once said. "He's got that internal competitive nature that every great player has to have, and he was really the foundation of our championship run back in 2002 and for many other years. He just was a terrific talent and a terrific person."

He trails only Mike Trout and Tim Salmon in home runs hit while in an Angels uniform. Anderson also was a member of the franchise's lone World Series winning team (2002).

MLB statistics

Batting average           .293

Hits      2,529

Home runs       287

Runs batted in 1,365

Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Teams

California / Anaheim Angels / Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (1994–2008)

Atlanta Braves (2009)

Los Angeles Dodgers (2010)

Career highlights and awards

3× All-Star (2002, 2003, 2005)

World Series champion (2002)

2× Silver Slugger Award (2002, 2003)

Angels Hall of Fame

Jim Jabir obit

Jim Jabir, UD women’s basketball’s winningest head coach, dies at 63

 

He was not on the list.

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – The University of Dayton athletics community was rocked by the tragic passing of former Flyers women’s basketball head coach Jim Jabir on Thursday night.

Jabir was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in July of 2024, following his retirement that March.

Jabir coached the Flyers for 13 seasons from 2003-2016, amassing 238 wins and 140 losses, becoming the winningest head coach in program history.

Over his 28-year head coaching career, he finished with a total record of 458-363, with stops at Siena, Marquette, Providence, Florida Atlantic and Buffalo State.

He boasts six consecutive NCAA appearances (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015) during his illustrious career.

Jabir led Dayton to its first NCAA Elite Eight in 2015, two post-season Women’s NIT appearances, three-consecutive Atlantic 10 Finals, the program’s first A-10 Tournament title in 2012, followed by the program’s first A-10 Regular Season title in 2013.

In 2014, Jabir led the Flyers to another A-10 Regular Season crown. He has 27 A-10 All-Conference performers under his belt while at the helm of the Flyers.

Undoubtedly, he led the University of Dayton to its most successful stint in modern program history.

The two-time Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year has transformed the program, taking the Flyers from 3-25 in his first season to their highest national ranking at No. 11 in both the AP and USA Today Coaches Polls in 2013.

In the last six seasons UD has accrued a 162-60 overall record (.730 winning percentage) and posted a 81-23 record (.779 winning percentage) in Atlantic 10 games.

A native of Brooklyn, New York, Jabir graduated from Nazareth College in 1984 with a degree in English. He began his coaching career as an assistant at Nazareth in 1984–85. He was the head coach of Buffalo State College in the NCAA Division 3 in 1986–87, guiding the team to a SUNYAC Championship and the NCAA Regionals. At Buffalo State, he earned a Master's degree in Student Personnel Administration.

At age 24, Jabir was named Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Siena College. Between 1987 and 1990, he had a record of 50–29 at Siena, followed by head coaching stints at Marquette University (1990–1996) and Providence College (1996–2002). He guided Marquette Women’s Basketball Team to NCAA Tournament appearances in 1994 and 1995, Jabir earned Reebok/Great Midwest Coach of the Year honors twice. During his tenure at Providence, he led the Women’s team to 62 wins and 102 losses.

In 2002–03, Jabir was an assistant coach at the Colorado University Women’s Basketball Team, helping the squad to a Sweet 16 appearance. Jabir moved to the University of Dayton, where he was the Head Women’s Basketball Coach from 2003 to 2016. At Dayton, he compiled a record of 252 wins and 155 defeats and became the winningest coach in program history. In 2013, his Dayton Flyers’ team was ranked 11th nationally in the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches polls. He coached Dayton to the NCAA Elite Eight in 2015. Jabir received Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year honors in 2008 and 2013 and was a finalist for the Naismith College Coach of the Year Award in 2013. On September 7, 2016, Jabir stepped back for health reasons. Jabir said, he has had heart problems in the past and a pacemaker and defibrillator.

In parts of the 2016–17 season, he coached in the professional ranks, serving as head coach for SISU's men's team in Denmark’s Basketligaen, where he signed in January 2017. He guided the team to a semifinal appearance and was named 2016–17 Basketligaen Coach of the Year. Under his guidance, SISU won eleven of its 18 games

Justin Fairfax obit

Former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax and his wife dead in murder-suicide

 

He was not on the list.

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (7News) — Former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax and his wife are dead following a murder-suicide Thursday morning in Annandale, according to the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD).

Shortly after midnight, officers responded to the 8100 block of Guinevere Drive for a death investigation. Detectives said they discovered a man and a woman dead inside a residence.

The agency's preliminary findings indicate Justin Fairfax, 47, shot his wife, Dr. Cerina W. Fairfax, before turning the gun on himself.

Police believe the murder happened in the basement of the home and at some point after shooting his wife, Justin Fairfax ran upstairs of the home to the primary bedroom, where he shot himself. He used the same gun, but police have not recovered it yet.

The couple has two children who were home at the time of the shooting, and one of them called 911.

The couple got married on June 17, 2006, after meeting at Duke University. According to court records, they were going through a divorce.

"Right now I can just tell you...that this has been an ongoing domestic dispute surrounding what seems to be a complicated or or messy divorce," FCPD Chief Kevin Davis said.

FCPD has responded to prior domestic-related calls at the home, with the most recent one in January.

"Mr. Fairfax called the police and alleges that his wife, assaulted him, we responded to that scene." However, Davis said no "assault occurred" and was "proven to be untrue."

Davis also said Cerina Fairfax had several cameras installed in the home and that is something police will look into for evidence.

The cameras were installed because of previous alleged assaults reported to police, authorities said.

Police added they were "separated but living together" and that Justin Fairfax was served some paperwork recently that may have "sparked" this shooting.

"Mr. Fairfax was served some type of paperwork indicating when he was scheduled to next appear in court for the ongoing divorce proceedings. So I guess that is, well, that is something that we're looking at as something that may have led to whatever happened last night that led to the murder of a mother and a wife and a citizen," FCPD chief said.

Police plan to execute an existing search warrant at the Annandale residence to recover all relevant evidence, including the firearm used in the incident.

"The family was going through, seemingly a very tough time with the separation, with the divorce," Chief Davis said. "I can only imagine the stress that the parents felt, the kids felt, and the other family members as well."

Police said the children are being supported by the victim services division.

Justin Fairfax worked under Ralph Northam, who served as the 73rd governor of Virginia from 2018 to 2022.

An investigation was launched into Justin Fairfax in 2019 over several sexual assault allegations. He has denied ever sexually assaulting anyone.

He served as the 41st lieutenant governor of Virginia from 2018 to 2022. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the second African American elected statewide in Virginia, following Douglas Wilder. In 2019, he faced sexual assault allegations dating to 2000 and 2004, which he denied.

Fairfax was a Democratic candidate for governor of Virginia in the 2021 election. He finished fourth in the Democratic primary with 3.54% of the vote.

Miguel Canto obit

Hall of Famer and former flyweight champ Miguel Canto dies at age 78

 

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Miguel Canto, a long-time flyweight champion and Boxing Hall of Famer, died Thursday at the age of 78.

Though not considered a power puncher – as evidenced by his scoring just 15 KOs among his career 61 victories, against nine defeats and four draws – Canto is regarded as one of Mexico’s greatest boxers. He was known as “El Maestro,” or “The Teacher,” for his hit-and-don’t-get-hit style – but he was no runner. He was a cerebral boxer in the style of Willie Pep or Wilfred Benitez, landing combinations from different angles and then turning his opponents to prevent ever being right in front of them.

That approach carried the 5ft 1in Canto to the WBC flyweight title in 1975, when he traveled to Japan to defeat Shoji Oguma by majority decision. Canto made 14 successful defenses of the belt, including twice avenging a 1973 defeat against Betulio Gonzalez in his first title attempt, plus notching two more wins over Oguma, before losing the title on a narrow unanimous decision to Chan Hee Park in 1979. After he was held to a draw in a rematch with Park, Canto’s career began to wind down. He fought just eight more times, losing his last three by stoppage, with his two other stoppage losses coming in the first three bouts of his career in 1969.

The fourth of nine siblings, Canto grew up in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, helping his father at the snack stand at the former Alcazar movie theater. Canto originally had dreamed of becoming a baseball player, but that changed when he was 14, after his older brother, according to the WBC’s website, brought him to watch Merida’s two hometown boxing heroes, Silverio Ortiz and Carlos Navarrete, box during one of their four meetings during the 1960s.

Canto had 36 amateur fights before turning pro. He was a road warrior during his career, boxing in Venezuela, the United States, Japan, Chile and South Korea, while fighting many times in his home country as well.

Speaking with Mexican outlet Excelsior in 2016, Canto explained his approach to the sport.

“I had a lot of fun with boxing, even when I was world champion,” Canto said. “I had a hell of a time. I liked it so much that I wasn't afraid of getting hit. Of course, I have to take some hits, but I learned how to move around.”

Canto was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1998 and was named co-Flyweight of the Century in 1999, alongside Pancho Villa, by the Associated Press.

The World Boxing Council wrote of Canto on its website: “We have lost a true great. Miguel Canto is irreplaceable. Yet, he will forever make Mexico and the World of Boxing so very, very proud. He showed us the way. What style, what guile, what skill, what courage, what determination, what professionalism!”

Andy Kershaw obit

Former Radio 1 DJ and Live Aid presenter Andy Kershaw dies aged 66

 

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Former BBC Radio 1 DJ and Live Aid presenter Andy Kershaw has died aged 66, his family has confirmed, saying he died around 19:30 BST on Thursday.

It had been announced in January that the broadcaster, who also had his own podcast, had been diagnosed with cancer and was unable to walk.

Kershaw was a familiar voice on Radio 1 for 15 years from 1985, known for his eclectic taste and for helping champion world music.

He went on to report for Radio 4, both on music and global conflicts including the 1994 Rwanda Genocide and civil war in Sierra Leone in 2001.

Kershaw was born in Rochdale in 1959, and after studying at Leeds University, he began his career in the early 80s at Radio Aire in Leeds as a promotions manager, forging a partnership with veteran presenter Martin Kelner.

In 1984, Kershaw first anchored the BBC's flagship TV rock programme, The Old Grey Whistle Test, having been spotted while he was working as a roadie and driver for performer Billy Bragg.

The following year, he was one of the BBC's TV presenters for its coverage of Live Aid - a huge, star-studded benefit concert which raised money for the Ethiopian famine, organised by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure.

Kershaw also joined BBC Radio 1 in the summer of 1985 - he was viewed by some as a potential successor to DJ John Peel. His sister Liz Kershaw also worked at the station during his time there, from 1987 to 1992.

But by 2000, Andy Kershaw's weekly late-night Radio 1 show was axed as part of a scheduling overhaul. His last months on the network featured sessions by Willie Nelson and Lou Reed.

After Radio 1, Kershaw went on to report for BBC Radio 4, including reports for the Today Programme, and he travelled the world to explore both global music influences and areas experiencing political instability.

He also worked on BBC Radio 3, where, in his words, he "continued to ignore categories and mix it all up", and he completed a musical tour of Iraq, Iran and North Korea.

The DJ and presenter was off air for several years, after a series of well-documented personal problems.

These culminated him being jailed in 2008 for three months for breaking a restraining order which banned him from seeing his former partner. He was later given a suspended six-month sentence for again breaching a restraining order.

In 2011, he returned to BBC radio with a new music series that tied in with BBC One Human Planet.

Their show, Music Planet, saw Kershaw and co-presenter Lucy Duran travel around the world to record "extraordinary music" in "isolated locations", Radio 3 noted.

That year Kershaw also released an autobiography entitled No Off Switch, detailing his life and career.

On his broadcasting philosophy, he talked about how his mentor John Walters had influenced him, saying: "We're not here to give the public what it wants. We're here to give the public what it didn't know it wanted".

Kershaw continued his career as a broadcaster in recent years, having launched his own podcast.

His distinctive take on life and humour could also be seen when he released a statement after learning of his cancer diagnosis.

Saying he was in "good spirits", he joked: "I am determined not to die before Benjamin Netanyahu, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump and Ant' n 'Dec. That should keep me going for a while."

Billy Knight obit

Tributes Pour In as Roland Garros Mixed Doubles Champion Passes Away

 

He was not on the list.

The 1950s were a golden era for Australian tennis, with the nation producing champions at an almost unmatched rate. At a time when the sport itself was beginning to evolve, Great Britain found its own standard-bearer in William ‘Billy’ Arthur Knight. Determined to put his country on the global tennis map, Knight didn’t just participate, he led from the front and made his presence count.

It was largely because of his efforts that Great Britain became a regular name in tennis conversations during that decade. Now, the sport bids farewell to one of its early torchbearers, as Knight has passed away at the age of 90.

Unlike many of his British contemporaries, Knight carved out a reputation as a clay-court specialist, a rarity for players from his country at the time. One of the finest examples of his prowess on the surface came in 1959, when he lifted the Roland Garros mixed doubles title alongside Mexico’s Yola Ramirez Ochoa. The pair produced a memorable performance in the final, defeating Renee Schuurman Haygarth and a young Rod Laver.

That success was part of a broader run of strong doubles performances at the majors. Knight reached the Wimbledon mixed doubles semi-finals twice, first in 1958 with Shirley Bloomer, and then again the following year with Ochoa. Around the same period, he also made it to the mixed doubles final at the 1958 Australian Open with Jill Langley, though they fell just short in the title clash.

While a Grand Slam singles title eluded him, Knight was never an easy opponent to get past. In that same standout year of 1959, he reached the quarter-finals at the French Open before running into eventual champion Nicola Pietrangeli. His consistency at Wimbledon was equally notable, as he advanced to the fourth round on four separate occasions (1957, 1959, 1961, and 1964).

Interestingly, his journey to prominence began much earlier. Back in 1953, he announced himself on the big stage by winning the boys’ singles title at Wimbledon, a sign of things to come.

Beyond the Grand Slams, Knight enjoyed considerable success on the tour. His most notable achievements came at the British Hard Court Championships, where he claimed the singles title three times (1958, 1963, and 1964). He also added an international highlight to his resume by winning the German International Championships in 1959.

Knight’s contributions weren’t limited to individual events. He proudly represented Great Britain in the Davis Cup 43 times between 1955 and 1964. Even after retiring in 1968, his connection to the sport remained strong, as he returned in the 1990s to captain the British Davis Cup team.

And now, following his passing, the tennis world has come together to remember not just his achievements, but also the lasting impact he had on British tennis.

The tennis fraternity mourns the loss of William Knight

The LTA paid an emotional tribute to Knight, sending their condolences to his family and friends.

“The LTA is saddened to hear that former Great Britain Davis Cup player and captain Bill Knight has passed away at the age of 90. We send our condolences to Bill’s friends and family,” a post on X read.

Former World No. 80 and prominent tennis coach, Mark Petchey, described Knight as an “all-time great” in a special message.

“One of the all-time greats. An absolute legend and one of the best humans you could ever wish to have known,” Petchey wrote on X.

Knight’s former Davis Cup colleague Jeremy Bates hailed his leadership qualities and expressed gratitude for the help and support that he got from the legend.

“Bill was a really committed and charismatic leader; he had a special way of being tough and very motivational at the same time. Nobody cared more about the players and British tennis in general. I’ll always be very grateful for all the help and support he gave me,” Bates said.

With Knight’s passing, the sport bids farewell to one of its early torchbearers. His contributions laid the foundation for future generations, and his legacy will continue to resonate, ensuring he is always remembered as a true legend of the game.

Don Schlitz obit

Country songwriter Don Schlitz passes away

 He was not on the list.

This weekend’s Grand Ole Opry performance will be dedicated to him

Don Schlitz, composer of the iconic song “The Gambler,” passed away on April 16th at a Nashville hospital after a sudden illness. He was 73.

Schlitz was among the most influential and beloved songwriters in the history of country music. His chart-topping songs – among them “The Gambler,” “On the Other Hand,” “Forever and Ever, Amen,” “He Thinks He’ll Keep Her,” “The Greatest,” and “When You Say Nothing At All” – are touchstones and inspirations that continue to influence songwriters and singers decades after they were written. His words and music have articulated the extraordinary emotions inherent in common experience.

Schlitz’s first recorded song, “The Gambler,” won the Grammy for Best Country Song in 1978 and the Country Music Association’s Song of the Year in 1979. When Schlitz was notified by a reporter that he was nominated for CMA Song of the Year, the reporter told him, “This will be the first line of your obituary.”

His 50 Top 10 singles have played major roles in the careers of Kenny Rogers, Randy Travis, The Judds, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Tanya Tucker, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Keith Whitley, Alison Krauss, and many other singers. Schlitz achieved 25 No. 1s in his career.

Schlitz was the ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year for four consecutive years from 1988-1991. He won three CMA Song of the Year Awards, two ACM Song of the Year awards, two Grammys, and has had many more nominations. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Association Hall of Fame in 1993.

In 2012, Schlitz was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York City (along with Bob Seger and Gordon Lightfoot). Past recipients include Bob Dylan, Leiber and Stoller, Otis Blackwell, John Lennon, and Paul McCartney.

In 2017, Schlitz was inducted as a Member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. Having written hits across five decades, he joined an exclusive circle in the Country Music Hall of Fame that at that time included only five other songwriters: Bobby Braddock, Hank Cochran, Harlan Howard, and Boudleaux and Felice Bryant.

In 2022, Schlitz was inducted as a Member of the Grand Ole Opry, the only non-artist songwriter inducted into the show in its 100-year history. Schlitz would begin his set with his signature self-effacing humor, telling the audience, “You have no idea who I am.” After hearing the songs that he performed from his iconic song catalog, the audience often erupted in cheers and standing ovations.

Schlitz also wrote the music and lyrics for the 1999 Broadway musical “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer”. Though he could have hung up his ambitions and his songwriting pen after having written “The Gambler,” Schlitz said he lived in enduring commonality with Tom Sawyer’s creator, Mark Twain, who once wrote: “I am hard at work … merely for the love of it.”

Don Schlitz was born and raised in Durham, North Carolina. He briefly attended Duke University before moving to Nashville at age 20 on a Trailways bus with $80 in his pocket. His talent was recognized and fostered early on by greats, including Bob McDill and Bobby Bare, and he emerged as an empathetic and intelligent chronicler of the human spirit.

One of the first performers at Amy Kurland’s iconic songwriter club The Bluebird Café, Schlitz and friends Thom Schuyler, J. Fred Knobloch, and Paul Overstreet originated the Café’s songwriter-in-the-round format in 1985. Don popularized his Tuesday Night “Don For A Dollar” show, with a cover charge of $1, where he regularly performed his hits and new material at The Bluebird, interspersed with his wry wit and unique comic timing.

When Rogers recorded “The Gambler” – the young songwriter’s first recorded song – Schlitz moved into rare territory, penning a crossover song that spawned a pop cultural fascination. Rogers’ 1978 version rode an unforgettable chorus wrapped around a simple life lesson: “You’ve got to know when to hold ’em/know when to fold ’em/know when to walk away/and know when to run.” The song, written when Schlitz was 23, spawned television movies, parodies, Halloween costumes, and became one of those handful of Country songs that crossed over into America’s pop cultural fabric in the 1970s. Rogers’ version resonated deeply with listeners, and nearly 50 years later, the song continues to pop up in movies and television, including in an insurance commercial with Rogers singing that iconic chorus during a card game, as well as on a “Draft Kings” commercial promoting responsible gaming.

Don is survived by his wife, Stacey; his daughter, Cory Dixon and her husband Matt Dixon; his son Pete Schlitz and his wife Christian Webb Schlitz; his grandchildren, Roman, Gia, Isla, and Lilah; his brother Brad Schlitz; and his sister Kathy Hinkley.

Perhaps Kenny Rogers said it best when expressing his feelings as an artist when inducting Schlitz into the Songwriters Hall of Fame by stating, “Don doesn’t just write songs, he writes careers.”

Saturday night’s Grand Ole Opry performance will be dedicated in Schlitz’s honor. Other service plans are pending.

Ernie Smith obit

Ernie Smith, beloved Jamaican singer, has died

 

He was not on the list.

Ernie Smith, whose easy-listening songs ruled Jamaican airwaves during the 1970s, has died. The singer-songwriter, who was ill for some time, passed away at the University of Miami Hospital on Thursday, according to his manager, Joanna Marie Robinson.

Smith’s wife, Claudette Bailey Smith, told Observer Online that he died shortly after suffering “cardiac incidents”. Early this week, she disclosed that he underwent a “surgical procedure” on April 9, two days after being admitted to the hospital and was placed in the Intensive Care Unit.

While the surgery was successful, she said the 80 year-old Smith was “heavily sedated” and placed on a ventilator.

Smith’s laid-back songs, which include Pitta Patta, Duppy Gunman and Life is Just For Living, were a contrast to the militant music of roots-reggae acts like Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Burning Spear, who dominated the 1970s.

Most of Smith’s hit songs were recorded at Federal Records which was owned by the Khouri family. He was the main artiste at that Kingston company alongside Pluto Shervington, who died in 2024.

Smith had other hits such as I For Jesus and Sunday Coming Down, before migrating to Canada in the late 1970s. After returning to Jamaica in the 1990s, he continued to write and record new songs and became a popular attraction on the live show scene.

In late 2025, he and singer Ed Robinson recorded a version of Pitta Patta which entered the South Florida reggae chart.

Smith was born in Kingston but raised in St Ann. His music career took off in the late 1960s with Ride on Sammy, which was followed by Bend Down.

A major breakthrough came for Smith in 1972 when Life is Just For Living won the Yamaha Music Festival in Japan.

Ernie Smith is survived by his wife, three daughters, two sons and one grandchild.

Kevin Klose obit

Visionary NPR leader Kevin Klose, who led network to new heights, has died

 

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Former NPR President and CEO Kevin Klose, a buoyant and transformative leader who helped to propel the public broadcaster into the top ranks of major U.S. networks, died Wednesday morning in his sleep from complications of Alzheimer's disease. He was 85.

His death was confirmed by WBUR CEO Margaret Low, a family friend and former leader of NPR's news and programming divisions.

Klose demonstrated a keen and personal understanding of the news mission at NPR's core. His shock of white hair bobbed with excitement as he spoke with reporters and editors in the corridors of the network's Washington, D.C. headquarters. He would leave voicemails and fire off emails in appreciation for specific stories. And he was a champion for the central role international news played in NPR's identity.

"Long before it was on the tips of everyone's tongue, Kevin talked about the importance of quality journalism in a healthy democracy," Low said Wednesday.

The job encompassed enormous challenges. It required a vision and strategy for the network, the skills to manage fractious internal divisions and relations with the hundreds of independently owned public radio stations that air NPR's shows. It also demanded a drive to elevate its journalism to the ranks of its commercial and better-financed peers, and a deft touch in raising money to keep it in the black.

"There used to be a belief in some quarters that the job of president of NPR was too large to handle," says the former All Things Considered host Robert Siegel, "except for the example of Kevin Klose."

The network expanded significantly under his leadership, a period of calm after a history of turbulent internal struggles. In the early 1980s, the network stood on the verge of bankruptcy and subsequent leaders were forced to deal with the aftershocks.

Klose shored up the leadership structure and established more competitive pay for the networks' hosts. Klose also encouraged creativity and experimentation seeking to reach new audiences. NPR introduced Day to Day with Slate magazine, The Tavis Smiley Show, and StoryCorps segments on Morning Edition, among other ventures.

The gift that changed NPR

Klose may have left his greatest mark by ensuring the network's financial solvency.

At the urging of a top fundraising official at KPBS, the public broadcaster in San Diego, Klose spent years cultivating a relationship and, ultimately, a friendship with the late Joan B. Kroc, a philanthropist and the widow of McDonald's magnate Ray Kroc.

Over a series of meals, conversations and gifts, they spoke of a shared love of international news, NPR, and the institutions that make up civil society. Asked by an adviser of Kroc, former McDonald's executive Dick Starmann, to think broadly about what he could do with some extra funds, Klose explained what donors could receive for $25,000. Starmann kept urging Klose to think bigger.

Kroc sent Klose a holiday card one year that included a check for the network for $500,000. He was touched and impressed, assuming that would be the weight of her generosity.

As she declined in health, Kroc held a celebratory lunch at her home in California. Klose gave her a lacquered Russian box, a memento of his time as a Moscow bureau chief at The Washington Post earlier in his career.

Kroc's 2003 bequest was valued at more than $200 million at the time. It led to a major NPR presence in Southern California, new reporting positions, expansion of foreign coverage and an endowment that allowed NPR to weather a series of financial crises and political storms.

NPR CEO Katherine Maher paid tribute to Klose in a note Wednesday to NPR staff. "Kevin was deeply idealistic about the role of public media in a democracy," she wrote. "He called independent journalism 'the first partner of building democracy, and helping it stay strong and vital.'"

The Putin interview

Klose arrived at NPR in December 1998 as its sixth permanent president after a distinguished career as a national and foreign correspondent and a senior editor at the Post. He also served as the president of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the government-funded international broadcaster that serves audiences in Russia and 27 countries, largely in Eastern Europe, central Asia, and the Middle East.

After NPR, Klose went on to become dean of the Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland. He also returned to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty for two years after a shaky stretch for the government-funded network.

A romantic about the appeal of reporting, Klose was a clear-eyed realist about the stakes.

Among the topics he focused on: the role of dissidents advocating for greater freedom under the repressive Soviet regime. Klose warned a dissident labor leader he could be subject to abuse by the state if he went on the record about the safety and health dangers coal miners were subject to there.

The labor leader, Alexei Nikitin, told him that it was too important and told Klose to report on it anyway, the journalist recounted in later writing and conversations. Nikitin was drugged and brutalized by his captors in the Soviet psychiatric prisons.

Klose drew upon that expertise in 2000, when he arranged for an hour-long, live call-in show hosted by Siegel from NPR's small New York bureau with the newly elected President Vladimir Putin. At the time, the future autocrat was seen as a potential reformer.

"It was a delight to have someone so knowledgeable in the control room signaling his approval at key moments of the interview," Siegel recalled Wednesday.

Putin's security staffers complained about the quality of the men's room serving the bureau. The network later established a new, vastly upgraded bureau with major studios in New York's Bryant Park, thanks in part to the Kroc funds.

Klose's family intends to create The Kevin Klose Memorial Fund for Independent Journalism.

Alexander Morton obit

Tributes paid to Scots BBC Monarch of the Glen actor Alexander Morton

 He was not on the list.

Actor Alexander "Sandy" Morton, who played Golly Mackenzie in the TV series Monarch of the Glen, has died aged 81.

The Glasgow-born actor played the loyal ghillie of the fictional Highland estate Glenbogle in all 64 episodes of the popular BBC Scotland series between 2000 and 2005.

He was also known for playing hard-men and villains in films and series as diverse as Get Carter, The Silent Scream, Valhalla Rising, and Take The High Road.

Morton, who trained at the prestigious Central School of Speech and Drama in London, was also a noted stage actor who founded the Raindog Theatre Company with fellow actors Robert Carlyle and Caroline Paterson.

Morton began working in the 1970s in London and Scotland and he built a long and varied career on stage and screen.

He made an impact as the villain Andy Semple in the Scottish Television soap opera Take The High Road, a part he played for 14 years between 1980 and 1994.

His stage roles included Macbeth, Robert Burns and William Wallace.

He also appeared in River City and Shetland.

Louise Thornton, head of commissioning at BBC Scotland, said: "We're saddened to hear the news about Alexander Morton who made a significant contribution to Scottish television and theatre.

"His portrayal of Golly Mackenzie in Monarch of the Glen was a key part of the long-running drama's success.

"He will be remembered fondly for the depth and authenticity he brought to one of BBC Scotland's most cherished dramas."

Paying tribute to Morton on social media, Robert Carlyle wrote:

"So sad to hear of the passing of the great Sandy Morton. Not only a brilliant actor, but one of the kindest men I ever knew. Working with him through the years with Raindog Theatre Company was an education.

"His unique, naturalistic style was a thing of beauty. So real that you would forget he was even acting at all. I've never seen anyone do it better than Sandy.

"He taught me so much. I owe him so much, and he will forever be in my heart. RIP Alexander Morton."

'Exceptional talent'

Gavin Mitchell, who plays Boaby the barman in Still Game, said: "Such devastating news to hear of the passing of Sandy Morton today from his son Jamie.

"He taught and gave me so much. Warm, wise, encouraging, generous and gentle. An exceptional talent. I was lucky enough to work with him on various things over the years, from the inception of Raindog Theatre Company and One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, panto, radio, Monarch of the Glen, of course, and much more.

"His door was always open and always tales to share. He loved music, history, politics, radio, and remained eternally curious.

"I loved him dearly and I owe him a lot. I'll miss our chats and I'll miss catching him off guard and making him chortle. We've lost one of the best . All my love. Travel well Sandy".

Actor and singer Tom Urie, who played Big Bob O'Hara in River City, wrote: "Sad to hear about the passing of Sandy Morton. Our paths crossed briefly on River City and he was an absolute gentlemen."

 

Film and television credits

1971: Get Carter (film) Hubert – directed by Mike Hodges

1971: Manipulators (TV) written and directed by Mike Hodges

1979: Play for Today (TV): Ploughman's Share – Dave

1980–1994: Take the High Road (TV) – Andy Semple

1981: Play for Today (TV): The Good Time Girls – Alec Park

1984: Minder (TV): Windows – Alex

1985: Taggart (TV): Dead Ringer – David Balfour

1986: Waiting for Elvis (TV) Ike Morrison – directed by Hal Duncan

1987: Extras (TV) – Frank Riley – directed by David Andrew

1987: Bookie (TV) – Ross

1989: Winners and Losers (TV) – Ross

1990: Silent Scream – Don Winters

1992: Rab C. Nesbitt (TV) – Police Inspector Mccrae

1992–1994: Firm Friends (TV) – D.I. Hogg

1993: Between the Lines (TV) – Superintendent Tyrell

1993: Taggart (TV): Death Benefits – John Fraser

1994: Jolly a Man for All Seasons – Police Sergeant Watson

1994: Crime Story – John McVicar

1994: The Tales of Para Handy – John Cruickshank

1996: Bad Boys – Dick

1996: The One that Got Away – Big Bob (credited as Sandy Morton)

1996: Nightlife (TV movie) – D.C.Dave

1997: Looking After Jo Jo – DS Alistair Wright

1997: Bombay Blue – Jack Grey

1997: Love Me Tender (TV) – Tommy

1998: Croupier (film) David Reynolds

1999–2000: Second Sight (TV) – DS Julian

1999: Life Support (TV) – Alan Carswell

2000–2005: Monarch of the Glen (TV) – Golly Mackenzie in all 64 episodes

2005: The Man-Eating Wolves of Gysinge (TV) – Malmberg Nilsson

2006: Casualty (TV)

2006: London to Brighton (film) – Duncan Allen

2007: Kitchen (TV) – Mr. Glasgow

2008: Casualty (TV)

2009: Valhalla Rising (film) – Chieftain Barde

2010: Taggart: (TV) The Rapture – James Hardie

2010: Luther (TV) – Bill Winingham

2012–2015: River City (TV) – Billy Kennedy

2013: Shetland (TV) – Joseph Wilson

2022: River City (TV) – Billy Kennedy

Selected theatre credits

Selected stage productions

Year     Play     Role     Notes

1976    An Me Wi a Bad Leg Tae       Peter    Original production of Billy Connolly's first play, directed by Stuart Mungall

1979    Slab Boys Trilogy       Mr. Curry/Workman    John Byrne's critically acclaimed series of stage plays

1984    William Wallace          William Wallace          Borderline Theatre Company, Directed by Stuart Mungall.

1985    The Bruce       Robert the Bruce         Edinburgh Festival

1986    Robert Burns   Robert Burns   By Joe Corrie, Scottish Theatre Company; Directed by David Hayman

1986    The Gorbals Story       Peter Reilly     By Robert Mcleish. 7:84 Theatre Co. Directed by David Hayman

1989    The Sash         William MacWilliam   By Hector MacMillan. 7:84 Theatre Co. Directed by Gerard Kelly

1991    Red Riding Hood: The Sequel            Wolverine        Directed by Andy Gray.

1991    One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest      R.P.McMurphy            Raindog Theatre Company. Directed by Robert Carlyle

1992    Macbeth: In the Scots Tongue Macbeth          Raindog Theatre Company. Best Director Award: Robert Carlyle

1994    Dick Wittington           King Rat          With Christopher Biggins. King's Theatre, Glasgow

1995    Follow Follow: The Rangers Story     Max Factor      King's Theatre Glasgow/Glasgow Rangers FC; Directed by Ron Bain

1996    The Architect   Leo Black        Directed by Philip Howard, Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh

1998    Buried Treasure           Frank McCoig Directed by Robin Lefevre, Lyric Theatre, London

Radio credits

Selected BBC Radio plays

Year     Title     Role     Notes

1982    The Thirty Nine Steps Franklin P. Scudder     Considered the most faithful adaptation of John Buchan's book.

1988    Death of a Fly Alec Bodine    Murder mystery told from the perspective of a fly.

1995    The Serpent's Back     Cully   First adaptation of Ian Rankin's Cully series

1998    Tunes of Glory            Basil Barrow  

1999    Let It Bleed     DI John Rebus First adaptation of Ian Rankin's Rebus books

2004    Dr Korczak's Example            Dr. Janusz Korczak     BBC Radio 4 Saturday Play directed by Lu Kemp

2005    The Tragical Comedy or Comical Tragedy of Mr. Punch  Swatchell         BBC Radio 3 The Wire directed by Lu Kemp

2007    Voyage of the Demeter           Count Dracula Morton offers a terrifying rendition of the Prince of Darkness

2008    They Have Oak Trees in North Carolina   Ray      BBC Radio 4 Friday Play directed by Gaynor Macfarlane

2011    Occupation Kenny Gall      BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play directed by Gaynor Macfarlane

John Fitzgerald obit

Former Cowboys center John Fitzgerald passes away at 77

 He was not on the list.

John Fitzgerald, the man in the middle of the Dallas Cowboys offensive line throughout most of the 1970s, passed away this morning. He was 77.

Selected by the Cowboys in the fourth round of the 1970 NFL Draft, Fitzgerald had played both offensive guard and defensive tackle during his three varsity seasons at Boston College, which earned him induction into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1982. He spent his rookie effort with Dallas on the taxi squad, where he was originally slotted in on the defensive side of the ball before finding a home with the offense.

A backup guard in the Cowboys' Super Bowl campaign of 1971, Fitzgerald was then converted to center for the 1972 season and took over as the starter the next year. From 1973 to 1980, he would help pave the way for an offense that finished among the NFL's top 10 for total yards in each of those eight seasons and ranked in the top three for five of those years.

Beginning in 1975, Fitzgerald was the foundation for head coach Tom Landry's reintroduction of the famed shotgun offense, easily handling the transition of hiking the ball a farther distance to quarterback Roger Staubach. Thus would begin a stretch of three times in four seasons that the Cowboys would reach the Super Bowl, winning it all in 1977 with a 27-10 defeat of the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XII.

In fact, over his 12 seasons in Dallas from 1970-81, Fitzgerald was never associated with a losing team as the Cowboys reached the playoffs 11 times, appeared in nine NFC Championship Games, did battle in five Super Bowls and won two Lombardi Trophies. Overall, he played in 19 postseason games, tied for 19th in franchise history books, with 13 starts.

Fitzgerald was also credited with one of the greatest nicknames in the history of the game after describing the Cowboys' offensive line of 1979-80 as "Four Irishmen and a Scott." That was in reference to himself at center, left tackle Pat Donovan, right guard Tom Rafferty, right tackle Jim Cooper and left guard Herb Scott.

Prior to the 1981 season, though, Fitzgerald was placed on injured reserve due to a knee problem, one of several injuries he would largely play through during his career. He then retired in January 1982.

Overlooked for the Pro Bowl, Fitzgerald is nonetheless part of a great lineage of centers who have worn the Star, a group that includes Dave Manders, Rafferty, who took over at center in 1981, Mark Stepnoski, Andre Gurode and Travis Frederick.

Dan Wall obit

Dan Wall, Longtime Professor of Jazz Piano, Dies at 72

Gifted keyboardist and teacher influenced the lives and careers of countless Oberlin students. 

He was not on the list.

Dan Wall, an Associate Professor of Jazz Piano who taught at Oberlin from 2001 until his retirement in 2025, has died. He was 72.

"Dan Wall was a deeply beloved teacher, colleague, and friend," says Dean of the Conservatory Bill Quillen. "He transformed countless lives through his quiet mentorship and very deep goodness. He will be deeply, deeply missed."

Wall proved to be a prodigious keyboard talent from a young age: While in high school, he led a jazz combo at the Carousel club in his hometown of Atlanta. At 17, he won a Hall of Fame Scholarship from DownBeat magazine and went on to study at the Berklee College of Music. For many years, he performed in venues throughout the world and collaborated with a long list of jazz greats including Eddie Gomez, Joe Lovano, Kenny Wheeler, and Billy Drummond. Beginning in 1991, Wall played Hammond organ for the John Abercrombie Trio, which earned critical acclaim for its first two recordings, While We're Young and Speak of the Devil. 

He won DownBeat’s International Critics’ Poll an incredible 16 times.

At Oberlin, Wall was regarded as an extraordinary teacher who touched the lives of students and colleagues alike. He was a fixture at the keyboard for memorable faculty concerts in Finney Chapel and at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City, and a friendly presence around his Kohl Building base of operations. He earned Oberlin’s Excellence in Teaching Award for 2014-15.

"By every metric, Dan Wall was exceptional," says Professor of Jazz Guitar Bobby Ferrazza, a close friend of Wall. "He was a humble, generous, warm person. He was a musician so special that he inspired almost everyone who heard him play.

"All of these attributes changed lives for the better for so many of us who had the privilege to know him—students and colleagues alike. We called each other “brother,” and I feel a great loss. All we can do is try to carry forward all the beautiful life and music lessons that he taught all of us."

A memorial honoring Wall will be planned for a later date; details will follow in the Campus Digest.