Eugene "Dick" Scruggs obit

Local Negro League baseball legend Eugene "Dick" Scruggs passes away

 

He was not on the list.

Local baseball legend Eugene "Dick" Scruggs, Sr. passed away Monday at 87 years old.

Scruggs was a native of Madison County, raised in Meridianville.

He was a member of the Negro League's baseball dynasty, serving as a pitcher with a fastball that touched 90 miles per hour, and a secondary pitch known as "that funky curveball."

Scruggs played for the Kansas City Monarchs and the Detroit Stars. He was inducted into the Huntsville-Madison County Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002.

After his storied baseball career, Scruggs was a licensed embalmer and funeral director at Nelms Memorial Funeral Home since 1975.

In 1970, Scruggs founded the Associated Contractors, Inc., a janitorial service.

Scruggs leaves behind his bride of 68 years, Ethel Scruggs, six of their eight children and 18 grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held May 17 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Bartley Primitive Baptist Church. Interment will follow at Valhalla Memory Gardens.

Mr. Eugene “Dick” Scruggs, Sr., is a native of Madison County, Alabama, who was reared in Meridianville. He is also a former member of the Negro League’s baseball dynasty, where he served as a pitcher with a fastball that touched 90 miles per hour and a secondary pitch known around the Negro Leagues as “that funky curveball.” Dick Scruggs played for the Kansas City Monarchs and the Detroit Stars. He is a 2002 inductee into the Huntsville-Madison County Athletic Hall of Fame. Cemented firmly in the legacy of the Negro Leagues,

Dick Scruggs is also a local celebrity. Trained by the late R.E. Nelms, Scruggs has been a licensed embalmer and funeral director, since 1975, at Nelms Memorial Funeral Home in Huntsville. With six decades of experience as a mortician, Mr. Scruggs has prepared thousands for burial. As an elder statesmen within the mortuary science profession, Dick Scruggs has trained countless apprentice embalmers and funeral directors, most notably, his grandson, Terrell Scruggs. Lauded by colleagues throughout the nation for his work as a mortician, he is affiliated with the Alabama Board of Funeral Service, and the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association.

A strong family man, Mr. Scruggs is not one to rest on his laurels. In 1970, he founded Associated Contractors, Incorporated, a janitorial service to further provide for his family and to leave a legacy for future generations. Mr. Scruggs is married to Mrs. Ethel Scruggs, his bride of 68 years. Together, they are the proud parents of eight children, two whom preceded Mr. Scruggs in death, and 18 grandchildren.

Lee Allen Zeno obit

Lee Allen Zeno, Legendary Louisiana Bassist Known As “Soul,” Dies At 71

 He was not on the list.

Acadiana is mourning the loss of one of its most influential and beloved musicians. Lee Allen Zeno, known to many as “Soul,” passed away on May 3, 2026, following a long and courageous battle with cancer.

According to close friend and advocate John Williams, Zeno spent his final days at home, surrounded by family, caregivers, and a community that had been lifting him up in prayer and support. Williams described his passing as peaceful, dignified, and filled with love.

In one of his final reflections, Zeno shared how he hoped to be remembered:

“I just tried to be my authentic self.”

A Career That Defined The Sound Of Zydeco

Born in Lafayette and raised in Carencro, Zeno’s journey in music began at just seven years old. Over the decades, he became a cornerstone of Louisiana music, anchoring Buckwheat Zydeco’s band for nearly 40 years and contributing to Grammy-winning and Emmy-recognized projects.

His bass lines can be heard across more than 70 recordings, supporting legendary artists like Irma Thomas, the Neville Brothers, and Bobby Rush. Fellow musicians often referred to him as the “groove glue,” the steady force behind songs that allowed others to shine.

As one tribute described it, “When the song breathed, that was Lee.”

A Mentor Who Changed Lives Far Beyond The Stage

Zeno’s impact extended far beyond performances. As a leader of the UL Lafayette R&B Ensemble, he became a mentor to generations of musicians, many of whom credit him with shaping their careers and confidence.

He was also known for a deeply personal tradition. Zeno sent daily text messages to hundreds of people, offering encouragement and positivity.

Flint Zerangue recalled asking him about it, only to learn Zeno would message “about 400 people” each morning, spending hours making sure others felt seen and supported.

“The only thing better than the content he produced from the bass guitar was the content of his character,” Zerangue said.

Tributes Pour In From Across The Music World

As news of his passing spread, tributes flooded in from across Acadiana and beyond, painting a picture of a man whose kindness matched his talent.

Marc Broussard called Zeno “one of my favorite musicians of all time” and “a dear friend,” adding that his legacy is one of “unrivaled soul and enduring kindness.”

Lee Allen Zeno was not only one of my favorite musicians of all time, he was also a dear friend. My only regret is that I didn’t know him sooner. His legacy is one of unrivaled soul and enduring kindness. The hole he leaves in my heart is one I’m happy to carry with me until we meet again.

JaRon Marshall of Black Pumas shared how Zeno helped launch his career, recalling how he played on an early recording and refused payment simply to support a young artist.

Beau Thomas remembered Zeno as someone who believed in others before they believed in themselves, while Corey Arceneaux reflected on years of friendship, mentorship, and shared stages.

Dr. Gwennie von Einsiedel of UL Lafayette described him as “the heart, soul and groove” of the R&B Ensemble, noting that his influence on students cannot be put into words.

Lee Allen Zeno was the heart, soul and groove of the UL R&B ensemble. Every semester the class was packed because everyone wanted to learn from him and he never turned anyone away. He guided and inspired the students in a way that cannot be put into words and he will be deeply, deeply missed.

Frequent collaborator Jill Butler echoed that sentiment, saying Zeno encouraged everyone around him to stay authentic and “keep smiling while bringing the groove.”

Mr. Lee was not only an amazing intuitive musician but was a very kind and daily friend to me- he nicknamed me “Jilly Jill” and reminded me to keep smiling while bringing the groove. He encouraged us all to be authentic and he truly was. I miss him already.

Close friend and frequent collaborator Ray Boudreaux described his first time meeting Lee Allen Zeno.

When he came to Dockside to record my record, it was our first time meeting. He heard the acoustic demo to "I Don’t Wanna Stop" and the first thing he said was “soul, I’m hearing a little more funky, is that cool?” I laughed and told him, That’s why you’re here! He was a major influence on creating the sound, and he kept it funky ever since.

A Legacy That Will Continue To Echo

Zeno's music is woven into the fabric of Louisiana music.

From international stages to local classrooms, his presence helped define the sound and spirit of Acadiana.

He was recently inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame, and local leaders have recognized his contributions with honors, including a day dedicated in his name.

But for many, his greatest legacy is not found in awards or accolades.

It lives in the musicians he inspired, the friendships he built, and the daily encouragement he gave so freely.

In the words of one tribute, “He carried Acadiana on those four strings.”

Lee Allen Zeno may be gone, but the groove he created and the lives he touched will continue to resonate for generations.

 

Tony Amatullo obit

Tony Amatullo Dies: TV Producer, Former Warner Bros. Production Exec Was 76

 He was not on the list.

Tony Amatullo, an associate producer on TV series including Fame and Miami Vice and later an exec producer on the Reelz 2013 series Beverly Hills Pawn as well as a production executive at Warner Bros., died Sunday, May 3, in New York City from acute myeloid leukemia after being diagnosed last August. He was 76.

His death was announced by family.

Born Anthony Eugene Amatullo Jr. on July 14, 1949, in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan, where he was raised, Amatullo earned a bachelor’s degree in Film, Cinema, and Video Studies from the City University of New York before relocating to Los Angeles to pursue his entertainment career. He learned the business from the ground up as a production assistant and then a location manager for commercials, television, and film.

Amatullo then built a long career as a line and executive producer and member of the Directors Guild of America. His credits included work as location manager on Steven Spielberg’s The Goonies (1985) and The Color Purple (both 1985). He served as associate producer on the hit musical television series Fame and the cop series Miami Vice.

As Vice President of Production at Warner Bros. from 2000 to 2005, he worked on ER, The West Wing, Third Watch and the pilot episode of Nip/Tuck, among others. Later in his career, he would go on to champion independent television and film projects, with credits including the film Two Days in the Valley and the reality series Beverly Hills Pawn, serving as executive producer on both.

His final project was 2021’s Surviving on LES, a dramatic film set amidst the gentrification of Manhattan’s Lower East Side, which he produced, directed and co-wrote.

Amatullo is survived by wife Mariana Amatullo and sons Nico Amatullo and Leo Amatullo.

Doris Fisher obit

Doris Fisher, Gap cofounder, dies at 94

Fisher, who started the fashion brand with her late husband, was a San Francisco native. 

She was not on the list.

Doris Fisher, the San Francisco businesswoman and philanthropist who cofounded Gap Inc. and coined the name that would become one of the most recognizable brands in American fashion, has died. She was 94.

Her death was announced Sunday by family to friends in an email, which was obtained by The Standard. Sources close to the family told The Standard she died Saturday.

“She lived her values with purpose and integrity and believed that partnership made life richer,” her family said in a statement. “As a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, her love shaped generations. She was a builder at heart — shaping organizations, investing in people, creating possibility — and she carried this spirit through every part of her life. We believe her legacy lives on not only in what she created, but in how she lived.”

Fisher cofounded the Gap with her late husband, Donald Fisher, in 1969, growing it into a company with $15.4 billion in sales and more than 3,500 stores worldwide(opens in new tab), including its subsidiaries Banana Republic, Old Navy, and Athleta.

She is credited with naming the company, a reference to the generation gap between young people and their parents that defined the tumultuous era.

The pair had a simple idea: to make it easier to find a pair of jeans. They opened the first Gap store on Ocean Avenue in San Francisco as a side project to their retail efforts selling Levi’s jeans and records. Fisher served as the company’s merchandiser until 2003 and sat on the board until 2009 and was named one of the 100 Most Powerful Women by Forbes.

Gap Inc. marked Fisher’s 90th birthday in August 2021 with a companywide day of service(opens in new tab) in her name. In an email to employees, then-CEO Sonia Syngal described Fisher as the company’s “cofounder, first working mom, and original arbiter of cool,” crediting her with instilling in Gap “a deep love of individual style along with an unwavering commitment to giving back.”

Syngal noted that when Doris and Don Fisher opened their first store in 1969, they did so as equals. “She captured the American zeitgeist,” Syngal wrote, “and set the stage for the brand to become the cultural icon it is today.”

Syngal described Fisher as someone who was “ahead of her time” in her commitment to giving back, and whose belief in collective action directly shaped the company’s guiding principles. “Doris is a beacon of what our best looks like,” Syngal wrote. “She has inspired me and generations of others to aspire to our full potential, do good and do more.” As Fisher herself once said of her philanthropic drive: “We can always do more.”

The company she built honored her legacy just weeks ago. In April, Gap Inc. President and CEO Richard Dickson announced the launch(opens in new tab) of The Doris Fisher Creators Program, a mentorship initiative developed in partnership with the Fashion Institute of Technology. The program, described as a reflection of “her legacy of creativity, curiosity, and belief in people,” connects FIT students with Gap Inc. leaders and provide pathways into the fashion industry.

“There is simply no equal to Doris Fisher,” Dickson said in a statement. “In Gap-speak, she was a true original. Doris was a full partner in Gap Inc.’s founding and a path-breaking entrepreneur at a time when that was highly unusual for women.”

Fisher was equally formidable as a philanthropist. She and her late husband donated more than $70 million to the Knowledge is Power Program, helping build it into the largest network of charter schools in the country. She loaned her collection of 1,100 works(opens in new tab) by 185 artists(opens in new tab) — including Wayne Thiebaud, Andy Warhol, Ellsworth Kelly, and Richard Serra — to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

David Kendall obit

Television Producer David Kendall Dies at 68

 

He was not on the list.

Prominent television writer, director, and executive producer David Kendall passed away at the age of 68 on Saturday, May 2, 2026. The veteran creator was a foundational figure for the hit 1990s sitcom Boy Meets World, serving as the showrunner during its second and third seasons.

The news was confirmed by former cast members Will Friedle, Rider Strong, and Danielle Fishel via their Pod Meets World podcast social media channels. Kendall's career spanned four decades, during which he contributed to several major network projects, including the creation of Growing Pains and development roles for Disney Channel's Hannah Montana.

The podcast hosts released a joint statement honoring the producer's extensive contributions to the series and their personal professional growth. They credited him with shaping the narrative direction of the show during its most pivotal years.

"We have lost a vital piece of our family," stated the cast of Boy Meets World in a social media post.

The trio highlighted that Kendall's influence reached beyond their own careers, noting his work in mentoring numerous young stars who eventually became industry leaders. His portfolio of talent development included working with Miley Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers, Austin Butler, and Zendaya during their early years in Hollywood.

"To say that David Kendall was instrumental in the creation of Boy Meets World would be an understatement. He directed, wrote and executive produced our show, but also helped mold some of TV’s most memorable sitcoms, from Growing Pains to Hannah Montana," said Pod Meets World hosts Will Friedle, Rider Strong, and Danielle Fishel.

The actors encouraged fans to revisit specific episodes produced under Kendall's leadership as a way to honor his creative memory. They specifically pointed to the early-to-mid-90s era of the show as a reflection of his specific storytelling style.

"The next time you watch the show, especially Seasons 2 & 3 (when he served as showrunner), think of our beloved Kendall," requested the cast members.

David Kendall Career Credits

Show   Role     Years

Boy Meets World        Writer, Director, Executive Producer, Showrunner (S2-3)     1993-2000

Growing Pains Creator, Executive Producer   1980s-1990s

Hannah Montana         Executive Producer, Developer          2006-2011

Notable Young Stars Mentored           Zendaya, Miley Cyrus, Austin Butler, Jonas Brothers            Various

Audiences responded to the announcement with condolences, citing the impact of his work on their childhood entertainment. One Instagram follower noted that hearing behind-the-scenes stories about Kendall on the podcast had made him a fan-favorite figure among the show's community.

"One of my favorite parts of the podcast has been getting to hear from the people behind the scenes, who made the show tick, and anything involving him was always amazing to hear," wrote an Instagram commenter.

 

Another viewer shared their sympathies directly with the actors who viewed the producer as a career guide.

 

"So sorry for your loss of a mentor and a friend," added another social media user.

Kendall's frequent appearances on the Pod Meets World podcast provided listeners with insights into his forty-year tenure in the television industry. His passing marks a significant loss for the community of creators who worked under his direction across multiple networks.

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132 episodes

 

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Joanna Kerns, Alan Thicke, Kirk Cameron, Tracey Gold, Ashley Johnson, and Jeremy Miller in Growing Pains (1985)

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6.6

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7.4

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1999

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5.9

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6.3

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1999

1 episode

 

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7.2

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1999–2004

 

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6.5

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1998

1 episode

 

Luggage of the Gods! (1983)

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5.6

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1983

 

Writer

Ashley Garcia: Genius in Love (2020)

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6.7

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Melissa & Joey (2010)

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Joanna Kerns, Alan Thicke, Kirk Cameron, Tracey Gold, Ashley Johnson, and Jeremy Miller in The Growing Pains Movie (2000)

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5.0

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2000

 

Robert Hays and Shelley Long in Kelly Kelly (1998)

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6.5

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1998

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Danielle Fishel, Ben Savage, Will Friedle, and Rider Strong in Boy Meets World (1993)

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8.1

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1994

1 episode

 

Joanna Kerns, Alan Thicke, Kirk Cameron, Tracey Gold, Ashley Johnson, and Jeremy Miller in Growing Pains (1985)

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6.6

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storywritten byteleplay

1985–1991

32 episodes

 

Just the Ten of Us (1987)

Just the Ten of Us

7.0

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1988

1 episode

 

Luggage of the Gods! (1983)

Luggage of the Gods!

5.6

writer

1983

 

Script and Continuity Department

Just the Ten of Us (1987)

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7.0

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executive script consultant

1988–1989

24 episodes

 

Joanna Kerns, Alan Thicke, Kirk Cameron, Tracey Gold, Ashley Johnson, and Jeremy Miller in Growing Pains (1985)

Growing Pains

6.6

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executive script consultant

1987–1988

24 episodes

 

Additional Crew

Joanna Kerns, Alan Thicke, Kirk Cameron, Tracey Gold, Ashley Johnson, and Jeremy Miller in Growing Pains (1985)

Growing Pains

6.6

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story editor

1986–1987

23 episodes

 

Self

Devon Werkheiser, Daniel Curtis Lee, and Lindsey Shaw in Ned's Declassified Podcast Survival Guide (2023)

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8.7

Podcast Series

Self - Guest

2024

1 episode

 

Danielle Fishel, Will Friedle, and Rider Strong in Pod Meets World Podcast (2022)

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8.8

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2023

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Jace Norman in #SetLife on Nick: Henry Danger (2018)

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9.0

TV Mini Series

Self

2018

1 episode

Audrey Beth Davis obit

Audrey Beth Davis Dies: Retired Entertainment Publicist Was 82

 

She was not on the list.

Audrey Beth Davis, a retired entertainment publicist who worked with The Lippin Group, has died. She was 82.

Davis’ colleagues from Lippin announced that she died of natural causes on Friday in Pennsylvania, surrounded by friends, family and caregivers.

Born Oct. 17, 1943 in Brooklyn, Davis graduated from Midwood High School in 1960 before going on to work for producer Goodson Todman on The Match Game.

Transitioning to public relations, Davis joined Stone Assocates in the 1970s before joining partner Dick Lippin‘s new company Lippin & Grant, which became The Lippin Group. She stayed with the firm until her retirement in 2008.

During her tenure as a television publicist, Davis worked on shows like The Golden Girls, Empty Nest, The Love Boat, Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order: Criminal Intent and more.

Davis is survived by sister Rhonda and husband Jim, sister Sharon, niece Rebecca and husband Konrad, nephew Hank and wife Karen, and great nieces and nephews Jake, Sarah, Zoe and Hannah. In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to St. Francis Home.

Jojje Wadenius obit

Popular musician Jojje Wadenius has died

Daughter: “Sudden death”

 He was not on the list.

Musician Georg "Jojje" Wadenius has died.

His daughters confirm this in a statement.

Wadenius turned 80 years old.

Georg "Jojje" Wadenius was active in several different genres, including music for children.

He has both written the music and sung famous children's songs. Wadenius has released the children's albums "Good' good'" and "Kiss, kiss, true, true" with lyrics by Barbro Lindgren .

He is behind the theme song for the children's program "Kalle's Climbing Tree" and the music in "The Uncle Who Doesn't Want to Be Big".

Played in several famous bands

Wadenius has played in the Swedish groups Made in Sweden and Solar Plexus as well as the American jazz rock group Blood, Sweat & Tears .

Wadenius co-founded Made in Sweden in 1968 and began playing in Solar Plexus in 1971.

The following year he moved on to Blood, Sweat & Tears, which he was a part of for four years.

He later helped restart Made in Sweden, then with Tommy Körberg as a permanent member, writes TT.

Collaborated with many stars

His international career as a musician took off after he moved to the United States in the late 70s.

For several years he was part of the house band of one of American television's most iconic shows, "Saturday Night Live," where he played with stars such as Aretha Franklin and James Brown .

During the 80s, he toured with artists such as Luther Vandross , Simon & Garfunkel , and Diana Ross.

Wadenius was a frequently hired studio musician. He has made appearances on Backstreet Boys ' "Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely" and Kent's "Sverige", among others.

He has also collaborated with Pugh Rogefeldt , Cornelis Vreeswijk and Siw Malmkvist .

Jojje Wadenius was active as a musician until the end. Just six days ago he was on stage with Helen Sjöholm .

Daughters' grief

He leaves behind two daughters, Annika Wadenius Erlich and Jennifer Gilman.

Annika Wadenius Erlich writes about the death on Facebook.

"It is with great sadness that Jennifer Gilman and I share the news of the sudden passing of our father Georg Wadenius. Our family will share more information about memorial services and ways to honor his legacy and memory soon."

Jojje Wadenius was 80 years old.

Alex Zanardi, obit

Alex Zanardi, auto racing champ who won Paralympic golds between life-altering accidents, dies at 59

 

He was not on the list.

ROME (AP) — Alex Zanardi, the Italian auto racing champion-turned-Paralympic gold medalist whose career was marked by two life-altering accidents, has died. He was 59.

Zanardi’s family announced his death on Saturday, saying that he passed away on Friday night.

“Alex died peacefully, surrounded by the affection of those closest to him,” the family said in a statement without providing a cause of death.

In 2020, Zanardi was seriously injured in a handbike accident after crashing into an oncoming truck during a relay event in Tuscany. Zanardi suffered serious facial and cranial trauma in the crash and was put in a medically induced coma.

Nearly 20 years earlier, Zanardi lost both of his legs in an auto racing crash.

“Italy loses a great champion and an extraordinary man, capable of turning every challenge of life into a lesson in courage, strength, and dignity,” Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni said on X.

“Alex Zanardi knew how to bounce back every time, facing even the toughest challenges with determination, clarity, and a strength of spirit that was truly exceptional,” Meloni added. “He gave all of us much more than a victory: he gave hope, pride, and the strength to never give up. ... Thank you for everything, Alex.”

Zanardi won two championships in CART — 1997 and 1998 — in the United States before a brief return to Formula One. He returned to America and was racing in Germany in a CART event in 2001 when both of his legs were severed in a horrific accident the weekend after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. CART raced only because the series was already in Germany at the time of the attacks and could not return to the U.S.

After the 2001 crash, Zanardi was in a coma for three days and his heart stopped at least once.

NASCAR driver Max Papis, who knew Zanardi from childhood in Italy, recalled visiting his friend in the hospital, where Zanardi glanced at Papis’ new shoes.

“He said, ‘Look at the positive side of this. For a long time I will not have to spend money buying those,’” Papis said.

During his recovery, Zanardi designed his own prosthetics — he joked that he made himself taller — and learned to walk again. He then turned his attention to hand cycling and developed into one of the most accomplished athletes in the world. He won four gold medals and two silvers at the 2012 and 2016 Paralympics, competed in the New York City Marathon and set an Ironman record.

When he won a Paralympic race in 2012 at Britain’s Brands Hatch circuit where he had competed as a young driver, Zanardi celebrated the full-circle moment by holding his bike aloft one-handed as he sat on the track.

“Probably a lot of people watching me doing (this) to some degree against all odds maybe they are going to say, ‘Bloody hell, if Zanardi did this, I can try. I can try,’” he told The Associated Press at the time. “A good attempt always brings a result.”

His spirit, will, and determination gave the beloved Italian a larger-than-life persona. When he returned to the U.S. in 2019 to compete for BMW at the Rolex 24 of Daytona without his prosthetics, he was the most revered driver in a field that included F1 champion Fernando Alonso.

Drivers from around the world sought out Zanardi for photographs and were transfixed as he told elaborate tales of his adventures in the nearly two decades since many had seen him.

Zanardi used specially adapted cars with hand controls for gas and brake to take up racing again after the 2001 accident — and well enough to win races in various series.

Stefano Domenicali, the president and CEO of F1, said he was “deeply saddened by the passing of my dear friend,” calling Zanardi “truly an inspirational person, as a human and as an athlete.”

“He faced challenges that would have stopped anyone, yet he continued to look forward, always with a smile and a stubborn determination that inspired us all,” Domenicali added. “While his loss is profoundly felt, his legacy remains strong.”

Zanardi’s death came on the same day — May 1 — that fellow driver Ayrton Senna died in a crash during an F1 race in Imola in 1994.

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) said on X that Zanardi’s racing career and “journey from life-changing accident to Paralympics gold medalist made him one of sport’s most admired competitors and an enduring symbol of courage and determination.”

Noted for his infectious smile and fanciful storytelling, Zanardi was praised by Pope Francis after his 2020 crash as an example of strength amid adversity. Francis penned a handwritten letter of encouragement assuring Zanardi and his family of his prayers.

Zanardi’s family added that it “thanks everyone who is sharing their support right now and asks for respect during this time of mourning.”

The funeral will be held Tuesday in Padua.

A moment of silence was observed in Zanardi’s honor before Saturday’s F1 sprint race in Miami Gardens, Florida. Also, the Italian Olympic Committee called for a minute of silence to be observed at all sports events in Italy over the weekend.

Zanardi, who was born in Bologna, is survived by his wife, Daniela, and son, Niccolò.

Alfredrick Hughes obit

Loyola great Alfredrick Hughes, a 1985 All-American, dies at 63

Hughes, a Chicago native who played at Robeson before arriving at Loyola in 1981, was a three-time Midwestern Collegiate Conference Player of the Year.

 

He was not on the list.

Alfredrick Hughes, Loyola’s all-time leading scorer and an Associated Press All-American in 1985, died Friday at 63, the school said.

Hughes, a Chicago native who played at Robeson before arriving at Loyola in 1981, was a three-time Midwestern Collegiate Conference Player of the Year. He scored 2,914 points, ranking 11th in NCAA history. Hughes also holds the program records in field goals made (1,222), field goals attempted (2,656) and free throws attempted (701). He’s tied fourth in career rebounds (982) and ranks 10th in career steals (140).

“Alfredrick and I were more than teammates,” former teammate Carl Golston said in Loyola’s press release. “He was my brother for over 45 years. He was the main reason I transferred to Loyola in 1982. Alfredrick has stamped his name on Loyola basketball forever. We will never forget him, Alfredrick The Great!”

“Today is a sad day for Loyola,” former Ramblers assistant coach Doug Bruno said. “The loss of Alfredrick Hughes touches all former Loyola players, administrators, coaches, and fans. Alfredrick led a Loyola men’s basketball resurgence that rekindled the excellent standard set by the 1963 national champions.”

Hughes helped the Ramblers reach the NCAA Sweet 16 in 1985, when he averaged 26.3 points per game. Under coach Gene Sullivan, Loyola earned the No. 4 seed in the East Region, where the team beat Iona in the first round and Southern Methodist in the second before falling to top-seeded Georgetown 65-53. The Hoyas went on to the championship game, where they were upset by Villanova.

The Spurs drafted Hughes in the first round of the 1985 NBA Draft. He played in 68 games as a rookie, averaging 5.2 points in his only season in the league.

“Not only was Alfredrick an all-time great on one of the best Loyola basketball teams in program history,” Loyola athletic director Steve Watson said, “but he was a great guy who continued to support the Ramblers long after his playing days. I really enjoyed getting to know Alfredrick, and our hearts go out to his family and friends.”

Loyola retired Hughes’ No. 21 and inducted him into the school’s Hall of Fame.

Career information

High school     Paul Robeson (Chicago, Illinois)

College            Loyola Chicago (1981–1985)

NBA draft        1985: 1st round, 14th overall pick

Drafted by       San Antonio Spurs

Playing career 1985–1994

Position           Small forward / shooting guard

Number           6

Career history

1985–1986      San Antonio Spurs

1986–1987      Alno Fabriano

1987–1990      Chicago Illinois Express

1990–1991      Dayton Wings

1991–1992      Louisville Shooters

1992–1993      Fort Wayne Fury

1993    Iraklis Thessaloniki B.C.

1993    Quad City Thunder

1993    Montreal Dragons

1993–1994      Hartford Hellcats

1994    Rochester Renegade

1994    Grand Rapids Hoops

Career highlights

Third-team All-American – AP, UPI (1985)

3× Horizon League Player of the Year (1983–1985)

No. 21 retired by Loyola Ramblers

Gregory Hyman obit

GREGORY HYMAN Obituary

 He was not on the list.

HYMAN--Gregory E. June 25, 1947 - May 1, 2026. The Man Who Tickled the World. As the Cat Stevens' song goes, the baby, Greg Hyman came into the world in the usual way but that is where he diverges from most others. His birth parents were Constance Catherine Eaton and Julian Holzmann Hyman. Their marriage was a short one but there was time for Steve, his younger brother, to show up. However, he was never Greg's playmate as would be expected. No, Greg's interest in all sorts of electronics consumed his life early on. To begin, Aunt Lilly, the beloved Hymn house keeper, was so much more in Greg's life and filled in as a psudo surrogate mother figure for him even at times like when parents went to conferences to talk with their child's teachers. After several years as a single father, Julian married Jean Miller Doob with her two children Barbara (Wayne) Dickey and Fred Doob to create a happy, crazy, time of pranks and wonderful school memories. Greg even offered his classmates lessons in how to invent. At 11 years old, he sold "Rocket Ship" rides in a discarded washing machine with a baby carriage cockpit. Other family lore stories are the exploding toilet set prank he played on Jean and the talking surplus WWII bomb used as a promotional curiosity at a local theater. As a kid, Greg had an entrepreneurial talent that grew from offering those inventing lessons to providing worms to avid fishermen. Yes, look up how to encourage worms to come out of the ground on their own without digging! (Not, an environmentally friendly idea). These interests of Greg's were not aligned with the standard curriculum but his teachers always seemed to be able to find a creative way to help Greg be successful if not spark Greg's appreciation for reading. Dr. Paul A. Firestone and the New Rochelle Academy along with the students were like family to him. He attended Cornel for electrical engineering but his attention was elsewhere and so was his quest to find a job that fulfilled his creative imagination and kept him from having to move back home. Greg's passion for money making led to paring it with his wizardry for all things electric like: home security system, car phones, game show sounds for television, musical toys, electronic toys, toy repairs, installing a full sensory classroom for a special needs school, and more. His game show sound bank became his first toy, Little Maestro Toy Piano Organ. At times he worked with collaborators. Greg invented hundreds of toys including some of the most popular playthings in our American culture like Alphie the Robot, Talking Barney, and Tickle Me Elmo. His work has earned several awards including the 2007 Toy of the Year, Tickle Me Elmo TMX, an induction into the Hasbro Inventor's Hall of Fame for Baby All Gone, and recognition from Playskool for inventing Talking Barney, the largest-volume producing toy in a single year. Greg had a total of 120 plus "children" as he affectionately called his toys. Greg donated his prototypes, toys, and bench notes to The Strong, Museum of Play in Rochester New York that they used in a debut exhibit there and now store in their extensive archive. Greg was married several times: Jean F. Berzon, Linda Gale, Marcy Berkowitz, Marsha Balbier, and, had a longtime partner, Deborah Nelson. Greg was one of the original South Florida Sunshine Santas, a group of independent toy and game inventors. He delighted in all the nieces and nephews in the Berkowitz family. He often used them and the children of friends, and of co-creator, Larry Greenberg, to test his prototype creations. In addition he was a motivator and mentor to Deborah's son, Desiderio Sartelli. Desiderio went on to patent his own creative idea and bring it to market himself. "To be an inventor is an honor. This country was founded on invention. There are no courses you can take to do this." - Greg Hyman, self-taught. There will be no funeral or ceremonies at this time.

Seymour Bernstein obit

Seymour Bernstein

Pianist, composer, teacher, and author 

April 24, 1927 – April 30, 2026

He was not on the list.

A pianist, composer, and revered pedagogue who famously traded the prestige of the concert stage for the intimacy of the classroom at the height of his career, Seymour Bernstein died on April 30, 2026, in Damariscotta, Maine. He was 99.

The defining choice of his life arrived in 1977. At the age of 50, Bernstein was a celebrated performer who had made his debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, playing the world premiere of Heitor Villa-Lobos's Piano Concerto No. 2. Yet, at the peak of his public career, he abruptly retired from the concert stage. He chose to retreat to a one-room rent-controlled apartment on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, a space that served as both his home and studio for over 50 years. This decision was not a surrender but a profound pivot toward teaching and composing, driven by his belief that the social world is unpredictable, whereas art provides a predictable foundation to direct into everyday life.

His path to that quiet Manhattan studio began in Newark, New Jersey, where he discovered the piano at his aunt's house. By age 15, he was already supervising the practice of younger pupils under the guidance of his teacher Clara Husserl. Two years later, he won the Griffith Artist Award, gaining local fame as a performer before graduating from Weequahic High School in 1945. His understanding of music's deeper purpose crystallized during the Korean War. Serving in the U.S. Army, he gave concerts on the front lines and for top military leaders. This experience cemented his conviction that music was a vital force for connection, capable of dispelling loneliness and discontent.

Following the war, Bernstein studied with a staggering roster of legendary musicians, including Alexander Brailowsky, Sir Clifford Curzon, George Enescu, and Nadia Boulanger, as noted by Wise Music Classical. Despite this exposure to the grandeur of the classical elite, he remained grounded in his belief that true artistry required profound personal authenticity. He often stated that his primary ambition in teaching was to amalgamate the musician with the person so that they were one and the same. If a student felt inadequate as a musician, he warned, they would inevitably feel inadequate as a person.

This philosophy defined his long tenure as an Adjunct Associate Professor of Music and Music Education at New York University and permeated his influential book, "With Your Own Two Hands: Self-Discovery Through Music," which has been translated into multiple languages. His quiet dedication eventually caught the attention of actor Ethan Hawke, who directed the critically acclaimed documentary "Seymour: An Introduction," according to The New York Times. The film brought Bernstein a late-life resolution, introducing his gentle wisdom to a global audience and earning him an honorary doctorate from Shenandoah University. As he reflected on his journey, he observed that music, like life, is about dissonances, harmonies, and resolution, noting that one cannot truly enjoy the resolution without first experiencing the dissonance.

Seymour Bernstein leaves behind a legacy that transcends the notes on a page. He will be remembered not merely as a prodigy who conquered the concert hall, but as a master teacher who recognized that the ultimate masterpiece a musician can craft is their own character. By stepping out of the spotlight, he illuminated the lives of countless students, proving that the most profound artistic triumphs often happen in the quietest rooms.

Gwen Farrell obit

'M*A*S*H'Actress Gwen Farrell Adair Dead at 94

She was not on the list. 

Key points

Gwen Farrell Adair, an actress known for multiple roles on M*A*S*H who later became a boxing referee, has died at 94.

Adair portrayed several different nurses across the show's 11-season run.

She also appeared in movies like The Towering Inferno and Coffy.

Gwen Farrell Adair, the actress best known for her performances on M*A*S*H, has died. She was 94.

The actress' son, Keith Farrell, confirmed his mother's death in a GoFundMe page established to help cover funeral costs.

"Beyond her accomplishments, Gwen was so much more to her family," her loved ones wrote in the GoFundMe description. "She was a grandmother, a guiding light, and a steady source of love and wisdom. She had a way of making those around her feel supported, understood, and cared for without needing recognition."

Her family continued, "Her passing leaves a deep void in our hearts, one that cannot be filled. We will miss her voice, her strength, and the quiet comfort she brought into our lives. While we are heartbroken, we are also incredibly grateful for the life she lived and the legacy she leaves behind."

Deadline reported that the actress died of natural causes in Sherman Oaks, Calif., on Thursday.

Born in Austin in 1972, Adair made her screen debut in the second episode of M*A*S*H in 1972, playing an uncredited nurse. She went on to appear in over a dozen episodes in the medical dramedy's first season, and was later credited as Nurse Butler, Nurse Wilson, Lt. Baker, Nurse Able, Nurse Gwen, and an anesthetist across seven more of the show's 11 seasons.

Adair also made her film debut in 1972 in the blaxploitation movie Black Gunn. She went on to appear in small roles in films like The Towering Inferno, Coffy, Soylent Green, Earthquake, and Billy Jack Goes to Washington. She also acted in a 1975 episode of Starsky & Hutch.

Adair switched up her career in 1980 when she entered the boxing world as a referee. "With confidence, fairness, and unwavering composure, she earned the respect of fighters, trainers, and fans alike," her family wrote in the GoFundMe description. "She didn't just do the job; she broke barriers and proved that strength comes in many forms."

The actress' family asked for financial support in the wake of her death. "As we navigate this difficult time, we are asking for support to help cover funeral and memorial expenses, as well as any related costs that come with laying a loved one to rest with the honor and dignity she deserves," they wrote. "Any contribution, no matter the size, means so much to our family. If you are unable to donate, we truly appreciate you sharing this page and keeping our family in your thoughts and prayers."

The family added, "We are deeply grateful for the love and support during this time of grief."

 

Actress

Alan Alda, David Ogden Stiers, Gary Burghoff, William Christopher, Jamie Farr, Mike Farrell, Harry Morgan, and Loretta Swit in M*A*S*H (1972)

M*A*S*H

8.5

TV Series

NurseNurse WilsonNurse Gwen ...

1972–1983

26 episodes

 

Billy Jack Goes to Washington (1977)

Billy Jack Goes to Washington

4.5

Reporter

1977

 

Starsky and Hutch (1975)

Starsky and Hutch

7.0

TV Series

Diane Sills (uncredited)

1975

1 episode

 

Fred Astaire, William Holden, Paul Newman, Richard Chamberlain, Steve McQueen, Faye Dunaway, O.J. Simpson, Robert Vaughn, Robert Wagner, Susan Blakely, and Jennifer Jones in The Towering Inferno (1974)

The Towering Inferno

7.0

Party Guest (uncredited)

1974

 

Charlton Heston, Victoria Principal, Geneviève Bujold, Ava Gardner, Lorne Greene, George Kennedy, Marjoe Gortner, Lloyd Nolan, Richard Roundtree, and Barry Sullivan in Earthquake (1974)

Earthquake

5.9

Woman in Street (uncredited)

1974

 

Pam Grier in Coffy (1973)

Coffy

6.8

Waitress in Club (uncredited)

1973

 

Charlton Heston, Edward G. Robinson, Joseph Cotten, Chuck Connors, Richard Fleischer, Paula Kelly, Brock Peters, Walter Seltzer, Leigh Taylor-Young, and Russell Thacher in Soylent Green (1973)

Soylent Green

7.0

Woman in Confessional Line (uncredited)

1973

 

Black Gunn (1972)

Black Gunn

5.8

Woman at B.A.G. Headquarters (uncredited)

1972

 

Self

ESPN Top Rank Boxing (1980)

ESPN Top Rank Boxing

7.4

TV Series

Self - Referee (as Gwen Adair)

1993

1 episode