Obituaries & memorials

Mitchell Flint, US aviator who helped found Israeli Air Force, dies at 94

LOS ANGELES — He flew bombing missions for the U.S. during World War II and then came back to America to study law. But the escalating conflict between the newly declared State of Israel and its Arab neighbors had already gotten under Mitchell Flint’s skin. “I’m Jewish, Israel desperately needed fighter pilots, so I thought […]

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Jewish History, Middle East, Obituaries & memorials, USA

Rabbi Joshua Haberman, champion of adult Jewish education, dies at 98

Rabbi Joshua Haberman, rabbi emeritus of the Washington Hebrew Congregation and founder of the Foundation for Jewish Studies, died this week at 98. Haberman, who represented the Jewish community during the memorial service for the victims of 9/11 held at the National Cathedral, died Sunday at his home in Washington, DC, following a rabbinic career

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Jewish Religion, Obituaries & memorials, USA

Obama Leads Tributes to Edith Windsor

Former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton led tributes following the death of LGBT rights campaigner Edith Windsor, 88, whose lawsuit led to the federal recognition of equal rights for same-sex couples. “America’s long journey towards equality has been guided by countless small acts of persistence, and fueled by the stubborn willingness of quiet heroes

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Obituaries & memorials, USA

Boxing world in mourning as a former champ and Hall of Famer has passed away

Ultiminio “Sugar” Ramos, a featherweight champion whose diminutive sized masked a giant punch, died Sunday in Mexico City. He was 75. #RIP Sugar Ramos, great @WBCBoxing featherweight champ. Won title @Dodgers stadium, battled Raul Rojas, Mando Ramos in ’70 @olympicaud pic.twitter.com/ZCbFKpWCRV — OlympicAuditorium (@olympicaud) September 4, 2017 Ramos’ career saw great success and tragedy. He

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International, Obituaries & memorials, Sports & Competitions

Shelley Berman, pioneering stand-up (or sit-down) comedian, dies at 92

LOS ANGELES — Shelley Berman, who tapped into the neuroses and frustrations of post-World War II America and brought an actor’s sensibility to his monologues to become one of the top comedians of the late 1950s and early ’60s, died Friday at his home near Thousand Oaks. Berman, who acted throughout his career and had

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Obituaries & memorials, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

10 Famous Sayings By Gene Wilder On His First Death Anniversary

Gene Wilder, the legendary Hollywood actor, who starred in famous films like “Blazing Saddles,” “Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory” and “Stir Crazy” died on Aug. 28, 2016, when he was 83 years old, due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease. He was born Jerome Silberman in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on June 11, 1933, to Jewish parents.

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Obituaries & memorials, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

1850s teen diarist Victoria Jacobs Franklin recalled

  By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — The San Diego History Center on Sunday welcomed three Arizona women whose family lent to its museum the diary of mid-19th century teenager Victoria Jacobs for the current exhibition about the history and heritage of the local Jewish community. The visitors included Alden Hardy Carroll, the great-great

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, USA

Jay Thomas, actor in ‘Cheers,’ ‘Murphy Brown’ and ‘Ray Donovan,’ dead at 69

LOS ANGELES — Character actor and radio personality Jay Thomas, who became known to television viewers for his roles on “Cheers,” “Murphy Brown” and most recently on the crime drama “Ray Donovan,” has died at his home in Santa Barbara. He was 69. Thomas’ death Thursday was confirmed by the actor’s New York publicist, Thomas

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Obituaries & memorials, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Jerry Lewis — comedian, actor and director — dies at 91

Jerry Lewis, the manic, rubber-faced comedian who burst onto the post-World War II show-business scene with partner Dean Martin to form the hottest comedy team of their era before launching his own highly successful solo career a decade later, died Sunday. He was 91. Lewis died of natural causes in Las Vegas with his family

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Obituaries & memorials, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Dick Gregory, groundbreaking comedian and civil rights activist, dies at 84

Dick Gregory, who became the first black stand-up comic to break the color barrier in major nightclubs in the early 1960s, a decade in which he satirized segregation and race relations in his act and launched his lifetime commitment to civil rights and other social justice issues, died Sunday. He was 84. His death was

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Obituaries & memorials, USA

Arthur Finklestein, master campaign strategist, dies at 72

He was credited with bringing Benjamin Netanyahu to power for the first time in 1996 and a series of successful campaigns in the US and Israel By Times of Israel staff Arthur Finkelstein and Benjamin Netanyahu in March 10, 1999. (Flash 90) Arthur Finklestein, a conservative campaign strategist widely credited with bringing Prime Minister Benjamin

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Middle East, Obituaries & memorials, USA

Elvis’ grandchildren gather to honor The King in somber ceremony

Screenshot – Lisa Marie Presley It’s hard to believe that it’s been 40 years since the passing of one of the most iconic figures in music. Elvis Presley passed away on August 15, 1977 and, since then, his loyal fans have flocked to his Graceland home in Memphis, Tennessee, to feel closer to “The King.”

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials, USA