The news that Robbie Robertson died hit me hard. Although he’s not the last surviving member of The Band (Garth Hudson recently turned 80), he was my last surviving deep connection to music that is so close to my heart. I rarely feel a famous person’s death in a personal way.
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wmtc: rip cormac mccarthy: an indelible impression, for better or worse
The recent death of Cormac McCarthy has me thinking about his dark genius, and my contrary views of his best (and worst) writing. I know exactly when and how I discovered McCarthy. In the early 1990s, I was volunteering, and later teaching, at a New York City youth centre called
Continue readingwmtc: tina turner, rest in power
She was a force of nature. A powerhouse. She had many lives, transcending all of the usual music-industry categories. We will all miss her. Allan has a really nice tribute to her, with some great clips: here.
Continue readingwmtc: judy heumann, rest in power
Judith Heumann, one of the founders and primary movers of the disability rights movement, died recently at the too-young age of 75. Judith Heumann was a force of nature. She was the consummate activist — a brilliant communicator, a charismatic organizer, and a warm, compassionate, attentive person. Judy was the
Continue readingwmtc: rip russell banks: a belated tribute
I was very sorry to hear that Russell Banks, one of my favourite contemporary writers, died on January 7 of this year. There’s a very short list of authors that are must-reads for me; I’ll read anything they publish. Banks was on that list. Banks wrote about very ordinary people,
Continue readingwmtc: barbara ehrenreich, rest in power. i will miss you.
I was very saddened by the news that Barbara Ehrenreich had died earlier this month. She was one of my favourite thinkers and writers, and I found it difficult to bundle my thoughts and feelings into a tribute. From her last book, Natural Causes: An Epidemic of Wellness, the Certainty of
Continue readingwmtc: bill russell, rest in power: a trailblazing activist
Basketball legend Bill Russell died this month at the age of 88. Although I remember his playing days, it’s not Russell’s incredible and indelible sports record that leads me to honour him. If you’re not familiar with Russell’s life as a trailblazing activist, this is an excellent history lesson; if
Continue readingwmtc: frank showler: called to be faithful
Frank Showler, born in 1919, died last week at the age of 102. Frank was a foundational figure in the social-justice activist community, seemingly participating in every demonstration, rally, vigil, and campaign. It was a universal saying: It’s not a demo until Frank shows up. And show up he
Continue readingwmtc: memories of great-aunt betty
An important family matriarch passed away this week, at the age of 96. Betty MacDowell was my partner Allan’s great-aunt, his father’s mother’s sister. She was one of the warmest, kindest, most good-hearted people I’ve ever known, and I wanted to share a few memories and write a little tribute
Continue readingwmtc: sidney poitier, rest in power
Sidney Poitier was one of my favourite actors. He starred in two of my favourite movies that I watched as a child: “A Patch of Blue” and “To Sir, With Love“. Of course I loved him in “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,” “A Raisin in the Sun,” and “Lilies of
Continue readingwmtc: ed asner, rest in power
People of my generation loved Ed Asner for his portrayal of Lou Grant on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”, and Allan and I both remember enjoying the spinoff “Lou Grant”.* But in my home, Ed Asner was admired for more than his canny character acting. Asner was a union man.
Continue readingwmtc: chuck close, rest in peace
The artist Chuck Close died last week at the age of 81. He was an incredibly talented artist, a progressive thinker, and a diehard New Yorker who was often seen around town, especially in museums and galleries. I had the good fortune to interview Close at his studio in 1998.
Continue readingwmtc: goodbye charlie watts
Charlie Watts was the greatest rock and roll drummer of all time. He’s the reason the Stones’ music has so much swing, why it skips and chugs and rolls and flies, where so much rock merely clumps and plods. His playing was always described as propulsive. And of course Charlie
Continue readingwmtc: beverly cleary, rest in peace, and thank you
Beverly Cleary, who died last week at the astounding age of 104, was a pivotal figure in the world of children’s literature. Her books are treasures; her influence can scarcely be measured. Cleary was one of the first authors to feature young characters who were realistically imperfect. If she was
Continue readingwmtc: billy joe shaver, rest in peace, and in music
Many well-known rock and pop musicians have died lately, including Helen Reddy, Eddie Van Halen, and Jerry Jeff Walker. More names will be coming fast and furiously as the icons of the Boomer generation age. One such death came to the country and blues music communities recently, that of Billy
Continue readingwmtc: robert fisk, rest in power
I was very saddened to hear of the too-young death of Robert Fisk, veteran war journalist, author, and truth-teller. Fisk was often criticized for “politicizing” war reporting, or for not being “objective”. Most war journalists are little more than propaganda mouthpieces for the wealthy countries that invade and
Continue readingwmtc: ruth bader ginsburg, rest in power
These highlights of Ginsburg’s decisions and dissents on the SCOTUS are a joy to read. I used two sources, and decided to keep the overlap. Many highlight the reason she was affectionately known as the Notorious RBG. United States v. Virginia, 1996 In United States v. Virginia, Ginsburg wrote the majority
Continue readingwmtc: a piece of new york is gone: pete hamill, rest in peace
A piece of New York City died this week. Pete Hamill, a legendary New York journalist and possibly the last of a breed, died yesterday at age 85. Obituaries describe him as a “tabloid poet” or “tabloid hero”. If he hadn’t existed, perhaps Raymond Chandler would have invented him. It
Continue readingwmtc: john lewis and c.t. vivian, rest in power
What a sad and moving coincidence, that two great freedom fighters died on the same day. I chose these photos as a reminder that doing the right thing may involve breaking the law. Canadians, who over-value a superficially peaceful society, frequently need reminding. As a remembrance of these two men,
Continue readingwmtc: rip christo. there will never be another.
I was so very sad to hear that the artist Christo has died at the age of 84. I felt so incredibly fortunate to still be living in NYC when The Gates was there. I went through the entire installation multiple times, when very few people were there — once
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