The Departure Lounge has been filling up so rapidly of late, that The Grandstander can hardly keep up. So, today I am going to list six notable people who have left us in recent days. I am not going to go into my usual depth simply because there are so many to recount. I would urge you all that if any of these folks interest you, go to your Google Machines and look them up. All of these lives represent great and fascinating stories.
Rennie Davis (1940-2021)
In 1968, Rennie Davis was part of the famed, or infamous, Chicago 7, who, in 1969 went on trial for their roles in the disruption of the Democratic Convention in 1968. It is a part of history that is pretty much remembered by only people older than age 60 or so. Davis, described as a "peace activist" in his obits, died at the age of 80, and spent much of his life as an environmental activist. You can learn a bit more about him and the Chicago 7 by watching the current movie "The Trial of The Chicago 7."
Davis (L), with Abbie Hoffman, and Jerry Rubin
Hal Holbrook (1925-2021)
Hal Holbrook had a long and distinguished career on stage, film, and television. He is known for performing as Mark Twain in one man stage shows, which were great, but I will always remember him as "Deep Throat", the confidential informant to Bob Woodward during the Watergate investigations, in the terrific movie "All The President's Men." In the obits, Woodard was quoted as saying how well Holbrook captured the essence of the informant, even though no one except Woodward knew his identity. Want to appreciate Hal Holbrook? Watch "All The President's Men."
Eugenio Martinez (1922-2021)
Martinez in 1972 after his arrest
Martinez was an exile from Castro's Cuba, a member of the Bay of Pigs invasion, and a longtime CIA operative. He was also the last surviving member of the crew of burglers that broke into Democratic National Headquarters in the Watergate apartment and office complex in 1972 that led to a long, long chain of events that culminated in the resignation of President Nixon in 1974. Normally, a guy most associated with a criminal and unconstitutional enterprise would not get recognized here - he is hardly a "friend" - but the whole story of "Watergate" was and remains so huge, that the passing of the last of the burglers who set the whole thing in motion should be noted.
Marty Schottemheimer (1943-2021)
Schottenheimer with another western PA
football player of some consequence
I could be writing about Marty Schottenheimer's passing because he was a western Pennsylvania athlete of some note. Or because he had a distinguished career at the University of Pittsburgh in the early 1960's and played in the AFL. Or because he was great NFL head coach with the Browns, Chiefs, Washington Football Team, and Chargers where he complied a record of 200-126-1, and spawned a coaching tree that includes Super Bowl winning HC's Bill Cowher, Tony Dungy, Mike McCarthy, Bruce Arians, and Mike Tomlin.
Instead, though, I am mentioning it because of an incident that my pal Dan related to me a few months ago. Several years ago, Dan and some of his friends were having lunch at the famed Original Hot Dog Shop in Oakland, near the Pitt campus, and who do they see sitting there eating but Marty Schottenheimer and his wife. After saying Hello to the Coach, Marty told them, "I'm in town visiting some family, and I just HAD to get a hot dog at The O."
THAT is a great story.
Leon Spinks (1953-2021)
Leon Spinks won an Olympic Gold Medal in boxing as a light heavyweight in 1976, and in 1978 he shocked the world by defeating a heavily favored Muhammad Ali and becoming the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World. In fact, I believe that he is the last person to hold a unified and undisputed claim as Heavyweight Champion. Fame and riches came rapidly to Spinks, and he then became a cautionary tale of what "too much too fast" can do to a person. In a rematch seven months after that 1978 fight, Ali defeated Spinks, and Leon spiraled down hill quickly. I remember reading a story that described the day of the Spinks-Ali rematch. Leon entered the hotel surrounded by an entourage hangers-on and leeches. You could barely see him among the crowd. After the fight, Leon returned to the hotel all by himself with no one by his side.
Mary Wilson (1944-2021)
Wilson (L), Florence Ballard, Diana Ross
The Supremes
Mary Wilson was an original and founding member of the Primettes, a name that Motown's Barry Gordy didn't like and changed to The Supremes. They were, simply put, the greatest "Girl Group" of all time. The news of Miss Wilson's death today prompted me to listen to some of The Supremes greatest hits, and you should do the same. It is time well spent. A quote for Mary Wilson that appeared in one of her obits today:
"My whole life is like a dream. I tell you, if I were not a Supreme, I would want to be a Supreme."
Enjoy a little Baby Love from 1964 from The Supremes:
RIP to all six of these Absent Friends.
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