#RIP #OTD in 1794 poet, subject of Umberto Giordano’s opera Andrea Chénier, André Chénier was guillotined for conspiracy at what is now the Place de la Nation, Paris, three days before the end of the Reign of Terror, aged 31. Cimetière de Picpus, Paris
On this day in 1834, English poet, Romantic, literary critic and philosopher who, with his friend William Wordsworth, was a founder of the Romantic Movement in England and a member of the Lake Poets, Samuel Taylor Coleridge died at the home of the Gillman family, where he lived, in Highgate, London at the age of 61 as a result of heart failure compounded by an unknown lung disorder, possibly linked to his use of opium. Born 21 October 1772 in in the country town of Ottery St Mary, Devon, England. Perhaps best known for his poems The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Kubla Khan, as well as his “Conversation poems”. His critical work, especially on Shakespeare, was highly influential, and he helped introduce German idealist philosophy to English-speaking culture. He coined many familiar words and phrases, including the celebrated “suspension of disbelief”. Throughout his adult life, Coleridge suffered from crippling bouts of anxiety and depression; it has been speculated by some that he suffered from bipolar disorder, a condition not identified during his lifetime. Coleridge suffered from poor health that may have stemmed from a bout of rheumatic fever and other childhood illnesses. He was treated for these concerns with laudanum, which fostered a lifelong opium addiction.
The Final Footprint – He is entombed in Saint Michael Churchyard in Highgate.
#RIP #OTD in 1966 writer, poet (Lunch Poems), art critic, curator at the Museum of Modern Art, Frank O’Hara died from injuries after being hit by a jeep on Fire Island beach, New York, at Bayview Hospital in Mastic Beach, Long Island, aged 40. Green River Cemetery, Springs NY
On this day in 1984, singer and songwriter Big Mama Thornton died of a heart attack in Los Angeles at age 57. Born Willie Mae Thornton on 11 December 1926 in Ariton, Alabama. She was the first to record Leiber and Stoller’s “Hound Dog” in 1952, which became her biggest hit. It spent seven weeks at number one on the Billboard R&B charts in 1953 and sold almost two million copies. However, her success was overshadowed three years later, when Elvis recorded his more popular rendition. Similarly, Thornton’s “Ball ‘n’ Chain”, had a bigger impact when performed and recorded by Janis Joplin in the late 1960’s.
The Final Footprint – Thornton is interred in Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California. Other notable Final Footprints at Inglewood Park include; Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, Curt Flood, Betty Grable, Etta James, Robert Kardashian (father of Kim, Kourtney and Khloé), Billy Preston, Cesar Romero, Billie Buckwheat Thomas, Big Mama Thornton, T-Bone Walker, and Syreeta Wright.
#RIP #OTD in 1986 stage director, film director (Meet Me in St. Louis, An American in Paris, The Band Wagon, Gigi), former husband of Judy Garland, Vincente Minnelli died in his Beverly Hills home of emphysema/pneumonia, aged 83. Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California
On this day in 1995, singer, songwriter, and musician, the Silver Fox, Charlie Rich died in his sleep in a Hammond, Louisiana, motel from a pulmonary embolism at the age of 62. Born Charles Allan Rich on December 14, 1932 in Colt, Arkansas. His eclectic style of music was often difficult to classify, encompassing the rockabilly, jazz, blues, country, soul, and gospel genres.
Perhaps best remembered for a pair of 1973 hits, “Behind Closed Doors” (written by Kenny O’Dell) and “The Most Beautiful Girl” (written by Billy Sherrill, Norro Wilson, and Rory Bourke). “The Most Beautiful Girl” topped the U.S. country singles charts, as well as the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles charts and earned him two Grammy Awards. Rich was inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame in 2015.
The Final Footprint
He was buried in the Memorial Park Cemetery in Memphis, Tennessee. Other notable final footprints at Memorial Park include; Isaac Hayes, Sam Phillips, Bob Welch, and Bobby Bland.
On this day in 1997, professional golfer, 9x major champion, winner of all four major championships (the Masters Tournament, the Open Championship, the U.S. Open, and the PGA Championship), The Hawk, Bantam Ben, The Wee Iceman, Ben Hogan died in Fort Worth, Texas at the age of 84. Born William Ben Hogan on 13 August 1912 in Stephenville, Texas. In my opinion, one of the greatest players in the history of the game. Born within six months of two other acknowledged golf greats of the twentieth century, Sam Snead and Byron Nelson, Hogan is notable for his profound influence on the golf swing theory and his legendary ball-striking ability, for which he remains renowned among players and fans.
The Final Footprint – Hogan is entombed in the mausoleum at Greenwood Memorial Park in Fort Worth.
#RIP #OTD in 2003 actor, director (Far From the Madding Crowd, Midnight Cowboy, Sunday Bloody Sunday, The Day of the Locust, Marathon Man), John Schlesinger died at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs at the age of 77. Willesden United Synagogue Cemetery, Willesden, England
Cuba Gooding, Jr., Carl Brashear and Defense Secretary William Cohen October 2000
On this day in 2006, U. S. Navy Master Diver Carl Brashear died of respiratory and heart failure at the Portsmouth Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, Virginia at the age of 75. Born Carl Maxie Brashear on 19 January 1931 in Tonieville, Kentucky. Brashear was the first African-American to attend and graduate from the Diving & Salvage School, the first African-American U.S. Navy Diver and the first African-American U.S. Navy Master Diver. After an accident aboard the U.S.S. Hoist, which resulted in the eventual amputation of his lower left leg, he became the first amputee diver to be certified or re-certified as a U.S. Navy diver. Cuba Gooding, Jr. portrayed Brashear in the film based on his story, Men of Honor (2000) featuring Robert De Niro, Charlize Theron, Hal Holbrook, Powers Boothe and David Keith. Brashear married three times; Junetta Wilcoxson (1952-1978 divorce), Hattie R. Elam (1980-1983 divorce) and Jeanette A. Brundage (1985-1987 divorce).
The Final Footprint – Brashear is interred in Woodlawn Memorial Gardens in Norfolk, Virginia. His grave is marked by an individual VA, bronze on granite marker. His epitaph; I AIN’T GONNA LET NOBODY STEAL MY DREAM.
#RIP #OTD in 2022 actor (Bloodbrothers, Goodfellas, The Firm, The Cooler) Paul Sorvino died at Mayo Clinic Florida in Jacksonville aged 83. Hollywood Forever Cemetery
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