The Original Musings

Yes, the “Painter of Light” … 

He passed away today at his home, apparently from natural causes. He was only 54. That’s WAY too young to die.

US News on MSNBC

Passed away February 24, 2012

Jan Berenstain, best known as the co-creator of the Berenstain Bears, has passed away. She was 88. Her husband Stan passed away back in 2005.

Berenstain, a longtime resident of Solebury in southeastern Pennsylvania, suffered a severe stroke on Thursday and died Friday without regaining consciousness, her son Mike Berenstain said.

The gentle tales of Mama Bear, Papa Bear, Brother Bear and Sister Bear were inspired by the Berenstain children, and later their grandchildren. The stories address children’s common concerns and aim to offer guidance on subjects like dentist visits, peer pressure, a new sibling or summer camp.

The first Berenstain Bears book, “The Big Honey Hunt,” was published in 1962. Over the years, more than 300 titles have been released in 23 languages , most recently in Arabic and Icelandic , and have become a rite of passage for generations of young readers.

“They say jokes don’t travel well, but family humor does,” Jan Berenstain told The Associated Press in 2011. “Family values is what we’re all about.”

Stan and Jan Berenstain, both Philadelphia natives, were 18 when they met on their first day at art school in 1941.

They married in 1946, after Stan Berenstain returned home from serving as a medical illustrator at a stateside Army hospital during World War II. During that time, Jan Berenstain worked as a draftsman for the Army Corps of Engineers and as a riveter building Navy seaplanes.

The Berenstains had two sons and four grandchildren.  Mike Berenstain said she had been working on two books and was doing illustrations until the day before she passed away.  He will continue writing and illustrating future Berenstain Bears books.

RIP Jan Berenstain. You and your late husband brought a lot of joy to a lot of people. You’ve left a legacy that will last forever.

philly.com

Another 9/11 anniversary.

I originally wrote this post in 2006 for the 2996 Project. Typically I post it at 9:02 a.m. on September 11. Because this is the tenth anniversary, I am posting it 24 hours early.

In past years, this entry has attracted many wonderful comments and visitors. It has also attracted some comments which detract from the tribute meant with this entry. Some of us only remember Ruth and her family from time to time, but there are those who live with her memory daily. They have suffered more than enough grief by the loss of their loved ones ten years ago today. I will not permit their pain to be exacerbated here. Therefore, for the third successive year, I am operating on an absolute zero tolerance policy for this post. Any offensive comments will be removed by me as quickly as I see them. Posting of such comments may result in your loss of posting privileges on this domain — perhaps immediately — without any further warning. If you are a new poster to this site, your comment will very likely be held for moderation until it is approved. I apologize in advance for this heavy-handed treatment to those of you who would never think of doing such a thing, and hope you understand that this is not in any way directed at you.

Missy has reposted her column from 2006 as well, on her blog with her honoree, David William Nelson.

~~~~~

A tribute in the 2,996 Project

On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, Ruth McCourt, her four year old daughter Juliana and her best friend Paige Farley-Hackel drove to Boston’s Logan International Airport. They were on their way to southern California. They were going to see friends, they were going to spend a few days at Deepak Chopra’s Center for Well-Being where Paige would receive certification in the Debbie Ford Shadow Process and they were going to take “Miss J” to Disneyland.

Because they wanted to use frequent flier miles, they wound up on different airlines. Paige was on American Airlines flight 11, Ruth and Juliana were on United flight 175. They would meet up at the airport in Los Angeles, California, and begin their mini-vacation.

That same morning Ruth’s brother Ron Clifford, who lives in New Jersey, had a meeting scheduled at the Marriott Marquis in Midtown, but it was moved to the Marriott World Trade Center at the last moment. He and Ruth were especially close, she’d even instructed him on which tie to wear for the meeting. It was a beautiful day, his daughter Monica’s 11th birthday, and this meeting was extremely important to his career future.

Continue reading

Surgery is done … 

I’m back home (have been since Wednesday) and hopefully life will begin to get back to normal now.

One bit of quick news — just heard that Betty Ford died. She was 93.

We’re gonna miss you

Martha Martin aka Granny, the original ditzy redhead, passed away early this morning just after midnight.  With her when she died were all three of her children (including Darin’s Mom) and her husband Frank.  She was 84.

Granny was a riot.  One year she sent us an Easter card for Christmas and told us to have a happy halloween.  She was funny, she was silly, she was the sweetest lady and rarely had a cross word to say about anyone.  She loved to watch Missy dance, and every time we saw her Missy would regale her with the latest.  She especially liked the treble reel, and she loved it when Missy would hotdog it a little and show off.

The best thing about Granny was she made you feel special.  If you sat and talked with her, you were the center of her universe and she let you know it.

Heaven’s an even brighter place now.  Say hi to Mom and Sammy for me, Granny.

Passed away Sunday at the age of 84

Another actor from the Airplane! movies — and the Naked Gun movies as well — has passed away.  

Leslie Nielsen died of complications from pneumonia at a hospital near his home at 5:34 pm Sunday.  He was surrounded by his wife, Barbaree, and friends, his agent John S. Kelly said in a statement.  “We are saddened by the passing of beloved actor Leslie Nielsen, probably best remembered as Lt. Frank Drebin in ‘The Naked Gun’ series of pictures, but who enjoyed a more than 60-year career in motion pictures and television.”

He was born February 11, 1926 in Regina, Saskatchewan. He married four times, and had two daughters with his second wife. After performing in 150 live television dramas in New York, he went to Hollywood in the mid-1950′s. He became a well known serious actor until the 1980 movie Airplane! where he was finally cast in the comedic role he’d always wanted.

He made us laugh. How great is that? Enjoy Heaven, Leslie.

“Leave it to Beaver” Mom

She passed away on October 16, at the age of 94. She had a rheumatoid ailment — polymyalgia — she’d been fighting for some time. She is survived by sons Drew and Glenn Billingsley, stepson William Mortensen Jr., 16 grandchildren, and 23 great-grandchildren.

Although she’ll always be known for her role as June Cleaver, I think my all-time favorite role of hers was just a bit part — the woman on the plane who spoke Jive in Airplane!.

Looks like God called a couple good ones home on Saturday. In her case though, at least she had a nice long life. RIP, Barbara. RIP.

Cancer claims another

Lindsay the Just, better known as John Guy, passed away this morning at Hospice of Dayton.

I had just told Missy we’d give him the weekend to get settled in and then we’d go see him Monday. I didn’t want to barge in on him when he just got moved in. Note to self: don’t wait next time.

We met John back in 2001 when Missy started Irish dance. He stormed into our lives in an enthusiastic burst and he’s been there ever since. Whenever anything even remotely unhappy or taxing happened, John was first in line to step up and try to help — or just listen and be there. Even during his own trials and during his battle with cancer, he sent notes and we’ve shared phone calls … I can’t quite believe he’s gone. I’ll try to do up a proper memorial later.

In addition to scads of friends, he leaves behind three beautiful daughters and a grandson.

Just go read the story …

… and have a case of tissues on hand when you do. I posted this on my Facebook page but wanted to put it here too, for those who don’t follow FB. I had in mind to write up something nice and something fitting … then I re-read it and started crying all over again. A male friend who saw it on FB sent me a text earlier saying “I hated that I had to explain to my wife why I was crying and then she read the story and said if I hadn’t been crying she’d think I was the biggest jerk on the planet.”

So, since I have no words … just go read the story about Brett Marie Christian and her Homecoming Dance.

You’ll find the article here.