South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who died Sunday at the age of 90, was the moral compass of his beloved “Rainbow Nation”, never afraid to speak truth to power, whatever its creed or colour.
Passings
Ted Byfield dead at 93: Journalist was a catalyst for the rise of Western conservatism
Ted Byfield, who has died aged 93, was a firebrand magazine publisher who harnessed the ideologies of Western Canadian alienation into a viable political movement that, for a time, was the bright future of Canadian conservatism.
Anne Rice, ‘Interview With the Vampire’ author, dies at 80
The author died from complications of a stroke, her son Christopher Rice, himself a writer, announced on her Facebook page and his Twitter page.
Lestat will live forever.
Bob Dole is dead
Bob Dole tried and failed to reach the White House several times, but he leaves a powerful legacy as a war hero and senator who served the United States with honor, sacrifice, and humor.
Dole was born in Russell, Kansas, in 1923. He was a star basketball player in his youth and served in the Army in World War II. He was grievously wounded in combat in Italy in 1945, hit by a German shell in the upper back and right arm and not expected to recover. But he did, through grit and determination, though he permanently lost the use of his right arm. He would forevermore shake hands with his left, something he learned to do so as not to make the people he met uncomfortable.
Former U.S. Secretary of State Powell dies of COVID-19 complications
WASHINGTON, Oct 18 (Reuters) – Colin Powell, the first Black U.S. secretary of state and top military officer, died on Monday at the age of 84 due to complications from COVID-19. He was fully vaccinated, his family said in a statement on Facebook.
“We have lost a remarkable and loving husband, father, grandfather and a great American,” his family said.
Powell was one of America’s foremost Black figures for decades. He was named to senior posts by three Republican presidents and reached the top of the U.S. military as it was regaining its vigor after the trauma of the Vietnam War.
Lars Vilks: Muhammad cartoonist killed in traffic collision
Swedish artist Lars Vilks, who sketched the Prophet Muhammad’s head on a dog’s body, has died in a traffic accident.
Vilks was reported to be travelling in a civilian police vehicle which collided with a truck near the town of Markaryd in southern Sweden.
Two police officers were also killed and the truck driver was injured.
The 75-year-old artist had been living under police protection after being subjected to death threats over the cartoon.
Canadian actor, stand-up comedian Norm Macdonald dead at 61
Canadian actor and longtime stand-up comedian Norm Macdonald has died after a nine-year private battle with cancer, his management team confirmed Tuesday.
Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts dies at age 80
Charlie Watts, the self-effacing and unshakeable Rolling Stones drummer who helped anchor one of rock’s greatest rhythms sections and used his “day job” to support his enduring love of jazz, has died, according to his publicist. He was 80.
Nanci Griffith: Folk and country singer-songwriter dies aged 68
Nanci Griffith, a Grammy-winning folk and country music singer-songwriter, has died aged 68.
Her death was confirmed by management and her record label on Friday, without a cause of death being given.
sad.
Former Ontario Premier Bill Davis dies at age 92, family says
Former Ontario Premier Bill Davis died Sunday morning at his home in Brampton, family members told CP24 in a statement.
“After spending much family time in his favourite of all places, his cottage in Georgian Bay, he died of natural causes at home in Brampton, surrounded by members of his family. He was 92 years young,” his family said Sunday.
William G. Davis served as the Premier of Ontario for 14 years, from 1971 to 1985.
Markie Post, Actress Known for ‘The Fall Guy’ and ‘Night Court,’ Dies at 70
Markie Post, an actress known for The Fall Guy and Night Court, has died following a battle with cancer. She was 70.
ZZ Top Bassist Dusty Hill Dead At 72
Dusty passed away at his home in Houston, TX — this according to his bandmates, Billy Gibbons and Frank Beard.
They write, “We are saddened by the news today that our Compadre, Dusty Hill, has passed away in his sleep at home in Houston, TX. We, along with legions of ZZ Top fans around the world, will miss your steadfast presence, your good nature and enduring commitment to providing that monumental bottom to the ‘Top’. We will forever be connected to that “Blues Shuffle in C.” The boys add, “You will be missed greatly, amigo.”
Kurt Westergaard, Danish cartoonist behind Muhammad cartoons, dies at 86
Kurt Westergaard, a Danish cartoonist whose caricature of the Prophet Muhammad outraged many Muslims worldwide, has died at the age of 86.
He died after a long illness, his family told the Berlingske newspaper on Sunday.
Westergaard was a cartoonist for the conservative Jyllands-Posten newspaper from the early 1980s.
He became world famous in 2005 for his controversial image of the Prophet Muhammad in the newspaper.
I did meet him briefly, Kathy was gifted a signed print of the Motoon in the photo autographed also by Geert Wilders – “To Kathy”. It hangs on our wall to this day.