Eunice Kennedy Shriver

Posted in St. Francis Xavier Cemetery with tags , on July 13, 2017 by Cade

shriver1July 10, 1921 – August 11, 2009

“As we hope for the best in them, hope is reborn in us.” – Eunice Kennedy Shriver

Eunice Mary Kennedy was the middle child of Joe and Rose Kennedy. She was married to U.S. Ambassador to France and one-time Vice-Presidential candidate, Sargent Shriver. From early on, Eunice developed a special relationship with her oldest sister, Rosemary, who was born with an intellectual disability at a time when stigma and lack of care for this population was rampant. Her care for Rosemary and those with similar disabilities became her lifelong calling. When her brother became President of the United States, she used the opportunity to elevate her cause. She founded a number of national and academic programs to help advance research and support options for people with disabilities. Continue reading →

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Harry Houdini

Posted in Machpelah Cemetery with tags on February 15, 2017 by Cade

houdini1March 24, 1874 – October 31, 1926

Harry Houdini (Erik Weisz) was a vaudeville escape artist and probably the most famous magician of all time. He got his start pulling card tricks and escaping from handcuffs in front of crowds in sideshows and eventually was able to entertain crowds across the country and Europe. As his reputation grew, so did his escapes. The handcuffs became more elaborate. Straight-jackets followed. Then padlocks, sealed wooden crates, milk cans, caskets, glass-cases full of water…whatever he could think of. Crowds flocked to see his death-defying escapes and his fame skyrocketed. Houdini was an intense protector of the art form of magic and spent a significant amount of energy debunking fake spiritualists and people who would tarnish the industry. Continue reading →

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Dr. Seuss

Posted in Cremated with tags , on February 7, 2017 by Cade

seuss1March 2, 1904 – September 24, 1991

Theodor Seuss Geisel…was a writer of books.
And he wrote of wubwuzzles and bumblers and jooks.
Fancy made-up creations with stars and striped hats.
There were cats in those hats and little Who acrobats.
He made foxes in sockses, a grinch and a turtle.
With names like the Lorax and Horton and Yertle.
Fish of all colors and beetles that battled
In puddles in bottles on poodles with paddles.
Dr. Seuss gave us oodles of tales to adore.
And he made ham and eggs much more green than before.
More than 70 works, beloved and clever.
A talent so rare, it should go on forever.
Except when it can’t.
Because, sometimes, cancer. Continue reading →

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Stella Adler

Posted in Mount Carmel Cemetery (NY) with tags on January 30, 2017 by Cade

adler1February 10, 1901 – December 21, 1992

To those outside the acting profession or theater and film circles, Stella Adler may not be an instantly recognizable name, but within these groups, she is a titanic figure. Adler rose to fame from a small child in a prominent Yiddish acting family in New York City. Her onstage upbringing led her to Broadway, London, Paris and Hollywood. At an early age, she met renowned Russian director, Konstantin Stanislavski, and was immediately enthralled with his teachings and techniques. After joining the famed Group Theater in New York, Adler studied under Stanislavski for a brief time in France. At that point, the course of her career as an acting teacher was basically set in stone. Continue reading →

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Jean-Michel Basquiat

Posted in Green-Wood Cemetery with tags , , on January 23, 2017 by Cade

basquiat1December 22, 1960 – August 12, 1988

Jean-Michel Basquiat was a significant neo-expressionist artist in the late-70s/early-80s New York City pop-cultural scene. Rising to notoriety as a street artist (he comprised half of the graffiti-art duo, SAMO), Basquiat eventually found a following in various galleries in Manhattan. His work consisted of both image and text, highly influenced by juxtaposition and dichotomy. Basquiat also created experimental music with his band, Gray (a nod to Gray’s Anatomy, the reference book that heavily influenced his work throughout his life – not the ABC television show that debuted 17 years after he died.) Through his art and music, he spoke out against institutionalized racism and power structures and made commentary on issues such as class struggle and heritage. Continue reading →

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Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds

Posted in Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills with tags , , on January 17, 2017 by Cade

fisher_reynolds2
October 21, 1956 – December 27, 2016
April 1, 1932 – December 28, 2016

Carrie Fisher was born into Hollywood royalty. Her father was crooner Eddie Fisher and her mother was actress and iconic girl-next-door, Debbie Reynolds. Onstage from the very beginning, she enjoyed a very successful career. She will forever be linked to her most indelible character, Princess Leia from the blockbuster Star Wars film franchise. But, she was more than a strong, rebellious princess. Fisher was a fearless comedic actor and writer. She wrote critically-acclaimed screenplays and novels and was for a time, the go-to “script doctor” in the industry. She overcame personal demons stemming from drug abuse and bi-polar disorder and always, always, kept her wit. Continue reading →

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Eubie Blake

Posted in Cypress Hills Cemetery with tags on January 10, 2017 by Cade

blake2February 7, 1887 – February 12, 1983

Jazz and ragtime pianist/composer, James Hubert “Eubie” Blake was, by all accounts, a naturally-gifted musician. He first exhibited his talent at a random music store organ at the age of five. In a career that spanned nearly 70 years, Blake wrote for vaudeville, Broadway, film and television. His hit songs such as “I’m Just Wild About Harry” and “Charleston Rag” became mainstays in popular music. Continue reading →

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Henny Youngman

Posted in Mount Carmel Cemetery (NY) with tags , on January 2, 2017 by Cade

youngman1March 16, 1906 – February 24, 1998

Henny Youngman was the “King of the One Liners.” As a comedian, Youngman worked tirelessly for 7 decades. His trademark routine – which involved a series of quick, one-liner jokes and violin interludes – made him a truly unique comedy legend. Known to play anywhere, anytime, for any amount of money, Youngman never let success alter him. He was a mainstay on TV shows like Laugh-In and appeared in classic films ranging from Mel Brooks’ History of the World, Part 1 to Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas. Continue reading →

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Bert Lahr

Posted in Union Field Cemetery with tags , on December 27, 2016 by Cade

lahr1August 13, 1895 – December 4, 1967

Tony Award-winning comedian/actor, Bert Lahr, dropped out of school to join a vaudeville troupe. It was on the stage that he spent most of his career. But it was on film – one film, in particular – where he found his greatest and most notable success. Lahr brought his humor and bravado to the role of the Cowardly Lion in the classic The Wizard of Oz and generations have loved him for it.

Irving Lahrheim was New York through and through. He was born there. He died there. And he performed practically the entire time in between. Continue reading →

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Betty Comden

Posted in Mount Carmel Cemetery (NY) with tags , on December 19, 2016 by Cade

comden1May 3, 1917 – November 23, 2006

Dubbed “Miss Words” by her writing partner of more than 60 years, Adolph Green, Betty Comden contributed wit and brilliance to popular songs on the stage and screen for most of the 20th Century. The lyricist team of Comden and Green got their start as part of the Greenwich Village troupe The Revuers where they collaborated with other young artists like Judy Holliday and Leonard Bernstein. Along with Bernstein (whom they would work with many times), Comden and Green created their first Broadway musical, On The Town, in 1944. Continue reading →

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