Jerry Stephenson pitch for seven season in the Major Leagues, compiling a 8-19 record with the Boston Red Sox, Seattle Pilots and the Los Angeles Dodgers. He is best known for being a member of the 1967 "Impossible Dream" Boston Red Sox team that won the American League pennant.
Mr. Stephenson, 66, died of cancer at his home in Anaheim, California on June 6, 2010.He was signed out of high school by the Red Sox in 1961 and made his Major League debut two years later at the age of 19. Ironically, he was scouted by his father who was working for the Red Sox.
He spent five years with Boston. During the 1967 campaign, he had a 3-1 record with one save. He won a game in late August against Chicago which put the team into first place. He pitched in Game 4 of the World Series.
In 1969, he was released by the Sox and signed with Seattle. He spent a year with them before finishing his career with the Dodgers in 1970.
He spent 25 years as a scout for the Dodgers and another 14 with the Sox before retiring last October when he became ill.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Friday, June 4, 2010
Chris Haney - Developed "Trivial Pursuit"
Chris Haney developed the highly successful board game, "Trivial Pursuit", along with his friend Scott Abbott. Mr Haney died on May 31, 2010 in Toronto, Canada of undisclosed causes.
He came up with the game's idea in 1979 while working as a copy boy at The Canadian Press. While playing "Scrabble" with co-worker Scott Abbott, they discussed the concept of a trivia game.
Over the next two years, they would write 6,000 questions on their color-coded category cards. They were able to raise $40,000 in investment capital and found a small game maker to market the product.
Sales became brisk with $800 million worth of games being sold in 1984. The licensing rights change hands several times before they were bought by Hasbro in 2008.
By the time of his death, the game had sold over 100 million copies in 26 countries and 17 languages. The sales made Mr. Haney very wealthy with a portfolio of golf courses, vineyards and race horses.
He came up with the game's idea in 1979 while working as a copy boy at The Canadian Press. While playing "Scrabble" with co-worker Scott Abbott, they discussed the concept of a trivia game.
Over the next two years, they would write 6,000 questions on their color-coded category cards. They were able to raise $40,000 in investment capital and found a small game maker to market the product.
Sales became brisk with $800 million worth of games being sold in 1984. The licensing rights change hands several times before they were bought by Hasbro in 2008.
By the time of his death, the game had sold over 100 million copies in 26 countries and 17 languages. The sales made Mr. Haney very wealthy with a portfolio of golf courses, vineyards and race horses.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
John Shepherd-Baron - Invented ATM
John Shepherd-Baron, a Scotsman, was credited with inventing the automated cash dispensing machine now known as the ATM. He died in a hospital in Scotland on May 15, 2010 at the age of 84.
He conceived the idea of the ATM after being locked out of his bank and unable to obtain needed cash. His first machine was installed at a branch of Barclays in a suburb of London on June 27, 1967. Since the plastic bank card had not been invented, he used specially coated checks that were inserted into the machine, along with a personal identification number, to obtain the cash.
His initial PIN number was six digits, but was shortened to four at the urging of his wife. There are now than 1.7 million ATM machines around the world.
For his service to the banking industry, he was awarded the Officers of the Order of the British Empire in 2004.
He conceived the idea of the ATM after being locked out of his bank and unable to obtain needed cash. His first machine was installed at a branch of Barclays in a suburb of London on June 27, 1967. Since the plastic bank card had not been invented, he used specially coated checks that were inserted into the machine, along with a personal identification number, to obtain the cash.
His initial PIN number was six digits, but was shortened to four at the urging of his wife. There are now than 1.7 million ATM machines around the world.
For his service to the banking industry, he was awarded the Officers of the Order of the British Empire in 2004.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Helen Wagner - Role of a Lifetime
Helen Wagner starred in the daytime television soap opera "As the World Turns" for 54 years with over 19,700 episodes. Her run began on April 2, 1956 and was scheduled to end in September as CBS was canceling the show.
She died of cancer at the age of 91 on May 1, 2010 at her home in Mount Kisco, NY. Her last appearance on the show was on April 5. She originally signed a 13 weeks contract in 1956 for "As the World Turns". She had been a singer and stage actress before she was able to parlay the contract into a lifetime role.
In 2004, she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
She died of cancer at the age of 91 on May 1, 2010 at her home in Mount Kisco, NY. Her last appearance on the show was on April 5. She originally signed a 13 weeks contract in 1956 for "As the World Turns". She had been a singer and stage actress before she was able to parlay the contract into a lifetime role.
In 2004, she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Leslie Buck - Cup Designer
Leslie Buck created an iconic design for coffee cups used all over New York City. He incorporated a blue, white and gold color scheme and an ancient Grecian design. He printed a catchy phrase on the front of the cup: "We are happy to serve you".
Mr Buck,87, died on April 26, 2010 at his home in New York City from complications related to Parkinson's Disease.
His original cup design was aimed at urban diners owned by Greek Immigrants. The cups were eventually used by New York City street vendors and restaurants all over the city.
By the the 1990's, his company was selling over 30 million of the cups. In recent years, sales have been effected by Starbucks and other gourmet shops, but the cups are still used in many delis and restaurants around the city.
Mr Buck,87, died on April 26, 2010 at his home in New York City from complications related to Parkinson's Disease.
His original cup design was aimed at urban diners owned by Greek Immigrants. The cups were eventually used by New York City street vendors and restaurants all over the city.
By the the 1990's, his company was selling over 30 million of the cups. In recent years, sales have been effected by Starbucks and other gourmet shops, but the cups are still used in many delis and restaurants around the city.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Clare Sabatini - Battled Trump
Clare Sabatini owned a restaurant for over 40 years in Atlanta City. She fought a very public battle against real estate developer Donald Trump who attempted to use the eminent domain process to condemn her property in order to expand his Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino.
Her battle against Trump was chronicled in the "Doonesbury" comic strip in 1997. She eventually sold the restaurant to Trump for more then $2 million after a long and protracted struggle.
She died on April 23, 2010 in Atlanta City. No age or cause of death was disclosed by her family.
Her battle against Trump was chronicled in the "Doonesbury" comic strip in 1997. She eventually sold the restaurant to Trump for more then $2 million after a long and protracted struggle.
She died on April 23, 2010 in Atlanta City. No age or cause of death was disclosed by her family.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Glenn Walters - Office Designer
Glenn Walters, a former executive with Herman Miller Inc, was considered to be one of the key individuals in the development of the open-office concept and office cubicles. He died on April 18, 2010 at the age of 85 in Michigan.
During his time with Herman Miller Inc, he lead a task force that developed and marketed the "Action Office" system beginning in 1968. His idea involved movable walls and was a drastic departure form the standard fixed office desks of the time. It would later evolve into the cubicle concept.
During his time with Herman Miller Inc, he lead a task force that developed and marketed the "Action Office" system beginning in 1968. His idea involved movable walls and was a drastic departure form the standard fixed office desks of the time. It would later evolve into the cubicle concept.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Whitney Harris - Nuremberg Prosecutor
Whitney Harris, the last of the three prosecutors of Nazis at the Nuremberg Trials after World War II, died on April 21, 2010 at the age of 97 at his home in St Louis, Missouri.
He was the lead prosecutor in the first of the war crime trials. He also cross-examined several other defendants. The court tried 22 high-ranking Nazis, convicted 19 and sentenced 12 to death. He was the only prosecutor to witness the executions.
Prior to the war, he graduated from the University of California Law School at Berkley. He joined the Navy after the start of the war.
After the trials, he became a professor of law at Southern Methodist University. He also became an author and gave speeches on human rights. He was dedicated to trying to develop an international justice system to deal with was crimes against humanity and genocide.
He was the lead prosecutor in the first of the war crime trials. He also cross-examined several other defendants. The court tried 22 high-ranking Nazis, convicted 19 and sentenced 12 to death. He was the only prosecutor to witness the executions.
Prior to the war, he graduated from the University of California Law School at Berkley. He joined the Navy after the start of the war.
After the trials, he became a professor of law at Southern Methodist University. He also became an author and gave speeches on human rights. He was dedicated to trying to develop an international justice system to deal with was crimes against humanity and genocide.
Friday, April 16, 2010
George Nissan - Invented the Tramploine
George Nissen, 96, was a gymnast who developed and patented the trampoline died on April 13, 2010 in New York City.
He became involved in tumbling as a young boy and continued through high school and college at the University of Iowa where he was a three time collegiate gymnastics champion. He partnered with his college gymnastics coach and developed a prototype trampoline after seeing circus trapeze performers jumping and tumbling on safety nets.
Initial sales were slow, but he went on a world tour as a comedic acrobat using the name "The Diving Fool". After World War II, he returned to Cedar Rapids , Iowa where he expanded his company. He eventually sold Nissen Corp. in 1973, but continued to promote the sport for the remainder of his life.
He became involved in tumbling as a young boy and continued through high school and college at the University of Iowa where he was a three time collegiate gymnastics champion. He partnered with his college gymnastics coach and developed a prototype trampoline after seeing circus trapeze performers jumping and tumbling on safety nets.
Initial sales were slow, but he went on a world tour as a comedic acrobat using the name "The Diving Fool". After World War II, he returned to Cedar Rapids , Iowa where he expanded his company. He eventually sold Nissen Corp. in 1973, but continued to promote the sport for the remainder of his life.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Morris Jeppson - Memeber of Flight Crew
Morris Jeppson was one of the two surviving members of the flight crew of the Enola Gay, the B-29 bomber that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima that helped bring the end to World War II.
Mr Jeppson, 87, died on March 30, 2010 at a hospital in Las Vegas after being stricken with a severe headache. His role in the flight crew was very significant as he was the one charged with arming the bomb after the plane took off on its flight to Hiroshima on August 6,1945. The bomb was placed in a safe mode upon takeoff to avoid a disastrous accidental detonation.
The flight from the small island of Tinian in the South pacific took six hours to the final destination. After the flight's first 30 minutes, he armed the bomb's electrical system. The bomb was dropped with devastating results, killing or wounding more than 100,000 people.
The flight crew returned to a hero's welcome. Eight days later a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki resulting in a Japanese surrender. He received the Silver Star for his exploits.
After the war, he spent his career in the field of electronics and applied radiation. He always maintained that he had no regrets about participating in the mission.
Mr Jeppson, 87, died on March 30, 2010 at a hospital in Las Vegas after being stricken with a severe headache. His role in the flight crew was very significant as he was the one charged with arming the bomb after the plane took off on its flight to Hiroshima on August 6,1945. The bomb was placed in a safe mode upon takeoff to avoid a disastrous accidental detonation.
The flight from the small island of Tinian in the South pacific took six hours to the final destination. After the flight's first 30 minutes, he armed the bomb's electrical system. The bomb was dropped with devastating results, killing or wounding more than 100,000 people.
The flight crew returned to a hero's welcome. Eight days later a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki resulting in a Japanese surrender. He received the Silver Star for his exploits.
After the war, he spent his career in the field of electronics and applied radiation. He always maintained that he had no regrets about participating in the mission.
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