The RIP Famous Person Thread

[Happy As Larry]

The Girl from Ipanema, dies aged 83

Astrud Gilberto, whose dreamy interpretation of The Girl from Ipanema became the most popular version of the song, has died aged 83.
Paul Ricci, a collaborator with Gilberto, confirmed the news on social media, writing that he had been asked to announce it by Gilberto’s son Marcelo. “She was an important part of ALL that is Brazilian music in the world and she changed many lives with her energy,” he added.
Born in 1940 in the Brazilian state of Bahia and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Astrud Weinert married musician João Gilberto in 1959. In 1963, she accompanied him on a trip to New York where he would record with jazz artist Stan Getz and fellow Brazilian bossa nova star Antônio Carlos Jobim. The session’s producer wanted an English-language singer to help The Girl from Ipanema cross over to a US audience, and Astrud – who had no previous recording experience – was the only person who could speak it.
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Astrud Gilberto, bossa nova singer of The Girl from Ipanema, dies aged 83 | Music | The Guardian

[Happy As Larry]

Tony McPhee, singer and guitarist for rock band the Groundhogs, dies aged 79

Musician who led acclaimed band on and off between 1962 and 2015 – and scored three UK top 10 albums – had suffered a fall last year and a series of strokes
Tony McPhee, the singer and guitarist who led British blues and rock group the Groundhogs across six decades, has died aged 79.

A message was posted on the group’s Facebook page confirming that he died peacefully at home” on 6 June from complications after a fall last year. He had also suffered a series of strokes in later life.
McPhee was grounded in the early 1960s British blues scene that had taken hold in clubs including the Marquee in London’s Soho, where he watched musicians such as Cyril Davies. He joined a south London group, the Dollar Bills, in 1962 and renamed them the Groundhogs.

Playing blues and R&B, their career took off in 1964 when John Mayall and his band were unable to back visiting US blues star John Lee Hooker on a UK tour date, and the Groundhogs were deputised. Hooker then rehired them for another tour the year after, and recorded an acclaimed album with them; Hooker and the Hogs. McPhee later described Hooker as “fantastic – great fun and a real gentleman”.

The Groundhogs became a go-to band for other touring blues artists, such as Little Walter and Jimmy Reed, but they then split for a time in the mid-60s. McPhee recorded solo tracks with producer Jimmy Page, and took session work (sometimes under the name Tony “TS” McPhee) – he joined Mayall and Eric Clapton in the backing band for the Champion Jack Dupree album From New Orleans to Chicago.

A short-lived psych-rock group with Groundhogs bassist Pete Cruickshank, Herbal Mixture, also found some success, and supported the Jeff Beck Group. McPhee also turned down sideman slots with Mayall and jazz bandleader Chris Barber, later calling the latter decision one of his regrets.

He and Cruickshank then revived the Groundhogs name with a new lineup, with the group’s debut album arriving in 1968. This marked the start of McPhee most commercially successful period: amid a fertile rock scene with British bands branching out from blues, R&B and rock’n’roll into psychedelia, progressive rock and heavier moods, the Groundhogs’ energetic, frequently cosmic sound chimed with the spirit of the age.

Tony McPhee, singer and guitarist for rock band the Groundhogs, dies aged 79 | Pop and rock | The Guardian
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[harrybarracuda]

Robert Hanssen: Convicted US spy found dead in Colorado prison



June 5 (UPI) -- Robert Hanssen, a former FBI agent who sold U.S. secrets for $1.4 million to the Soviet Union and later Russia, was found dead Monday in his Colorado prison cell, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

"At approximately 6:55 a.m., inmate Robert Hanssen was found unresponsive at the United States Penitentiary Florence ADMAX in Florence, Colorado," a release from the Federal Bureau of Prisons said.

"Responding staff immediately initiated life-saving measures. Staff requested emergency medical services and life-saving efforts continued," the release added. "Mr. Hanssen was subsequently pronounced deceased by EMS personnel."

As of Monday afternoon, the Bureau of Prisons had not released a cause of death.

Hanssen, 79, had been serving a life sentence at the prison known as the "Alcatraz of the Rockies" since July 17, 2002, after pleading guilty to 15 counts of espionage and conspiracy to avoid the death penalty.

Hanssen was an FBI agent for more than two decades and began spying for the Soviets in 1979, about three years after he joined the bureau. Before his arrest, he was a counterintelligence specialist with the bureau's National Security Division, which gave him access to information from the National Security Agency and the State Department.

He was arrested in February 2001 near his Virginia home while conducting a "dead drop" for his Russian handlers. FBI agents found the package containing highly classified information and a separate package containing $50,000 cash.

According to the federal indictment, Hanssen gave the Soviets and Russians documents "which directly concerned satellites, early warning systems, means of defense or retaliation against a large-scale attack, communications intelligence and major elements of defense strategy."

The indictment said Hanssen also gave Russia the identities of "individuals acting as agents of the United States (in Russia)," which resulted in the executions of two of them, including Soviet Gen. Dmitri Polyakov.

While Hanssen stopped spying for several years after his wife confronted him, he resumed spying in 1985 using the alias "Ramon Garcia" in exchange for cash, diamonds and foreign bank deposits.

"I apologize for my behavior. I am shamed by it. Beyond its illegality, I have torn the trust of so many," Hanssen said during his sentencing in 2002.

"Worse, I have opened the door for calumny against my totally innocent wife and our children. I hurt them deeply. I have hurt so many deeply."

Robert Hanssen, ex-FBI agent convicted of spying, dies in prison at 79 - UPI.com

[david44]

"Worse, I have opened the door for calumny against my totally innocent wife and our children. I hurt them deeply. I have hurt so many deeply."

mmm

Oddly seems mainly black men face execution and not traitors can some of our American brothers explain why, is it they are stored for possible exchange or are years in prison seen as more of a deterrent?

[S Landreth]

Pat Robertson, conservative evangelist and Christian Coalition founder, dies at 93

[harrybarracuda]

mmm

Oddly seems mainly black men face execution and not traitors can some of our American brothers explain why, is it they are stored for possible exchange or are years in prison seen as more of a deterrent?

If memory serves, he avoided the death sentence and kept his pension for his wife by agreeing to reveal the full extent of his treason.

They weren't entirely sure what secrets he had sold.

[S Landreth]

not many will miss him

Pat Robertson, conservative evangelist and Christian Coalition founder, dies at 93

[cisco999]

Robinson was easily one of the most divisive individuals on the American political scene. Fortunately for him while spewing hate for minority groups and others he was able to do as many conservative religious figures and amass a wealth of 100 million USD.


Next up, Jimmy Swagart or Kenneth Copeland/ It's be nice if enough of them were in their afterlife to form a quorum.

8 Richest Pastors in America | Net Worth Joel Osteen, Pat Robertson, Kenneth Copeland | Pastor's Salaries - Beliefnet

[helge]

Robinson was easily one of the most divisive individuals on the American political scene.

Yeah, fuck him

(I do like Fridays though)

[S Landreth]

Theodore ‘Ted’ Kaczynski, known as the ‘Unabomber,’ dies in federal prison

Theodore “Ted” Kaczynski, the Harvard-educated mathematician who retreated to a dingy shack in the Montana wilderness and ran a 17-year bombing campaign that killed three people and injured 23 others, died Saturday. He was 81.

Fvck RIP

[harrybarracuda]

Robert Hanssen, Ted Kaczynski, ?????????

'Unabomber' Ted Kaczynski found dead in US prison cell




'Unabomber' Theodore "Ted" Kaczynski - who waged a 17-year bombing campaign before evading capture for two decades - has been found dead in his prison cell.
The 81-year-old was given the name by the FBI after his actions caused the death of three people and injured 23 others.


The Harvard-educated mathematician has been locked up since May 1998, when he was sentenced to four life sentences, plus 30 years for the campaign of terror that set universities nationwide on edge.
He admitted to committing 16 bombings from 1978 and 1995, permanently maiming several of his victims.
Kaczynski died at the federal prison medical centre in Butner, North Carolina, Kristie Breshears, a spokesperson for the federal Bureau of Prisons, told the AP news agency.



He was found unresponsive in his cell early Saturday morning and was pronounced dead around 8am. The cause of death was not immediately known.
Years before the September 11 attacks, the deadly homemade bombs changed the way Americans posted packages and boarded airplanes, even virtually shutting down air travel on the west coast in July 1995.


In 1995, The Washington Post, in conjunction with The New York Times, published his 35,000-word manifesto, which claimed modern society and technology were leading to a sense of powerlessness and alienation.
But it was this that led to his undoing.
Kaczynski's brother David and David's wife, Linda Patrik, recognised the tone and tipped off the FBI.
The hunt for the Unabomber had been the nation's longest and costliest manhunt.
Authorities in April 1996 found him in a 10ft by 14ft plywood and tarpaper cabin outside Lincoln, Montana, which was filled with journals, a coded diary, explosive ingredients and two completed bombs.


Even in his later years, he remained strongly opposed to technology and was not allowed access to the internet.
Handwritten letters by Kaczynski showed he fell in love with one of his pen pals, Joy Richards, and suggest that they discussed the idea of getting married.
Ms Richards died of cancer in 2006, and some of the most anguished letters describe the pain Kaczynksi felt at her illness, Yahoo reported.

'Unabomber' Ted Kaczynski found dead in US prison cell | US News | Sky News

[misskit]

[S Landreth]

[beachbound]

Next up, Jimmy Swagart or Kenneth Copeland

How about Jimmy Swaggart, and Kenneth Copeland. Matter fact, let’s throw Joel Osteen in there, and make it a trifecta.

[harrybarracuda]

How about Jimmy Swaggart, and Kenneth Copeland. Matter fact, let’s throw Joel Osteen in there, and make it a trifecta.

Aldrich Ames must be favourite to take the hat trick of dead inmates, he's 82.

[cisco999]

How about Jimmy Swaggart, and Kenneth Copeland. Matter fact, let’s throw Joel Osteen in there, and make it a trifecta.

You mean you want to throw honey dripping Joel into the fray? Are you going to rule out his "holier than thou" first class only wife?

Last time I checked "pastor" Copeland benefitted well from his prosperity sermons:

How Copeland Amassed $800 Million Net Worth


And credit due where credit earned. Jimmy Swaggert can sob as well as anyone I recall ever seeing. When he begged forgiveness for his sins after being caught out, there were so many tears from the man I thought the room might flood.

[S Landreth]

continued.....

'Unabomber' Ted Kaczynski reportedly killed himself

Ted Kaczynski, known as the “Unabomber,” who carried out a 17-year bombing campaign that killed three people and injured 23 others, died by suicide, four people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.

Kaczynski, who was 81 and suffering from late-stage cancer, was found unresponsive in his cell at the Federal Medical Center in Butner, North Carolina around 12:30 a.m. on Saturday. Emergency responders performed CPR and revived him before he was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead later Saturday morning, the people told the AP. They were not authorized to publicly discuss Kaczynski’s death and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

Kaczynski’s death comes as the federal Bureau of Prisons has faced increased scrutiny in the last several years following the death of wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein, who also died by suicide in a federal jail in 2019.

Kaczynski had been held in the federal Supermax prison in Florence, Colorado, since May 1998, when he was sentenced to four life sentences plus 30 years for a campaign of terror that set universities nationwide on edge. He admitted committing 16 bombings from 1978 and 1995, permanently maiming several of his victims.

A Harvard-educated mathematician, Kaczynski lived as a recluse in a dingy cabin in rural Montana, where he carried out a solitary bombing spree that changed the way Americans mailed packages and boarded airplanes.

His targets included academics and airlines, the owner of a computer rental store, an advertising executive and a timer industry lobbyist. In 1993, a California geneticist and a Yale University computer expert were maimed by bombs within the span of two days.

Two years later, he used the threat of continued violence to convince The New York Times and The Washington Post to publish his manifesto, a 35,000 word screed against modern life and technology, as well as damages to the environment.

The tone of the treatise was recognized by his brother, David, and David’s wife, Linda Patrik, who tipped off the FBI, which had been searching for the Unabomber for years in the nation’s longest, costliest manhunt.

Authorities in April 1996 found him in a small plywood and tarpaper cabin outside Lincoln, Montana, that was filled with journals, a coded diary, explosive ingredients and two completed bombs.

While awaiting trial, in 1998, Kaczynski attempted to hang himself with a pair of underwear. Though he was diagnosed by a psychiatrist as a paranoid schizophrenic, he was adamant that he wasn’t mentally ill. He eventually pleaded guilty rather than allow his attorneys to present an insanity defense.

Growing up in Chicago, Kaczynski skipped two grades before attending Harvard at age 16, where he published papers in prestigious mathematics journals.

His explosives were carefully tested and came in meticulously handcrafted wooden boxes sanded to remove possible fingerprints. Later bombs bore the signature “FC” for “Freedom Club.”

The FBI called him the “Unabomber” because his early targets seemed to be universities and airlines. An altitude-triggered bomb he mailed in 1979 went off as planned aboard an American Airlines flight; a dozen people aboard suffered from smoke inhalation.

Ted Kaczynski, known as the Unabomber, who carried out 17-year bombing campaign, died by suicide in prison | AP News

[harrybarracuda]

Last time I checked "pastor" Copeland benefitted well from his prosperity sermons:

That bloke is the epitome of evil.

[beachbound]

And credit due where credit earned. Jimmy Swaggert can sob as well as anyone I recall ever seeing. When he begged forgiveness for his sins after being caught out, there were so many tears from the man I thought the room might flood.

Still, can’t believe he wasn’t even nominated for an Oscar, that year.

[beachbound]

That bloke is the epitome of evil.

Give credit where credit is due. After all, he did cure Covid.

[panama hat]

not many will miss him

Who says there can't be good news in this thread

[KWAN]

Silvio Berlusconi, former Italian prime minister, dies aged 86

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/12/silvio-berlusconi-former-italian-prime-minister-dies

[Ukan Kizmiaz]

I never really paid any attention to him before his death - but downloaded the 4 part netflix doco and watched half so far. Certainly was an out there guy - genius, theoretical mathematician.
I undertsand he wrote a manifesto of his anti-technology views. I'm a bit scared to read it as it probably will be logical and coherent (at some level) and I'm finding myself increasingly disengaged and hostile to the technological 'progress' of society. I can relate to to going off-grid and into the bush...but why bother sending bombs to people!

[harrybarracuda]

I never really paid any attention to him before his death - but downloaded the 4 part netflix doco and watched half so far. Certainly was an out there guy - genius, theoretical mathematician.
I undertsand he wrote a manifesto of his anti-technology views. I'm a bit scared to read it as it probably will be logical and coherent (at some level) and I'm finding myself increasingly disengaged and hostile to the technological 'progress' of society. I can relate to to going off-grid and into the bush...but why bother sending bombs to people!

You might enjoy the Netflix Series "Manhunt" as well.

[harrybarracuda]

Silvio Berlusconi, former Italian prime minister, dies aged 86

Well it looks like we have two scumbags and two dead inmates.

Who's going to hit the hat trick first?