Monday, August 9, 2021

In Memoriam

 

AFL CIO president and former United Mine Workers union president Rich Trumka died Thursday.  Heart attack.  72.

Trumka was among my first "big" interviews, back when I was a radio pup in the early 80's.  He was friendly, but serious, and a bit intimidating.  UMW played hardball.  It had no choice.  Mine workers had been horribly treated in this country for decades.  

Trumka answered all my questions.  Nothing evaded.  Nothing ducked.  Whether or not you agreed with him, you had to admire his resolve and his passion.  It was nice that he came to places like Hazleton to meet with the people he represented.

Union members were lucky to have Rich Trumka on their side.

Retired NBC executive Herb Schlosser died last week at the age of 95.  According to his obituary in the New York times, Schlosser negotiated Johnny Carson's first contract.  He green lit ground breaking shows like "Laugh In" and "Saturday Night Live."  Schlosser was also a friend to the news division, giving it whatever time it needed.

Herb Schlosser was apparently quite the executive.

Has there ever been a more intimidating pitcher than JR Richard of the Houston Astros?  He was 6'8" and he threw fast.  Richard finished his career with a 107 and 71 record.  1,493 strikeouts.  Richard's career was cut short by blood clots and a stroke.  He fell on tough times after leaving baseball, and that is a tragedy in and of itself.  JR Richard died last week at the age of 71.

We lost Markie Post over the weekend.  Just 70.  She was in "The Fall Guy," but Post is best known as Christine Sullivan,  the public defender on "Night Court."  I've always said being a secondary character is tougher than being the top banana.   Playing Christine Sullivan was not an easy gig.  For the most part, Post was sandwiched between strong characters, and performers like Harry Anderson and John Larroquette.  Post was outrageously attractive, and her character was on the prudish side.  Markie Post made it happen.

I have to note a minor, but fun role as the mother of Cameron Diaz in "There's Something About Mary."  She was also Elliot's mother in several "Scrubs" episodes.  Post was also a top player on "The $25,000 Pyramid."  She had a long history with game shows, starting as a researcher for "Split Second" in the 1970's.  Host Tom Kennedy brought staffers on stage at the enhd of the final show, and that included Post.  She went on to work on and off camera in the first incarnation of "Card Sharks" in the late 70's.

 Gone too soon.