Remember

It seems as if over the past month, we have seen a saddening amount of celebrity passings- lives taken unfairly in their prime, with brilliant work left unfinished, and souls that have moved on after years full of accomplishment and honor. I'd like to take this entry to remind you of three of these men, and their notable accomplishments.

Stan Winston, age 62

Passed away June 15th of multiple myeloma:

Stan Winston pioneered some of the most astounding sfx and make-up seen in contemporary cinema. He imagined new worlds and technology- never drifting far from the human touch and recognition that made his work so beautiful. While his name isn't a household one, his work stands for itself. Winston had his first brush with fame in 1984 when he was chosen to design the robot army effects for "The Terminator". Director James Cameron later asked him to join another of his following productions; Aliens. Winston continued his work on T2: Judgement Day and was later drafted to bring the giant dinosaurs of "Jurassic Park" to life. "Jurassic Park" was the first PG-13 movie my parents allowed me to see, and I vividly recall the moment that T-Rex showed up blowing steam onto the car window. I didn't sleep for a week. Winston acted as a consultant on the recent hit "Iron Man" and was tapped already for working on Jurassic Park IV. Winston's other projects included "Edward Scissorhands", "Big Fish", and "Batman Returns". Personally, my favorite Winston work would be his animatronics in "AI: Artificial Intelligence". Winston had the power not only to create robots who destroyed the world, but also ones who were able to wrench your heart out and make you dive for the tissue box.

Bo Diddley, age 79

Passed away June 2nd of heart failure

Even if you've never heard a Bo Diddley melody, you've most certainly seen one of the guitars he popularized. "The Twang Machine", a rectangular Gretsch, was as unique and groovy as his  songs. He was a unifier; bringing together street musicianship and professional performance, folk songs and popular beats, and most notably, blues and rock and roll. His self-titled song, "Bo Diddley" has been played at more swing dancing lessons and rockabilly parties than I care to recall, and perfectly exemplifies his hard-edged style that makes even the most dedicated wall-flowers jump, or rather, boogie, onto the dance floor. "The Bo Diddley Beat" has been adapted by artists ranging from U2 to Bruce Springsteen. Diddley, while no longer able to craft new tunes, gave the music community an integration of styles that will keep on bopping for many years to come.

Tim Russert, age 58

Passed away June 13th of a heart attack

Journalists and their profession have been gaining more and more notoriety as the pace of the world at large and the skepticism of society have surged upward. There are very few contemporary reporters who have the trust of the people the way, for instance, Murrow possessed the nation's attention many years ago- Tim Russert was one of them. He was THE one. There is no need to remind you of this man's accomplishments- there have been various "In Memory" features presented over the past two days from those who had personal experience with him. It's clear from every person who has spoken on his behalf that he touched many, many lives. Broadcast journalists are rare to shed a tear- indeed I remember when watching the 9/11 reports my surprise that they were able to remain so stoic in a time of such emotion. So, when Andrea Mitchell welled up on the air when recalled Russert, (she was one of many) it's only painfully clear that this man's smile and passion weren't reserved for the camera, but for all who he encountered on his path. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHhDEGk8Sxa