Jamie Skeeters Passed Away Today … Rest in Peace Jamie

Scared Monkeys lost a friend today when we learned that Jamie Skeeters passed away. This came as quite the shock this evening upon learning the news. You will be missed Jaime, Rest in Peace. Prayers for you and your family from all of us at Scared Monkeys.

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

It is with great sadness that I inform you that our friend Jamie Skeeters passed away today. He was in his seat on a connecting flight in Memphis, TN, at the time. His lovely wife Kay asked me to pass this message on to you.

Please keep her and their family in prayer.

Bob Heard, CAPE Secretary

On a personal note. I have spoke to Jamie on numerous occasions, much of what was discussed was background information, sensitive and not to be repeated. Our conversations would go on for hours discussing the Natalee Holloway case and so much more. A simple 10 minute telephone call had a habit of turning into hours. But that is how Jaime was to deal with, easy to talk to and a wealth of knowledge. Jamie Skeeters’ professionalism was always apparent. I thank Jamie for the trust and respect he had in Scared Monkeys and myself to confide in me and ask my opinion on many matters. I will miss our talks Jamie, I already do.

You will be truly missed, God bless and rest in eternal peace.

Red

Secret Santa, Larry Stewart, Dies at 58 from Cancer

Larry Stewart, the man that the world came to know as the “Secret Santa” has passed away at the age of 58 due to complication from cancer. For the past 26 years Larry Stewart remained the anonymous Secret Santa giving away over $1.3 million.

Larry Stewart came forward this past November and revealed that he was the Secret Santa after having been earlier diagnoses with cancer in April. Stewart wanted to provide a positive message to others even though he was dying.

He was diagnosed in April with cancer, and said he wanted to use his celebrity to inspire other people to take random kindness seriously.

“That’s what we’re here for,” Stewart said in a November interview, “to help other people out.” (AP via Yahoo News)

Even in death, Larry Stewart spread his positive message of helping others, doing the right thing and paying it forward. This is a message that all of us should learn from. As Larry Stewart stated after he went public as the “Secret Santa”, he was overwhelmed with the out pouring of emotion and caring he received. However, this was never supposed to be about Larry Stewart, it is about helping others. Larry Stewart … Secret Santa  … Rest in Peace.

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Lily Munster, Yvonne De Carlo, Dies at the Age of 84 … Rest in Peace

Yvonne De Carlo, better known for her role as Lily Munster has died. TV wife to Herman Munster ( Fred Gwynne) who lived at 1313 Mockingbird Lane died at the age of 84 of natural causes. A sad day as this was one of my favorite TV shows. Its hard to believe the Munsters only ran from 1964–1966.

The Canadian-born De Carlo began her career with a parade of bit parts in films of the early 1940s, then emerged as a star in 1945 with “Salome — Where She Danced,” a routine movie about a dancer from Vienna who becomes a spy in the wild West.

The series lasted only two years, but it had a long life in syndication and resulted in two feature movies, “Munster Go Home!” (1966) and “The Munsters’ Revenge.” (1981, for TV). 
 
“I think she will best remembered as the definitive Lily Munster. She was the vampire mom to millions of baby boomers. In that sense, she’s iconic,” Burns said Wednesday. 
 
“But it would be a shame if that’s the only way she is remembered. She was also one of the biggest beauty queens of the 40s and 50s, one of the most beautiful women in the world. This was one of the great glamour queens of Hollywood, one of the last ones.” (Boston Herald)

Of all the roles that Yvonne De Carlo had in her career I completely forgot that she played Moses’ wife in “The Ten Commandments”. Rest in Peace.

Mario Danelo, USC Place Kicker Found Deceased at Bottom of Cliff

Mario Danelo, the son of former NY Giant kicker Joe Danelo, was found deceased at the bottom of a 120 foot cliff in San Pedro, CA. Mario Danelo was the junior place kicker for the University of Southern California Trojans. What a tragic shame and a life cut way too short as he most likely had a professional career ahead of him. So very sad, may he rest in peace.

“It was fairly apparent that this was either an accident or suicide,” said Lt. Paul Vernon.

Danelo’s brother said Sunday that “it was an unfortunate accident.”

“He was a good kid,” Joey Danelo said during a phone interview with The Associated Press. “There was not a person I know that didn’t like him.”

Investigators were examining evidence recovered after Danelo’s body was found Saturday afternoon near Point Fermin lighthouse in the city’s San Pedro section.

While police have not completely ruled out foul play, Vernon said “there didn’t appear to be a crime involved.” An autopsy could be performed as early as Monday, coroner’s officials said.

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2006 List of those who passed Away … We Say Good bye and Rest in Peace

As we say good bye to 2006 this evening and enter into a new year; we also say good bye to so many that passed away this past year. Many that I look back on that I had not even realized that they had passed. Take a look at the full list here.

Let us first say that we give respect and say a special prayer to those that have died in our armed forced. It is too bad that the media refers to them as numbers instead of individuals and names. We also say a prayer for those in the police, fire and rescue who have died in 2006. These people put their lives on the line so that we may have the freedoms, protection and safety that we experience every day. We also say a special prayer for their families and loved ones that they leave behind. God Bless.

We also say a prayer for all those missing persons and families we covered in 2006 who’s loved ones were found deceased. A special prayer also goes out to those families who still have not been provided answers. God be with you all.

Please add any one else you wish including those who have passed this year who have touched your lives, whether they be family, friends or those on this list.

Here are some of my personal favorites that have passed that will be missed.

• Wilson Pickett, 64. Fiery soul music pioneer (“Mustang Sally.”) Jan. 19. Wilson Pickett … just one of the greatest soul singers ever. It doesn’t get any better than ‘Mustang Sally’.

• Coretta Scott King, 78. Civil rights leader; carried on work of her martyred husband. Jan. 30
• Al Lewis, 82. Grandpa on “The Munsters.” Feb. 3. Who didn’t like Grandpa? Even following his political run was amusing when he ran for the Governor of NY in 1998 for the Green Party and actually got over 50,000 votes. He was laid to rest on 18 February 2006 in his favorite cigar box.

• Curt Gowdy, 86. Sportscaster; called 13 World Series and 16 All-Star games, first Super Bowl. Feb. 20. One of my favorite broadcasters of all time. There was nothing better than Curt Gowdy and Al DeRogatis covering an old AFC game and it heading into The Wonderful World of Disney on NBC. Curt also covered the infamous Heidi Game between the NY Jets and Oakland Raiders.

• Don Knotts, 81. Won five Emmys for playing bumbling Deputy Barney Fife on “The Andy Griffith Show.” Feb. 24. Was there anyone funnier? This man just put a smile on your face. No matter what the show, one just had to laugh.

• Darren McGavin, 83. Tough-talking actor; grouchy dad in “A Christmas Story.” Feb. 25. One of my favorite actors of all times. Most know him as Ralphie’s dad from a Christmas Story; however, Darren Mc Gavin will always be known as Kolchak from “The Night Stalker”. One of the best mystery shows ever made.

• Dana Reeves, widow of actor Christopher Reeves, passed away at age 44 after losing the battle with lung cancer.
• Kirby Puckett, 45. Baseball Hall of Famer; carried Minnesota Twins to two World Series titles. March 6. Stroke.
• Buck Owens, 76. Flashy rhinestone cowboy who shaped country music (“Act Naturally.”) March 25.  Who didn’t watch Hee-Haw?
• Red Buttons, 87. Actor-comedian; won Oscar with a dramatic turn in “Sayonara.” July 13. One of the funniest men ever and the last of a dying breed. Red’s BIO.

• Buck O’Neil, 94. Negro Leagues batting ace; star of PBS’ “Baseball.” Oct. 6. One of the greatest players of the Negro Leagues. Shame on the Baseball Hall of Fame to never honor this man by inducting Buck O’Neil while he was alive. Buck O’Neil never made it into baseball’s Hall of Fame. He missed it by one vote just this year. A star of the Negro leagues, first as a player and then a manager, he became the first black coach in the major leagues.
• Red Auerbach, 89. Basketball Hall of Famer; guided Boston Celtics to 16 championships. Oct. 28. The greatest professional basketball coach of all times. Known for his trademark victory cigar, Red did more for professional basketball than anyone ever. It would be a shame if the Championship trophy is not renamed after him.

• Ed Bradley, 65. TV journalist who created a powerful body of work on “60 Minutes.” Nov. 9.
• Jack Palance, 87. Hollywood heavy (“Shane“) who turned to comedy, winning Oscar for “City Slickers.” Nov. 10. Jack Palance was a pip. From his Oscar performing push ups to his no nonsense, fun loving characters.

• Bo Schembechler, 77. One of college football’s great coaches, compiling 194-48-5 record at Michigan. Nov. 17. Not only one of the greatest college football coaches of all times, but one of the finest men to walk the sidelines. Bo conducted his programs the way all colleges should.

• Peter Boyle, 71. The curmudgeonly father on “Everybody Loves Raymond.” Dec. 12. Peter Boyle was one of my favorite and funniest actors of all time. Better known for his unforgettable role as Frankenstein in ‘Young Frankenstein’. He will be missed.

• Lamar Hunt, 74. Owner of football’s Kansas City Chiefs; coined term “Super Bowl.” Dec. 13. One of the original founders of the AFL and influential owners of the AFL/NFL merger. One of the true pioneers of the NFL.  
• Joe Barbera, half of the Hanna-Barbera animation team that produced such beloved cartoon characters as Tom and Jerry, Yogi Bear and the Flintstones, died at the age of 95.Yogi and Boo Boo Bear, enough said. Joe Barbera was one of the most brilliant cartoonists ever. The team of Hanna-Barbera will never be matched. There successes included: “Tom & Jerry”, ”The Flintstones,” “The Jetsons,” “Yogi Bear,” “Scooby-Doo” and “Huckleberry Hound and Friends.” Hanna previously died in 2001, marking the end of the greatest duo of cartoonists we shall ever see.