R. I. P. Thread

[Uncle-A]

I think we need one place to recognize people that have passed. So let's try to use this thread for all post of this type.

 

[Uncle-A]

I will start with sharing that folk singer Gordon Lightfoot has passed last night. He was one of my favorite folk singer and song writer.

 

[surfsnowgirl]

Mine too. He will be missed.

 

[Jim Kenney]

I think we need one place to recognize people that have passed. So let's try to use this thread for all post of this type.

Fine idea for a thread! You probably were looking for discussion on deaths of celebs, such as the brilliant Gordon Lightfoot, but here's a twist.

I have a confession to make. I read obits quite often, for notables and less known folks. I recently stumbled onto one of the most amazing little obits I have ever seen for a non-celebrity. I pasted it below. This man lived to age 89, had a law degree, US Army vet, was married for 38 years, had 12 children, widower then became catholic priest at age 68, retired as pastor at 79, then worked with Native Americans in remote Arizona. Absolutely indefatigable individual!

Reverend George Albert Wilkinson, Jr, J.D., 89, of Avenue, MD passed away on April 16, 2023 at home.


He was born on September 9, 1933, in Washington, D.C. to the late George Albert Wilkinson, Sr. and Lillian (Hayden) Wilkinson in Washington, D.C. He was married to his high school sweetheart, Mary Anne Reilly, for 38 years until her death in 1996.


He is survived by his children: Anne Rajagopalan (Shrin) of Raleigh, NC, Mary Regina “Jean” Wilkinson (Keith) of Warrenton, VA, Thomas Wilkinson (Jennifer) of Avenue, MD, Kathleen Carmody (Brennan) of Glen Allen, VA, Rose Crunkleton (Joe) of Owings, MD, Bernadette Wilkinson of Tucson, AZ, George Wilkinson III (Jen) of Bellingham, WA, James Wilkinson II (Nipa) of Berwyn Heights, MD, Rebecca Wilkinson (Joy) of Oceanside, CA, John Wilkinson (Violet) of Colonial Beach, VA, Daniel Wilkinson of Temple Hills, MD, and Megan Wilkinson of San Francisco, CA; sisters, Joan Craft (Gary) of Bradenton, FL and Susan Burgoyne (Jerry) of Prescott, AZ; sister-in-law, Maureen Owens of Henderson, NV, 29 grandchildren, and two great grandchildren and another on the way. In addition to his parents and his wife, Mary Anne, he was preceded in death by his sister, Eleanor “Louise” Keegan.


Father Wilkinson was an attorney for 35 years with a small general law practice in Hyattsville, Maryland. Even while running a small business and supporting his ever-growing family, he made the time to serve as President of elementary and middle school PTA’s and was an active member of the College Park Rotary Club for many years.


His early years were split between his family home in the Brookland neighborhood of Washington DC, and the family’s historic country property, AKA “Down the Country” near Avenue, MD, on the banks of his beloved St. Clement’s Bay, where he ultimately passed into everlasting glory.


His attended high school at St. John’s College High School in Northwest DC, when he first met young Mary Anne Reilly at a Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) Sadie Hawkins Dance. He was smitten, and they agreed to set aside their individual plans to become a priest and nun, respectively, to join in holy matrimony and start a family. They wed in 1957.


His undergraduate years were spent at Georgetown University, for which his 12 UM Terrapin children forgive him. From 1957-1959 he served as an officer in the US Army at Ft. Devens, Massachusetts. Later he attended Catholic University Law School, entering the DC and Maryland Bar in 1964.


A devout Catholic, following Mary Anne’s death in 1996 he again felt called to the priesthood. Fr. Wilkinson was ordained to the Permanent Diaconate on May 20, 2000. After seminary studies at Pope John XXIII Seminary in Weston, Massachusetts, he was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Washington in Saint Matthew’s Cathedral on June 9, 2001. As an ordination gift, his children presented him with a chalice, with his and his wife’s wedding bands affixed.


Father Wilkinson was first assigned to Saint Andrew the Apostle Parish in Silver Spring, Maryland; then in 2003 as Parochial Vicar to Sacred Heart Parish in La Plata, Maryland. In 2005, he was appointed Parochial Administrator of Holy Redeemer Parish in College Park, Maryland and as Pastor in 2006. Upon his retirement from the priesthood on July 6, 2012, he moved west to assist in parishes in Globe, San Carlos and Yuma, Arizona to minister to Native Americans, an area of lifelong passion for him and his wife. He then traveled extensively to take advantage of free lodging among the diaspora of his family, and eventually settled in St. Mary’s County, returning Down the Country for good. The final mass he attended was the Mass of the Resurrection on Easter Sunday. He was called home by the Lord on the Sunday of Divine Mercy.


Fun Fact: Fr. Wilkinson had received last rites as a teenager during a serous bout with Typhoid. Therefore, by the time he was 68, he had received all seven Holy Sacraments!


The family will receive friends on Friday, April 21, 2023 for a viewing from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 3:00 p.m., at Holy Redeemer Church, 4902 Berwyn Road, College Park, MD 20740. There will be a Vigil Mass to follow at 7:30 p.m. A second viewing will be held on Saturday, April 22, 2023 from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m., at Holy Redeemer Church. Interment will be held at 3:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart Cemetery, 23080 Maddox Road, Bushwood, MD 20618.


The family asks you please consider memorial contributions to:


St. Joseph’s Indian School, P.O. Box 100, Chamberlain, SD 57325 or online at:


https://give.stjo.org/site/Donation2?df_id=6740&6740.donation=form1&autologin=true&s_src=tnd


Holy Angels Church, 21340 Colton Point Road, Avenue, MD 20609, or online at:


https://membership.faithdirect.net/MD788


Holy Redeemer Church and School, 4902 Berwyn Road, College Park, MD 20740, or online at:


https://membership.faithdirect.net/MD504


Condolences to the family may be made at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com.


Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A.

 

[Jim Kenney]

RIP, Vida Blue. His first few years in the bigs were dynamite!
BTW, if you're interested in some nicely done obits on MLB players this is a great website, includes legends. Also includes the not-so-famous, but sometimes fascinating individuals: https://ripbaseball.com/

 

[Tricia]

As a Michigander, this one hit home for me.

 

[Jim Kenney]

We lost the great NFL running back Jim Brown. I was just barely starting to follow the NFL when he was in his prime. Check his stats. He absolutely destroyed the league for his entire nine year career. People where shocked when he retired at the peak of his game at age 30. But for a bone crushing "gladiator" like him to live to age 87 kind of says it all about the wisdom of his early retirement!

 

[crgildart]

 

[skiJ]

We lost the great NFL running back Jim Brown. I was just barely starting to follow the NFL when he was in his prime. Check his stats. He absolutely destroyed the league for his entire nine year career. People where shocked when he retired at the peak of his game at age 30. But for a bone crushing "gladiator" like him to live to age 87 kind of says it all about the wisdom of his early retirement!
View attachment 203896

Jim Brown seemed timeless to me. If anyone might live forever, Jim Brown seemed like he might live forever.
A guy like me cannot imagine what Life was like for men like Jackie, Jim Brown, and Bill Russell... Ali, John Lewis - the list goes on.

Rest in peace, Jim Brown

With great Respect. tj

 

[Philpug]

I am partial to WANTED Richard Pryor.


NSFW

 

[Jim Kenney]

"I've seen a lot, and I've been through a lot, but whatever happens you have to keep your head up. A positive attitude in life means everything."

Above quote is from the doctor (and avid skier) who lived to age 109 and is nicely profiled in this piece from the WaPo

 

[Jilly]

Tina Turner at 83.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/24/entertainment/tina-turner-death/index.html

 

[Tricia]

Her last performance on tour at age 69

 

[Tex]

My mom took me to see her when I was kid in the 70's, she was a fire cracker...

 

[neonorchid]

 

[locknload]

My mom took me to see her when I was kid in the 70's, she was a fire cracker...

View attachment 204284

Legend. RIP.

 

[Tricia]

This has been highlighted today.
It's interesting to hear what people have to say about how Tina interacted with artists during her career.
She was admired by nearly everyone and was gracious and inspirational in moments like this.

Worth watching.

 

[Uncle-A]

Astrud Gilberto Brazilian Singer best know for the song "The Girl from Ipanema" passed away at age 83.

 

[James]

This has been highlighted today.
It's interesting to hear what people have to say about how Tina interacted with artists during her career.
She was admired by nearly everyone and was gracious and inspirational in moments like this.

Worth watching.

Came across this-

That’s husband Erwin Bach. Supposed to be 1986. She moved to Switzerland in 1995 and became a Swiss Citizen in 2013.

Lindsey Vonn Left Devastated as She Mourns the Saddening Loss of Tina Turner With a 2-Word Emotional Message

Lindsey Vonn shares a heartfelt message after the death of a popular music icon who was ranked as one of the Greatest Singers of All Time.

www.essentiallysports.com

 

[Jim Kenney]

Giving thanks for pianist George Winston who died earlier this week. If you're not familiar with his music, well I'll just say, in the early, scary days of the pandemic I listened to it a lot late at night. It's not particularly sophisticated, but quite soothing.