The LuLac Edoition #2315, December 31st, 2012

Photo: (libreto.com) 

JUST ONE MORE THING….. 

As the hours slip away, here are a few items we didn’t get to in our Year End Review. By including them so late, please do not minimize their significance. We’re about 3 hours and 45 minutes before 2013 so let’s start NOW. 

LOCAL LOSSES 

2012 saw the loss of former Judge and State Senator Charles Lemmond who passed away in the spring, former Wilkes Barre City Controller Mercedes Leighton, former Wilkes Barre City Councilman Eric Redick, West Pittston politicos Gary Del Sera and Sam Agolino and former principle in Sordoni Industries, George Sordoni. Also, there was the death of wrestling legends Francis Yogi Michael. They were all quality people and will be missed.

GETTING PICKED OVER 

2012 saw appearances by two local businesses on “American Pickers”. Host Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz paid a visit to Kunkle Motors in well, Kunkle, thus the name.. When I first Mrs. LuLac, she drove a Saab and Danny Meeker serviced it for her. The duo stopped by and bought stuff from Danny’s grandson. Later in the year, they visited my good friend Leo D'Angelo Sr. at his store, La Salle The Image Makers. I bought many a suit from Leo through the years (including my purple double breasted number) and was glad to see the American Pickers guys spar with Leo and his son. It was a great show but why does Leo still have more hair than I do???? 

MEDIA MOVES 

Rusty Fender’s long reign as Traffic Whiz ended at Entercom Communications in early November. His alter ego, Shadoe Steele also was let go leaving oldies lovers who loved Steele’s interviews wanting. Steele will reemerge in January at a Hazleton Area station in early January….Sportscasters made a move out of the area. WYLN’s Kenny Carra relocated to the Central Pennsylvania area and WBRE TV’s Colin Riccobon moved on. Colin did a terrific job covering the Olympics in conjunction with NBC’s coverage……Kyla Campbell from the WBRE Morning Show moved her considerable talents to the Washington, D.C. area…..the big buzz about “The Talker” was the David Madiera program. The Talker replaced Don Imus with the good doctor. Imus was tried three times and cancelled three times in this market. First he was on Bob Cordaro’s Sports Station in the 90s, replaced Terry McNulty on WARM in the late 90s and then re-emerged on The Talker. The “I Man” just doesn’t wear well in this area………meanwhile Joe Peters is doing well as a political commentator on WNEP TV as well as his Saturday Morning duties on The Talker. My good friend Brian Hughes continues to hit it out of the park every week with his Sunday Magazine Show on the Cumulus Stations……and finally kudos to WILK’s Nancy Kman for all the abuse she took from callers to the Morning program who were convinced President Obama was the devil and that Mitt Romney would be our 45th President. Nancy took the slings and arrows but should remember that just when you think there are more of them than us………….there aren’t. The election results told us that in great detail.

Our 1967 logo.

The Buckinghams. (Photo Wikipedia) 

BAND OF THE YEAR-'67 

If someone asked who what band was the most popular in terms of charted records for the year 1967, you’d most likely answer either The Beatles or The Rolling Stones. But you would be wrong. The year 1967 was a banner year for the Buckinghams. The group had 6 chart hits in 1967. They were: King of A Drag Don’t You care Lawdy Lawdy Miss Clawdy Mercy Mercy Mercy Hey Baby. To have 5 hits in one calendar year is nothing short of amazing. That’s like a hit every six weeks and everyone except “Lawdy Lawdy Miss Clawdy” was in the top ten.

The LuLac Edition #2314, December 31st, 2012

The Year In Review. (Photo WRTF, News 7). 

THE YEAR IN REVIEW 

TOP NEWS STORIES OF 2012 

 We continue with our tradition of counting down the top news stories of the year. Blessed that we survived another 365, in this case 366, we give you in countdown method the top ten stories LuLac wrote about locally, statewide and nationally. And as Casey Kasem used to say, "Let's get to the countdown". 

 LOCAL TOP LOCAL STORIES OF 2012 

10. ELECTION OFFICE GO ROUND……..Long time and extremely competent Elections Bureau Manager Len Piazza was fired by County Manager Bob Lawton. Piazza got into a dispute with newly elected Controller Walter Griffith. Griffith wanted Piazza to sign in with the new Kronos time cards, Piazza said no. Piazza then launched an investigation into Griffith’s campaign fundraising reports (which with all due respect to Walter can most likely fit the back of an envelope) and Griffith became predictably outraged. The Controller then met with Lawton. Piazza thought the Election Board could save him since he claimed he worked for them. Lawton fired him, Piazza got a lawyer and that dispute is still up in the air. The County Council called on former voter head Tom Pisano to replace Piazza. Pisano said yes but then a week before the election, without telling anyone, “retired” In came Wyoming County Part time Voting Director Marisa Crispell-Barber. Piazza reapplied for his old job, but the nod went to Crispell-Barber. Despite the new Voter ID law which was challenged, no big issues emerged in this election. We think Crispell-Barber is using the time clock. 
9. BASEBALL IN NEPA........The followers of the Scranton Wilkes barre Yankees had no place to go this year to watch their team. The County Commissioners got money to get the Stadium renovated. The new management vowed to make the new Stadium and team more fan friendly. They held a contest to pick a new name for the AAA franchise, the winner was Railriders. New uniforms were unveiled and fans got to sign a beam that will be in the outfield. Can’t wait for someone to say, “Play Ball!” 
8. CORDARO AND MUNCHAK OFF TO JAIL.......They didn’t expect to win that election in 2003. Certainly they didn’t expect to be heading off to jail for their behavior in that first term. But they did. Munchak went South to a jail that had medical facilities for his health. Cordaro was first housed in New York State but was then moved when he knew the prison guards in the joint. My sources tell me Munchak has dropped some weight and is looking better and that Paul Sorvino, the actor has yet to pay a visit to his old benefactor. But hey, you never know. 
7. CRIME OF ALL TYPES........Four hit and runs in Luzerne county, the latest being a 5 year old boy, a bloodbath in Plymouth from two shirtless brothers who started a crime spree the day before, mobile meth labs every couple of blocks, a slashing in a Nanticoke bar, a shooting a week at Sherman Hills, a young man who gets shot by his friend but has the friend’s mom allegedly covering it up for him, the same kid goes on TV the night of the shooting saying his friend was with angels but neglected to say he put him there, and what’s his face (a name I will not mention because I know he loves the attention) gets another delay in his trial so that his lawyer (who he will most likely try to seduce) can read over his case. Dick Wolf from “Law and Order”, if you ever run out of ideas, here we are! 
6. MELLOW PLEAS AND GETS 18 MONTHS.....Former State Senate power Bob Mellow plead guilty and got 18 months for mail fraud as well as using employees for political purposes. One of the most powerful Senators in the State, Mellow will go to prison in January. 
5. HOTEL STERLING........Mayor Tom Leighton put a roadblock up in 2012 because the Sterling was in danger of falling down. Even the winds of Hurricane Sandy didn’t touch it. A wrecking ball will but the County has to figure out the funding with the City. The Feds want their 6 million bucks back, CityVest still wonders why everyone is mad at them and the date with destiny has yet to be revealed. One thing is for sure. When the wrecking ball does come down, Lady Sterling will not fall down easily. 
4. MUSTO TRIAL DELAYED......Former Senator Ray Musto has had his corruption trial delayed more times than any other lawmaker. The reason? His health. While Musto is ill, it didn’t help that he was out at the Casino on a Friday night for dinner. He’s a free American and can go where he wants but this was not a good strategic move on the part of his legal team. Musto’s lawyers are appealing Judge Richard Caputo’s order that the trial start quickly. 
3. CONGRESSIONAL MUSICAL CHAIRS......So the reapportionment committees waited until the last minute and all of a sudden, Lou Barletta was no longer LuLac land’s Congressman. Lou got himself a new district which went from Hazleton to Northumberland County, to Sunbury and all the way to Dauphin County. Bill Vinsko thought he could beat Barletta in the fall but was stopped by Harrisburg activist Gene Stilp in the primary. Barletta beat Stilp in the General. The 11th Congressional District did not include Wilkes Barre. 
Tom Marino’s new district went from The Delaware Forest in the Poconos, to Tunkhannock, Bradford County, parts of Luzerne, and most all of Lycoming and Union Counties. The 10th District did not contain Scranton. So what do you do when a district the 11th loses its Congressman? You give him one from Pottsville! And what do you do when a district like the 10th loses its Congressman? You give him one from Pottsville. Dan Flood, Paul Kanjorski and a few others represented the 11th for 68 years. Bill Scranton Senior, Joe McDade, Don Sherwood and Chris Carney represented the 10th for 54 years. That’s a lot of time to have your own Congressman. 
That’s what Tim Holden was up against when he ran for another term, this time in the newly created 17th. The GOP thought they were doing him a favor but they weren’t counting on a challenge from a well funded, articulate, Scranton area Attorney who just happened to be on TV every night for four years doing a segment called “The Law and You”. Cartwright ran a good campaign with quirky ads. But even if his flawless campaign had a few missteps (which it didn’t) he would have won. Lu (Wilkes Barre-Luzerne County), Lac (Scranton-Lackawanna County) were used to having a Congressman and no one was going to give them one from out of town no matter how much seniority he had. Cartwright won the primary and then beat Laureen Cummings in the General. 
2. HOME RULE STARTS UP......A few history items here. Jim Bobeck of Kingston was the first Luzerne County Council Chair. Tom Pribula was the first interim Manager while Bob Lawton from California became the first permanent chief. The new democracy is a bit messy and the meetings are very long. The County is still trying to get out of debt and the Council mirrors the national Congress. Some think taxes should be raised, others say no. There have been curious hirings like not rehiring the Clerk who handled all of the business in the first year prior to Home Rule. Former County Commissioner Edd Brominski has proven to be a watch dog and things seem to be evening out. But it will take a long while to solve these issues and one year is not an indicator of things to come. As it enters into year two, the County Council remains a work in progress. 
1. LOCAL TAXES GO UP.........Tax hikes in Scranton of about 27%, Wilkes Barre 26%, Hazleton 83%, and places like West Pittston and Exeter with budget challenges. Paul Kanjorski once said that when local governments don’t get money from the state or feds, the only place to get the revenue is from the own local citizens. This is the real “fiscal cliff” when local residents really find out how much government costs. A woman I used to work with once said she only voted in Presidential elections because the local ones really didn’t matter. I wonder if she say that after she gets her tax bill in 2013. 

TOP TEN PENNSYLVANIA STORIES 

10. STEELERS/EAGLES….. Both NFL teams, the Eagles and the Steelers are beyond the playoffs this year. The Eagles finished with only four wins while the Steelers limped through the second half of the season. The difference is one coach will be fired and it won’t be Mike Tomlin. 
9. CASEY AGAIN……………Scranton native Bob Casey won re-election to the Senate after a spirited battle from millionaire coalman Tom Smith. Smith poured 17 million dollars of his own coin into the race but Casey prevailed with his middle of the road approach to representing Pennsylvania. 
8. THE SANDUSKY TRIAL……..In June the national media converged on Pennsylvania to the little courthouse in  Bellefonte  Sandusky was convicted and just like that the media left. On to the next story. 
7. JOE GOES, BILL WINS……..It was a Sunday morning when the statue of Joe Paterno was removed from outside Beaver Stadium. For many Penn State fans, it was like JoPa died all over again. But as summer turned into fall, and after two clumsy wins, Penn State began to win with the Belechick bred Bill O’Brien. And all of a sudden, no one was railing about the statue, talking about Sandusky or even the fact Penn State wouldn’t be in a bowl game. Winning might not cure all but it’s a good start. 
6. PENN STATE IN THE DOCK……Former Penn State president Graham Spanier was indicted by a grand jury along with Vice resident and Athletic Director Tim Curley. Spanier was indicted on eight counts of perjury, obstruction and endangering welfare of children. Additional charges of felony obstruction, conspiracy and endangerment were also filed against both Curley and Schultz, who are still awaiting trial on perjury and failure to report a crime. Curley was indicted for perjury and child endangerment in connection with the case. 
5. SHOW ME YOUR PAPERS…….The Republican controlled Legislature voted in a Photo ID law trying to circumvent the electoral process. The law mandated that everyone who went to the polls had to show a photo ID. People representing minority and the elderly fought back And there was a court decision which said that photo ID would not be required for the 2012 Presidential race. The law still remains but there is a Constitutional challenge pending. 
4. NOT A BATTLE GROUND STATE……..The lop sided lead enjoyed by President Obama in the Keystone State kept the TV coffers bare this election cycle. We were not dubbed a swing state until the last ten days when Mitt Romney poured some millions into the state. To the political junkies, we missed out on the political celebs converging on the state. To the rest of the population not so interested, this year was a restful break. 
 3. ARLEN SPECTER PASSES AWAY………A man who served Pennsylvania as the longest serving Senator in Washington died in the fall. Arleen Specter succumbed to still another battle with cancer. Specter’s legacy to the Commonwealth was summed up by one Ed Rendell who said “Other than Benjamin Franklin, no one contributed more to Pennsylvania than Arlen Specter”. Amen to that. 
2. OFF YOU GO BOYS……..Men who were leaders of the House in Harrisburg just a few years ago are now off to jail or already there. House Speaker John Persel and Bill DeWeese are in the same prison. Former 22nd District Senator Bob Mellow was sentenced in November and the 14th former Senator Ray Musto has yet to face trial. Meanwhile the Orie sisters have been active in this realm too. Former Senator Janie Orie is in jail after her conviction on using paid staff to do political work. Her sister Joan Orie Melvin is awaiting trial on similar charges. 
 1. A TWOFER WINS AG RACE……Kathleen Kane made history not once but twice. Kane became the first Democrat elected to the office of Attorney General since it was designated an elected office in 1980. And she also became the first female elected Attorney General in the State history. The first thing she’ll need to do is sweep the 32 year old GOP cobwebs out of the office. Then look for her to be a thorn in Tom Corbett’s side in the next two years. How this relationship evolves might be the top story of 2013. 

TOP TEN NATIONAL STORIES 

10. THE CLINTON COMEBACKS……Just four years ago the political power couple of the 90s were vanquished and defeated by the new kid on the block Barack Obama. Surely Bill and Hillary Clinton would be relegated to the sidelines by this new era. But a month into the new reign, Hillary was tapped as Secretary of State. Through the next few years she showed her diplomatic and social skills as one of the most traveled State Secretaries in years. Then in 2012, Bill Clinton was called upon to articulate the Obama vision (something the President seemed hard pressed to do at times) and was spectacular at it. The resurgence of both Clintons is one of the top political stories of this year. 
9. JOHN ROBERTS SAYS YEA……..One of the biggest surprise moves of the year was Supreme Court Justice John Roberts’ yes vote on the Affordable Health Care Act. The right wing was in shock while the left wasn’t far behind them. The decision made Obama care the sanctioned law of the land. There was speculation that Roberts might have faced a mini revolt when the Court returned in October but that did happen. 
8. GAY MARRIAGE………With more states ratifying gay marriage, more ceremonies being allowed in those states, as well as a greater acceptance of the issue, this was a news story when there was opposition to it. That is a reverse from when news was made when a gay couple got married. In another generation, this story will not even be a blip on the news line radar screen in the future. 
7. OBAMA CARE………..More news came out about the effects of the Affordable Health Care Act. It was news when a state Governor said a health exchange would or would not be set up. The Republicans still railed about how it was an infringement on freedoms but the big news was the way the act would be paid for and regulated. That story will continue in 2013. 
6. THE FISCAL CLIFF……..Once more the White House and the House of Representatives face off in an awful game of chicken regarding taxes on the rich. House Speaker Boehner is now out of the equation because he can’t do two things that is fundamental to a leadership role in Washington, count and compromise. Sadly this story will bleed into 2013. 
5. BENGHAZI………..Take a volatile country with terrorists, an Ambassador that is known for his accessibility, a breakdown in security for the aforementioned and you have a recipe for disaster. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three others were killed because there was a monumental failure of our information and security detail in the Mideast. The tragedy of this was it was preventable or as preventable as something like this could be in the Mideast. 
4. THE SANDUSKY CONVICTION………Jerry Sandusky was convicted after a two week trial in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania from testimony of his sexual abuse victims. He got what amounted to a life sentence and will die in prison. What will not die is the floodgates of this story. Sandusky’s victims continue to embolden others to tell their stories. That might be the best legacy of this awful case. 
3. HURRICANE SANDY………Weather is always big news but when a huge hurricane dumps rain, wind and gale force winds on the east, it is a big deal. The devastation was horrible and as we move into the darkness of winter, the folks affected by this are still trying to put their lives back together. 
2. ELECTION 2012…………..This was like the story that everyone agreed should have a quick ending but just went on and on. In the end, a President with an unemployment higher than anyone in history except FDR, who still had his origin of birth challenged by some people, who faced a devastating attack from the most vicious right wing groups won a second term by a majority. Like Bill Clinton before him, President Obama was blessed rather than cursed by his enemies. The Republican party now has to make a fundamental decision, are they the party of Reagan or Limbaugh and Fox News? In the meantime, the Obama’s and most of America thanks you all. 
 1. MASS SHOOTINGS………..How can the murder of 20 innocent children not be the top story of the year? There’s a lot of components to this story but a few things are clear. Assault style weapons should not be in the hands of citizens only authorized personnel. Better mental health training should be made available to all. And there has to be a curb on these insidious, mind numbing, non intellectual, silly Xbox games that create violent introverts with no life beyond their bedroom door. Until an attempt at any one of these are fixed, you’ll see more stories like this in the future.

The LuLac Edition #2313, December 30th, 2012

WOMEN WE LOVE 2012 

As the year winds down, we continue with our year end features. “Women We Love” is something we ripped off from Esquire Magazine a few years back. Each year we get nominees for outstanding women locally, statewide and nationally. Interestingly enough, no statewide women made the cut this year although Kathleen Kane came close. Our criteria is simple, quality of work, recognition of community activities, challenging positions that give them a profile both good or bad as well as “buzz” about the type of year they are having and how it impacts on themselves as well as the community. Here are the LuLac 2012 “Women We Love”.

Karel Zubris. (Photo by David Yonki) 

KAREL ZUBRIS 

I knew Karel Zubris longer than I realized. I had heard about her for years and witnessed her work in the media. But when I found out her maiden name just last fall, I realized I knew her family. One of the hallmarks of Karel is the fact that she is the most dependable, self less person that is involved in this community. Plus she is known to take a hit. During the 2011 Ciavarella trial in Scranton, Zubris was among the media throng following the former Judge down the street when she got conked on the noggin by a TV station’s camera. Undaunted, she kept on trucking to get her media sound for WILK. 
A communications professional for over a decade, Zubris worked at various media outlets including WILK News Radio and volunteering with one of many non-profit organizations getting  the word out as their media liaison. In addition she also have been working as a Program Assistant with The Arc of Luzerne County. Karel works with a program called TRACE. *TRACE is a unique two-year workforce development pilot program developed by The Arc of Luzerne County, designed to assist individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism prepare to successfully enter the workforce ! 
The type of work she does is indicative of her giving spirit. Just take a look at this community involvement.
She received the 2010 Outstanding Broadcasting and Mass Technology Communications Technology Distinction Award. 
Featured in The Weekender’s WHO IS spotlight, May 2009 Women in Red Feature - Showcased in Happenings Magazine, February, 2011 for Outstanding Women in their community.
Volunteered with the Northeastern PA Veteran's Multi Care Alliance 2010 Wyoming Valley Veteran's Day Parade. Was the  PR Chair 2010-11-12 Armed Forces Day Parade Publicity Committee 2010-11-12 
The Clifton R. Lewis Good Life Foundation Publicity Chair 2012.
Featured in the July 2012 international publication of Skating Magazine on successful skating club public relation's tactics. 
Selected as an honoree for the 2013 Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame. 
A few words about the Veteran’s involvement and the Ice Skating. Those veteran’s events you see don’t just happen magically. It is Zubris (her father John is a World War II veteran) who reaches out to the media for publicity, helps organize fundraisers as well as coordinates with the military to pull these events off. Flawlessly. Then there’s the skating. I can’t tell you how many people have learned the dynamics of ice skating from Karel Zubris. Even WYLN TV’s L.A. Tarone. We hand out these little recognition of “Women We Love” during the holiday season, a traditional time of giving. Karel Zubris’ season of giving is not just during Christmas, it is year round.

Actress and hostess of Masterpiece on PBS Laura Linney. (Photo: LA Times).

 LAURA LINNEY 

I think Laura Linney is one of the most underrated actresses and beauties of our time. Her body of work is both intelligent and arrogant. Unlike the current crop of Hollywood stars, she has never embarrassed her brand. Her performances in “Lorenzo’s Oil”, “Dave” “Mystic River”, “The Truman Show” and “Kinsey” are wonderful. She has the type of look that travels well for an actress. Given that, her talent will ensure that she will always have work. Her current movie, “Hyde Park On Hudson” pairs her with Bill Murray. Linney plays FDR’s love interest and “friend” Daisy who is his distant cousin. The film is based on Daisy’s perceptions as the viewer sees the happenings of a momentous weekend on the Hudson through her eyes. Linney bloomed late as a star coming to prominence in her 30s. She is a hidden gem in 21st century American cinema. Let’s hope success doesn’t spoil her.

WYLN TV 35’s Beth Mensinger.  (Photo: Sue Henry)

BETH MENSINGER 

You learn a lot about a person when you sit in a trial for a couple of days with them. I met Beth Mensinger during the Ciavarella and Conahan trials and found her to be a young person wanting to know the answers to the curious questions presented by the political and criminal justice world. Beth’s work in those trials as well as her daily reports on WYLN’s Late Edition showed a grace and ease that belied her young age. Beth graduated from North Schuylkill High School in Schuylkill County in 2006 where she was a two-sport athlete.. basketball and softball. She studied and graduated with a B.A. in Communication Studies with a track in Broadcast Journalism from East Stroudsburg University, graduating in 2010. After the Ciavarella trial, she became a fixture at Wilkes Barre City Hall covering aspects of the Leighton administration, from the light (St. Patrick’s Day Parade preps) to the bruising election of 2011. Beth has an unbridled excitement for the news events she covered and in the blasé world of media that was refreshing. In 2011 Beth was presented with a new challenge that she dove right into. When WYLN’s Sports Director Kenny Karra went on to another job in the State College area, Mensingeer became the Sports Director at WYLN TV where she has performed incredible work covering the Penn State season, the Sandusky trial, high school football, the Phillies and Iron Pigs as well as other sports. You can see her every night on WYLN TV’s “Late Edition”. Beth is a life long resident of Zion Grove in Northern Schuylkill County.

Kathleen Sebelius, Health and Human Services Secretary. (Photo HHS website).

KATHLEEN SEBELIUS 

Since the Affordable Health Care Act passed and then was ratified by the Supreme Court as the law of the land, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has been busy preparing for the various rules to take place for the landmark legislation. However, in 2012 she violated the Hatch Act by making campaign speechs on behalf of President Obama. Called out by the press and the GOP., Sebelius’ actions were under scrutiny from the Federal Government. She was reprimanded and went back to work. In November, Sebelius, a former two term Democratic Governor from the red state of Kansas released this information: 
Stop insurers, starting in January, from charging more for insurance or refusing service to people who have pre-existing or chronic health conditions. Insurers may not charge seniors more than three times the amount they charge young people. Now, insurers in 42 states charge seniors five or more times the amount they charge young adults.
Allow insurers to charge smokers more, as well as adjust premiums based on family size and geography. 
Prohibit insurers from using claims history, health status, gender and occupation to increase premiums.
Require states to have 10 essential benefits, such as prescription drug coverage or hospital care, provided in the new health care exchanges -- websites set up so consumers can quickly and easily see what plans are available in their states. The benefits are meant to make it easier for consumers to see a comparison in prices and coverage. However, the new rules allow the states to determine how those benefits are set up. 
Allow employers to use wellness programs to promote health and try to control health care costs. Employers may reward people for annual exams or regular work outs, but they may not punish people who don't engage in those activities.
Propose implementing and expanding employment-based wellness programs to promote health and help control health care spending, while ensuring that individuals are protected from unfair underwriting practices that could otherwise reduce benefits based on health status. These rules will now give insurance companies, individuals and businesses plan for the full adoption of the Affordable Health Care Act.And those are just a few reasons why we love her!

Sabrina McLaughlin. (Face Book photo) 

 SABRINA McLAUGHLIN 

If any reader who follows politics is fearing the future of young people in politics, all they need do is look to the body of work by Sabrina McLaughlin. McLaughlin has been involved in Democratic politics for such a long time that many people are surprised she is such a veteran for her age. A little bit about her. She is a  native of Northeast PA, born in Hazleton, hometown is Conyngham, currently in Philadelphia. Attended Bloomsburg University and holds a B.A. and M.A. in English, creative writing, and literary studies from Wilkes University and SUNY Binghamton, respectively. was a composition instructor for several years, off and on, at Luzerne County Community College. Worked on field staff of President Obama’s first presidential campaign in 2008 and was assigned to organize Carbon County. Put Carbon (a swing rural county) in win column for the President in 2008. Worked to organize Tina Polachek Gartley’s general election campaign for Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas in 2009 – lots of retail politics! Ran for Democratic State Committee in 2010 primary (with the kind support of LuLac ). Missed gaining a seat by a nose (98 votes). Worked on staff of Pennsylvania Democratic Party in Harrisburg in 2010, getting a behind the scenes view of  State Party and HDCC operations, and expanding network by getting to work with some of the best county chairs and party activists statewide. Began 2011 cycle by organizing the beginning stages of another Court of Common Pleas candidate’s campaign (Lesa Gelb). Relocated to Philadelphia temporarily for the primary to work on fundraising for a City Council candidate. Returned to Philadelphia for 2012 election cycle, working as Finance Director for Brian Sims (D-Phila.) in his primary campaign for the 182nd state house district (raised $94K working with him). Made news with his primary victory as at that time he was the first openly gay legislator to be de facto elected to PA House. After primary went on to manage Will Sylianteng’s campaign for state house in suburban Philadelphia, a targeted state house race in Montgomery County. An enthusiastic cheerleader for Young Democrats of America organizations on the local, state, and national level (for the politically engaged, ages 18-36). Helped re-start the dormant Luzerne County chapter of Young Democrats with Mike Szustak in 2009, became a state chapter officer of Pennsylvania Young Democrats in 2010, currently still serving as National Committeewoman representing PA with national YDA organization. Serving as Vice Chair of the nationwide YDA Rural Caucus since 2011. Holds other appointed positions within national organization. “What’s Next”? Damned if she knows but I can tell you it will be exciting, enthusiastic and filled with quality moves that will make life for everyone better.

Mika Brzezinski  of MSNBC's "Morning Joe. (Photo: MSNBC.com)

MIKA BRZEZINSKI 

The daughter of former Security Council Head Zbignew Brzezinski made the list this year because of the people who have made veiled references to her lineage and politics. It is delightful to hear right wing nut cases like Rush Limbaugh (who some people think is the head of the national GOP) and Michael Savage regularly refer to her as the liberal daughter of a Communist. To insult her and the family she comes from is really comical when you see how much they’ve contributed policy wise to the country. If you’ve ever watched “Morning Joe”, Brzezinski is the island of sanity in a sea of political testosterone from various journalists, authors, political pundits and commentators. When the “boys”, Willie Giest, Mike Barnicle, Chuck Todd and host Joe Scarborough speak of sports the sarcastic eye rolling begins. But Brenzinski is a solid journalist that asks the tough questions but keep the show moving especially when we hear for the 500,000th that Joe Scarborough was indeed a Congressman. Brzezinski makes the morning program not only wildly entertaining but pretty classy.

Attorney Marion Munley Cartwright. (Photo Cartwright FaceBook page). 

MARION MUNLEY CARTWRIGHT 

To most of the public, she was first visible as the face of the law form Munley, Munley and Cartwright. For those in the legal community she was well known as a vigorous and competent attorney who represented her clients extremely well. But it was the 2012 17th Congressional District campaign that brought Munley-Cartwright to prominence with people in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Campaigning for her husband, Attorney Matt Cartwright in an uphill bid to win the Democratic nomination for the newly formed 17th Congressional District, Munley met thousands of people face to face on the campaign trail. Whether it was bantering with voters about the unique project of raising boys or talking about the attributes of the last town she visited, Munley-Cartwright attended the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte and reportedly wowed the delegations she visited. Munley-Cartwright studied legal issues at the Temple University Beasley School of Law. Of her campaigning skills, one local politico said, “We know she studied law at Temple, but where did she get her degree in political networking?” That’s information the Cartwright camp might want to keep classified.

WYLN TV's Ann Gownley.  (WYLN TV 35 Facebook page)

ANN GOWNLEY 

Another “Women We Love” designee is Ann Gownley from WYLN TV 35. Ann was was born and raised in Frackville, PA. I graduated from North Schuylkill Jr./Sr. High School in Fountain Springs near Ashland in 2006. She attended Misericordia University in Dallas, PA from 2006-2010 majoring in Communications. She was on the newspaper staff for "The Highlander", had a radio show on "Cougar Radio" and was Executive Producer, Anchor and a Reporter for "Cougar Cast", Misericordia's news magazine show. Gownley won a Telly Award for the work she did on a video Holiday Greeting from students and faculty that was sent to Alumni. In the Spring of 2009 she interned at WYLN TV 35 in Hazleton in the news department. After graduating from Misericordia University in the spring of 2010 she was hired by WYLN TV 35 in August 2010. For the past two and a half years have she’s been a reporter: shooting, editing and writing many of her own stories. In addition, Gownley became a kind of on the ground producer when there was team coverage of events that the Hazleton station covered. Last year, in December of 2011, she became the fill in anchor in December of 2011.Since then Gownley has stepped up to anchor the popular Late Edition program when Lisa Shugart takes some well deserved time off. Gownley has a pleasant anchor style that is friendly and informative. But it is her reporting in the field that shines. She gets the story assigned to her but is not afraid to delve deeper into the ramifications of it. Her reports on WYLN make their news coverage the most in depth in the area. Gownley asks all the questions you can imagine, then crystallizes the story into one neat package that gives the viewer the facts, nothing but the facts., Jack Webb would be proud.

U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice. (Photo, CNN.com)

 SUSAN RICE 

She was on the fast track to become the Secretary of State in the second Obama administration.  But then Benghazi happened on September 11th and Rice was put out on all the Sunday Morning Talk Shows trying to defend the indefensible. And that was the State Department screwed up by not providing enough security to an Ambassador that wanted to be among the people. Rice got the information from the sources she had and then was essentially found to be reading the lines given to her. It is significant that a rain of torrent fell on Rice, merely the messenger in this whole breakdown. President Obama took responsibility, Hillary Clinton has yet to address this issue fully. Rice was the good soldier and went out and gave the party line as was presented to her at the time. While Obama has sacked a few heads of security and no one knows the damage Clinton might have sustained in her future ambitions, one thing is clear about Rice’s role. Good soldiers always get the blame when something goes wrong and rarely get the credit when it comes up like roses. And Benghazi went wrong. Rice was the administration sacrificial lamb. Rice might have been too trusting and too loyal. You won’t see that again from Susan Rice and that’s a good thing.

WNEP TV’s Marissa Burke. (Photo WNEP TV.com)

MARISSA BURKE 

Marissa Burke has been a mainstay anchor on WNEP TV for years. She has gone from being mistaken for Nolan Johannes daughter in the 80s to a person seriously mentioned about running for public office. Through it all, Burke has been a steady presence on the screen reassuring WNEP viewers from the monumental to the mundane when it comes to news events. There is not one significant news event that Burke has not been a huge part of presenting. I personally salute her for being there every night as a steady, guiding force for information. Her on screen presence is an inspiration to younger broadcasters seeking her path. Whatever challenges have been presented to her off air have not deluded her effectiveness and credibility. She is a large reason why WNEP is still getting 60% of the market when it comes to news ratings.

Kate Upton. (Photo: People.com)

KATE UPTON 

Kate Upton was on the cover of Sports Illustrated this year in its Swimsuit issue, on the cover of GQ eating a red, white and blue Popsicle and was in “The Three Stooges” movie earlier this year. No wonder she is one of the women we love!

WILK’s Sue Henry. (Photo WILK web page)

SUE HENRY 

I am in total disagreement with Sue Henry politically. But I adore this person. She is one of the hardest workers I have ever seen in broadcasting. And I think that comes from her newspaper experience. What LuLac likes about Sue is that she is ubiquitous . She can be seen slinging potato pancakes at her church’s bazaar, covering a court event, taking a boatload of students to New York City for an awards ceremony, mentoring young people in the business, living her passion for stories of justice that she believes in, and constantly contributing to the people in her world. Entering into her next decade at WILK, I wish this for my friend Sue, (who has had a hell of a year in 2012)  less challenging events. This coming year, let others help carry the load. You’ll still be barking out the orders, that I’m sure of but you don’ have to do everything yourself. It takes a type A to know one.

The LuLac Edition #2312, December 29th, 2012

Our "Moving On" logo. 

MOVING ON 2012

Our end of the year LuLac tradition is to list those people in politics, sports and pop culture who have passed away in the last 12 months. Some names you'll know, others you might have forgotten about. All were significant in some manner. The list was compiled from Wikipedia and was cross checked for accuracy with a listing from the Washington Post. 
My New Year's Wish for all of my readers for 2013: "Stay off that list!"

JANUARY 

Ruth Fernández, 92, Puerto Rican contralto and politician, Senator (1973–1981). 
Alex DeCroce, 75, American politician, New Jersey General Assembly Minority Leader (since 2004 
Larry Solway, 83, Canadian radio personality and author.
Natalee Holloway, 18 (in 2005), American student, missing since 2005. 
Bill Janklow, 72, American politician, Attorney General (1975–1979) and Governor of South Dakota (1979–1987, 1995–2003); U.S. Representative (2003–2004), brain cancer .
Morgan Jones, 83, American actor (The Blue Angels, The Twilight Zone). 
Richard Threlkeld, 74, American television journalist (CBS News), traffic collision 
Dan Evins, 76, American entrepreneur, founder of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store. 
Hulett C. Smith, 93, American politician, Governor of West Virginia (1965–1969). 
Jimmy Castor, 71, American funk and R&B saxophonist ("Troglodyte (Cave Man)"), heart failure. 
Mike Current, 66, American football player (Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers), apparent suicide by gunshot.
 Johnny Otis, 90, American R and B singer-songwriter 
Marty Springstead, 74, American baseball umpire, heart attack. Sarah Burke, 29, Canadian freestyle skier, world champion (2005), cardiac arrest following skiing accident. Etta James, 73, American blues singer ("At Last"), leukemia. 
Cliff Chambers, 90, American baseball player. 

Andy Musser, one of the friendliest broadcasters I've ever met. (Photo Philly Sports History). 
Andy Musser, 74, American sportscaster (Philadelphia Phillies, Philadelphia 76ers). 
Joe Paterno, 85, American college football coach (Penn State Nittany Lions), lung cancer.
James Farentino, 73, American actor (Dynasty, ER, Melrose Place), sequelae from hip fracture. Robert Hegyes, 60, American actor (Welcome Back, Kotter; Cagney and Lacey), heart attack. • Tom Campbell, 84, Canadian politician, Mayor of Vancouver (1967–1972). 
Greg Cook, 65, American football player (Cincinnati Bengals), complications from pneumonia. Kay Davis, 91, American jazz singer. 
Kevin White, 82, American politician, Mayor of Boston (1968–1984). 
Anthony Bevilacqua, 88, Roman Catholic prelate, Archbishop of Philadelphia (1988–2003). King Stitt, 71, Jamaican singer, complications from prostate cancer and diabetes. 

FEBRUARY 

Herb Adams, 83, American baseball player (Chicago White Sox). 
Don Cornelius, 75, American television host and producer (Soul Train), suicide by gunshot. David Peaston, 54, American R&B singer, complications of diabetes. 
Ben Gazzara, 81, American actor (The Big Lebowski, Road House), pancreatic cancer. Florence Green, 110, British supercentenarian, last surviving veteran of World War I. 
Danny Clyburn, 37, American baseball player (Baltimore Orioles, Tampa Bay Devil Rays), shot Whitney Houston, 48, American singer ("I Will Always Love You") and actress (The Bodyguard), drowned. 
David Kelly, 82, Irish actor (Fawlty Towers, Strumpet City, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory). 
Freddie Solomon, 59, American football player (Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers), colon and liver cancer 
Dory Previn, 86, American singer-songwriter (Mythical Kings and Iguanas) and lyricist (Valley of the Dolls, Last Tango in Paris). 
Rose Cliver, 109, American centenarian, one of the last known survivors of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.. 
Billy Strange, 81, American songwriter ("Limbo Rock") and music arranger. 
Terry Mathews, 47, American baseball player (Texas Rangers, Florida Marlins, Baltimore Orioles), heart attack. 
Jay Ward, 73, American baseball player (Minnesota Twins, Cincinnati Reds). ck, 74, American lieutenant general, lung cancer. 
Gary Carter, 57, American Hall of Fame baseball player (Montreal Expos, New York Mets), brain tumor. 
Harry McPherson, 82, American lawyer and lobbyist, advisor to Lyndon B. Johnson, cancer. Howie Nunn, 76, American baseball player .

John J. Yeosock,  74, American lieutenant general, lung cancer.

Davy Jones, 66, British actor and musician (The Monkees), heart attack. 


 Violet Wood, 112, British supercentenarian, oldest person in the UK. 

MARCH 

Jack Fouts, 86, American football player and coach. 
Randy Primas, 62, American politician, Mayor of Camden, New Jersey (1981–1990), bone marrow cancer. 
Alex Webster, 80, American football player (New York Giants, Montreal Alouettes) and coach (New York Giants).
Jim Obradovich, 62, American baseball player (Houston Astros). 
Ronnie Montrose, 64, American guitarist (Montrose), suicide. 
Don Mincher, 73, American baseball player (Minnesota Twins, California Angels, Oakland Athletics), President of the Southern League (2000–2011). 
Ted L. Strickland, 79, American politician, Lieutenant Governor of Colorado (1973–1975). Carl Rattray, 82, Jamaican jurist and politician, Attorney General (1989–1993) and President of the Court of Appeal (1993–1999). 
John Demjanjuk, 91, Ukrainian Nazi war criminal, natural causes. 
Mel Parnell, 89, American baseball player (Boston Red Sox), cancer. 
Ron Erhardt, 81, American football coach (New England Patriots, New York Giants, New York Jets). 
Murray Lender, 81, American entrepreneur (Lender's Bagels), complications from a fall. Lonnie Wright, 68, American football (Denver Broncos) and basketball (Denver Rockets) player, heart failure.

Dennis Bennett, one of the members of the '64 Phillies team. (Photo Topps, LuLac archives). 
Dennis Bennett, 72, American baseball player (Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox). 
Bert Sugar, 74, American boxing writer and historian, cardiac arrest. 
Jerry Lynch, 81, American baseball player (Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds), prostate cancer. 
Dale R. Corson, 97, American physicist, President of Cornell University (1969–1977), heart failure. 
George Emerson Cole, 93, was an American radio, television, and special events producer/announcer pioneer whose weekly radio program "The Big Bands Are Back" ran for over 32 consecutive years in Pinehurst, North Carolina. It is said to be the longest-running big band radio program in history 

APRIL 

Chief Jay Strongbow, 83, American professional wrestler.
Mike Wallace, 93, American news correspondent (60 Minutes).
Paul Bogart, 92, American Emmy Award-winning television director (All in the Family), natural causes. 
Teddy Charles, 84, American jazz musician and composer. 
Stan Johnson, 75, American baseball player. (Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Athletics). 
Dick Clark, 82, American television host and producer (American Bandstand, Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, Pyramid), heart attack. 
John O'Neil, 91, American baseball player (Philadelphia Phillies).
Ray Easterling, 62, American football player (Atlanta Falcons), suicide by gunshot. 
Greg Ham, 58, Australian musician (Men at Work)
Levon Helm, 71, American musician (The Band) and actor (Coal Miner's Daughter), throat cancer.
Fred Bradley, 91, American baseball player (Chicago White Sox).
Bill Skowron, 81, American baseball player (New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox), heart failure.
George Murdock, 81, American actor (Barney Miller, Battlestar Galactica, The X-Files), cancer.
Billy Neighbors, 72, American football player (Boston Patriots, Miami Dolphins), heart attack.
Benzion Netanyahu, 102, Israeli historian, academic, and Revisionist Zionist activist, father of Benjamin Netanyahu. 

MAY 

John Spencer Hardy, 98, American lieutenant general, NATO commander for Southern Europe.
Harold K. Hoskins, 85, American pilot, Tuskegee Airman, Congressional Gold Medal winner, complications from a fall.
Greg Jackson, 60, American basketball player (New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns), heart attack. Junior Seau, 43, American football player (San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots), suicide by gunshot.

Mort Lindsay with Judy Garland. Lindsay was the musical director for Garland as well as The Merv Griffen Show. (Photo NY Times). 
Mort Lindsey, 89, American orchestra leader and composer.  
George Lindsey, 83, American actor (The Andy Griffith Show, Mayberry R.F.D., Hee Haw), after brief illness. 
Vidal Sassoon, 84, British hairstylist, leukemia. 
Frank Wills, 53, American baseball player (Toronto Blue Jays, Kansas City Royals, Cleveland Indians). 
Donna Summer, 63, American singer ("Bad Girls", "Hot Stuff", "Last Dance", "I Feel Love"), lung cancer. 
Peter Jones, 49, British drummer (Crowded House), brain cancer. 
Lee Rich, 93, American television executive and producer (The Waltons, Dallas), co-founder of Lorimar Television, lung cancer. 
Dick Beals, 85, American voice actor (Davey and Goliath, Speedy Alka-Seltzer).
Charles Lemmond, 84, American politician, Pennsylvania State Senator (1985–2006).
Robin Gibb, 62, British singer and songwriter (Bee Gees), liver and kidney failure. 

JUNE 

Pedro Borbón, 65, Dominican Republic-born American baseball player (Cincinnati Reds), cancer. 
Herb Reed, 83, American singer (The Platters).[ 
Ray Bradbury, 91, American science fiction and fantasy author (Fahrenheit 451, Something Wicked This Way Comes).
Hal Keller, 83, American baseball player (Washington Senators) and executive (Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers), esophageal cancer.
Bob Welch, 66, American musician (Fleetwood Mac, Paris) and songwriter ("Sentimental Lady"), suicide by gunshot.

Character actor Frank Cady. (Photo Dispatch.com) 
Frank Cady, 96, American actor (Green Acres, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, Petticoat Junction). 
Hawk Taylor, 73, American baseball player (Milwaukee Braves, New York Mets, Kansas City Royals. 
Dave Boswell, 67, American baseball player (Minnesota Twins), heart attack. 
Ann Rutherford, 94, Canadian-born American actress (Gone with the Wind, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty), heart disease. 
Henry Hill, 69, American mobster, inspiration for the movie Goodfellas, heart condition. Patricia Brown, 81, American baseball player (All-American Girls Professional Baseball League) and law librarian and professor (Suffolk University).
Rodney King, 47, American victim of videotaped police beating that sparked the 1992 Los Angeles riots, accidental drowning. 
LeRoy Neiman, 91, American artist. 
Nora Ephron, 71, American screenwriter and film director (When Harry Met Sally..., Sleepless in Seattle, Julie and  Julia), pneumonia. 
Doris Singleton, 92, American actress (I Love Lucy, My Three Sons). She was the last surviving cast member of the “I Love Lucy” series. •
Judy Agnew, 91, American Second Lady (1969–1973), widow of former Vice President Spiro Agnew 
Don Grady, 68, American actor (My Three Sons, The Mickey Mouse Club), cancer. 
Yitzhak Shamir, 96, Israeli politician, Prime Minister (1983–1984, 1986–1992), Alzheimer's disease. 

 JULY 

Mike Hershberger, 72, American baseball player (Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Athletics, Milwaukee Brewers) 
Ossie Hibbert, 62, Jamaican musician, heart attack. 
 Ben Davidson, 72, American football player (Oakland Raiders) and actor (Conan the Barbarian, Necessary Roughness), prostate cancer. 
Julian Goodman, 90, American broadcasting executive, President of NBC (1966–1974). 
Andy Griffith, 86, American actor (The Andy Griffith Show, Matlock), heart attack. 
Doris Neal, 83, American baseball player (AAGPBL). 
Ernest Borgnine, 95, American actor (Marty, McHale's Navy, From Here to Eternity), renal failure. 
Don Brinkley, 91, American television writer (The Fugitive, Medical Center, Trapper John, M.D.), natural causes,

The Eagles King Hill. (Photo, Philadelphia Eagles.com). 
King Hill, 75, American football player (Philadelphia Eagles), cancer. 
Celeste Holm, 95, American actress (Gentleman's Agreement, All About Eve, Tom Sawyer).
Stephen Covey, 79, American writer (The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People), complications after a bicycle accident. 
Kitty Wells, 92, American country music singer ("It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels", "Making Believe"), complications after a stroke. 
William Raspberry, 76, American journalist and newspaper columnist (The Washington Post), prostate cancer. 
Robert Creamer, 90, American sportswriter and author, prostate cancer. 
Tony Martin, 98, American actor and singer, widower of Cyd Charisse, natural causes. Gore Vidal, 86, American playwright, novelist, political commentator and actor (Bob Roberts), pneumonia. 

AUGUST 

Jimmy Jones, 82, American pop singer ("Handy Man", "Good Timin'"). 


Paul McCracken, 96, American economist, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers (1969–1971).
Sister Boom Boom, 57, American gay rights activist, member of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, liver cancer. 
Marvin Hamlisch, 68, American composer (The Way We Were, A Chorus Line) and arranger (The Sting), EGOT winner,.
Carl Davis, 77, American record producer ("Duke of Earl", "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher"), lung disease. 
Helen Gurley Brown, 90, American author, publisher, and businesswoman; editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan magazine (1965–1997).
Johnny Pesky, 92, American baseball player, manager, and coach (Boston Red Sox).
Ron Palillo, 63, American actor (Welcome Back, Kotter), apparent heart attack.
William Windom, 88, American actor (Murder She Wrote, My World and Welcome to It, The Farmer's Daughter, Star Trek), heart failure. 
Phyllis Diller, 95, American comedienne and actress (The Pruitts of Southampton), natural causes..
Virginia Dwyer, 92, American actress (Another World, As the World Turns, Guiding Light). Steve Van Buren, 91, American Hall of Fame football player (Philadelphia Eagles), pneumonia. Neil Armstrong, 82, American astronaut, first person to walk on the Moon, complications from coronary artery bypass surgery. 
Les Moss, 87, American baseball player (St. Louis Browns). 

SEPTEMBER

Hal David, 91, American lyricist ("Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head"), complications from a stroke. 
Michael Clarke Duncan, 54, American actor (The Green Mile, Armageddon, Daredevil), complications from a heart attack. 
Joe South, 72, American singer-songwriter ("Down in the Boondocks", "Hush", "Rose Garden"), heart failure. 
Art Modell, 87, American businessman, owner of the Baltimore Ravens (1996–2004), heart failure. 
Dorothy McGuire, 84, American singer, complications of Parkinson’s disease. 
Bob Hale, 78, American baseball player (Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees). 
Steve Sabol, 69, American filmmaker, co-founder of NFL Films, brain cancer.
Andy Williams, 84, American singer ("Moon River") and entertainer, bladder cancer. 


 
Johnny Lewis, 28, American actor (Sons of Anarchy, The O.C.), injuries from a fall. 
R. B. Greaves, 68, American singer ("Take a Letter Maria"), prostate cancer. 

OCTOBER 

David N. Martin, 82, American advertising executive, founder of The Martin Agency, creator of the Virginia is for Lovers slogan, cancer..
Larry Block, 69, American actor (Slap Shot, Cocktail, Don't Say a Word).
Alex Karras, 77, American football player (Detroit Lions) and actor (Blazing Saddles, Webster), kidney failure. 
Beano Cook, 81, American college football historian and television sports analyst (ESPN).

Champ Summers. (Photo, Topps, LuLac archives.) 
Champ Summers, 66, American baseball player (Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers), kidney cancer. 
Gary Collins, 74, American actor (The Sixth Sense, The Wackiest Ship in the Army) and television host (Miss America), natural causes. 
Eddie Yost, 86, American baseball player and coach (Washington Senators), cardiovascular disease. .
Dave May, 68, American baseball player (Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers, Baltimore Orioles), complications from cancer and diabetes.

George McGovern. (Photo Rolling Stone.) 
George McGovern, 90, American politician and USAAF pilot, U.S. Representative (1957–1961) and Senator (1963–1981), 1972 Democratic Party presidential nominee..
Teri Shields, 79, American model and actress; mother and manager of actress Brooke Shields, illness related to dementia.  

NOVEMBER 

Pascual Pérez, 55, Dominican baseball player (Atlanta Braves, Montreal Expos, New York Yankees), bludgeoning. 
Joe Ginsberg, 86, American baseball player (Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers).
Carmen Basilio, 85, American boxer, pneumonia. 
Darrell Royal, 88, American football coach (University of Texas), Alzheimer's disease. 
Lee MacPhail, 95, American baseball Hall of Fame general manager (Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees), American League President (1973–1984), natural causes. 
Major Harris, 65, American R&B singer ("Love Won't Let Me Wait"), member of The Delfonics, heart and lung failure. 

 
Wendell Garrett, 83, American historian, appraiser on Antiques Roadshow, natural causes. 
Art Ginsburg, 81, American television chef (Mr. Food), pancreatic cancer. 
Larry Hagman, 81, American actor (Dallas, I Dream of Jeannie), complications from throat cancer. 
Hal Trosky, 76, American baseball player (Chicago White Sox), lung cancer. 
Earl Carroll, 75, American singer (The Cadillacs, The Coasters), complications of a stroke and diabetes. 
Zig Ziglar, 86, American author and motivational speaker, pneumonia  

DECEMBER 

Jerry Brown, 25, American football player (Dallas Cowboys), traffic collision. 
Marty Reisman, 82, American table tennis player, complications of heart and lung ailments. Dave Brubeck, 91, American jazz pianist ("Take Five") and composer ("Blue Rondo à la Turk", "Unsquare Dance"), heart failure.

  

Rick Majerus, 64, American college basketball coach (University of Utah, Saint Louis University), heart failure. 
Norman Schwarzkopf Jr., .a Four-star General has died at the age of 78 in his Florida home. The decorated U.S. Army general fought in the Vietnam War and led hundreds of thousands of U.S. and allied troops to victory in the 1991 Gulf War. 
Jack Klugman. He died around Christmas time. Klugman began his career in the late 1940s on the stage. He later moved on to television and film work with roles in 12 Angry Men (1957) and Cry Terror! (1958). During the 1960s, he guest starred on numerous television series. Klugman won his first Primetime Emmy Award for his guest starring role on The Defenders, in 1964. He also made a total of four appearances on The Twilight Zone from 1960 to 1963. In 1970, Klugman reprised his Broadway role of Oscar Madison in the television adaptation of The Odd Couple, opposite Tony Randall. The series aired from 1970 to 1975. Klugman won his second and third Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award for his work on the series. From 1976 to 1983, he starred in the title role in Quincy, M.E. for which he earned four Primetime Emmy Award nominations. A long-time smoker, Klugman was diagnosed with throat cancer in 1974. The cancer returned in 1989. During the course of treatment, Klugman lost a vocal cord which left him with a raspy voice. Klugman married actress Brett Somers in 1953. The couple had two children before separating in 1974. They never divorced and were still married when Somers died in 2007. 
Charles Durning was an actor had over 200 appearances in over 200 movies, television shows and plays. Durning's memorable roles included the Oscar-winning The Sting (1973) and crime drama Dog Day Afternoon (1975), along with the comedies Tootsie, To Be or Not to Be and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, the last two of which earned him Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor. He also won a Tony award for his portrayal of Big Daddy in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof in 1990. During also played in the Burt Reynolds CBS Series “Evening Shade” in the early 90s. 
Robert Bork whose unsuccessful Supreme Court nomination made him a hero to conservatives and a touchstone in the culture wars over abortion and civil rights, died Wednesday. He was 85. Bork was also the Solicitor General around the time of the Nixon Saturday Night Massacre where a Special Prosecutor as well as two Attorney Generals were fired by Bork. 
Daniel Inouye, Hawai’s long serving Senator died at the age of 89. Inouye was the most senior U.S. senator at the time of his death. He was also the second-longest serving U.S. Senator in history after Robert Byrd. Inouye continuously represented Hawaii in the U.S. Congress since it achieved statehood in 1959 until the time of his death, serving as Hawaii's first U.S. Representative and later a senator. Inouye was the first Japanese American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and later the first in the U.S. Senate. Before then, he served in the Hawaii territorial house from 1954 to 1958 and the territorial senate from 1958 to 1959. He never lost an election in 58 years. 
Fontella Bass, a soul singer from the 60s died at the age of 72. Her one and only hit was one of the biggest of the 60s, “Rescue Me””. 
Harry Carey, Jr., 91, American actor (Gremlins, Tombstone, The Searchers), natural causes. Houston McCoy, 72, American police officer, killed Charles Whitman to stop University of Texas sniper spree, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease..
Ray Collins, 73, American singer (The Mothers of Invention), cardiac arrest.[44] 
Brad Corbett, 75, American baseball owner (Texas Rangers, 1974–1980 .
Frank Pastore, 55, American baseball player (Cincinnati Reds), injuries from a traffic collision. Jim Whalen, 69, American football player (New England Patriots).

AND........A FEW WE MISSED 

Richard Dawson from “Hogan’s Heroes” and “Family Feud” fame. You can see Dawson on early shows he was in on Me TV. 
Sally Ride, the first female astronaut. Sherman Hensley from “All In the Family” and then the seminal “Jefferson’s”. 
Charles Colson a Nixon aide who said he would run over his grandmother for President Nixon. In prison he later found God. 
Ravi Shankar, a Transcendental Meditation guru and sitar player who captured the imagination of the then impressionable Beatles. 
Earl Scruggs, the blue grass genius who performed and wrote “The Ballad of Jed Clampett”. 
Kathryn "Joosten" Rausch was an American television actress best known for her regular role as Karen McCluskey in Desperate Housewives, for which she won two Emmy Awards, and for her recurring role in The West Wing as Dolores Landingham.
Paul Stueber, friend of this blog as well as the News director at both WNEP TV and WBRE TV. He was like a crusty old time newspaper editor in a TV world. His impact on Northeastern Pennsylvania area news will be felt for a few generations at least. When LuLac wqas in its infancy, he was critical but much, much too kind. 
Leo Valovich, an institution in Hazleton broadcasting died this year. Every time I saw Leo he was fond of saying, "I like your work". We all loved his!