A big old variety of souls to reap this week, another day for the Stats Zone’s deadly dates, and the highest scoring hit of the year so far:
Art
Yorkshire-born artist David Hockney was the most popular of the showcase this week, a hit for nineteen teams. Hockney was a major figure in the pop art movement of the 1950’s and 60’s, his early specialist subject being capturing the incredible beauty of California’s legion of residential swimming pools. No, I don’t get the appeal either, but his later life paintings of the Yorkshire landscapes I can definitely appreciate.
He would go on to hold the highest auction sales of any living artist and fall into that category of absurd chain smokers that were completely immune to the usual health complications. Hard to argue given how many doctors he would ultimately outlive that tried to get him to give up the habit, but after years of increasingly frail appearances he has now scored six points for those who had his card marked.
Film
Versatile performing artist Margaret Kerry was most well known as the model for Tinkerbell in Disney’s Peter Pan. She pantomimed the movements for animators to base their work on and while it was a non-verbal role she did get to provide the voice for one of the mermaids in film. Sadly, clapping wasn’t enough to keep Tinkerbell in existence after lung cancer conspired to dim the light of fiction’s most famous fairy, but at least she scores nine points as the second hit this year for Moribold Krakatoa’s Playhour.
Media
Long time The Today Show pundit and missing link Gene Shalit has expired a few months after hitting the century. He was most well known for being the program’s mild-mannered and genial film critic, working with NBC from 1973 until his retirement in 2010. He all but disappeared from public life after that but was popular enough to make the list for nine teams. Gene may be gone, but I suspect millennia from now the afro and mustache will still remain, long after the attached bones have turned to dust.
Music
Another week and another Jazz artist bites the dust. James Blood Ulmer was a guitarist and singer known for mixing the style with funk and blues. His career as a leader peaked in the early 80’s with the Columbia albums Free Lancing, Black Rock and Odyssey. Setting off on a new odyssey to the great unknown, he leaves behind ten points for Musical chairs.
Politics
The younger readers might be surprised to hear this, but once upon a time doing naughty things in public office actually had consequences for your career. Something Bob Packwood learned the hard way. The Senator for Oregon spent a quarter century in office where he also had several stints on finance and commerce committees. He was a socially moderate Republican and his pro-choice leanings made him popular with feminist groups in the 1980’s. That lasted right up until he turned out to be a raging sex pest, choosing to fall on his sword in 1992 following a recommendation from the Ethics Committee that he be expelled from the Senate. His death at 93 scores four, for five teams.
Royalty
Princess Bajrakitiyabha was a prominent member of Thailand’s ruling Chakra dynasty, eldest daughter of the reigning king and eldest granddaughter of once-upon-a-time DDP stalwarts King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit. She held a notable political career in her own right too, working as a diplomat in Europe and was a major campaigner for women’s prison reform. Being one of the most popular members of the Thai royal family led to widespread support of her potentially becoming the first ruling queen one day, but any chance of that ended in 2022 when she collapsed from a bacterial heart infection. Having spent the time since in a coma, continued infections of various organs have finished her off at the age of only 47. Fifteen days of national mourning, and a sweet ten points for four teams were to follow.
Science
Edgar Morin escapes the List of the Lost thanks to a belated QO from the Guardian. The French philosopher was a specialist in “complexity” and “Complex Thought”. There’s no point in me trying to comprehend such a mind if the mile long list of books and papers to his name is anything to go by, but he was a committed humanist by all accounts and a good egg in my book. Quatre points pour trois équipes!
Sport
Our other notable Frenchman this week was the sailor, Charlie Dalin. He was the reigning Vendee Globe race champion, having won the 24/25 event in a record 64 days. Even more impressive was doing it while secretly battling gastrointestinal cancer and having to take immunotherapy pills throughout the voyage. Said cancer battle sadly came to an end this week and Dalin sails off into life’s sunset instead, though he does so as a 42 year old unique joker for the French theme team A la vie, a la mort. Scoring a monumental and year high 28 points, it sees them go straight to joint third on the theme board.
Television and Radio
Finally we have the death of actor and stand-up comedian Ronnie Schell. His most prominent role was Duke Slater in 60’s sitcom Gomer Pyle – USMC, though folks still alive and likely to be reading this might be more familiar with his later numerous voice credits in cartoons such as The Smurfs, Scooby Doo and Rugrats. It was his appearances on The Carol Burnett Show combined with his advancing years that brought him to attention of I’m So Glad We Had This Time Together however, and it results in the first nine points of the year for them.
Scores
| Name | Age | Date of Death | Teams and Scores |
| Edgar Morin | 104 | May 29 | 3 Teams💀💀💀💀 = 4 Points |
| James Blood Ulmer | 86 | June 3 | Musical chairs 💀💀💀💀💀💀+👻= 10 Points |
| Bob Packwood | 93 | June 6 | 5 Teams 💀💀💀💀= 4 Points |
| Charlie Dalin | 42 | June 11 | A la vie, a la mort💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀+👻+🃏= 28 Points |
| David Hockney | 88 | June 11 | 19 Teams 💀💀💀💀💀💀 = 6 Points |
| Princess Bajrakitiyabha | 47 | June 11 | 4 Teams 💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀 = 10 Points |
| Margaret Kerry | 97 | June 11 | Moribold Krakatoa’s Playhour💀💀💀💀💀+👻= 9 Points |
| Ronnie Schell | 94 | June 12 | I’m So Glad We Had This Time Together💀💀💀💀💀+👻= 9 Points |
| Gene Shalit | 100 | June 12 | 9 Teams 💀💀💀💀 = 4 Points |