Obituaries

It's time to look at a few notables who have died recently:

Athlete and actor Merlin Olsen, 69, of cancer he said had been the result of asbestos exposure.

He peddled flowers for FTD as well as having appeared on Little House on the Prairie.
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Political activist Doris Haddock, better known as "Granny D," has died at the age of 100:

In 1999 and 2000, Haddock walked 3,200 miles over 14 months to promote public financing of campaigns. Four years later, she ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate against Republican Judd Gregg.

In a book about her famous walk, Haddock said she sometimes felt foolish, but when she thought about people who doubted her, she became angry and her anger fueled her passion.

But she never came across as an angry person. She was full of positive energy and chose to take a constructive path at a time when politics has become a blood sport. The outpouring of tributes from all political perspectives is testament to the fact that even today, there are people who can bridge the political chasms that have divided America into two camps.

We need more like Granny D – someone who was truly willing to walk the walk, not just talk the talk.

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Mary Josephine Ray, 114, the oldest living American, died this past Sunday:

Ray, who was born before Henry Ford built his first car or Marconi patented the radio, died at Maplewood Nursing Home in Westmoreland, New Hampshire, where she had lived since the age of 101, Steven Wilson, the home's activity director, said.

Born on May 17, 1895 in Canada, Ray was the world's second-oldest person according to the Gerontology Research Group, which maintains a registry of the oldest people. It says Kama Chinen of Japan was born seven days before Ray.

According to the group's website, the oldest American is now Neva Morris of Iowa, born August 3, 1895.

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Actor Corey Haim, 38, of undisclosed causes:

Corey Haim, an actor whose status as a teenage heartthrob of the 1980s gave way to substance abuse and rehabilitation as an adult, died on Wednesday at a hospital in Burbank, Calif. He was 38.

His death was confirmed by Sgt. Michael Kammert of the Los Angeles Police Department. The assistant chief coroner of Los Angeles County, Ed Winter, told The Associated Press that Mr. Haim’s mother had called paramedics. “As he got out of bed, he felt a little weak and went down to the floor on his knees,” Mr. Winter said. No other details were provided. The police said they were investigating.

Mr. Haim started acting as a child and shot to fame as the gawky adolescent star of coming-of-age comedies like “Lucas,” a 1986 film in which he played the lovelorn title character, and “License to Drive,” a 1988 feature about a young man’s dreams of piloting the family Cadillac.