Broadway producer Luigi Caiola; Hollywood producer Thomas Augsberger; novelist Tim Dorsey; education activist Roni Dean-Burren; journos Pablo “Yoruba” Guzmán, Rita Hollingsworth, Pat Warren; & more
In memory of those who “died suddenly” in the United States, November 27-December 4, 2023 News from Underground by Mark Crispin MillerSubscribeSign inShare this postIn memory of those who “died suddenly” in the United States, November 27-December 4, 2023markcrispinmiller.substack.comCopy linkFacebookEmailNoteOtherDiscover more from News from Underground by Mark Crispin MillerNews from Underground is based on my belief that, like journalists, academics have a civic obligation to help keep the people well-informed, so that American democracy might finally work.Over 38,000 subscribersSubscribeContinue readingSign in In memory of those who “died suddenly” in the United States, November 27-December 4, 2023Broadway producer Luigi Caiola; Hollywood producer Thomas Augsberger; novelist Tim Dorsey; education activist Roni Dean-Burren; journos Pablo "Yoruba" Guzmán, Rita Hollingsworth, Pat Warren; & moreMark Crispin MillerDec 6, 202367Share this postIn memory of those who “died suddenly” in the United States, November 27-December 4, 2023markcrispinmiller.substack.comCopy linkFacebookEmailNoteOther50ShareUNITED STATESLuigi Caiola dies: Broadway producer who assisted in development of more than 50 shows was 64November 30, 2023Luigi Caiola, who co-founded the Broadway production and investment company Caiola Productions with his sister Rose and participated in the development of more than 50 shows, died November 26 at his home in Miami. He was 64. His death was announced by his family. A cause has not been determined. A managing member of B&L Management LLC, a New York City real estate development company founded by his father Benny Caiola in 1974, Luigi Caiola, along with sister Rose Caiola, launched Caiola Productions in 2011 out of their shared passion for the theater. The entity has been involved in dozens of Broadway shows, including Tony Award winners Dear Evan Hansen, The Color Purple, Once on This Island, Company, All the Way, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and the recent revival of Parade.News from Underground by Mark Crispin Miller is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.SubscribeLinkThomas Augsberger, Eden Rock Media Founder & ‘Mr. Brooks’ EP, Dies At 60November 29, 2023Deadline has learned that Thomas Augsberger, Eden Rock Media founder, producer and international media consultant died suddenly today at his Hollywood Hills home. He was 60 years old. 'The Hunger Games: Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes' Sings Past $100M At U.S. Box Office, $200M+ Worldwide. The German-born and trained attorney advised a number of high-profile media clients over the years, most prominently Germany’s Leonine Studios. Prior to Leonine, Augsberger served 23 years as an advisor to Dr. Herbert Kloiber‘s Tele Muenchen Group as TMG’s exclusive North American representative in the US. Augsberger was widely respected for his deep experience in the production and acquisition of feature films, television series, and content libraries; investments in US distributors and production companies; the co-financing, co-production, and distribution of film, television, and digital projects; and the negotiation of German output deals with studios for theatrical, home entertainment, and television.No cause of death reported.LinkNovelist Tim Dorsey, who mixed comedy and murder in his Serge A. Storms stories, dies at 62November 28, 2023Tim Dorsey, a former police and courts newspaper reporter who found lasting fame as the creator of the crime-comedy novel series starring Serge A. Storms, an energetic fan of Florida history and an ingenious serial killer, has died. He was 62. Dorsey, who published 26 novels, died Sunday, according to Danielle Bartlett, a publicity director at William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins. No details were revealed. Fans of Dorsey appreciated his clever observations and satirical pokes at the weirdness of Florida. He was part of a trio of former newspapermen from Florida — including Dave Barry and Carl Hiaasen — who found a rich vein of absurdist humor in the state. “It was a privilege and honor to work with Tim Dorsey. His easy wit and deep knowledge of Florida-lore made his satirical crime capers as entertaining as they were timely. But his greatest gift was the boundless joy and escape that Serge A. Storms brought to readers on every page," said Emily Krump, Dorsey's editor at William Morrow, in a statement. Dorsey's Storms was an obsessive-compulsive serial killer who together with his drugged-out sidekick, Coleman, devised fiendishly inventive ways to murder Florida grifters and thugs, who all, naturally, had it coming. Some of Dorsey's titles include “The Big Bamboo,” “Hurricane Punch,” “Nuclear Jellyfish,” “When Elves Attack,” “Pineapple Grenade,” “No Sunscreen for the Dead,” “Naked Came the Florida Man,” “The Tropic of Stupid,” “Mermaid Confidential” and “The Maltese Iguana.”No cause of death reported.LinkDr. Roni Dean-Burren, Texas mom who called out textbook for lying about slavery, dies at 46December 1, 2023Dr. Roni Dean-Burren, a Texas mother and education activist who made national headlines nearly a decade ago after calling out the publisher of her teenage son’s history textbook for whitewashing Black history by incorrectly referring to slaves as migrant “workers,” died on Friday. She was 46. No cause of death was immediately reported. Tributes to Dean-Burren have been steadily pouring in since news of her death began circulating on social media over the Thanksgiving weekend as the education community mourns a devastating champion of not just learning but Black youth learning. After working as a high school English teacher in suburban Houston for a little more than a decade, Dean-Burren left Pearland High School to successfully pursue a doctorate in education, during which she ventured into education activism, a field in which she eventually became an icon.No cause of death reported.LinkThree journalists “died suddenly”:Pablo "Yoruba" Guzmán, one of the founders of the Young Lords Party and a veteran New York City reporter, has diedNovember 28, 2023Guzmán died Sunday of a heart attack, Young Lords co-founder Juan González confirmed via X, formerly known as Twitter. He was 73. Guzmán [above, in sunglasses] and González were among the six Puerto Ricans who in 1969 co-founded the Young Lords in New York, a group of young activists who fought against systemic racism in their Latino communities, which was reflected in the lack of basic services compared to other parts of the city. The predominantly Puerto Rican radical group spearheaded programs to provide health care, child care and breakfast to disadvantaged Black and Latino communities. The Young Lords also fought against police brutality, U.S. imperialism and militarism.LinkRita Hollingsworth, veteran Hollywood publicist, dies at 61November 28, 2023Rita Hollingsworth, the first-rate publicist and communications strategist who worked with the likes of Barbra Streisand, Robert Altman, Chen Kaige, the Carousel of Hope and St. Vincent Meals on Wheels over the years, has died. She was 61. Hollingsworth died Nov. 16 of an intracerebral brain hemorrhage at Keck Hospital of USC, her husband of 37 years, Jeff Hollingsworth, told The Hollywood Reporter. The couple launched RMH Media in 1996. Hollingsworth cut her teeth with The Lee Solters Co., where clients included Streisand, Liza Minnelli, Michael Jackson, Neil Diamond, Barbara Davis’ Carousel of Hope and the Race to Erase MS.LinkRemembering Pat Warren: WJZ Mourns Loss of Former Anchor and ReporterNovember 28, 2023Baltimore, MD - WJZ mourns the loss of former anchor and reporter, Pat Warren. Known for her professionalism, determination, and sharp reporting, Warren's passing leaves a void in the newsroom. This video pays tribute to her illustrious career and her significant impact on Maryland's political landscape.No age or cause of death reported.LinkA toddler “died suddenly”:‘So hard to let my baby go': Mom meets toddler who received heart from her dying baby girlNovember 29, 2023A Kentucky baby girl who died in January is living on through the boy she donated her heart to, and her mother was finally able to meet the boy and listen to his heartbeat earlier this year. Denise and Johnny Bargo live in Corbin, Kentucky, about 90 miles southeast of Lexington. Their daughter, Lena Skye Bargo [above, with Denise], died on Jan. 17 at nearly 1½ years old. Surgeons had previously given her a shunt to redirect fluid from her brain. It ruptured, eventually causing her death. “She went to sleep and she never woke up,” said her mother, Denise, who adopted the baby from a family member. Baby Lena was born during summer 2022 at 28 weeks old. In December, Lena got sick. Doctors ran an MRI and said her shunt was working properly. Then in January, she fell ill again. Doctors told her it was time to let Lena go on Jan. 13. That’s when doctors told her the child wouldn’t wake up. After her son Cody Taylor suggested she make Lena an organ donor, her kidneys went to a 44-year-old man, her liver went to an 8-month-old baby girl and her heart went to Mark Clouse Jr., who was 15 months old at the time.LinkFrom our researcher:The donor infant died at 18 months old and the recipient was 15 months old. They do not state in the article why the recipient infant needed a heart transplant. This linked article claims that "Baby Mark, who was born with a congenital heart defect, was placed on a transplant list about seven months prior after experiencing heart failure before the age of one." https://tinyurl.com/3j5bcs8fA college athlete “died suddenly”:University of Minnesota Duluth football player dies at 22 after collapsing during workoutNovember 30, 2023University of Minnesota - Duluth football player Reed Ryan passed away on Tuesday after collapsing during a workout, according to TMZ. The family announced that the 22-year-old was “doing what he loved,” on November 21. On that day, the defensive end was training in the weight room when he suddenly went into cardiac arrest. According to the report, officials were able to regain Ryan’s pulse and he was rushed to the ICU but sadly he passed away seven days later. Ryan’s family shared in their obituary the medical emergency was all due to “an undetected genetic heart condition and a large, loving heart.”No cause of death reported.LinkA fashion designer “died suddenly”:Designer and artist Mark Eisen dies at 65November 28, 2023Services were held last week for Eisen, who died on Nov. 17 at his home in Great Barrington, Mass. The family has not disclosed the cause of death, according to Jared Vorster, a family spokesperson, who also worked with Eisen for about the past 10 years. After being an influential American designer in the ’80s and ’90s, Eisen exited the fashion world. He moved back part-time to his homeland South Africa in 2007, where he bought and renovated a 17th-century French Huguenot wine farm. In addition to making wine, Eisen used that time on the farm to focus on industrial design for the luxury group Compagnie Financière Richemont. Eisen also simultaneously pursued his art as a sculptor. In 1988, he was honored with the “Alumni of the Year” award from the University of Southern California Business School and the following year, he was nominated as the “California Designer of the Year.”No cause of death reported.LinkA local politician “died suddenly”:‘He was amazing': Greenbelt Council member dies suddenlyNovember 28, 2023Greenbelt, Maryland, is mourning one of its council members, who died suddenly Sunday at 41. Brandon “Ric” Gordon was Greenbelt through and through, said his wife, Carla Gordon. “This was his city; this was his people,” she said. She said he died unexpectedly of natural causes.No cause of death reported.LinkA high school band director “died suddenly”:Clint Bingham, 45November 28, 2023Clint Bingham, born Feb. 6, 1978, passed away on Nov. 23, 2023, with his loving family surrounding him. Clint was an award-winning musician and H.S band director in San Antonio [Texas] and educator for 23 yrs.No cause of death reported.LinkBingham's death was sudden and unexpected: https://modelfact.com/clint-bingham-obituary-death-band-director/A lawyer and teacher “died suddenly”:Reported on October 31:Dana Marie Opitz, 45October 31, 2023Dana Marie Opitz was born on March 15, 1978 in Dallas, Texas, and passed peacefully and unexpectedly in her sleep. Dana was a member of the State Bar of Texas and Florida and returned to Dallas in 2005 where she practiced law. In 2021 Dana started her teaching career at the Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet at the Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Magnet Center in the Dallas Independent School District where her passion for mentoring and teaching young scholars blossomed.No cause of death reported.LinkA soldier “died suddenly”:Jered Little died, Arlington’s esteemed army lt. col. and officer passed away unexpectedlyDecember 3, 2023Arlington, VA, mourns the sudden loss of one of its own, Army Lieutenant [colonel] and Officer Jered Little, who passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, November 30, 2023, at the age of 39. The exact cause of his death has not been disclosed, but it is believed that he suffered a heart attack or a stroke.LinkLittle was “vaccinated” as per promotion material from the US Army (image 6/7):Lt. Col. Jered Little, commander of Public Health Activity-Hawaii, receives the Pfizer vaccine at Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, on Dec. 23, 2020. The inoculation was part of the Department of Defense COVID-19 vaccine distribution and administration plan that is a phased, standardized and coordinated strategy for prioritizing, distributing, and administering COVID-19 vaccines to protect DoD personnel, maintain readiness, and support the national COVID-19 response. (Courtesy photo) (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)https://www.army.mil/article/242045/phc_p_and_pha_h_leadership_and_staff_receives_vaccine_for_covid_19A professor “died suddenly”:Heather Monique Whaley, 49December 1, 2023Jefferson City, Tenn. - Dr. Heather Monique Whaley was born on December 20, 1973. Heather died peacefully at her home, surrounded by her family, and went to her new home to be with the Lord on November 30, 2023. Heather began her career with Carson-Newman University in 2006. Most recently, Heather was serving as Professor & Dean of the School of Business and Family and Consumer Sciences and held the position of Associate Provost.No cause of death reported.LinkA Texas senate staffer “died suddenly”:Laura Lewis, 55November 30, 2023San Angelo, TX — Laura Lee Lewis, 55, who served as Texas Sen. Charles Perry’s district director for the San Angelo area, suddenly died in her sleep the evening of Nov. 28, 2023. No cause of death reported.LinkLewis was “vaccinated”:https://twitter.com/tulloch1978/status/1730807964741595253/photo/2Two nurses “died suddenly”:Amy B. Saggiomo, 45November 29, 2023It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Amy B. Saggiomo, age 45, of Moorestown, NJ, on November 21, 2023.No cause of death reported.LinkSaggiomo was a nurse who “died suddenly”:https://imgur.com/a/Q0AVHemEileen Martin Carvalho, 58December 1, 2023Hartford, Conn. - Eileen Martin Carvalho, 58, devoted wife of and best friend to Marcelo Carvalho, and beloved daughter to John Joe and Maureen Sinon Martin (West Springfield, MA), passed away Wednesday, November 29, after a brave, two-year battle with cancer. She started her nursing vocation at Hartford Hospital and devoted her entire career to the compassionate care of her patients. Eileen was a caring and nurturing wife, daughter, friend, and nurse. She was always concerned for others’ well-being. “Safety first” was her cautionary mantra.LinkA flight attendant “died suddenly”:Reported on October 22:Elena Marie Harrison, 57October 22, 2023Elena Marie Harrison, a resident of Dallas, Texas, passed away October 9, 2023 at the age of 57. Elena was born on October 22, 1965, in Dallas, Texas. After graduating high school and two years of college she started a 35-year career that she loved as a flight attendant. Remembrances may be made to Southwestern Medical Foundation in support of pancreatic cancer prevention at UT Southwestern Medical Center.LinkHarrison’s Facebook has an "I choose to wear a mask" profile as of March 3, 2021 - her last post. https://www.restlandfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Elena-Harrison-2/#!/ObituaryStephen Todd “Bopper” Gomolka, born 1971, passed away unexpectedlyDecember 4, 2023Stephen Todd Gomolka, known by all as “Bopper”, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, at Wynn Hospital in Utica, NY. For the past several years, Stephen dedicated his life, lovingly caring for his mother as her own health began to decline. He enjoyed watching Jeopardy with his mother, was an avid reader with a vast collection of books, was a gifted artist, a collector of a wide variety of antiques and memorabilia and loved animals, especially his beloved canine companion, Nippsy.No cause of death reported.LinkDrummer Mark R. Klausner, 68, passed away at home unexpectedlyDecember 4, 2023Mark R. Klausner, 68, of Clinton, NY, passed away at home unexpectedly on December 2, 2023. He enlisted in the United States Army serving in Germany as a drummer with the military band. After his marriage to Carol Gaffney, Mark served the City of Utica for 20 years with the Utica Fire Department, retiring as a Lieutenant. He worked for La Galerie Rouge (an art framing business) for many years and was also a special part of the Owens-Pavlot & Rogers Funeral Home family. He was the current Chair of the Church Council at Clinton United Methodist Church and their drummer for Sunday services. No cause of death reported.LinkFoul smell leads to dead man in ventilation system at Macomb Center for the Performing ArtsDecember 27, 2023Clinton Township, MI - Police are investigating how a man’s body ended up in the ventilation system of a Macomb Community College building in Clinton Township. “There is no reason to suspect foul play,” said Macomb College Police Chief William Leavens. “At this point, it is important to remember that this an ongoing investigation, with the goal to understand the circumstances.” The body — which was identified Monday as Jason Thompson, 36, of Clinton Township — was found Sunday evening while looking for the source of a terrible smell at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts at Hall and Garfield roads. Police, however, did not offer speculation about how the body ended up in the ventilation system or how long it had been there. Thompson was reported missing police Nov. 1 and last seen by family Oct. 25, the college said. The community college said it is offering its condolences to Thompson's family.No cause of death reported.LinkNew Berlin police investigation; man dies at hospital after arrestDecember 4, 2023New Berlin, WI - New Berlin police said a man died during an OWI investigation on Saturday, Dec. 2. Police arrested the 28-year-old man near the intersection of Beloit and Moorland around 9 p.m. that evening. They said it was the man’s fourth OWI offense, which is why he was taken to the hospital, to get blood drawn. Police say the man was cooperative with officers and he was the only person in the car. While at the hospital, an Oconomowoc police officer was assisting New Berlin officers with their investigation. When they got to the hospital, police say he became unresponsive and the medical staff immediately provided care, but he was pronounced dead shortly after. Per policy, three police officers were placed on leave until the investigation is completed. The Waukesha County Sheriff's Department is taking on the investigation, which officials said is standard policy for when a person dies while in custody. Investigators say so far nothing has revealed that anything law enforcement did lead to h… truncated (29,866 more characters in archive)