Noteworthy – Page 8

17May

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Noteworthy, Profiles, United States

Wilson Roosevelt Jerman, butler

Wilson Roosevelt Jerman ‑ an American butler who served 11 different U.S. presidents in the White House – died of Covid-19 on May 16, 2020. Jerman was born in Seaboard, North Carolina in 1929, the son of a farm worker. He dropped out of school at the age of 12 to work on a farm. In 1955, he moved to Washington, D.C. and worked as a caterer before being hired as a cleaner by the White House in 1957 during the administration of Dwight D. Eisenhower. Jerman was promoted to butler under John F. Kennedy, and continued in that role until his retirement in 1993 during the Bill Clinton administration. He returned to the White House in 2003 in the George W. Bush administration. He worked as a maitre d' and elevator operator for Barack Obama before his final retirement in 2012....

16May

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Brazil, Noteworthy, Profiles

Olga Savary, writer & poet

Olga Savary ‑ a Brazilian writer, poet, and literary critic – succumbed to Covid-19 on 15 May 2020. Savary's mother, Célia Nobre de Almeida, was born in Pará, and her father, Bruno, was a Russian engineer. She spent her childhood in Belém, Monte Alegre, Fortaleza, and Rio de Janeiro. Her parents separated in 1942 and Savary went to Rio de Janeiro to live with her uncle. Here, she discovered her love of writing, although her mother preferred for her a musical career. She hid her writings, and they were kept by a friend at the Brazilian Press Association. Savary studied at the Colégio Moderno in Belém. Afterwards, she returned to Rio de Janeiro and continued her career. She wrote several publications and was a member of PEN Inter...

16May

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Bulgaria, Noteworthy, Profiles

Nikolai Shterev, wrestler

Nikolai Shterev, a 33-year-old former Bulgarian wrestler who was infected with the coronavirus, died the morning of July 15, 2020. After being diagnosed Covid-19 positive after test, he was admitted to hospital in a very serious condition. He was the son of legendary wrestler and coach Simeon Shterev, who also fell ill with the virus. Nikolai had won the Dan Kolov Golden Belt in 2011. Sofia News Agency

14May

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Japan, Noteworthy, Profiles

Shobushi, sumo wrestler

Shobushi, whose real name was Kiyotaka Suetake, died on May 13, 2020 due to multiple organ failure caused by the novel coronavirus. The 28-year-old was the first sumo wrestler to die from the pneumonia-causing virus. He is also thought to be the first person in their 20s to die from the virus in Japan. According to the JSA, Shobushi, who suffered from diabetes, recorded a fever of about 38 C on April 4. His Takadagawa stablemaster and others contacted hospitals and local health centers but were unable to find a facility able to take in the wrestler. After coughing up blood, Shobushi was finally admitted to a university hospital on April 8 and transferred to a different facility the following day. The Yamanashi Prefecture native became the first sumo wrestler to test positive ...

14May

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Mexico, Noteworthy, Profiles

Gustavo Nakatani Ávila, singer

Gustavo Nakatani Ávila ‑ a Mexican singer of Japanese descent whose greatest hits were in the 1970s and 1980s ‑ died in the hospital on May 13, at 16:50. Son of Yoshigei Nakatani, entrepreneur and creator of Japanese-style peanuts in Mexico, and Emma Ávila, and the youngest of 8 siblings, including artist Carlos Nakatani. As a young child, he was given the nickname of "Yoshio" by his father, after not only showing his talent as a singer, but also because of his big heart and passion for life. Soon after, the family started calling Gustavo by the nickname. Yoshio means noble man in Japanese. Yoshio continued helping out in his father's business, at the same time as he was training his voice for singing His great hits are a reflection of his heritage and style, such as the song Samurai....

Mohammad Riad Hussain Ismat, writer and diplomat

14May

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Noteworthy, Profiles, United States

Mohammad Riad Hussain Ismat, writer and diplomat

Mohammad Riad Hussain Ismat ‑ a Syrian writer, critic and theatre director – died on 13 May 2020. Ismat served as Minister of Culture of Syria from 3 October 2010 to 23 June 2012. Ismat studied English literature at the Damascus University and graduated in 1968. In 2000, he became Rector of the Academy of Dramatic Arts, after years of teaching. In 2003, Ismat became Director General of Syrian State Radio and Television, then held the post of Syrian Vice-Minister of Culture. In 2005, he was appointed Ambassador to Pakistan and in 2010, Syrian Ambassador to Qatar. In October 2010, Ismat was appointed as Minister of Culture, serving in that post until 23 June 2012. From 2013 to 2014 he served as Buffett Center Visiting Scholar at Northwestern University. Ismat has directed more than...

13May

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Medics, Noteworthy, Profiles, South Africa

Clarence Mini, activist

Dr. Clarence Mazwangwandile Mini ‑ a South African doctor, anti-apartheid activist, freedom fighter and human rights activist – died from Covid-19 on 12 May 2020. Clarence was regarded as the pioneer of Medical industry in South Africa especially for his crucial contributions in eliminating the HIV/AIDS from the country. He also actively advocated against apartheid during his career and also voiced against corruption which mounted during the Presidency of Jacob Zuma. He served as former chairman of the Board of Healthcare Funders as well as long serving board member of it. He died on 12 May 2020 due to COVID-19 complications at the age of 68 while serving as the chairperson of the Council of Medical Schemes. His term as chairperson of CMS was supposed to end b...

13May

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India, Noteworthy, Profiles

Parthasarathy, journalist

Parthasarathy, a video journalist working for a Telugu TV channel, died from Covid-19 in Tirupati, a city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, on July 12, 2020. The 45-year-old journalist was admitted to a COVID-19 hospital on July 11 evening with fever and breathing problems, and tested positive for the coronavirus. According to reports, journalist Parthasarathy had been working for different news channels for more than two decades. The cameraman is survived by his wife and two children. The News Minute

13May

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Canada, Noteworthy, Profiles

Renée Claude CM, actress & singer

Renée Claude CM ‑ a Canadian actress and singer from Quebec ‑ died on May 12, 2020 due to COVID-19. She was best known as an interpretive singer, particularly of songs by Stéphane Venne, Michel Conte, Georges Brassens and Léo Ferré. She was born Renée Bélanger, in Montreal. She studied piano at the École de musique Vincent-d'Indy, took singing lessons from Alphonse Ledoux, and won a music competition on CKVL radio program Découvertes de Billy Munro in 1955. In 1960 she made her first major television appearance on Clémence DesRochers's Télévision de Radio-Canada variety show Chez Clémence. Around the same era she began performing in Quebec City's boîtes à chanson, specializing in the songs of Ferré, Brassens and Jean-Pierre Ferland. She released her self-titled first album on Distribut...

11May

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Italy, Noteworthy, Profiles

Alberto Carpani, singer

Alberto Carpani an Italian singer, best known for his Italo disco releases in the late 1970's and early 1980's as Albert One, and his Eurodance release "Sing a Song Now Now" in 1999 as A.C. One – passed away on May 11, 2020. The 64-years old singer, who was also a DJ and music producer, had been hospitalized for a few days following a pneumonia. There were unconfirmed reports that his death was caused by Covid-19. Alberto Carpani was known in the 1980s. He released the singles "Yes No Family", "Turbo Diesel", "Heart on Fire", "Lady O", "For Your Love", "Secrets", "Hopes & Dreams", "Everybody", "Visions", and "Loverboy". They were released by ZYX Music and Baby Records (Italy). He was known as A1, Jock Hattle, Albert One, and A.C. One. He was involved in many Italo projects ...