latimes.com - /news/obituaries

David M. Stone dies at 57; former head of Transportation Security Administration

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

The retired Navy rear admiral also was the first federal security director at Los Angeles International Airport after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Retired Rear Adm. David M. Stone, who once headed the Transportation Security Administration and was the first federal security director at Los Angeles International Airport in the critical months after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, has died. He was 57.

Ira 'Babe' Hanford dies at 91; oldest Kentucky Derby-winning jockey

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

He was an 18-year-old apprentice when he rode 20-1 shot Bold Venture to victory in 1936 in what was his only Run for the Roses appearance.

Ira "Babe" Hanford, who as an 18-year-old apprentice jockey rode 20-1 shot Bold Venture to victory in the 1936 Kentucky Derby, died Saturday in Ocala, Fla., after a long illness, said his wife of 67 years, Virginia. He was 91.

Robert A. Fuhrman dies at 84; former Lockheed executive

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:19:00 -0800

The engineer helped lead development of the Polaris and Poseidon missiles, and rose to head three of the company's divisions, including the Burbank operation, where he revived the L-1011 TriStar.

Robert A. Fuhrman, a pioneering Lockheed engineer who played a central role in the creation of the Polaris and Poseidon missiles before rising to the top of the aeronautics and aerospace giant, died Saturday in Pebble Beach, Calif. He was 84.

Charis Wilson dies at 95; model, muse and last wife of photographer Edward Weston

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Wilson was deeply involved in Weston's career and influenced his work. She also was the author of several books, including, with her husband, 'California and the West.'

Charis Wilson, the muse, model and last wife of art photographer Edward Weston and the author of several books including "California and the West," which the two co-wrote, has died. She was 95.

Washington Wizards owner Abe Pollin dies at 85

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

The NBA's longest-tenured owner had previously owned the hockey and women's basketball teams in the nation's capital as well.

Abe Pollin, the Washington Wizards owner who brought an NBA championship to the nation's capital, died Tuesday. He was 85.

Hoyt S. Pardee dies at 91; prominent home builder in Southern California

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

He and his two brothers had built more than 30,000 homes by 1985, when they were among the first to be inducted into a statewide hall of fame sponsored by the California Building Industry Assn.

Hoyt S. Pardee, who with his two brothers transformed a family construction company into a leading Southern California home builder, died of pancreatic cancer Monday at his home in Los Angeles, his family announced. He was 91.

Memorial service set for Jan Vandersloot

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

A memorial service for Orange County environmental activist Jan Vandersloot will be held at 1 p.m. Dec. 6 at Castaways Park , 700 Dover Drive, Newport Beach. Vandersloot, 64, who worked for the preservation of the Bolsa Chica wetlands, died Nov. 4.

U.S. women's judo pioneer Rena 'Rusty' Kanokogi dies at 74

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

She helped create the first Women's World Judo Championships in 1980 and coached the U.S. Olympic team in 1988.

Rena "Rusty" Kanokogi, who once had to disguise herself as a man to compete in judo but whose perseverance was rewarded when she became coach of the U.S. Olympic women's judo team, has died. She was 74.

Samak Sundaravej dies at 74; former prime minister of Thailand

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:21:00 -0800

The firebrand politician, an ally of Thaksin Shinawatra, was ousted when a court ruled there was a conflict of interest between his office and his popular TV cooking show, 'Tasting and Complaining.'

Samak Sundaravej, a firebrand politician who briefly served as Thailand's prime minister but was ousted for simultaneously getting income as the host of a popular TV cooking show, has died. He was 74.

PASSINGS: Yang Xianyi, Ali Kordan, Alan Kim Kurumada

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Yang Xianyi, Chinese poet and translator, dies at 94; Ali Kordan, Iranian interior minister dismissed in credentials flap, dies at 51; Alan Kim Kurumada, longtime assistant director, dies at 64

Yang Xianyi