Benny McCoy, American baseball player (Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Athletics), died he was 96.

Benjamin Jenison McCoy  was a second baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Detroit Tigers (1938–1939) and Philadelphia Athletics (1940–1941) died he was 96.. Listed at 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m). 170 lb., he batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He was born in Jenison, Michigan.

(November 9, 1915 – November 9, 2011)

McCoy was 22 years old when he entered the majors in September 1938 with the Detroit Tigers, appearing in seven games while hitting a .200 batting average (3-for-15). In 1939, though he played just two months for Detroit after Charlie Gehringer was injured, McCoy hit .302 with 33 runs batted in and 38 runs scored in 55 games played. At the end of the season, he was dealt by the Tigers to the Philadelphia Athletics in exchange for Wally Moses.
But McCoy was among 91 Detroit minor league players declared free agents by baseball commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis. The Tigers had been blocking players in their minor league system for years, players with major league skills, which was a fairly common practice in those days as there were only 16 big league clubs and precious few jobs. For a middle infielder, McCoy was a very good offensive player, but Detroit had Gehringer and he was blocked in the minors.
With the deal canceled, McCoy had bids from ten major-league clubs. The Washington Senators offered him a bonus of $20,000, the New York Giants raised it to $25,000, the Brooklyn Dodgers to $35,000, and the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds to $40,000. McCoy, who got $15 for his first major league season and thought his $5,000 in 1939 was big money, accepted the Philadelphia Athletics'offer: a $45,000 bonus, a two-year contract at $10,000 a year, and a regular job at second base under the tutorial guidance of manager Connie Mack. His was not only the biggest bonus in major league history, $20,000 more than the previous top, given Rick Ferrell by the St. Louis Browns in 1929, but it made McCoy the highest-paid bigleaguer of the year. His 1940 income of $55,000 will be more than the salary of Joe Di Maggio, Jimmy Foxx or Hank Greenberg.
McCoy played in 1940 and 1941 with the Athletics. His most productive season came in 1941, when he hit .271 with 61 RBI and posted career-highs in games (141), hits (140), walks (95), runs (86), home runs (8), and triples (7). He spent the next four years in the US Navy during World War II. When he returned from service, his skills had eroded and he never played another game.
In a four-season career, McCoy was a .269 hitter (327-for-1214) with 16 home runs and 156 RBI in 337 games, including 182 runs, 327 hits, 52 doubles, 18 triples, and eight stolen bases. A selective and patient hitter, he posted a solid .384 on-base percentage and a respectable 1.56 strikeout-to-walk ratio (190-to-122).
Before his death, he was recognized as one of the oldest living major league ballplayers.
McCoy died on his 96th birthday on November 9, 2011.

To see more of who died in 2011 click here

Arnold Green, Estonian politician, President of the Estonian Olympic Committee (1989–1997), died he was 91.

Arnold Green was an Estonian politician and president of the Estonian Olympic Committee from 1989 to 1997, leader of the Estonian Olympic team for the Games in Albertville, Barcelona, Lillehammer and Atlanta and former President of the Estonian Wrestling League and the Estonian Skiing League died he was 91..

(August 20, 1920 – November 4, 2011^[1]) 

Biography

Born to an Estonian family in Riga, Latvia, in 1920, Green served in the Soviet Army in World War II, emerging as a Soviet politician of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic in the post-war years. From 1962 to 1990 he was the minister of foreign affairs of the Estonian SSR. Green participated in the organization of the 1980 Olympic Games sailing regatta in Tallinn.
In 2001 he was awarded the Olympic Order by the IOC.^[2]

Honours and awards

• Five Orders of the Red Banner of Labour
• Order of the Badge of Honour
• Order of Friendship of Peoples
• Order of the Patriotic War 1st class
• Order of the Red Star
• Medal "For Courage"

To see more of who died in 2011 click here

Ted Dicks, English composer, died he was 83.

Ted Dicks  was an English composer died he was 83.. He is best known for composing the music for the novelty songs "Right Said Fred" and "The Hole in the Ground". They were both Top 10 hits in the UK Singles Chart in 1962,^[1] recorded by Bernard Cribbins with lyrics by Myles Rudge, and produced by George Martin for Parlophone. Another song by Dicks and Rudge, "A Windmill in Old Amsterdam", was a hit in 1965 for Ronnie Hilton. Dicks also wrote the theme tune for 1970s children's television series Catweazle.

(5 May 1928 – 27 January 2012)

Life and career

Dicks was born in Muswell Hill, North London, England. His father was a postman. Dicks was educated at Tollington Grammar School and Hornsey School of Art and then undertook two years national service in the RAF. He won a scholarship to the Royal College of Art, where he became friends with Len Deighton. Dicks later concentrated on composing music, but continued to paint in later life.
While working as a teacher in the 1950s, Dicks composed a stage show Let's Go Mad, which had a short run at the Fortune Theatre in London's West End in 1960 under the title Look Who's Here!, featuring Nyree Dawn Porter, Donald Hewlett and Anna Quayle. Dicks collaborated with Barry Cryer, and then with Myles Rudge. Dicks and Rudge wrote the revue And Another Thing which had a long run at the Fortune Theatre in 1960, featuring Bernard Cribbins, Anna Quayle, Lionel Blair, and Joyce Blair.
Music producer George Martin liked the show, and released a single of Cribbins singing one of the show's songs, "Folk Song". Martin commissioned Dicks and Rudge to write other comic songs for Cribbins, and the next two tunes, "Hole in the Ground" and "Right Said Fred", were both top 10 hits in 1962.^[1] Martin praised the "clever lyrics" written by Myles Rudge and the "quirky melodies" written by Dicks. Noël Coward chose "Hole in the Ground" as one of his records on Desert Island Discs, saying he would pass the time on his desert island by translating it into French. Richard and Fred Fairbrass adopted "Right Said Fred" as the name of their pop group.
Dicks and Rudge also wrote "A Windmill in Old Amsterdam" which was a hit for Ronnie Hilton in 1965 and won an Ivor Novello award. Other examples of their collaborative output were Petula Clark's "The Happiest Christmas", Val Doonican's "Annabelle", and their ballad "Other People" was on the B-side of Matt Monro's "Born Free". They also wrote the theme song for the 1966 film Carry On Screaming, and an album that was recorded by Kenneth Williams under the title On Pleasure Bent in 1967. Other songs by Dicks and Rudge were recorded by Jim Dale, Joan Sims and Topol.
Dicks also wrote scripts for the television soap operas, Compact and Crossroads.
He was survived by his wife and their son.


To see more of who died in 2011 click here

Robert Turner, Canadian composer, died he was 91.

Robert Comrie Turner  was a Canadian composer, radio producer, and music educator died he was 91.. He graduated with a bachelors degree in music from McGill University in 1943. While there he studied with Douglas Clarke and Claude Champagne. He continued his studies briefly at Colorado College in 1947, where he met his wife, percussionist Sara Scott. They married in 1949. In 1947, Turner transferred to Peabody College in Nashville, Tennessee, where he studied with Roy Harris. He graduated in 1950 with a Masters degree. During this time, Turner spent two summers studying with Herbert Howells and Gordon Jacob at the Royal College of Music and one summer at the Berkshire Music Center at Tanglewood studying with Olivier Messiaen. He returned to McGill University in 1951, graduating with a doctorate two years later.^[1]
Turner worked as a CBC Vancouver music producer 1952-68, where his responsibilities included the broadcasts of the CBC Vancouver Chamber Orchestra. He taught at the University of British Columbia 1955-7, at Acadia University 1968-9, and at the University of Manitoba 1969-85. He was appointed professor emeritus at the University of Manitoba upon his retirement in 1985. Several of his students have gone on to have successful careers including Peter Allen, Pat Carrabré, Jim Hiscott, Diana McIntosh and Glenn Buhr.

(6 June 1920 – 26 January 2012)

Among his numerous works are two operas: The Brideship (1967) and Vile Shadows (1983).^[2]
Turner died on January 26, 2012, in Winnipeg.^[3]
Robert Turner's family and friends published a memorial and archive website which includes tributes from students and colleagues, audio samples, a list of compositions, and an extensive bibliography. The website can be found at robert-turner.com

Selected works

Stage

• The Brideship, Opera in 1 act, 3 scenes (1966–1967); libretto by George Woodcock
• Vile Shadows, Opera in 2 acts for soloists and wind quintet (1982–1983, revised 1998); libretto after the play of the same name by Norman Newton

Orchestral

• Opening Night, Theatre Overture (1955)
• Lyric Interlude (1956)
• Nocturne (1956, 1965); original version for piano solo
• A Children's Overture (1958); suitable for youth and community orchestras
• The Pemberton Valley, Suite (1958)
• Symphony for Strings for string orchestra (1960)
• 3 Episodes (1963)
• Moerae (1963)
• Eidolons, 12 Images for chamber orchestra (1972)
• Variations on "The Prairie Settlers's Song" (1974)
• Symphony in One Movement "Gift from the Sea", Symphony No. 2 (1983)
• Playhouse Music (1986)
• Shades of Autumn (1987)
• Manitoba Memoir for string orchestra (1989)
• Symphony No. 3 (1990)
• House of Shadows, A Symphonic Synthesis after the Opera Vile Shadows (1994)
• Diverti-memento for chamber orchestra (1997)
• Festival Dance (1997)

Band

• Robbins' Round, Concertino for jazz band (1959)

Concertante

• Concerto for 2 pianos and orchestra (1971)
• Chamber Concerto for bassoon and 17 instruments (1973)
• Capriccio Concertante for cello, piano and orchestra (1975)
• From a Different Country: Homage to Gabrieli for solo brass quintet and orchestra (1976)
• Encounters for soloists and orchestra (1985)

1. Flutenanny, Encounter I for flute, string orchestra and harp
2. Spring Greeting, Encounter II for clarinet, string orchestra and piano
3. Shadows, Like Lost Souls, Encounter III for violin and orchestra
4. A Great Quiet and a Still Home, Encounter IV for cello and orchestra
5. Ebb Tide, Encounter V for voice (high or low) and orchestra; words by Marjorie Pickthall
6. The Wind's and the Wave's Riot, Encounter VI for piano and orchestra
7. Shepherd on the Make, Encounter VII for oboe, string orchestra and percussion
8. The Old Sea's Pride, Encounter VIII for horn and orchestra
9. The Strong Thunder of the Full Straits, Encounter IX for trombone and orchestra

• Concerto for viola and orchestra (1986–1987)
• A Group of Seven: Poems of Love and Nature by Canadian Poets for viola, narrator and orchestra (1991)

Chamber music

• String Quartet No. 1 (1949)
• Lament for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and piano (1951)
• String Quartet No. 2 (1954)
• Sonata for violin and piano (1956)
• Little Suite for harp (1957)
• Vignette for clarinet, 2 violins, viola and cello (1958, revised 1988)
• Variations and Toccata for flute (piccolo), oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, 2 violins, viola, cello and double bass (1959)
• Serenade for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon (1960)
• 4 Fragments for 2 trumpets, horn and 2 trombones (1961)
• Fantasia for organ, brass quintet and timpani (1962)
• Diversities for violin, bassoon and piano (1967)
• Transition, Trio for violin, cello and piano (1969)
• Fantasy and Festivity for harp (1970)
• Nostalgia for soprano saxophone and piano (1972)
• String Quartet No. 3 (1975)
• Lament for Linos, An Elegiac Triptych for flute (piccolo), clarinet (E-flat clarinet), piano (celesta), prepared tape and slides (1978); words by Rainer Maria Rilke
• Shadow Pieces for flute, bassoon, violin, cello and piano (1981)
• Bitonal Wedding, 3 Fanfares for 2 trumpets (1997)

Keyboard

• Sonata Lyrica for piano (1955, revised 1963)
• Nocturne for piano (1956); orchestrated in 1965
• Dance of the Disenchanted for piano (1959, 1988)
• 6 Voluntaries for organ (1959)
• A Merry-Mournful (Major-Minor) Mood for piano (1971)
• Wedding March for organ or piano (1977)
• Vestiges, 3 Pieces for piano (1987)

Vocal

• Eclogue: The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd for voice, oboe (or flute, or clarinet, or violin), and harpsichord (or piano) (1958); words by Sir Walter Raleigh
• 4 Songs for tenor and orchestra (1959)
• The Phoenix and the Turtle for mezzo-soprano, flute, bass clarinet, clarinet, string trio, celesta and harp (1964); words by William Shakespeare
• Suite in Homage to Melville for soprano, alto, viola and piano (1966); words by Herman Melville
• Four Songs for voice and orchestra (1969); words from Friday's Child by Wilfred Watson
• Johann's Gift to Christmas for narrator and orchestra (1972)
• Ebb Tide, Encounter V for voice (high or low) and orchestra (1985); words by Marjorie Pickthall
• Time for Three, 3 Songs for mezzo-soprano, viola and piano (1985); words by John Milton, Marjorie Pickthall and anonymous
• Four "Last Songs" for voice, violin and piano (1995); words by Francis Ledwidge

Choral

• 2 Choral Pieces for mixed chorus (1952); words by Wallace Stevens and E. E. Cummings
• Mobile for mixed chorus and percussion (1960); words by Elder Olson
• Prophetic Song for female chorus a cappella (1961); words by Percy Bysshe Shelley
• The Third Day, Cantata for 2 sopranos, contralto, tenor, baritone, mixed chorus and orchestra (1962)
• The House of Christmas, 4 Carols for mixed chorus (1963); words by G. K. Chesterton
• 5 Canadian Folk Songs from the Maritimes and Newfoundland for soprano and mixed chorus (1973)
• 10 Canadian Folk Songs for voice and piano (1973) or voice and orchestra (1980)
• Amoroso Canto for mixed chorus a cappella (1978); words by Wallace Stevens, Paul Verlaine, Louis Dudek, Guillaume Apollinaire and Thomas Hardy
• River of Time for mixed chorus and orchestra (1994); words by Matthew Arnold

Television scores

• Object Matrimony, Television play (1958)
• The Pemberton Valley, Documentary (1958)
• Yosef Drenters, Documentary (1961)

To see more of who died in 2011 click here

Colin Tarrant, British actor (The Bill), died from suicide he was 59.

Colin Tarrant was an English actor best known for playing Inspector Andrew Monroe in ITV's The Bill between 1990 and 2002 died from suicide he was 59..

(14 June 1952 – 26 January 2012) 

Early life and career

Tarrant was born in 1952 in Shirebrook, Derbyshire, and studied for a degree in English and Drama at Exeter University,^[1] then at the cutting edge of dramaturgy. He briefly worked as a teacher before taking up acting, first at the Northcott Theatre Exeter and then with Medium Fair Community Theatre Company, Exeter 1975-7 (a company developed from the university drama department). After leaving Medium Fair he was part of Peter Cheeseman's company at the Victoria Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent.^[2] He worked with Foco Novo, Shared Experience, the RSC and the Leicester Phoenix Arts Centre. His first major television role was that of Will Brangwen in the BBC's adaptation of The Rainbow in 1988, playing opposite Imogen Stubbs. A twelve-year run in The Bill followed between 1990 and 2002, after which he made many appearances on other television programmes as well as returning to the theatre.
In June 2005, he played Brian Clough in the Nottingham Playhouse's production of Old Big 'Ead In The Spirit Of The Man.^[3] The play returned several times to the Nottingham Playhouse and played in other venues across England.^[4] He followed this with the role of the vagrant Davies in a Nottingham Playhouse production of Harold Pinter's The Caretaker, his performance described by The Stage as "brilliant - wild-eyed, twitchy, aggressive, over-defensive and ungrateful".^[5] He starred as the 'Old Gent' in a new adaptation of The Railway Children at the National Railway Museum.^[6] In 2009 he starred with Stephanie Turner in Honeymoon Suite at the New Vic in Basford.^[2] Tarrant performed in a nationwide tour of Calendar Girls which began in Chichester in January 2010.
Television roles included appearances in Holby City, Heartbeat, Doctors, Midsomer Murders, and as Ted Williamson in an episode of Casualty which aired on BBC 1 on 11 December 2010.
Tarrant also taught at secondary schools between acting roles.

Personal life

Tarrant had two sons, Juma Kwasi Woodhouse (born 1987),^[7] and Louis Morris-Tarrant (born 2011) by his girlfriend Sabrina Morris.^[7][8]
Tarrant suffered from depression^[9] and died on 26 January 2012 in the Bristol Royal Infirmary from stab wounds self-inflicted at his home in Bristol.^[1][10] He is survived by his girlfriend and sons.^[10] In April 2012, Tarrant's death was ruled a suicide by Flax Bourton Coroner's Court.^[9]


To see more of who died in 2011 click here

Miguel Nazar Haro, Mexican intelligence chief, head of the Dirección Federal de Seguridad (1978–1982), died he was 87.

Miguel Nazar Haro  was the head of Mexico's Dirección Federal de Seguridad (Federal Security Directorate) from 1978 to 1982 died he was 87..

(circa 1924 – 26 January 2012)

Nazar Haro and the Directorate were involved in the Mexican government's so called Dirty War against leftist insurgents. Nazar Haro was arrested in 2004 on charges stemming from the disappearance of a group of alleged guerillas. In 2006, these charges were dropped.^[1][2]


To see more of who died in 2011 click here

Roberto Mieres, Argentine racing driver, died he was 87.

Roberto Casimiro Mieres was a racing driver from Mar del Plata, Argentina died he was 87..^[1] He participated in 17 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 7 June 1953. He scored a total of 13 championship points.

(3 December 1924^[1] – 26 January 2012)

Formula One & sports car racer

Mieres competed in a number of different sports, including rowing, sailing, rugby and tennis. He first took up motorsport in Argentina with an MG, which he later replaced with a Mercedes-Benz SSK and then a Bugatti formerly driven by Achille Varzi, using the latter to win the Argentine sports car championship. As a reward, he was invited to join his compatriots Juan Manuel Fangio and José Froilán González on a trip to Europe, during which he finished fourth in the 1950 Circuit des Nations in Geneva driving a Ferrari 125 Formula One car. After returning to Argentina, he was recruited by the Gordini team to replace the injured Jean Behra, allowing him to make his début in the World Championship at the 1953 Dutch Grand Prix. He also competed in the French and Italian Grands Prix, taking a best finish of sixth at Monza.^[2]
Mieres scored his best result of 1953, however, in the non-championship Grand Prix de l'Albigeois held in Albi, France, finishing in fourth place.^[3] He also finished third in a sports car handicap race at Caen in July 1953, which was won by Jean Chancel.^[4] In January 1954 Mieres came in second at the Buenos Aires Grand Prix. Maurice Trintignant was victorious after Mike Hawthorn skidded close to the finish.^[5] The tail of Mieres' Maserati caught fire during the 1954 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa Francorchamps. After belatedly realising this, he slammed on the brakes and jumped to safety.^[6] Mieres then finished fifth in a Maserati at the 1954 British Grand Prix at Silverstone.^[7] In the 1957 City of Buenos Aires sports car race Mieres drove a 3.5 litre Jaguar to a fourth place finish. His driving partner was Ninian Sanderson of Scotland.^[8] Mieres later teamed with Anton Van Dorey for a fourth place finish at the 1960 12 Hours of Sebring.^[9]
It is likely that an oil slick dropped by Mieres' Porsche caused a tragic accident at the 1958 Cuban Grand Prix, in which at least four people were killed and fifty more injured. Ferrari driver Armando Garcia Cifuentes skidded on a large oil slick which had been deposited on the track and crashed into a grandstand; one lap earlier, Mieres had pitted to replenish oil he had lost with a broken oil line.^[10]

Retirement

After his racing career wound down in the late 1950s, Mieres returned to his other interest of sailing, and represented Argentina in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. He competed against fellow former racing driver, Prince Bira in the Star class, finishing 17th and beating his old rival in the process.^[11] Only five others have competed in both the Formula One World Championships and the Olympics.^[11] He died at the age of 87 in Uruguay.^[12]

To see more of who died in 2011 click here