Regina Smendzianka, Polish pianist, died at 86.

Regina Smendzianka was a Polish pianist.

(9 October 1924 – 15 September 2011)

Regina Smendzianka was born in Toruń, and began her public performances as a child of eight surprising the audience with her mature interpretation of the classical works. In 1949 she was awarded the just resumed Fryderyk Chopin International Piano Competition's 11th prize soon after graduating from the Kraków State Music Academy with the highest marks. She was a disciple of Zbigniew Drzewiecki from 1950 to 1955, and subsequently launched an international career. Smendzianka held a professorship at the Fryderyk Chopin Music Academy until 1996, briefly serving as the institution's rector. She was a juror at the 1970, 1980, 1995 and 2000 editions of the Chopin Competition.
was a Polish pianist.
Regina Smendzianka was born in Toruń, and began her public performances as a child of eight surprising the audience with her mature interpretation of the classical works. In 1949 she was awarded the just resumed Fryderyk Chopin International Piano Competition's 11th prize soon after graduating from the Kraków State Music Academy with the highest marks. She was a disciple of Zbigniew Drzewiecki from 1950 to 1955, and subsequently launched an international career. Smendzianka held a professorship at the Fryderyk Chopin Music Academy until 1996, briefly serving as the institution's rector. She was a juror at the 1970, 1980, 1995 and 2000 editions of the Chopin Competition.


To see more of who died in 2011 click here

Cyril Parfitt, British artist, died he was 97.

Cyril Harry Parfitt was a British artist.^[1] He was based on the Isle of Thanet in Kent and works using mixed materials and techniques. His notable works include the hand-rendered pencil drawing 'The New Arrivals' which was hung in the Royal Academy.

(February 6, 1914 – October 30, 2011)

Early life

Cyril was born in Norwich, Norfolk, England. He attended the prestigious Gateway School in Leicester and then won a scholarship to Leicester College of Art where he studied for three years. His passions were art and music, he also played the accordion well as a young man. He went on to play both piano and electric keyboard which he still enjoys. He speaks fluent German and cited the reason for learning it as wanting to enjoy reading Goethe in the language it was written. His early career saw him serve an apprenticeship as a lithographic artist.
He worked as a graphic designer in Leicester where his work was frequently seen on many well-known products, until he joined the army at the outbreak of Second World War. Because of his experience as a lithographic artist he was eventually posted to Wales where he was trained in the art of map making and given the task of drafting invasion maps. Here he was to establish a close enduring friendship with the renowned artist Terence Cuneo.

Career

Taking this skill with him at the end of the Second World War, he joined a new Government Department, Directorate of Overseas Surveys (DOS) where he ran his own experimental section. Here he was nicknamed The Wizard of DOS such was his extraordinary talent and problem solving abilities. One of his colleagues once said ‘You can put Cyril in a room with absolutely nothing and he will still somehow manage to produce something utterly wonderful’.^[2]
Utilising his previous printing experience and knowledge he was responsible for designing and supervising colour proofing on specialised relief maps. He innovated new approaches to relief effects and developed a technique for photo mapping.
He prepared international exhibitions and his special maps were acclaimed world wide by cartographic establishments. Two such pieces were exhibited at the Design Centre in London. His contribution to mapping was written about and included in a book produced by the National Geographic Magazine.
His early paintings were of a whimsical nature although he is a competent artist in the conventional style with landscape being a favourite subject. His portraiture and pencil drawings have a lightness and sensitivity much admired.
His fantasy sculptural pieces have been produced in clay and his moving sculptures utilise an assortment of bright and colourful ‘odds and ends’ he has salvaged and stored, truly ‘green’ pieces of work. He has always had an eye for the bright and glittering, the vivid and arresting and toyed with the idea of working with stained glass at one point in his career. He has appeared ITV's Magpie with his creations and his work has been sold in galleries both in the United Kingdom and throughout the world.
Many of his pieces of artwork have been selected by the Royal Academy. His pencil drawing ‘Looking Back’ which took 700 hours and consists of over 6,000 pencil strokes was hung in 1981. Acclaimed as ‘an amazing technical feat’ by The Academy, it is a favourite piece with his many fans.^[3]
Now based on the Isle of Thanet where he has been for some time his technical ‘feet’ aren’t as lively but his mind has lost none of its clarity and vision. Seldom seen without pencil and paper, even when confined to a hospital bed, he is always doodling and creating sketches of his own fantasy world. Particularly inspired by the ‘Turner’ skies here he has started to incorporate them into some of his work. He is delighted to see the Turner Contemporary Gallery taking shape and looks with interest to the artistic endeavours of the local area to assist the regeneration of this beautiful part of the country.


To see more of who died in 2011 click here

Mickey Scott, German-born American baseball player (Baltimore Orioles, Montreal Expos), died he was 64.

Ralph Robert Scott was a left-handed specialist pitcher in North American Major League Baseball (MLB) who played in portions of five seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, Montreal Expos and California Angels from 1972 to 1977. He was born in Weimar, East Germany.^[1]

(July 25, 1947 – October 30, 2011) 


Scott was selected out of Newburgh Free Academy by the New York Yankees in the 17th round (328th overall) of the 1965 Major League Baseball Draft. He was the first high school baseball player drafted out of the Mid-Hudson region of the Hudson Valley by any MLB club.^[2][3] He was traded to the Chicago White Sox for Pete Ward on December 18, 1969.^[4]
He also spent nine seasons in the Minor leagues, mostly for the Rochester Red Wings of the International League. In 1971, he collected a 9–1 record with nine saves and a 3.38 earned run average in 54 games for manager Joe Altobelli’s pennant-winning and Governors' Cup winning-team. He had an even better season for Rochester in 1974, when he was 8–2 with 17 saves and a 0.99 ERA in 57 games.^[5]
In a nine-year minors career, he posted a 60–32 record with 46 saves and a 3.20 ERA in 297 pitching appearances.
He was elected to the Red Wings Hall of Fame in 1998, along with Allie Clark, Frank Horton and Al Weber.^[6]
Scott died in Binghamton, New York, at the age of 64.^[6]


To see more of who died in 2011 click here

David Utz, American surgeon, removed Ronald Reagan's prostate, died from a heart failure he was 87.

David Charles Utz was an American surgeon. Utz was the surgeon who removed United States President Ronald Regan's prostate in 1987.

(December 2, 1923 – October 30, 2011)

During his career her wrote 143 articles that appeared in medical journals.
Utz died on November 30, 2011 due to congestive heart failure aged 87.^[1]


To see more of who died in 2011 click here

Flórián Albert, Hungarian footballer, European Footballer of the Year , died he was 70.

Flórián Albert  was a Hungarian international football player, later manager and sports official, who was named European Footballer of the Year in 1967. Nicknamed "The Emperor",^[2][3] he has been described as one of the most elegant footballers of all time.^[4]
A club legend of Ferencvárosi TC, Albert joined the team yet as a schoolboy and spent his whole playing career at Fradi. He also starred for Hungary, winning 75 international caps and scoring 31 goals. He was joint top-scorer at the 1962 World Cup with four goals and played a key role in Hungary's third-place finish at the European Championship in 1964.^[5]
He stayed loyal to Ferencváros after his retirement as well, actively participated in the club's life and also held administrative positions. Since 2007 the stadium of Ferencváros bears his name.
Albert died in October 2011, aged 70, in a hospital in Budapest after complications following heart surgery carried out a few days earlier.^[1][6]

(15 September 1941 – 31 October 2011)

Early life

The son of a blacksmith, Albert was born and brought up in the little town of Hercegszántó near the border with the former Yugoslavia, where he got his first taste of the game playing with his two brothers. His mother was Hungarian Croat, from the group of Šokci.^[7] She died when he was 2.^[7] When the family later moved to Budapest, Albert participated on a talent day by Ferencvárosi TC.^[8] He impressed the coaches and was selected by club. Albert was 11 years old at the time.^[7]

Career

Albert spent his entire club career with Ferencvárosi TC, where he played from 1952^[7] to 1974. He came through the ranks quickly and made his debut in the senior team on 2 November 1958 against Diósgyőr, in a match he hit the back of the net two times. The forward was also spotted by Hungarian national team manager Lajos Baróti in a youth match between Hungary and Yugoslavia,^[9] and not much later Albert already received his first call-up. His first appearance in the national selection came on 28 June 1959 against Sweden, who finished runners-up in the World Cup a year earlier. Albert contributed with two assist to Hungary's 3–2 win over the Scandinavians. He scored 31 goals in 75 caps for the Hungarian team, with them he has collected the bronze medal on both of the Olympic Games in 1960 and the European Championship in 1964. At the 1962 World Cup, despite Hungary being knocked out in the quarter-finals, Albert, tied with five others, managed to win the Golden Boot Award with four goals.
On club level, his biggest success came in 1965, when in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, Ferencváros, that knocked-out among others AS Roma and Manchester United F.C. en route to the final, triumphed over Juventus F.C. 1–0 in the decisive match and obtained the cup title.^[1]

“	Florian was an extremely elegant footballer with extraordinary skill and ball control. These qualities ensured that he was highly respected by his opponents. I remember his sensational performance in the game against Brazil at the FIFA World Cup in 1966 in England, which cemented his standing as one of the world's top players.	”
—FIFA president Sepp Blatter about Albert[10]

Albert appeared in his next World event in 1966 in England, where he produced an excellent display against Brazil in a duel that is regarded as one of the greatest matches in the history of the World Cup.^[2][10] The Magyars, after lost to Portugal in their first round encounter, entered the match against Brazil as a must-win. Hungary eventually beat the South Americans 3–1, to keep alive their hopes and Albert, who received a standing ovation from the supporters, made the fans forget the absence of Pelé with his performance.^[10] By winning their final group match, Hungary made it to the quarter-finals, just to fell short against the Soviet Union.
The year 1967 was a special one for Albert, who not only won the Hungarian Championship with Ferencváros and collected the Hungarian Player of the Year title, but in December first celebrated the birth of his son, and later he was awarded the Ballon d'Or in recognition of his outstanding attributes.^[2][10] Albert topped the voting with 68 points, twenty-eight ahead of Bobby Charlton, who came second.^[8]
In 1968 Albert appeared in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup final again, this time against Leeds United, but lost by a one goal margin (0–1). On 15 June 1969, in a World Cup qualifier against Denmark, Albert collied with Knud Engedal, goalkeeper of the Scandinavians, and suffered a serious fractured leg injury, following that he was sidelined for almost a year and could never win back his form any more.^[11] Albert returned into action in the Hungarian Championship on 27 April 1970 against Salgótarján and on 4 April 1971 he played his first international match after the injury, a friendly match against Austria. His final major event was the 1972 European Championship, where he caputed a fourth place with Hungary, recording two appearances in the tournament. In the same year he captured the Hungarian Cup title for the first time, thus making his collection of domestic silverwares complete.
Albert played his final league match on 17 March 1974 against Zalaegerszeg. He came on as a substitute in the second half and contributed to the 3–0 victory with a goal, the last one in his career. Albert, following received greetings and gifts from the old boys, the opponents and his son, ran to the stands bowed for the fans and left the field on the shoulders of his teammates.^[8][12]
Following his retirement, he had two short spells as a manager in Libya by Al-Ahly Benghazi, however, with only limited success. After returned from North Africa, Albert worked for Ferencváros in several positions, such as technical director, department leader and later honorary chairman. In 2007, Ferencváros' stadium was named after him.^[13] In the same year, he got a prize in his village of birth, Hercegszántó, becoming an honorable citizen.^[7] In 2010 Budapest, a year later Ferencváros awarded him honorary citizenship.^[14]

Personal life

Albert married to Irén Bársony, an actress on 30 November 1963. The couple had two children, a girl, Magdolna and a son, Flórián Albert, Jr., who, similarly to his father, became a football player with Ferencváros, and later had spells in Israel and France and also played for the Hungarian national team. Albert's grandchild, Flórián Patrik, aims to become a professional footballer as well.^[15]

Death

Farewell from Flórián Albert in front of the stadium named after him

On 27 October 2011, Flórián, after suffering a vasoconstriction, underwent coronary artery bypass surgery. Although a press release the following day by his former club Ferencváros stated that the operation had been successful,^[16] he subsequently suffered a heart attack and died in the early hours of 31 October 2011.^[1]
His funeral took place on 6 November 2011 in the Cemetery of Óbuda. Hundreds of mourners accompanied Albert to his final rest, including Viktor Orbán, Prime Minister of Hungary; Pál Schmitt, President of Hungary; Sándor Csányi, president of the Hungarian Football Federation; Gábor Kubatov, president of Ferencvárosi TC; and former team mates Kálmán Mészöly, Gyula Rákosi, Lajos Szűcs and Tibor Nyilasi. The event was also live broadcasted by Hungarian public television Magyar Televízió.^[17][18]
In the afternoon same day, Ferencváros played a league clash against Paksi SE. Before the match the floodlights were switched off and the stadium turned into dark, with candles lit by the fans are being the only lights in the arena. Ferencváros players wore a special all-black kit in the occasion and fans paid tribute to Albert with a banner saying "God shall be with you Emperor".^[17][19] Supporters of SK Rapid Wien, who have close ties with Ferencváros, also shown honor to Albert with a transparent in their game against SV Ried.^[20]
The friendly match against Liechtenstein played on 11 November was declared a memorial game for Albert by the Hungarian Football Federation. The clash was originally scheduled to take place at the Sóstói Stadion, but later was moved to the Ferenc Puskás Stadium to give more people the opportunity to attend the event. In the four corners of the arena memorial places were erected, where the supporters could pay their tribute to the Golden Ball winner. A five-minute-long compilation of the best moments of Albert was also projected before the kick-off.^[21]
Hungary eventually won the match 5–0 in front of a sold-out crowd with goals by Dzsudzsák (2), Priskin, Koman and Feczesin. Dzsudzsák commented after the match that he is sure that Flórián would have been happy if he could have seen the match, and added, he hopes they rejoiced him in Heaven.^[22]


To see more of who died in 2011 click here

Richard Walls, New Zealand politician and businessman, MP for Dunedin North (1975–1978) and Mayor of Dunedin (1989–1995), died he was 74.

Richard Francis Walls, QSO, JP  was a New Zealand politician and businessman.


(9 October 1937 – 30 October 2011)

Member of Parliament

Parliament of New Zealand
Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1975–78	38th	Dunedin North		National

Walls was a Member of Parliament for Dunedin North from 1975 to 1978.^[1] A member of the National Party, he won the normally safe Labour seat as part of Robert Muldoon's massive landslide victory of 1975. He was the first National MP to represent a significant portion of Dunedin, a long-standing Labour stronghold, in 21 years. Walls was defeated after only one term by Labour's Stan Rodger; to date, he is the last National MP to represent Dunedin.

Dunedin City Council

Walls was first elected onto Dunedin City Council in 1980. Prior to that he served on the St. Kilda Borough Council (1962–65) and on the Otago Harbour Board (1965–74; Chairman 1971–73. He was Mayor of Dunedin for two terms from 1989 to 1995. He was re-elected to the Dunedin City Council in 1998 and until October 2010 he was a councillor representing the Hills Ward; Chair of the Finance and Strategy Committee from 2007 to 2010.^[2][3] In the 2010 Dunedin local elections, he stood in the Central ward, but was unsuccessful.^[4]

Outside politics

In 2010 Walls was Chairman of Dunedin International Airport Limited; a Fellow of the Institute of Directors in New Zealand (FInstD) and a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute Of Management (FNZIM). He was a Justice of the Peace and was appointed Companion of the Queen's Service Order in 1996 for public services.^[2]
He died suddenly in his Dunedin home on 30 October 2011 at the age of 74, and is survived by his wife June and three children.^[5]


To see more of who died in 2011 click here

Abbas-Ali Amid Zanjani, Iranian cleric and politician, President of Tehran University (2005–2008), died from a heart failure he was 74.

Ayatollah Abbasali Amid Zanjani  was an Iranian politician and cleric. He was the only cleric president of University of Tehran, who himself had had no academic education of any kind, that served from 2005 to 2008.^[1][2]

(30 March 1937 – 30 October 2011)

Early life

Zanjani was a member of the Board of Directors of Imam Khomeini International University. He was also the founder of the Research Center for Studies and Researches on Islamic Sciences. Zanjani had strong political ties with Iranian conservatives and was a member of Combatant Clergy Association. He had an active presence in reconsideration of the Constitution in 1989 as the delegate of the Parliament in the Revising Council. He has served as a member of Parliament of Iran from Tehran for two terms.^{[citation needed]}

Political career

Zanjani, an ethnic Iranian Azeri, was the only cleric president of University of Tehran. Zanjani holds no secular academic degree ^[3] and was appointed by Mohammad Mehdi Zahedi, the minister of Science, Research, and Technology in Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's cabinet in 27 December 2005. Before his selection, the president of the University of Tehran was elected by the faculty members. After his establishment as the president of University of Tehran, many students protested in front of the Central Library, where the establishment ceremony was held.^[4] To date, this appointment is considered as one of the most disastrous decisions ever maid in the Iranian academia.
At the time of his appointment as the chancellor of Tehran University, Zanjani was a lecturer with a ranking equivalent to "associate professor".^[3] However after his appointment, He and his allies tried to make a fake academic degree and university ranking for him. As an example Tehran University launched a webpage about his background education, claiming that "he holds a PhD degree from University Elites, Iran".^[5]
During his post as the president of the university, Zanjani was repeatedly criticized for his mismanagements by students and academics. On 5 February 2008, Zanjani was replaced by economist academic Farhad Rahbar after three-days demonstration organized by Tehran University students.^[6]
His teachings of Islamic International Law to the LLM students of international law and public law is considered to be in full contrast with the most fundamental principles of law recognizd by all civilized nations.

Expulsion of University scientists

In 2006, the Ahmadinejad government systematically forced numerous Iranian scientists and University professors to resign or to retire; this policy has been referred to as the "second cultural revolution".^[7] The policy was to replace older professors with younger ones.^{[8][unreliable source?]} Many University professors received letters indicating their early retirement unexpectedly.^{[9][unreliable source?]}


To see more of who died in 2011 click here