All my life I’ve heard the saying “Death comes in threes”, many times it has appeared the statement rings true. Over the weekend we lost 3 notable celebrities, each one had touched the lives of many in a meaningful way.
This weekend we lost a veteran actor, golfer and a young baseball player. I’d like to take a minute to recognize them all.
While you may recognize the older Nunn as Whoopie Goldberg’s costar in Sister Act, or from The Spiderman Trilogy, there are many for whom Nunn will always be ‘Radio Raheem’. Nunn, a Morehouse graduate got his acting debut in Spike Lee’s “Do The Right Thing.” His death at the hands of police was a turning point in the movie and sparked conversations that are relevant even in today’s society.
Spike Lee initially announced Nunn’s death via Instagram saying,
My Dear Friend, My Dear Morehouse Brother – Da Great Actor Bill Nunn As Most Of You Know Him As Radio Raheem Passed Away This Morning In His Hometown Of Pittsburgh. Long Live Bill NUNN. RADIO RAHEEM Is Now RESTING IN POWER. RADIO RAHEEM WILL ALWAYS BE FIGHTING DA POWERS DAT BE. MAY GOD WATCH OVER BILL NUNN.”
Nunn continued to act until the time of his death after a battle with cancer. His last role was ‘Cash’ on the USA series Sirens. He was 62.
The golfing world lost one of it’s greats over the weekend. Arnold Palmer passed away on September 25th at the age of 87. The golfing great is credited with popularizing golf with the creation of television in the 1950’s. When not playing the sport he loved, Palmer was an avid pilot for over 50 years, logging almost 20,000 flight hours. The Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Latrobe, PA is named after him.
Upon hearing of his passing fellow veteran golfer Jack Nicklaus mourned his longtime friend. “I was shocked to hear that we lost a great friend — and that golf lost a great friend,” Nicklaus said in a statement. “We just lost one of the incredible people in the game of golf and in all of sports.”
Baseball fans and players both are mourning the tragic and sudden death of 24-yea-old Miami Marlins pitcher, Jose Fernandez. The Cuban born Fernanadez was killed yesterday in a boating accident in Miami. The accident also killed two of his friends.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesman Lorenzo Veloz calls Fernándezs’ death a loss to Miami, baseball and to anyone who ever met him.
“He was pillar to our community. He was involved in everything that he could be to give back,” Veloz said. “I had the experience of talking to him several times — down-to-earth, great person … I’m sorry I’m getting goosebumps right now. It’s really hitting home and it’s horrible.”
The Mariners canceled their game yesterday and held a press conference mourning the young player. “The magnanimity of his personality transcended culture, religion and race, I mean it just did,” Marlins President David Samson told reporters.
