Former Defense Secretary Ash Carter dies at 68 following 'sudden cardiac event'



Former Defense Secretary Ash Carter died on Monday at 68 years old following a "sudden cardiac event," a statement from his family noted.

"It is with deep and profound sadness that the family of former Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter shares that Secretary Carter passed away Monday evening in Boston after a sudden cardiac event at the age of 68," the family's statement noted. It also stated that Carter had "devoted his professional life to the national security of the United States and teaching students about international affairs. He was a beloved husband, father, mentor, and friend. His sudden loss will be felt by all who knew him."

Carter had held the role of director of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School.

"A Rhodes Scholar and theoretical physicist, Secretary Carter loved academia, teaching, and mentoring students. He believed that his most profound legacy would be the thousands of students he taught with the hope that they would make the world a better and safer place," the statement noted.

\u201cFull statement from the family of former #SecDef Ash Carter on his passing, as sent by Peter Cook\u201d
— Carla Babb (@Carla Babb) 1666706378

Carter served as Defense Secretary during a portion of President Barack Obama's tenure in office.

Prominent figures, including Obama, current President Joe Biden, and current Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, issued statements commemorating Carter.

Austin said in a statement that "the entire Department of Defense mourns the loss of a towering intellect, a steadfast leader, a devoted mentor to countless public servants, and a great patriot who devoted his life to strengthening the security of the country that he loved." Austin noted that Carter "tore down barriers to service when he made the decision to open all U.S. combat positions to women and announced that transgender Americans could openly serve in the U.S. military."

Biden described Carter as "honest" and "principled" and "a man of extraordinary integrity" — Biden also said that Carter had "opened every field of military service to women and protected the rights of transgender service members."

Obama said in a statement about Carter that "under his leadership, America accelerated its counterterrorism efforts, opened combat roles to women, modernized its weapons systems, and strengthened our alliances around the world."

\u201cToday we mourn the passing of former Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and celebrate a leader who left America\u2014and the world\u2014safer through his lifetime of service. Michelle and I extend our heartfelt sympathies to Ash\u2019s wife, children, and all those who loved him.\u201d
— Barack Obama (@Barack Obama) 1666716199
So This Is How Liberty Dies … | 9/6/22

So This Is How Liberty Dies … | 9/6/22

Beloved children's book author and artist Eric Carle dies at 91



Eric Carle, author and artist of "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" and more than 70 other children's books, passed away this week at the age of 91.

What are the details?

NPR reported that Carle's family said in a statement that the author "passed away peacefully surrounded by family members on May 23, 2021 at his summer studio in Northampton, Massachusetts."

The outlet noted that Carle was nearly 40 years old before he began his famous life's work of illustration and writing, and he was inspired by his childhood memories walking through nature with his father.

Carle was born in New York, but returned to Germany with his immigrant parents prior to World War II.

During that time, NPR reported:

Carle was beaten by teachers and shot at by soldiers, and his beloved father disappeared into a Russian prisoner-of-war camp for years after being drafted to fight for the Nazis. The man who wrote The Very Hungry Caterpillar experienced hunger firsthand.

Upon Carle's return to the U.S. at the age of 23, he began working for The New York Times.

The New York Times reported that "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" has "sold more than 55 million copies around the world since it was first published in 1969, its mere 224 words translated into more than 70 languages."

"I didn't think it was going to be an extraordinary book," Carle told Entertainment Weekly in 1994, as the book turned 25. "But children love it. Caterpillar reassures young kids that 'you scrawny, ugly little thing will grow up and fly and display your talent and beauty."'

Other famous books of Carle's include "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" and "The Very Busy Spider."

Montana guide dies after being mauled by grizzly bear near Yellowstone National Park



A Montana man has died days after he was mauled by a grizzly bear while he was fishing alone in an area outside Yellowstone National Park.

What are the details?

The Associated Press reported that backcountry guide Charles "Carl" Mock, 40, of West Yellowstone was attacked Thursday while in a forested area along the Madison River, and sustained "significant scalp and facial wounds."

He passed away in a hospital on Saturday from a stroke, which KIFI-TV reported was "a bit of a shock" to both doctors and Mock's family after he appeared to have been recovering well after undergoing two surgeries.

Mock was able to call 911 for help after the mauling, and was found in less than an hour. He was transported via toboggan and snowmobile before he was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Idaho Falls.

Officials discovered a moose carcass roughly 50 yards from where Mock was attacked, leading them to believe the bear might have been defending the carcass.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks spokesperson Morgan Jacobsen told the AP that Mock had bear spray on his person during the attack and that the safety tab on the device had been pulled, but authorities do not know if he was able to use it to defend himself.

Jacobsen said that an older male grizzly was killed Friday "after it charged a group of seven game wardens and other personnel as they approached the scene of the attack." The bear, which officials are confident is the one that attacked Mock, was fired at by several people before it dropped 20 yards from the group.

Grizzly mauling near Yellowstone kills backcountry guide www.youtube.com

Anything else?

A GoFundMe page created to assist with Mock's medical bills said that he had "such passion for outdoors, hiking, fishing, photography, and is a beloved guide to countless visitors in Yellowstone."

The organizer provided an update following his passing:

We would like to let you know that early this morning Carl suffered a massive stroke and sadly, he didn't make it through. This comes as a terrible shock and is heartbreaking to everyone, since both the surgeries went so well. We will keep you updated with the service information as the plans are made. All of the money that is being donated on this page and in the cans throughout town will be given to the family to help cover the medical bills and funeral costs. We appreciate the continued support from this community to help ease these financial burdens for Carl's family.

'The Sound of Music' star Christopher Plummer dies at 91



Actor Christopher Plummer, who rose to fame for his role as Austrian naval officer Georg von Trapp in the musical, "The Sound of Music," has died at the age of 91.

What are the details?

The Canadian-born actor won myriad awards including two Tonys, two Emmys and an Oscar over a career that spanned seven decades. He passed away Friday at his Connecticut home due to complications from a fall, The Washington Post reported.

CBS News reported:

A veteran of the stage, Plummer became a household name in the 1965 megahit musical "The Sound of Music." Despite the film's runaway success and place in American film history, Plummer famously was never really a fan of it. In 2015, he told CBS News: "I'm so sick of hearing my own voice talking about it."

"I just didn't particularly think my role was the most exciting thing I've ever had in my life," he said.

According to The New York Times, before Plummer came to appreciate "The Sound of Music" along with the classic musical's fans, he told People magazine in 1982, "That sentimental stuff is the most difficult for me to play, especially because I'm trained vocally and physically for Shakespeare."

He added, "To do a lousy part like von Trapp, you have to use every trick you know to fill the empty carcass of the role. That damn movie follows me around like an albatross."

Nonetheless, the musical is considered one of the most famous ever made, and it propelled Plummer to stardom.

Deadline Hollywood noted that "the movie's soundtrack, which features such classic songs as "My Favorite Things," "Edelweiss" and the title track, spent two weeks at No, 1 in the U.S. and an astounding 109 weeks — more than two years — in the top 10."

Plummer went on to star in an array of other famous films, including 1975's "The Man Who Would be King," 1999's "The Insider," 2001's "A Beautiful Mind," as well as 2018's "Knives Out" at the age of 88.

In a statement released following his passing, Plummer's "The Sound of Music" co-star, Julie Andrews, said of him, "I treasure the memories of our work together and fun we shared through the years. My heat and condolences go out to his lovely wife Elaine, and his daughter Amanda."

Plummer's manager of 46 years, Lou Pitt, also issued a statement, saying:

"Chris was an extraordinary man who deeply loved and respected his profession with great old fashion manners, self-deprecating humor and the music of words. He was a national treasure who deeply relished his Canadian roots. Through his art and humanity, he touched all of our hearts and his legendary life will endure for all generations to come. He will forever be with us."

'Gilligan's Island' star Dawn Wells dies at 82



Actress Dawn Wells, best known for her role as Mary Ann Summers in the 1960s sitcom "Gilligan's Island," has died at the age of 82.

What are the details?

Wells' publicist Harlan Boll announced her death in a Facebook post on Wednesday, disclosing that the actress "passed peacefully this morning, in no pain as a result of complications due to Covid."

Boll gave a biography detailing Wells' career, writing:

A native of Reno, Ms. Wells represented Nevada in the Miss America pageant in 1959. She found success in Hollywood immediately afterward, appearing in such shows as 77 SUNSET STRIP, MAVERICK, BONANZA, THE JOEY BISHOP SHOW and HAWAIIAN EYE. She was later cast in the role of a lifetime as Mary Ann in GILLIGAN'S ISLAND, beating out 350 other actresses. Dawn appeared and starred in TV shows, including WILD WILD WEST, THE F.B.I., VEGA$, GROWING PAINS, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL, and BAYWATCH (as Mary Ann Summers).

The New York Times wrote in Wells' obituary that in her role on "Gilligan's Island," she "radiated all-American wholesomeness, Midwestern practicality and a youthful naïve charm."

Beyond her successful television and movie career, Wells "appeared in more than 60 theatrical productions," Fox News reported, noting that she also published a memoir in 2014 titled, "What Would Mary Ann Do?"

According to CBS News, "Gilligan's Island" ran from 1964 to 1967, and remains popular in reruns. The show's setting was a deserted island where seven shipwrecked tour-boat passengers found themselves stranded.

With the passing of Wells, the only remaining cast member of the show alive today is Tina Louise, who played a movie star named Ginger.