The Memorial Wall

Philip A. Forbes, a highly decorated Marine veteran, died on January 23, 2024, at Charlotte Hall Veterans Home in Charlotte Hall, Maryland. He was 86 years old. He died of Parkinsons Disease.

Philip was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on February 6, 1937. He was a Southern Gentleman to his core. He was the only child born to Philip Bosman Forbes (1892 -1977) and Lillian Goff Forbes (1902 -1991).

Philip attended Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, Georgia for four years (1951-1955). He attended Virginia Military Institute for one year and then returned to his beloved Louisiana to attend Louisiana State University. He graduated from LSU in 1960. While there he ran track, played baseball and was in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). He served as the Cadet Colonel of the ROTC. He was in the fraternity Phi Cappa Theta for four years where he served as Vice President.

In 1960 he joined the United States Marine Corps, attending Officer Candidate School at Quantico, Virginia. He served as an Infantry Officer throughout his time in the Marine Corps and he loved every day of it. Philip was in Force Recon having received training in Guerilla Warfare Intelligence (1966), Amphibious Warfare (1969), 5th Force Recon Co Jumpmaster Training (1969) and SCUBA @er Training (1970) among other training. He held badges for parachuting (198 jumps) and underwater demolition. He served two tours in Vietnam and worked as an advisor for the Vietnamese Marines. He talked happily of eating rice balls with the men he trained. Philip was in combat often and held eight Personal Awards for Valor. He earned two Purple Hearts. He is the most highly decorated Marine from Louisiana from the Vietnam War. Philip served on the United States Marine Corps Competitive Rifle Team. Philip retired from the Marine Corps In 1984, however, he remained a consummate and passionate Marine. While working for the Veterans Administration post-retirement his office voicemail was “Perimeter is secure, troops are fed and morale is very high. Semper Fi, Philip Forbes.” People would call just to hear the message.

Philip’s interests were eclectic. He loved reading Hemingway and in 2000 he and a number of his friends were in Pamplona, Spain for a week where he ran with the bulls. He was close enough to touch them and one horn did “poke” his arm, for him a badge of honor. He was a lifetime fan of the New York Yankees and one spring in 1995 he attended Yankee Fantasy Camp in Fort Lauderdale, Florida where he was able to play baseball with Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, Hank Bower, Yogi Berra and so many other wonderful players. He loved old movies and collected films. He could tell you the names of the stars and directors of all the old classics.

Philip loved the music of the great composers; Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Bobby Short, Hank Williams. He knew so many of the lyrics and could belt out the tunes while doing a little soft shoe.

The books on his shelves were divided into sections. Some were biographies of the stars — Humphrey Bogart, John Wayne, Fred Astaire, and John Ford. Most were history with an emphasis on the Civil War and military history.

Philip had a quick wit, a twinkle in his eye and loved a good party. He often wore his Forbes kilt and opened the champagne bottles with a swipe of his Marine Corps sword.

He married Deanna Bergeron in 1959. They divorced in 1981. He married Nan M. Joseph in 1983. They were married for forty years.

His survivors are his wife, Nan M. Joseph Forbes, his children, Philip Forbes, Jr., Michelle Paddock, Nan M. Forbes and Robert R. Forbes, his grandchildren, Jack Henry Paddock, Andrew Forbes, Charles Paddock and Matthew Forbes; great-grandchildren Emet Paddock and Levi Paddock; and his former wife, Deanna Bergeron.

The family gives thanks to all the staff at Charlotte Hall Veterans Home, especially Haley Mozie, Shannon Kauffman and Stacy Cheek.

He was truly a unique individual from a time long past. His generosity, his thoughtfulness and his spirit will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Dr. Jerry F. Toller died on January 22, 2024, from complications associated with Parkinson's disease. He was 91 years old.

Jerry is survived by his loving wife, Dolores; his sister, Rosemary Cagnina; his two sons, Wesley and Wade; and his three loving grandchildren, Bristol, Samanta, and Neil. Sadly, Jerry was predeceased by his daughter, Amy who died of cancer in 2015.

Jerry's journey began in Sioux City, Iowa, in 1932. He was born to Rosa Maria and Heinrich Toller. Jerry had a simple midwestern upbringing and he grew into a boy who was kind, humble, studious, hard-working, and quietly self-confident. He stayed true to his roots as he moved through life.

As a young man, Jerry worked in his uncle's pharmacy where he developed an interest in medicine as a way of helping others. While earning his pharmacy degree from Creighton University, Jerry met Dolores who he married soon afterwards.

After serving in the Army, Jerry continued his work as a pharmacist but realized that he wanted to do more. He then pursued a degree in medicine at the University of Iowa.

In 1965, Jerry moved his family westward, ultimately settling in Yuba City, CA, where he would begin his practice of family medicine. In those early days, family physicians would make actual house calls. Jerry always answered the call, jumping into his old blue Buick with medical bag and stethoscope in hand. He loved working with patients. All told, he spent more than four decades ensuring every one of his patients received the best treatment possible.

After retirement, Jerry found time to explore the world with family and friends. He enjoyed cruises with Dolores to far-off destinations, fishing trips to Alaska with his boys, and relaxing getaways to Maui or Lake Tahoe. He especially enjoyed spending time with his circle of close friends, and he will be fondly remembered for his Shenanigans at Thursday night poker. Jerry also had a passion for gardening, and he grew some of the best tomatoes you will ever taste.

When Jerry's journey ended, he was where he wanted to be - in his home with family and friends. Jerry was a loving husband, brother, father, grandfather, and friend to many. He will be missed.

Marianne Dunn Wofford died on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, after a brave battle with Parkinson's disease.

A loving Granny to Beck and Keane, a steadfast friend and a businesswoman of integrity, she loved to cook and entertain. Her homes reflected her unique taste and love of colorful, lively artwork. Likewise, her gardens were full of texture and color, providing visitors relaxing warm surroundings in which to commune.

Marianne was born in Searcy, Ark., on Dec. 19, 1949, the sixth of seven children. She attended college at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. After marrying, she relocated to San Antonio, where she lived for 14 years and served as a bank officer at Alamo National Bank. In 1984, she moved to Kerrville, Texas, and received her bachelor's degree in business at Schreiner College. While studying there, she also worked as an alumni liaison for the Hill Country College Fund.

She spent the next 22 years as an investment advisor with A.G. Edwards and Morgan Stanley before opening her own Ameriprise Financial office (Collum, Wofford and Associates) with Dawn Collum in 2012. She took great pleasure and care in helping her clients plan their financial futures.

Marianne believed in serving her community and did so on numerous boards and committees, most significant of which was fundraising for the Dietert Center and co-chairing the Hill Country College Fund. She was also the first woman president of the Rotary Club of Kerrville, and served as an elder at First Presbyterian Church.

After being diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2014, Marianne, as was typical, found a way to turn a negative into a positive by helping others. With help from a few close friends and support from Peterson Regional Medical Center, she set about creating a Parkinson's support group. Its monthly attendance quickly grew and continues to provide information and support to patients and caregivers. While servicing on the support group board, she helped bring to Kerrville the beneficial Parkinson's therapy programs Big and Loud and Rock Steady Boxing. She received an award for this work from the San Antonio Parkinson's Association.

Marianne was preceded in death by her parents, O.L. Dunn and Blyss Gentry Dunn; as well as brothers, Gentry Owen Dunn, Danny Lane Dunn and Michael Duane Dunn; and sisters, Carolyn Blyss Dunn Householder, Pamela Jean Dunn Griffin and Rita Dunn Sultan. As adults, she and her sisters took "Sisters' Trips" and had so much fun that their brothers decided they would travel along as well.

She is survived by her son, Bryan David Wofford, his wife, Erin Mosty Wofford, and her beloved grandsons, Beck Scott Wofford and Keane Emmet Wofford, all of Center Point, Texas. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews, all who brought great joy to her life. She was affectionately known as "Granny" to many great-nieces and -nephews.

Marianne unfailingly touched lives with her kind spirit and is leaving many loved ones and friends to honor her life.

James G. Rutter Jr., 75, of Brunswick, died Jan. 19, 2024, from Parkinson’s Disease.

He was born on Nov. 27, 1947, in Sewickley, Pa. to James Rutter and Julia Sovak. Jim graduated from Foxboro High School, Foxboro, Mass., before joining the United States Army, serving in Germany and Vietnam from 1965 to 1969, attaining the rank of Specialist 5. He received a Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Vietnam Service Medal. Jim earned a BA from the University of Boston in 1978, majoring in English. Jim worked for the Social Security Administration.

Jim was an active sportsman. He hiked the Appalachian Trail, ran in the Boston, Baltimore, and New York City Marathons, and completed the Mt Washington, NH Run. Jim was also an avid bicyclist, cross-country skier, ice skater, photographer, and author.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife Constance Willis Rutter, brother David Rutter and a large extended family.

Margaret “Peggy” Rich, of Duluth, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 17, 2024 surrounded by her family.

Peggy was born in Duluth on June 25, 1926 to Jasper and Margaret Barncard. She was the first woman to graduate with a dual degree in Physics and Chemistry from the University of Minnesota. She received an offer to attend Columbia University on a Fellowship. She was not able to attend, however, and later graduated with a Masters Degree in Education from the University of Minnesota, Duluth. She spent her educational career in a variety of teaching and administrative roles within the Duluth Public Schools. She particularly enjoyed working with students who had special needs. Her last position was working with the Teen-Parent Program where she developed strategies, particularly around math, that would prepare and empower young moms with the life skills they needed to go forward.

She married Joseph Rich on July 9, 1947 and raised 3 children. Together, they shared many memories at the family cabin on Rose Lake and through their extensive travels throughout the world. Her love and support for Joe was steadfast during his 28-year battle with Parkinson’s prior to his death in 2012.

Peggy was preceded in death by her husband, Joe, sister Joanne, her parents and two grandchildren.

She is survived by her daughter, Sue (Steve) Slotness; twin sons, Jim F. (Joan) and John A. (Brenda); six grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

Mickey Cottrell, the PR executive who specialized in the indie film business and worked both as an actor and a producer, died on New Year’s Day at the Motion Picture & Television Fund in Woodland Hills. He was 79.

His death was confirmed by his sister, Suzie Cottrell-Smith, who said he suffered from Parkinson’s disease. Cottrell experienced a stroke in 2016 and had gone to live with his sister in Arkansas before returning to Los Angeles in 2019.

Cottrell was born September 4, 1944, in Springfield, IL, and spent part of his childhood in Monroe, LA. At age 8, he moved with his family to Little Rock, AR, where he grew up. He attended the University of Arkansas and spent more than 30 years in the film and PR industries, co-owning multiple firms including most recently Inclusive PR, repping pics including Bill Cunningham: New York, Stones in Exile, Ballets Russes, Down to the Bone, Body of War and Outfest winners Keep the Lights On and Weekend, among others.

“Some of my successes have given new life to films that might not otherwise have had the chance, ranging in scale from big budget to minute,” he wrote in his LinkedIn bio. “I have had the great joy of representing many important film artists

Among the filmmakers whose careers he championed was Phillip Noyce; he served as a publicist on Noyce’s 1989 thriller Dead Calm starring Nicole Kidman, Sam Neill and Billy Zane.

“He did a lot for Phillip,” Cottrell’s sister Suzie told Deadline. “When Phillip first came to Hollywood, he didn’t know anybody. Mickey was instrumental about getting his films recognized.”

Cottrell’s acting credits include roles in Gus Van Sant’s My Own Private Idaho, Tim Burton’s Ed Wood, Paper Hearts, Apt Pupil and The Fluffer as well as John Cameron Mitchell’s Shortbus and two Star Trek series: The Next Generation and Voyager. Cottrell-Smith said her brother wrote some of his own dialogue for My Own Private Idaho, playing a client of street hustler Mikey Waters (River Phoenix).

Cottrell was also a producer of indie films, most recently 2014’s Perfect Cowboy.

At the MPTF, Cottrell was a member of the writing club the Grey Quill Society. As part of the fund’s Giving Day in 2020, Matthew McConaughey read an excerpt from Cottrell’s short story The Fireman’s Equipment.

Cottrell was a famed raconteur, often holding court in a booth at Musso & Frank Grill in Hollywood (the restaurant is located near Cottrell’s office, a space formerly occupied by Debbie Reynolds’ company).

“He was the most fun brother ever,” Cottrell-Smith said. “So many good memories of when I was a kid — we’d sing together, dance, just all kinds of fun things that went on all the time when he was around. … He was just so fun, full of life, entertaining. Every woman in the neighborhood adored him. He had a job when he was a teenager where he would take the bus downtown and he had to walk two or three blocks home from the bus stop, and he’d be singing and dancing all the way home. And all the ladies in the neighborhood would come outside and watch him.”

She added: “He knew every movie ever made and every little bit actor that was in movies. It was amazing. I could just ask him the question and he always knew the answer when it came to a movie.”

John McAvoy, a colleague of Cottrell’s at Inclusive PR from 2014-19, told Deadline: “I don’t want to reduce his life down to his work as a publicist because in many ways you feel that it was his journey as a person and an artist that allowed him to practice PR in the way that he did… He was an artist first and he taught me that, at its best, publicity is about pure enthusiasm and joy and that it can be a vital part of a broader creative process rather than merely a necessary lubricant in the sales process. RIP to the Wizard.”

Cottrell is survived by his sisters Suzie and Gigi. He was predeceased by his older brother, Rod.

Friends, family, and members of the community honored the life and legacy of longtime El Paso civil servant Carl Robinson.

The former El Paso County Commissioner and Northeast City Representative died December 22, 2023.

"I'm so proud of him for what he accomplished. For one person to accomplish so much," said county commissioner Carlos De Leon.

Robinson was a Vietnam War and served in the U.S. Army for 25 years.

He was stationed at Fort Bliss in 1977 and decided to make El Paso his home.

Robinson served as the Northeast City Representative from 2009 to 2017.

He then served as a County Commissioner from 2018 to 2022.

Robinson will be buried at Fort Bliss with full military honors.

Born in Tehran, Safaipur began his career in professional wrestling and achieved several championship titles before entering the world of cinema under the name "Tufan" and gained fame.

Safaipur started his serious acting career at the age of 14 in 1963 when he appeared as a stuntman in the film " Fear and Darkness" directed by Mohammad Matevasselani.

After the victory of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, he returned to acting with the film "Mirza Kuchak Khan" in 1983 and gradually gained recognition through his roles in films such as "Gray Season," by Shahram Shobeiri, "Prey at Night," by Ali Amjadi, "Plaque," by Ebrahim Qazizadeh and "The Final Blow" By Davud Movassaqi. His first role in television was in the series "Simorgh" by Hossein Qassemi Jami in 1992.

In recent years, he has been battling Parkinson's disease, which has led to a decrease in his cinematic activities.

Donald Arthur Brown, known by all as Don, died following a long battle with Parkinson's Disease on December 13, 2023.

The youngest of three, Mr. Brown's father Samuel was one of the ten 'California Brothers' who were renowned for their exploits in the booming herring trade and for taking part in the Dunkirk evacuation.

After finishing school, Mr. Brown briefly followed his father by spending time at sea.

As a teenager, Mr. Brown was taught the skill of butchery at Hunns in Caister. After carrying out National Service, Mr. Brown returned to butchery, working for David Greggs and eventually becoming a manager at a shop on Bells Road, Gorleston.

While he was in his 40s, Mr. Brown became his own boss, establishing Don's Family Butchers on Church Lane, Gorleston, which he ran until his retirement.

A Norwich City Football Club season ticket holder, Mr. Brown loved the beautiful game.

Closer to home, he was known as a great supporter of Gorleston Football Club, sponsoring the team during the 1980s and providing players with a free pound of sausages and a steak for every goal they scored and making it on the pitch.

Mr. Brown also loved the great outdoors and was a keen gardener, with his sizeable rose collection being among his greatest prized possessions.

He served in most officer positions, including chairman for many years, and assisted the annual November poppy collection in Caister, often seen rattling a collection box in local supermarkets, and helped raise thousands of pounds for the charity.

Mr. Brown was also the legion standard bearer, attending the funerals of many ex-servicemen in the area, and flying the standard on behalf of the legion at many grand occasions.

He also took the Caister standard to Ypres and participated in a remembrance service at the Menin gate.

His final deed for the legion, before he could no longer actively participate, was closing the local branch and working with the parish council to return the standard from the legion and rest in its rightful place in Caister church.

Mr. Brown's first love was his wife of 67 years, Iris, whom he met when aged 17 at a dance held at the Britannia Pier. Mr and Mrs Brown had two boys, Michael and Ian, four grandsons and four great-grandchildren.

Mr. Brown is remembered as a true gentleman and a well-loved member of the local community, whose motto was “It is easier to please than to tease”.

Rappahannock native Roger Welch, a long-time member of the Board of Supervisors, died at his farm in Flint Hill after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. 

Welch, 77, represented the Wakefield District on the Board of Supervisors for 19 years. His daughter, Courtney, said, “Dad always had a smile and a kind word. He was just kind in all of his decision making.”

“He was really dedicated to Rappahannock,” she said. “He had a true servant’s heart.” Welch had once been president of the local Lions Club and a deacon at Washington Baptist Church.

After graduating from Rappahannock High School, Welch attended Virginia Tech, served in the United States Navy submarine service as an electrical technician during the Vietnam War, and then earned a degree in electrical engineering from J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College near Richmond.

After his military service, Welch joined General Electric’s Factory Automation Group in Richmond as a comptroller and later managed that group’s national training center. He visited Rappahannock regularly and built a home on his property outside of Flint Hill in 1988.

Welch is survived by his wife, Geneva, daughter, Courtney, son, Ryan, and grandchildren.