The Memorial Wall

Gary was an American musician and composer best known for his 1976 hit songs "Dream Weaver" and "Love Is Alive". Wright's breakthrough album, The Dream Weaver (1975), came after he had spent seven years in London as, alternately, a member of the British blues rock band Spooky Tooth and a solo artist on A&M Records. While in England, he played keyboards on former Beatle George Harrison's triple album All Things Must Pass (1970), so beginning a friendship that inspired the Indian religious themes and spirituality inherent in Wright's subsequent songwriting. His work from the late 1980s onwards embraced world music and the new age genre, although none of his post-1976 releases matched the same level of popularity as The Dream Weaver.

Gary Wright died after a long health battle. He was 80.

His son, Justin, said his father had been suffering with Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia for the past six years.

The singer-songwriter died at his home in Palos Verdes Estates surrounded by his family and loved ones.

Word of his death spread on social media with many fans and fellow musicians sharing their memories of Wright, including singer-songwriter Stephen Bishop.

"The attached photos hold precious memories from the very first and last time we shared the stage together, alongside our mutual musical pal John Ford Coley," wrote Bishop on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"Gary's vibrant personality and exceptional talent made every moment together truly enjoyable. His legacy will live on for many years to come ..."

Veteran journalist and author Peter C. Newman, who held a mirror up to Canada, has died at the age of 94.

He died in hospital in Belleville, Ontario from complications related to a stroke he had last year, which caused him to develop Parkinson’s disease, his wife Alvy Newman said by phone.

“It’s a big loss for Canada,” she said. “He has no peers. There’s no one to fill his shoes. Who is there that’s an author and a journalist that can show Canada to themselves?”

In his decades-long career, Newman served as editor-in-chief of the Toronto Star and Maclean’s, covering Canadian politics and business.

Often recognized by his trademark sailor’s cap, Newman also wrote two dozen books and earned the informal title of Canada’s “most cussed and discussed commentator,” said HarperCollins, one of his publishers, in an author note.

Newman was born in Vienna in 1929 and came to Canada in 1940 as a Jewish refugee.

In his 2004 autobiography, “Here Be Dragons: Telling Tales of People, Passion and Power,” Newman describes being shot at by Nazis as he waited on the beach at Biarritz, France for the ship that would take him to freedom.

“Nothing compares with being a refugee; you are robbed of context and you flail about, searching for self-definition,” he wrote. “When I ultimately arrived in Canada, what I wanted was to gain a voice. To be heard. That longing has never left me.”

That, he said, is why he became a writer.

The Writers’ Trust of Canada said Newman’s 1963 book “Renegade in Power: The Diefenbaker Years” had “revolutionized Canadian political reporting with its controversial ‘insiders-tell-all’ approach.”

Newman was appointed to the Order of Canada in 1978 and promoted to the rank of companion in 1990, recognized as a “chronicler of our past and interpreter of our present.”

His popular histories and biographies brought to life people, places and events that shaped Canada, his profile on the Governor General’s website says.

He was also dedicated to passing on the craft of creative non-fiction to a new generation as a professor at the University of Victoria, it says.

Newman won some of Canada’s most illustrious literary awards, along with seven honorary doctorates, his HarperCollins profile says.

“It’s such a loss. It’s like a library burned down if you lose someone with that knowledge,” Alvy Newman said. “He revolutionized journalism, in business, politics, history.”

On a personal level, Alvy Newman said, her husband had a sharp wit and generous spirit.

“He had a love of the absurd which was so wonderful,” she said. “I think that’s what brought us together. We both had the love of the absurd. We could just find the humor in anything.”

Ronnie Gene Morton died just three days shy of his 77th birthday. Inside his Bible is the handwritten thought: “The Lord may not come when you expect him to, but He’s always on time.” Ronnie died September 2nd 2023 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease and a stay in the nursing home. Yet, he achieved much in those almost 77 years. 

A United States Air Force veteran, Ronnie served during the Vietnam War era. After his military career, he moved his family to Richmond, Va., where Ronnie worked for a time with Clinchfield Railroad. However, the family eventually moved back to Elizabethton and he went back to school at East Tennessee State University, earning a degree in education. 

Ronnie’s first teaching job was at T.A. Dugger Junior High School, however, he eventually became the technology coordinator for the Elizabethton City Schools. “He enjoyed working with all students, but especially junior high students. He took them to state competitions and did a lot of photography with them, teaching them how to develop film. He was a very smart and innovative person,” said his wife, Lucelia. Even after he retired from teaching Ronnie worked with the state curriculum group in technology in Knoxville. He worked for five years with them and according to Lucelia, loved it. 

Ronnie and his wife were the parents of two daughters, Kristie, who has four sons, and Teresa Jeanine, who had cerebral palsy and preceded her father in death. “He loved his daughters, his grandsons, and four great-grandchildren. They were a big part of his life,” said Lucelia. In addition to teaching, Ronnie enjoyed singing, and was part of a quartet for a long time. “He enjoyed Southern Gospel, and among his favorite songs were ‘In the Garden’ and ‘Beulah Land,’ both of which were sung at his funeral. The quartet was a fun-loving group, who loved the Lord and loved to sing about him,” shared Lucelia. She also noted that Ronnie loved his church and constantly read and studied the Scriptures. He also enjoyed genealogy. However, his love for the scriptures and learning new things in the Bible was number one with him, his wife said. Ronnie was a member of Hampton Christian Church but attended Roan Mountain United Methodist Church. “He was a person that loved all Christians regardless of the church they attended and wasn’t much for denominations. He had Christian friends in all churches,” Lucelia said. He continued to sing even after he went to the nursing home. “His cousin ended up in the room with him and just a couple of weeks before he died, they were in the room singing ‘Proud Mary’ and the staff was singing with them. He was a hoot at times,” his wife noted. “Ronnie loved his family, loved the Lord, his church. He really loved life in general. He was a lifelong student,” Lucelia added. 

Ronnie grew up in the Gap Creek community, the son of the late William Henry and Ruth Morton. In addition to his wife and daughter and her family, he leaves behind two sisters, Brenda Hart and Debbie Miller. Ronnie Gene Morton achieved much in his lifetime and touched many lives, even when he was in the nursing home.

 “Parkinson’s is a cruel disease and Ronnie struggled with it for 20 years. But, he made the most of it. He was an upbeat person most of the time and lived as if it was his last day,” Lucelia shared. No doubt, Ronnie Morton would tell you he was a blessed person despite his struggles with Parkinson’s disease and the loss of a young daughter to cerebral palsy. He gave to life all that he had and made the days count.

Dr. Ross Sugar, a loving husband, dedicated father, fantastic friend and accomplished physician, passed away in Baltimore on September 18, 2023, at home, surrounded by his family. He leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, and a life enthusiastically lived.

Born on February 8, 1960, at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, Ross was the beloved son of Jack and Judy Sugar. He grew up in Garrett Park, Maryland, surrounded by sisters who adored him and a broader family who cherished him dearly. During his youth, he displayed a natural aptitude for math and science, and a love for athletics, excelling in tennis, golf, and running.

Ross had a lifelong bond with tight-knit groups of friends from high school and college. His friends appreciated his humor, kindness, sense of adventure, and enthusiasm for life. He was there to support and help any friend, anytime, anywhere, for whatever they needed. His friendships endured throughout the years, until the very end.

Ross attended Charles W. Woodward High School in Rockville and Duke University, where he earned a degree in mathematics. His passion for learning led him to a career in programming, where he met his future wife, Julie, who worked on his software development team. Their love story began at JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) in California, where they shared a passion for travel, humor, and calculus, and embarked on a journey that would define their lives.

They married in 1990 in Baltimore, surrounded by family and friends. Throughout their marriage, Ross and Julie supported each other professionally, challenged each other intellectually, and never stopped making each other laugh. They enjoyed traveling the world together and shared a passion for restoring old houses, renovating 8 of the 9 homes they owned together. Julie’s pragmatic nature complemented Ross’s visionary outlook, and she excelled at turning Ross’s ideas into reality. Everyone who knew them was aware of their deep respect, reverence, and love for each other.

During his first career, Ross had the privilege of working on many exciting projects, including some at NASA, where he contributed to cutting-edge scientific endeavors. However, he felt a calling for a new adventure and craved to follow closer in his physicist father's footsteps. At the age of 34, he embarked on a second career by enrolling in medical school.

His dedication and brilliance were evident as he achieved the highest grade in the country on his subspecialty boards, winning him the Elkin’s award. As a pain management doctor and exceptional diagnostician, Ross was known for his analytical mind. His scientific approach to medicine enabled him to unravel complex medical mysteries. In his residency, after lamenting the lack of quick-reference books for PM&R (Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation) residents, he co-authored one using his own personal notes and drawings. Called the “PM&R Pocketpedia,” it is used by medical residents across the country.

His patients admired and adored him, recognizing his caring and compassionate nature. He had a “no shortcuts” approach to patient care and pain management that resulted in him being voted Baltimore’s Top Doctor many times. His professional journey took him all over the country, including to Los Angeles, Atlanta, Richmond, and Baltimore.

Ross first became a father while in medical school, and was incredibly proud of his children, Kirsten and Nevin, whom he cherished above all else. Parenthood was a central part of his life and he believed it was the most important thing he would do. He coached his son’s sports teams and participated in his daughter’s nightly piano practices, never missing a night. He was their emotional mentor, confidante, and biggest supporter, never missing a single game, show, or event and always answering every phone call.

Dr. Ross Sugar had a lifelong thirst for mastery and knowledge. He played the guitar and violin, enjoyed golfing, tennis, running, skiing, and hiking, and had a diverse set of ever rotating hobbies and pursuits. His retirement allowed him to explore these interests fully and start up new ones. He took up drumming, drawing, and songwriting. He and his sister Erica took boxing lessons together. He edited scientific papers and even wrote a horror screenplay in his later years.

Even after his Parkinson’s diagnosis at 54, he was obsessed with pushing his body and his endurance to their limits. He cycled (he preferred the hills), continued to ski (the steepest black diamonds), climbed mountains (at the age of 53, he and three friends climbed part of Mt. Ranier), and undertook long distance hiking (he walked 500 miles on foot from New York City to Toronto over the course of months in early retirement to raise money for Parkinson’s research). He was fascinated with achieving peak physical fitness and was constantly reading books and researching in pursuit of this goal.

Music was an equally integral part of his life. He was a true aficionado of classic rock and classical music. His ability to identify songs and artists was unmatched and he wasn’t afraid to shed a tear over a powerful chord or a moving lyric.

He had a satirical, self-deprecating sense of humor, and a glimmer in his eye that always made you feel in on the joke (he was a master joke teller, often in character). He had a talent for giving moving toasts and telling engaging stories.

Ross was a dreamer, always brimming with new ideas that he eagerly shared with those around him. He also had a knack for explaining complex things in understandable terms. He was a charming and gentle soul, who had a talent for making others feel like they were the most interesting person in the room. He was open-minded and had an insatiable curiosity, always eager to learn new things.

Dr. Ross Sugar's legacy will live on in the hearts of his family, friends, and the countless lives he touched through his medical practice. His unconditional love, boundless humor, and infectious excitement for life will be remembered with reverence and gratitude.

He leaves behind his wife Julie, his children Kirsten and Nevin (and wife Hilal), his sisters Eve Clancy (and husband Tom) and Erica Sugar (and husband Bobby), his nephew Sam, his uncle Don Blumberg, his aunt Judy Brodsky, his cousins Karen Sledge and Rich Belzer, his sisters-in-law Georgia VanBeck, Linda Kacur (and husband John), and brother-in-law Bob Rappold (and wife Barbara). Ross is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews and countless dear friends.

Richard Michael Holmes, 66, of Danbury, CT, passed away on June 4, 2023.

Richard was born in Bourne, MA to Alfred Walter Holmes and Maria Nicolette Hackett (Holmes) on July 24,1956. He graduated from East Haven High School before attending the University of New Haven and Shephard College as a two-sport athlete and scholar. Richard worked as a teacher in Virginia before moving back to Connecticut to work as a teacher and coach at Notre Dame of Fairfield. He was married to Christine Doolittle (Burnett) and raised his son, Richard Kevin Holmes and daughter, Juliellen Van Lenten (Rodriguez) in Waterbury, CT until 2003.

Richard, known to many as Mr. Holmes or Coach Holmes, first worked in the Danbury Public School system at Broadview in 1993 before moving to Danbury High School as both a Social Studies teacher and multisport coach. He coached both baseball and football at various levels throughout his career including his tenure as Head Football Coach at both Sacred Heart in Waterbury and at Abbott Tech/Immaculate in Danbury. In addition to the lasting impact Richard left on his coworkers and the youth in Danbury, CT, he will be remembered for his love of the Mets and Packers, attending local games of all sorts, enjoying Broadway shows and musicals, and debating history and politics with anyone who would listen. Richard (Rich, Mr. Holmes, Coach, Dad, and Pops) was a loving father, grandfather, and partner and will be missed beyond words by all.

Richard is survived by his mother, Maria Holmes; his son Kevin and his wife Ana, and their three children Sean Kennedy, Angela Kennedy, and Emma Holmes; his daughter Julie and her husband Jonantonio, and their two children, Zoey Rodriguez and Orion Rodriguez; his brother Steven and his partner Nathan; and his partner Lori Amann.