Zooming in on Notable Deaths (March 2021) Quiz

Answer: Beverly Cleary

Beverly Atlee Cleary (1916-2021) was one of the US's most successful children's authors. She died on March 25, 2021, 18 days before her 105th birthday. More than 90 million copies of her books have been sold since she published "Henry Huggins" (1950). Before becoming a full-time writer, Cleary worked as a librarian, something that would help her to develop realistic characters that children could relate to. She received several literary awards for her writing.

Aside from her Henry Huggins book series written between 1950 and 1964, Cleary also wrote a series of eight books between 1955 and 1999 centred on Ramona Quimby. These stories were adapted into a 1988 television series and a 2010 film.

With an airman-father, Phoenix Rising's psnz had something of a nomadic upbringing, regularly moving to different RNZAF bases. Each post had a well-stocked library and reading Beverly Cleary's works was a pleasure remembered more than fifty years later.

Answer: Marvelous Marvin Hagler

Marvelous Marvin Hagler was a professional boxer from 1973 to 1987 and from 1980 to 1987 he was the undisputed middleweight champion. He made 12 successful title defenses and at the time of his retirement his 78% knockout percentage was the highest of any middleweight professional boxer.

After his boxing career Hagler moved to Italy and appeared in the Italian films "Indio" (1989), "Indio 2" (1991) and "Virtual Weapon" (1997). In his later years Hagler lived in both Milan and New Hampshire. Sadly, Hagler died at the age of 66 on March 13, 2021.

This question was jabbed into the quiz by Phoenix Rising team member Triviaballer who thought about and then quickly dismissed legally changing his name to include Triviaballer.

Answer: G. Gordon Liddy

George Gordon Battle Liddy was born in Brooklyn in 1930 and was a successful lawyer and FBI agent before working as director of Richard Nixon's victorious 1968 presidential campaign. After serving in several positions in the Nixon administration, he collaborated with E. Howard Hunt to organise and lead burglary of the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate building in May-June 1972. The Watergate scandal led to President Nixon's resignation. In 1973 Liddy was convicted of "burglary, conspiracy, and refusing to testify" at the Senate committee investigating Watergate. He was sentenced to twenty years in prison which was later commuted to eight years by then President Carter in 1976. He served 52 months.

Afterwards he became a noted speaker on the college circuit and organised a series of debates with adversary Timothy Leary, also on the college circuit. He was a successful author in both fiction and non-fiction genres. Mr Liddy acted occasionally in small parts in TV shows including "Miami Vice" (1984), "MacGyver" (1985) and some "Perry Mason" movies. He died aged 90 on March 30, 2021.

This question submitted without comment by Phoenix Rising team member 1nn1.

Answer: John Pombe Magufuli

The son of a peasant farmer, John Pombe Joseph Magufuli worked earlier in life as a chemistry and mathematics teacher and an industrial chemist. He was first elected as a member of Parliament in 1995 and became a cabinet minister in 2000. He served in the ministries of Works, Lands and Human Settlement, and Livestock and Fisheries until 2015 when he was elected President. On March 17, 2021, he died in a hospital in Dar es Salaam after being out of the public eye for two weeks. The cause of death was attributed to heart complications.

Magufuli rose to prominence thanks to his political neutrality and his spotless record in a region plagued by corruption scandals. He earned the nickname "Bulldozer" for his support of major roadworks projects, but the name was applied to his efforts to curb government spending and corruption, and later to refer to his increasingly autocratic tendencies.

Magufuli's Vice President, Samia Suluhu Hassan, succeeded him to become Tanzania's first female president. Exiled opposition politician Tundu Lissu claimed that Magufuli, one of Africa's most prominent Covid-19 denialists, contracted the disease leading to his death. Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan was one of the African leaders who came out to pay tribute.

This question contributed by Phoenix Rising's JCSon, who shares African heritage and the nickname "Bulldozer" (in the form of an Xbox gamertag) with the former president.

Answer: Brokeback Mountain

Larry McMurtry was born in 1936 and he achieved acclaim with the release of his first novel, "Horseman, Pass By", in 1962 which was adapted into the film "Hud" the following year. He would later release the novels "The Last Picture Show" and "Terms of Endearment" which were also adapted into acclaimed films. His popular "Lonesome Dove" series of four novels spawned several television miniseries that were nominated for 18 Emmy Awards.

Most of McMurtry's novels were set in either the American West or his home state of Texas so it seems only fitting that he was picked to adapt the screenplay (along with Diana Ossana) for "Brokeback Mountain" which takes place in both regions and tells the story of two male cowboys who fall in love. McMurtry would continue writing until his death on March 25, 2021 in Archer City, Texas which was also his birthplace.

This question was written into the quiz by Phoenix Rising team member Triviaballer who unlike McMurtry has not had any of his writings adapted into a film or television series.

Answer: Nicola Pagett

Born Nicola Mary Pagett Scott in Cairo, Egypt in 1945, Nicola's father worked for an oil company, so she spent her childhood in Hong Kong, Cyprus and Japan. She studied in Japan and then at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, England.

Ms Pagett was best known as Elizabeth Bellamy in "Upstairs, Downstairs" (1971-1973), also appearing as Elizabeth Kirkbride in the same series. Her extensive portfolio of film and television work included Princess Mary in "Anne of a Thousand Days" (1969) and the title role in the miniseries "Anna Karenina" (1977).

In later life she suffered from manic depression, detailing these experiences in her book "Diamonds Behind My Eyes". Nicola Pagett died on March 3, 2021 aged 75.

Phoenix Rising's psnz was pleased to honour Ms. Pagett with this question.

Answer: No

Segal was at his roguish and comedic best in "A Touch of Class". Whilst the film garnered five Oscar nominations (including Best Picture), and his co-star, Glenda Jackson, scored the Award for Best Actress, George was left without a nomination.

Segal was adept at both comedic and dramatic roles and made a name for himself early in his career featuring in films such as "King Rat" (1965) and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" (1966). He would receive his only Academy Award nomination playing the support role of Nick, alongside Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor in the latter film. His comedic chops were in full bloom in such films as "The Owl & the Pussycat" in 1970, "The Hot Rock" in 1972 and "Fun with Dick and Jane" in 1977. In his later career he became better known for his work as Jack Gallo in "Just Shoot Me!" (1997-2003), a role that earned him his second Golden Globe award.

George Segal died on March 23, 2021, aged 87.

This touch of class was produced by Phoenix Rising's pollucci19.

Answer: Bunny Wailer

Bunny was also known as Jah B, Bunny O'Riley and Bunny Livingston. His contributions to the world of music as a member of the famed Wailers (later Bob Marley & the Wailers) would have been sufficient to cement his place in the history of reggae music but there was so much more. His contributions to Jamaican culture and music would see him recognised with the Order of Merit in 2017, his country's fourth highest honour. Bunny would leave the Wailers in 1973 to embark on a solo career that constantly shifted, spawned the mighty "Blackheart Man" album and garnered a swag of Grammy Award nominations. During the 1990s he focussed on social activism and politics within his lyrics, the most poignant being "Gumption" in 1990 and "Communication" in 2000. He passed away on March 2nd, 2020 as a result of complications from a stroke that he'd endured the year before.

This question was written by Phoenix Rising's pollucci19 who, like many, was dazzled by the mighty talents of both Bob Marley and Peter Tosh that he (sadly) for many years, overlooked the talents of Bunny Wailer.

Answer: Murray Walker

Murray Walker was the voice of motorsport - and Formula One racing in particular - for over half a century. Born Graeme Murray Walker in 1923, he was the son of champion motorcycle racer and motorsport commentator, Graham Walker. He joined the British Army in 1942 and eventually rose to the rank of captain in the Royal Scots Greys. As the commander of a Sherman tank, he took part in the Allies' final advance into Germany in the closing stages of the war and saw action at the 1945 Battle of the Reichswald. After the war he became involved in advertising and is credited with the creation of several well-known slogans such as "Trill makes budgies bounce with health" and "Opal Fruits, made to make your mouth water".

While his attempt to follow in his father's footsteps by racing bikes ended fairly swiftly, he had much more success in the realm of motorsport commentary, often sharing the duties at different events with his father. He first commentated on the British Grand Prix for the BBC in 1949 - a year before the birth of the Formula One world championship - but didn't become a full-time commentator on the sport until 1978. From that point on it was his voice that became synonymous with F1 in Britain and other English-speaking countries around the world.

Murray Walker effortlessly exuded passion for the sport, brilliant knowledge of its history and a friendly rapport with many of its greatest drivers. His enthusiastic commentating style may have led him to make many "Murrayisms" such as "There's nothing wrong with the car except that it is on fire" or "I'm ready to stop my start watch", but these didn't stop him from becoming a much-loved and revered figure by people at all levels of the sport and fans alike. He retired in 2001 and died on March 13, 2021 at the age of 97.

This question and its commentary were provided by Phoenix Rising's Fifiona81, who's got to stop now because she's got a lump in her throat.

Answer: Jessica Walter

Jessica Walter was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1941. Her first appearance on the silver screen was with Warren Beatty, Peter Fonda and Gene Hackman in the 1964 drama "Lilith". In 1971 she was handed the role of Evelyn Draper in "Play Misty For Me" (Clint Eastwood's directorial debut). She died at the age of 80 in March 2021.

Although she had an enormous resume, my favourite role was the one in "The Big Bang Theory", where her portrayal of a seductive benefactress to the university was masterly. Hmm, maybe I mean 'mistressly'. Mrs. Latham explains to Leonard that she attends the annual fundraiser because she enjoys making smart people feel uncomfortable. Leonard (played by John Galecki) overcomes his discomfort and 'takes one for the team' even though Mrs Latham has assured him that she will be donating the money no matter how the date goes. Leonard finds himself lauded by the university President and teased by his friends.

This notable death was reported by Phoenix Rising's BBT fan, VegemiteKid.