Wallace Edward Clayton; Ran Tombstone Epitaph
Wallace Edward Clayton, 77, who made the Tombstone Epitaph into a monthly “national newspaper of the Old West.” The Society for Professional Journalists honored the Epitaph building in 1996 as a National Historic Site in Journalism. Clayton became involved with the paper after he and three partners bought several historic properties in Tombstone, Ariz., in 1963. After the editor and former owner of the little weekly newspaper died, Clayton became the de facto editor and made it a monthly missile of history for subscribers throughout the country and 34 other nations. He also helped the University of Arizona Journalism Department acquire and use the weekly Epitaph’s name and format for training journalism students to cover small-town activities and to produce a newspaper. On Wednesday in Tucson, Ariz., of complications from a respiratory condition.
Marco Denevi; Latin American Writer
Marco Denevi, 76, who won a Life magazine prize for Latin American writers. The Argentine writer earned the award for his 1960 short story “Secret Ceremony.” The psychological drama was made into a motion picture in 1968 starring Elizabeth Taylor and Mia Farrow. Denevi’s first successful work, “Rosaura a las Diez” published in 1956, was also filmed, by Argentine director Mario Soffici. Denevi was among Argentina’s most widely translated writers, with works published in English, French, Italian and Japanese as well as Spanish. His most recent story was “Una Familia Argentina.” On Saturday in Buenos Aires, Argentina, of cancer.
Pradeep; Hindi Poet, Songwriter
Pradeep, 83, the patriotic Hindi poet popular with prime ministers and paupers alike. Pradeep, who used only the single name, was the favorite poet of Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, who this year conferred on him India’s highest honor for lifetime contribution to cinema, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Pradeep’s Hindi ballad “O My Countrymen,” written in response to a Chinese attack on India in 1962, brought tears to the eyes of the country’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. But the poet’s more than 1,500 songs, including many soulful lyrics that he sung for films, also stirred the hearts of his poorer country members. Pradeep was born Ramchandra Narayanji Duivedi. On Friday in New Delhi of bronchitis.
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