The Death Thread

[CMRivdogs]

This is a minor blip on most folks radar but Dr Robert Reynolds who served for 26 years as director of bands at the University of Michigan and nearly 30 years as conductor o the Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings, as well as mentoring numerous current and former band and orchestra directors around Michigan and the nation passed yesterday. He was 91.

When we lived in Michigan I was fortunate to spend a bit of time playing in the Farmington Concert Band. Director Damien Crutcher was one of his students (and friends). He had Dr Reynolds in on a few occasions to conduct the band, including our 60th Anniversary concert at Orchestra Hall. 

[gehringer_2]

25 minutes ago, CMRivdogs said:

This is a minor blip on most folks radar but Dr Robert Reynolds who served for 26 years as director of bands at the University of Michigan and nearly 30 years as conductor o the Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings, as well as mentoring numerous current and former band and orchestra directors around Michigan and the nation passed yesterday. He was 91.

When we lived in Michigan I was fortunate to spend a bit of time playing in the Farmington Concert Band. Director Damien Crutcher was one of his students (and friends). He had Dr Reynolds in on a few occasions to conduct the band, including our 60th Anniversary concert at Orchestra Hall. 

Reynolds was also one of those guys who had the thankless task of succeeding a legend. He had to go to work everyday in building with his predecessor's name on it. 

[Edman85]

20 hours ago, oblong said:

This is John Candy level.  And not just because they worked together.  Can't even begin to figure out her best work or my favorite.

For a long time for me it was her and Teri Garr as the funniest women alive.  Now I don't know....

 

JLD, maybe?

[Motor City Sonics]

I think Catherine O'Hara would be blown away at just how many people are mourning her today.    

[oblong]

She either auditioned or was already cast on SNL during the Ebersol years but that was also when he brought back Michael O’ Donoghue and he was especially ornery.  The first meeting he talked of destroying the show so she bailed.  She might have been too good for that show. 

[Motor City Sonics]

12 minutes ago, oblong said:

She either auditioned or was already cast on SNL during the Ebersol years but that was also when he brought back Michael O’ Donoghue and he was especially ornery.  The first meeting he talked of destroying the show so she bailed.  She might have been too good for that show. 

No, I'm glad it went down the way it did.    We saw what happened to most of the people from that era.   It's a good thing she walked away.   Smart lady.    If she got sucked into that vortex, the rest of her career probably doesn't happen in a good way.  

[chasfh]

 

[CMRivdogs]

One more. The genus of Christopher Guest, with an under rated classic of A Mighty Wind, The paring of Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara...

 

[oblong]

THere was an awesome photo going around of them holding a young Dan Levy as a young toddler.

[romad1]

On 1/31/2026 at 4:50 PM, oblong said:

She either auditioned or was already cast on SNL during the Ebersol years but that was also when he brought back Michael O’ Donoghue and he was especially ornery.  The first meeting he talked of destroying the show so she bailed.  She might have been too good for that show. 

According to Dave Thomas' book (he loved Catherine) she was having a ton of fun in the SCTV years.  She was the one who got the bands to appear on the show because she was obsessed with all of the new wave acts.  If she had been in the SNL vortex she'd have succumb to all the bad stuff.  

[Deleterious]

Still freaks me out when people younger than me die.

 

[CMRivdogs]

From Tom Hagen to Gus McRae and more. Among the greats of our time. RIP Robert Duvall

https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/robert-duvall-star-godfather-apocalypse-now-dies-95-variety-reports-2026-02-16/

[oblong]

He was a Titan. That generation that came up in the late 70s to complement the directors who took over Hollywood. Will have to watch The Apostle later this week. 

[Mr.TaterSalad]

The Godfather Parts 1 and 2 are two of my all time favorite movies. Robert Duvall's role as Tom Hagan was spectacular. 

THIS IS BUSINESS, NOT PERSONAL SONNY! SOLOZZO MIGHT NOT EVEN BE IN THE CAR SONNY!

[CMRivdogs]

Duvall's first movie was To Kill a Mocking Bird. 

 

[oblong]

Jesse Jackson passed away.

Let's not do politics here, but he was notable.

I just got back from Chicago and was in Millenium Park thinking about the night Obama won and they showed Jackson with tears in his eyes.  I was thinking of that literally yesterday morning.  I'm not making it political, just talking about the coincidence of things like that.