Maria Montanez

Roberta Flack

Feb 09, 1937 - Feb 23, 2025

Manhattan, NY

The Legendary RnB singer to win the Grammy for "Record of the Year" in consecutive years, Roberta Flack, tragically passed away at the age of 88. The late singer, known for her hits including "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face " and "Killing Me Softly With His Song," had publically announced that she was suffering from a motor neuron disease in 2022. Due to this, Flack was unable to sing despite having a beautiful voice. Roberta Flack was born in Carolina and raised in Virginia. She started her journey in music by being a pianist. She got a scholarship to Howard University at the age of 15, and later on, she became a teacher. She would moonlight as an opera pianist in the night and would perform pop numbers in between. In 1966, she married a jazz musician, Stephen Novosel, and their marriage lasted till 1972. It was her kind spirit that urged her to open a music school in New York that offered music education to disadvantaged children. Her school was called "The Roberta Flack School of Music in New York." In 2019, she suffered a stroke, and it was revealed that Roberta was also suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Flack's massive impact on the music industry can be gauged through her numerous accolades and the timeless quality of her work. She was bestowed with a "Lifetime Achievement Award" at the 2020 Grammys. Roberta possessed the ability to convey deep emotions through her music. She leaves behind a legacy of resilience, honor, and empathy.

Peter Westbrook

Apr 15, 1952 - Nov 28, 2024

Manhattan, NY

The first Black American fencer to win an Olympic – Peter Westbrook, passed peacefully at the age of 72. Peter Westbrook, who was not only the first black American fencer to win an Olympic but later developed many Olympians with his fantabulous coaching, died on Friday. The reason behind his death is reported to be complications due to liver cancer, with which he fought bravely. He earned an Olympic bronze medal at the L.A. Games in the individual saber. Moreover, it was the first time in 24 years that an American won such a medal in fencing. Being a five-time Olympian, Peter was soon inducted into the United States Fencing Wall of Fame. He also aced the 1976 Montreal Games and competed in the 1996 Atlanta Games. He was a fantastic coach. Working along with the underserved, Peter made his foundation in 1991 and helped develop many Olympians. Westbrook also worked on the Board of Directors of the U.S. Olympic Committee and appeared before the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate on the value of sports in offering opportunities for self-discipline, personal growth, and accomplishments. His wife, Susann; stepson, Dorian Miles, Sr.; grandchildren; sister, Vivian; and extended family survive him.

Clifton R. Wharton Jr.

Sep 12, 1926 - Nov 15, 2024

Manhattan, NY

Former MSU President Clifton R. Wharton Jr., who broke racial barriers, passed away at 98. Dr. Wharton, who shattered racial barriers in a multidimensional career in international development, education, and business, serving as the first Black president of a predominantly White university, took his last breath at an assisted living center in Manhattan. The reason behind his demise was metastatic cancer. He was the Harvard-educated son of the first African American career diplomat to earn the rank of ambassador and minister. Thus, Dr. Wharton seemed to move freely through the corridors of power. Early in his career, being the first Black recipient of a doctorate in economics from the University of Chicago, it did not take him long to become a prominent figure in economic and agricultural development. He became a leading figure in Latin America first. Then, he expanded to Asia, where he spent six years of his life. In 1969, he was introduced as the next president of the Michigan State University, making his first appearance before approximately 77,000 people at a football game. He became an influential figure within the MSU’s community. During his tenure, he kept up with the rigor of students’ studies and academic quality while offering more accessibility to education for those of lacking backgrounds. He also supervised an uproar in Rhodes Scholars and the opening of two more colleges at MSU. After his time spent at MSU, Wharton Jr. went on to get more firsts in education. He became the first Black Chancellor of the State University of New York System. His career expanded to other fields, including politics and philanthropy. He will always be remembered for his ability to shape the educational landscape and image for generations to come.

Lillian Schwartz

Jul 12, 1927 - Oct 11, 2024

Manhattan, NY

Pioneer in Computer-Generated Art – Lillian Schwartz dies at the age of 97. Lillian was one of the first artists to help bring together the scientific, artistic, and technology communities in the 1970s. She offered a glimpse of the possibilities at the junctions of these fields. One of the first artists to use the computer, Lillian Schwartz, has died at her home in Manhattan. She was an experimental and restless artist who spent her initial career bouncing from one medium to another, like acrylics, watercolors, sculptures, and whatnot. She often layered one on top of the others and combined disparate, sometimes unusual, materials. Soon, the computer became her medium of choice. She found her knack for this medium when she was invited to join “Bell Labs” in the late 1960s as a resident visitor. With the assistance of her colleagues there, she created some of the first films to use computer-generated images, using photo filters, lasers, paint, and discarded footage from science films, among other elements. Lillian was born in Cincinnati in 1927 to Jacob and Katie Feldman. Her mother had immigrated from Liverpool, England, and her father was a barber who was born in Russia. Lillian also had an older brother who taught her to use pastels, oils, Conte crayons, charcoal, and various other materials. Thanks to him being in art school. Ms. Schwartz’s early canvases were made out of scraps of discarded clothes of her older siblings. In order to pay for her college tuition, she signed up for the Cadet Nurse Corps during World War II. She began studying at the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing and Health. It didn’t take her long to realize that nursing was not meant for her. During her time in the cadet corps, she met James Schwartz, a medical intern at Cincinnati General Hospital. They got married in 1946. Her husband was stationed in postwar Japan in 1948, where he tended to U.S. service members. Lillian along with their first son, Jefferey, joined him in Japan in 1949. Soon after setting foot there, she contracted polio, which got her paralyzed from the waist down as well as in the right arm. Even though Ms. Shwartz got the ability to use her arm and walk again, she never truly recovered entirely. After leaving Japan, the family settled in St. Louis, where Lillian started studying various forms of art, starting a pattern of evolution and exploration. She learned how to work in a lot of mediums and put her own twist on them. The realm of art, along with media historians, will always know Lillian Schwartz as a pioneer who came up with innovative ideas for new digital tools and produced revolutionary and genre-defying artworks.

Elke Solomon

Apr 09, 1943 - Jan 08, 2024

Manhattan, NY

"Elke Solomon was an esteemed American artist, curator, educator, and community worker. She passed away on January 9th, 2024, in Manhattan, New York, at the age of 80. Born in Rochester, New York, on April 10th, 1943, Solomon's artistic journey began with diverse education and early career roles in art curation and academia. She made significant contributions to the art world through her interdisciplinary practice, which encompassed painting, drawing, object-making, performance, and installation. Throughout her career, Solomon exhibited widely both nationally and internationally, leaving a lasting impact on the art community. Notable highlights include her tenure as an A.I.R. Gallery Artist and her involvement in groundbreaking exhibitions and performances that addressed political and social issues. In her later years, Solomon's artistic focus shifted towards cutting stencils of identifiable objects from Western culture, resulting in vibrant and thought-provoking works that challenged traditional artistic conventions. Her legacy as an innovative artist and influential figure in the art world will continue to inspire future generations. Elke Solomon's passion for art and her dedication to her craft have left an indelible mark on the cultural landscape, ensuring that her memory will endure for years to come. "