Notable Passings

...Former child actress Sybil Jason has passed on at the age of 83.

Miss Jason's death was announced on her Facebook page, which said, in part, "Thank you for making her time here a happy one."

Sybil Jason starred in several films, including I FOUND STELLA PARISH (1935) and COMET OVER BROADWAY (1938) with Kay Francis, as well as THE LITTLE PRINCESS (1939) and THE BLUE BIRD (1940), both with Shirley Temple.

A few years ago she published a memoir, MY FIFTEEN MINUTES: AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A CHILD STAR OF THE GOLDEN ERA OF HOLLYWOOD, which was followed by FIVE MINUTES MORE.

...Ross Barbour, the last of the original members of the Four Freshmen vocal group, recently passed away at the age of 82.

Barbour is seen at the right in the accompanying photo.

Just three months ago Barbour's cousin, Bob Flanigan, passed on.

Please visit The Four Freshmen Society and The Four Freshmen for more information on Ross Barbour and the history of the Four Freshmen.

...Earlier today writer Linda Alexander Tweeted the information that actress Patricia Hardy has died.

Hardy, who was 79, was the widow of actor Richard Egan. She appeared in a couple of minor films, including GIRLS IN THE NIGHT (1953), but mostly worked in television until she retired at the end of the '50s.

August 30th Update: The Hollywood Reporter has published an obituary with further details on Hardy's life.

...Reza Badiyi is a familiar name to anyone who paid attention to TV credits over the past few decades.

Mr. Badiyi, who is said to have set a record for directing the most hours of episodic television, has died at 81.

He directed episodes of THE DORIS DAY SHOW, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE, THE ROCKFORD FILES, FALCON CREST, JAKE AND THE FATMAN, and many other series over his long career.

...John "Jack" Hubbard, the former president of the University of Southern California, has died at the age of 92.

Hubbard had a long, fascinating life, which included being awarded multiple honors, including the Distinguished Flying Cross, for his service in WWII, and serving as the United States Ambassador to India from 1988 to 1989.

Dr. Hubbard was still teaching until recently. Our oldest daughter was privileged to have a course with him on the British Empire when he was in his late 80s, and she spoke very highly of Dr. Hubbard and his extensive knowledge on all things related to India and the British Empire.