March 9, 2008

W.C. HEINZ, 93: He wrote about medicine, civil rights and war but is best remembered for his smoothly finished prose portraits from the world of sports. He died Feb. 27 at an assisted-living facility in Bennington, Vt., after suffering a series of strokes. During his quietly influential career, Mr. Heinz covered World War II and wrote elegant sports columns and magazine stories that left an indelible mark on the generation that created the “New Journalism” of the 1960s. He also published four novels, including one under the pseudonym Richard Hooker. That 1968 book, a collaboration with a Maine surgeon, H. Richard Hornberger, was called “M*A*S*H” and led to the hit movie and television series.

LEONARD ROSENMAN, 83: He was a film and television composer who won two Oscars and two Emmys during his 50-year Hollywood career. Mr. Rosenman died Tuesday of a heart attack at his home at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital, said family friend Jon Burlingame. Mr. Rosenman was a concert composer when his friend James Dean introduced him to director Elia Kazan. Kazan asked the composer to write the score for “East of Eden,” beginning Mr. Rosenman's film career. He went on to score dozens of films and television shows. Mr. Rosenman won back-to-back Academy Awards in 1975 and 1976 for his work on “Barry Lyndon” and “Bound for Glory.” He was nominated twice more for his scores for “Cross Creek” in 1983 and “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home” in 1986.

GARY GYGAX, 69: In the world of role-playing games, Mr. Gygax was a giant. The man best known as the co-creator of “Dungeons & Dragons” died Tuesday at his home in Lake Geneva, Wis. Mr. Gygax died of an abdominal aneurysm, said Gail Gygax, his wife. “Gary was the father of modern gaming,” said Stephen Chenault, general manager of Troll Lord Games, which has published Mr. Gygax's books since 2001. “He was definitely a giant in the field.” In 1974, Mr. Gygax developed “Dungeons & Dragons” with Dave Arneson. The game known for its oddly shaped dice became a hit, particularly among teenage boys, and eventually was turned into video games, books and movies.

GIUSEPPE di STEFANO, 86: He was a flamboyant, sometimes erratic opera star who in his prime after World War II was lauded as the most thrilling Italian tenor in a generation. Mr. di Stefano died Monday at his home in Santa Maria Hoe, north of Milan. His death resulted from injuries sustained in November 2004, when he was attacked at his family's villa in Kenya, said his wife, Monica Curth. Unidentified assailants had struck him on the head during the attack. After undergoing surgery twice in Mombasa, he was flown to Milan, where he awakened from a coma but never fully recovered. Renowned for his superb voice, Mr. di Stefano had only brief years at the top, with a repertory that focused on lyric roles such as the Duke in “Rigoletto,” the title role in “Faust” and “Werther.” Rudolf Bing, the longtime general manager of the Metropolitan Opera, asserted that Mr. di Stefano could have been as great as Enrico Caruso if he had demonstrated more restraint in his personal and professional conduct. Mr. di Stefano conceded that he could be reckless. He reveled in his image as a bon vivant and bragged of his affairs, including a long romance with Maria Callas, his favorite onstage partner.

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