Obituary Archives -

18 mins read

Passages: Marking those who have moved on

February 18, 2026February 18, 2026 The Editor0Tagged Deaths, obituary

Passages is a new effort to note the deaths of people who are significant in our community’s arts and cultural communities, remembering their achievements. We’re starting with many today: George Grace, Stephen Perry, Mike Phelps, John Larson, William Bates, Frank Gerard, Pete Ciraolo, Ric Gustavel

12 mins read

Bob Weir: A Life Well and Fully Lived

January 12, 2026February 3, 2026 Chloe Kowalyk0Tagged Bob Weir, Miers on Music, Music

Jeff Miers remembers the life of Bob Weir, who passed away Saturday at 78.

5 mins read

Passages: Steve Kurtz, pioneering bio artist, 1958-2025

November 14, 2025December 6, 2025 The Editor0Tagged Bio Art, Crtical Art Ensemble

Kurtz, who was a co-founder of the Critical Art Ensemble and a former University at Buffalo art professor, died Wednesday. He might be best known for the case in which law enforcement suggested he was guilty of “bio terrorism” when he was using harmless bacteria in his art, but there was a lot more to him than that.

4 mins read

Remembering Jorge Guitart (1937-2025): “His poetry was not for the masses; it was for everyone.”

November 9, 2025November 9, 2025 RD Pohl1Tagged Literature, obituary, Poetry

Dr. Jorge Guitart, a longtime Professor of Spanish linguistics in the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures at the University at Buffalo, and beloved member of the Buffalo arts and poetry communities, including his work with Just Buffalo Literary Center, died on October 28th in Buffalo. He was 88.

15 mins read

Miers on Music: Where the Bands Are – This Week in Live Music and Concert News

July 23, 2025February 3, 2026 Chloe Kowalyk0Tagged Battle of the Borderland, Local music, Ozzy Osbourne

Jeff Miers has what’s new in music including the Battle of the Borderland 2025, as well as some unmissable gigs right here in WNY.

2 mins read

Theater legend Saul Elkin dies at 93

July 15, 2025February 3, 2026 The Editor0Tagged Saul Elkin, Shakespeare in Delaware Park

Saul Elkin, the founder and for most of the past 50 years the heart of Shakespeare in Delaware Park died on Monday (July 14, 2025).

4 mins read

Remembering poet David Lampe (1941-2025)

June 30, 2025June 30, 2025 RD Pohl0Tagged David Lampe, Poetry, Remembrance

David Lampe (1941-2025), a poet, longtime member of the Buffalo literary community, and professor emeritus of English at Buffalo State University, where he taught for 37 years, died on June 5 in Elmwood, Illinois. David was 84.

8 mins read

Memories of Vincent O’Neill

June 22, 2025February 3, 2026 The Editor2Tagged ICTC, Irish Classical, Irish Classical Theatre Company, Vincent O'Neill

The Buffalo theater community lost one of its giants last week with the death of Vincent O’Neill from cancer. Lindsay DePietro gathered memories from some of those who worked with him.

7 mins read

The loss is personal with Brian Wilson

June 12, 2025February 3, 2026 The Editor0Tagged Brian Wilson, Rock, tribute

First Sly Stone, now Brian Wilson. Great music, and great art, feels personal, and Brian Wilson’s music certainly does, writes editor Elmer Ploetz. We’ve also got reminiscences from Jim Laspesa, the Kenmore drummer who went on to play with Wilson.

3 mins read

Sly Stone: In memory of Black Genius

June 10, 2025February 3, 2026 The Editor1Tagged Funk, Rock, Sly Stone, Soul

Sly Stone’s genius helped shape modern music, and that was a burden as well as a blessing, MYQ Farrow writes in his look at the legacy of Sly, who died Monday at age 82.