2005 Obit: actor Ossie Davis

Subject: BS: Obit: Ossie Davis
From: Rapparee
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 02:06 PM

From the Associated Press:

Ossie Davis, the imposing, unshakable actor who championed racial justice on stage, on screen and in real life, often in tandem with his wife, Ruby Dee, has died. He was 87. Davis was found dead Friday in his hotel room in Miami Beach, Fla., according to officials there. He was making a film called "Retirement," said Arminda Thomas, who works in his office in suburban New Rochelle and confirmed the death.

Another good one gone....

Subject: RE: BS: Obit: Ossie Davis
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 02:08 PM

Oh, that is so sad. I had so much respect for him. I had no idea he was as old as my dad was.

RIP, kind Sir,

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Obit: Ossie Davis
From: gnu
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 02:22 PM

Ahhh s***. One of the all-time great gentlemen. Glad he, and his wife, were honoured at the Kennedy Awards. So well-deserved. Such a fine man. RIP.

Subject: RE: BS: Obit: Ossie Davis
From: GUEST,Sleepless Dad
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 02:28 PM

He's was also known to the music world as the father of Guy Davis - a well respected blues singer.

Subject: RE: BS: Obit: Ossie Davis
From: Azizi
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 02:41 PM

What a loss! Ossie Davis was such a fine man. I'm sorry to hear of his passing.

Subject: RE: BS: Obit: Ossie Davis
From: Peace
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 02:49 PM

Another man done gone. Sleep well Mr Davis.

Subject: RE: BS: Obit: Ossie Davis
From: Jeri
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 03:24 PM

Dignity and wisdom, that's what I think of when I think of him. The world is smaller today.

Subject: RE: Obit: Ossie Davis
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 13 Feb 05 - 01:49 PM

I missed this thread when it was new and did not learn of Mr. Davis passing until this morning. He was an exceptional person as well as a gifted actor and certainly made the world a better place. We can be thankful to have had him with us for so many years and thankful that he will continue to be present in our midst for many more to come through his films. What a legacy! A truly great man!

Subject: RE: Obit: Ossie Davis
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Feb 05 - 07:11 PM

One time, Oprah had Ossie and Ruby Dee on a Valentine's Day show about keeping romance in the relationship, or whatever sort of Oprah sort of thing you can imagine. This was quite a few years ago now, but I'll never forget it.

The rest of the couples were all about buying diamonds for her, vacation packages for him, you know the drill. Those were the "romantic" things all the other couples gave as examples of how they keep romance alive in their relationship.

Then it was Ossie & Ruby's turn. They clearly were like fish out of water, because they so weren't of that mold. But the story is so beautiful that they gave as examples. Ruby Dee said the most romantic thing she could think of that Ossie did for her was to do one of her most tedious writing "housekeeping" tasks for her--entering her bazillions of little notes on scraps of paper into her computer, in a filing system he set up just for her. Being a writer myself, I swooned.

And then, as if that weren't enough, Ossie's example was this. Their wedding anniversary is in December. Every year of their marriage, without fail no matter where in the world either of them was, what their kids schedule was, etc. they always met in their Harlem apartment at an appointed hour, and went shopping for their Xmas pointsettias they used to decorate their home for the holidays every year, brought them back to the apartment and decorated, and then cooked dinner together.

Sigh. What a guy!

Subject: RE: Obit: Ossie Davis
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 13 Feb 05 - 08:02 PM

Guest: I have to say here that Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee were one of a kind. My respect for them and for their son--Guy--is immense.

       That said, please let us not creat urban myths here. Heaven knows of their greatness.   It may well be that they maintained a flat (aptmt) in Harlem. They did, however reside---deservedly so---in a much more oppluent place in Westchester County (I believe that is the county) in NYS.

       I say all the above with respect and love for the Davises who, I am certain, would like the record straight---they always were and are. The tale, though, is a great Oprah story that I am sure she embelishes on as so many other things.


Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: Obit: Ossie Davis
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Feb 05 - 11:03 PM

You are right about the fact that they lived in Westchester County. They lived in New Rochelle I believe, for a long, long time.

It is also my understanding that they maintained an apt. in the city, as many artists of their caliber often do.

Of course, I could be wrong about that too.

But really, does it matter if they got together in an apartment in the city, or their suburban NYC home every year at the appointed hour, etc? It isn't the place that is significant to the story, but the act of devotion itself. Wouldn't you agree?

Subject: RE: Obit: Ossie Davis
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Feb 05 - 11:06 PM

Oh and BillH--New Rochelle wouldn't be considered opulent in the way that Greenwich CT or Pound Ridge or Bedford Village NY would be considered opulent.

There is Westchester County "country" and there is the more urban areas like New Rochelle, White Plains, and Yonkers.

Subject: RE: Obit: Ossie Davis
From: LuteMonkey
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 12:36 AM

Oh Man! This very night I toasted to Ossie Davis. The drink in my hand was a Miller High Life. It was a 16 oz. can. I couldn't find any quarts.

It's a reference to a certain movie, by the way.

Subject: RE: Obit: Ossie Davis
From: EBarnacle
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 07:34 PM

I have known Guy Davis for many years. A better testament to his father and mother cannot be found. Besides being a great musician, he is really a great guy. Until a year or so ago, I did not even know that Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee were his parents.