Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • Page 2-7

7 Chicago Tribune Business Section2 OBITUARIES On March 30, 1135, Jewish philosopher and physician Moses Maimonides was born in Cordoba, Spain. In 1746 painter Francisco de Goya was born in Fuendetodos, Spain. In 1822, Florida became a U.S. territory. In 1842 Dr.

Crawford Long of Jefferson, first used ether as an anesthetic during aminor operation. In 1853 painter Vincent Van Gogh was born in Zundert, Netherlands. In 1858 apencil equipped with an eraser was patented by Hyman Lipman of Philadelphia. In 1870 the 15th Amendment to the Constitution, giving black men the right to vote, was declared in effect. Also in 1870 Texas was readmitted to the Union.

In 1880 playwright Sean was born in Dublin. In 1945 the Soviet Union invaded Austrian territory in World War II. Also in 1945 rock guitarist Eric Clapton was born in Ripley, England. In 1964 John Glenn withdrew from the Ohio race for U.S. Senate because of injuries suffered in a fall.

In 1955 the won the Academy Award for best picture of 1954, while its star, Marlon Brando won best actor; in an upset, Grace Kelly won best actress for Country beating out Judy Garland for Star Is In 1970 the musical based on the movie About opened on Broadway. Also in 1970 Secretariat, the racehorse that would go on to win the Triple Crown in 1973, was born. In 1979 Airey Neave, a leading member of the British Parliament, was killed by a bomb planted by the Irish National Liberation Army. In 1981 President Ronald Reagan was shot and seriously injured outside a Washington hotel by John Hinckley Jr. (Also wounded were White House press secretary James Brady, a Secret Service agent and a District of Columbia police officer.) In 1986 actor James Cagney died in Stanfordville, N.Y.; he was 86.

In 1992 the Cubs acquired Sammy Sosa in atrade with the White Sox for George Bell. In 1994 Serbs and Croats signed a cease-fire to end their war in Croatia while Bosnian Muslims and Serbs continued to battle each other. Also in 1994 the Clinton administration announced it was lifting virtually all export controls on nonmilitary products to China and the former Soviet bloc. In 1995 Pope John Paul II issued the 11th encyclical of his papacy, in which he condemned abortion and euthanasia as crimes that no human laws can legitimize. In 1996 the space shuttle Atlantis narrowly avoided having to make an emergency landing when its cargo bay doors open at first to release built-up heat.

In 1998 Rolls-Royce was purchased by German automaker BMW in a $570mil- lion deal. In 1999 ajury in Portland, ordered Philip Morris to pay $81 million to the family of a man who died of lung cancer after smoking Marlboros for four decades. (The Supreme Court threw out the verdict in October 2003, saying it should be reviewed by lower courts to ensure it was not unconstitutionally excessive.) In 2000, in the midst of the 2000 presidential campaign, Vice President Al Gore broke with the Clinton administration, saying he supported legislation to allow 6-year-old Elian Gonzalez to remain in the country while the courts resolved his custody case. In 2002 Queen Mother Elizabeth died in her sleep at Royal Lodge, Windsor, outside London; she was 101. In 2003 aPalestinian suicide bomber wounded about 30 people outside a cafe in northern Israel, an attack the Islamic Jihad called gift to the heroic people of Also in 2003 Mayor Richard Daley sent bulldozers to Meigs Field and had the runway torn up, effectively closing the lakefront airport.

In 2004, in a reversal, President George W. Bush agreed to let national security adviser Condoleezza Rice testify publicly and under oath before an independent panel investigating the Sept. 11 attacks. Also in 2004 British-born broadcaster Alistair Cooke died in New Yorkat 95. In 2005, under heavy protection, first lady Laura Bush visited the capital of Afghanistan, where she talked with Afghan women freed from Taliban repression and urged greater rights.

Also in 2005 the Supreme Court ruled that federal law allows people 40 and older to file age bias claims over salary and hiring even if employers never intended any harm. In 2008 President George W. Bush threw out the ceremonial first pitch at new stadium, Nationals Park; the Washington Nationals defeated the Atlanta Braves, 3-2, in the first regular-season game played there. Also in 2008 Cambodian-born journalist Dith Pran, whose story became the subject of the award- winning film Killing died in New Brunswick, N.J.; he was 65. In 2010 President Barack Obama signed the final changes to sweeping legislation overhauling the health care industry and services; in addition, the legislation also drastically changed the way college loans are administered, cutting private banks out, easing repayment terms and expanding grants.

ALMANAC In 1867, U.S. Secretary of State William Seward reached agreement with Russia to purchase the territory of Alaska for $7.2 million, a deal roundly ridiculed as MARC PHOTO Nicholas Valkan, a singer who performed as Nick Noble, scored a hit record in 1955 with his version of Dale spiritual ballad Bible Tells Me and was among Hugh preferred entertainers at Playboy Clubs around the country. Mr. Valkan was also the former co- owner of the well-known Lou restaurant just west of the Loop he was a nephew of the namesake, Lou Mitchell. Mr.

Valkan, 85, died of heart failure Friday, March 23, at his home in Beverly neighborhood, said his daughter Connie Valkan. Alifelong resident of the South Side, Mr. Valkan graduated from Hirsch Metropolitan High School and served in the Navy at the end of World War II. He then enrolled in Loyola University while also launching his singing career in clubs around Chicago. After graduating from Loyola, Mr.

Val- kan entered an executive training program at the Armour Co. meatpacking plant. It was at this time that he was discovered by Lew Douglas, head arranger and producer for Mercury Records, who recorded Mr. first single, or in 1954. When the song became a local hit, Mr.

Valkan was offered a contract with the label, which suggested his stage name, Nick Noble. Bible Tells Me the follow-up to or was released on Mercury subsidiary Wing Records and became Mr. biggest hit. was a huge, huge seller said legendary disc jockey Dick Biondi, who, before coming to Chicago in 1960, played Mr. early singles at a station in Youngstown, N.Y.

The two men became friends when Biondi arrived in the city, often getting together at the old WLS radio station above the London House club at Wacker Drive and Michigan Avenue. go in (to the room) and pluck each eyebrows if we saw any gray hairs because we want to look Biondi said with a laugh. was a tremendous contribution and addition to the showbiz world here in Biondisaid. Anatural showman with a knack for working a room, Mr. Valkan was also personable offstage, friends said.

According to longtime record executive Ron Alexenberg, Mr. Valkan kept index cards with the names of radio program directors and their phone numbers, wedding anniversaries, birthdays and other information so he could send flowers or a gift at a notice. was a credit to the word he was a credit to the word he was a credit to the word Alexenberg said. In the 1980s, Mr. Valkan retired after 35 years in the music business and joined the family business, Lou He started out working alongside his uncle then became proprietor when Mitchell retired.

The family sold the restaurant in 1993. Comedian Tom Dreesenknew Mr. Valkan for more than 40 years. you walked into showroom, you knew you were welcome and he was going to make you feel real good about being Dreesen said. you walked into restaurant, you got the same Other survivors include Mr.

wife of 56 years, Patricia; another daughter, Debra Gawrys; and two grandchildren. Services have been held. NICHOLAS VALKAN 1926-2012 Singer, Lou restaurant co-owner He performed as Nick Noble, helped run the well-known establishment west of Loop Nicholas top hit was his version of Dale Bible Tells Me in 1955. By Ronnie Reese Special to the Tribune Placing a paid death notice These are placed through our classified advertising department and may run for as many days as the family wishes. The Tribune must contact a licensed funeral director or cremator to verify death.

To place an ad, call 312-222-2222 between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

You can also fax or email, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Fax: 312-222-4014 E-mail: Non-paid news obituaries These are written by the Chicago Tribune staff.

The Tribune publishes obituaries for people from all walks of who have made major contributions to the community are often a priority, but we also consider those who have made a difference in smaller ways. For consideration of a news obituary, call 312-222-5934 or 312-222-3540, or fax 312-644-9892. Obituaries are stories about life. They tell us about our neighbors and our world. They can be exhilarating, uplifting, entertaining or just plain interesting.

Product: CTBroadsheet PubDate: 03-30-2012 Zone: ALL Edition: HD Page: BIZOBIT1-7 User: grejohnson Time: Color:.