The Boston Globe from Boston, Massachusetts • B12

B12 The Boston Globe THURSDAY, JULY 7, 2011 Obituaries Rev. Daniel J. Sheehan; loved being part of Southie Larry Kruger, Hall of Fame R.I. radio personality; at 66 By Amanda Cedrone GLOBE CORRESPONDENT The Rev. Daniel J.

Sheehan, senior priest in residence at St. Brigid and Gate of Heaven parishes in South Boston and lover of the Boston Red Sox, died of heart failure Saturday at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He was 83. Beloved by his parishioners, students, and large extended family, Father Sheehan had the gift of listening and caring. "He could relate to anyone," JoAnn Geary, business manager for Gate of Heaven, St.

Brigid, and Boston Catholic Academy said. "Little ones, high school kids, adults, single, or married. Anyone who got to know him just loved him." Father Sheehan was born and raised in Danvers. He graduated from St. John's Prep in 1946 and from St.

John's Seminary in Brighton in 1953. After his ordination, Father Sheehan was assigned to St. Paul Parish in Hingham and was one of the first of 14 priests who volunteered for The Missionary Society of St. James the Apostle Sheehan enjoyed traveling with family and friends, especially on trips to Florida with his cousin Robert Sullivan of New York and family. In Florida, he had multiple places to stay, and friends would fight over who would get to keep him longest, James Sheehan said.

Father Sheehan retired from St. Thomas Parish in 1998 and became the senior priest in residence at St. Brigid and Gate of Heaven Parishes in South Boston. "He was a retired priest here, but as a retired priest, he worked just as hard as all the full-time priests," said the Rev. Robert Casey.

Father Sheehan remained active in the community, ministering to parishioners. He also loved teaching Spanish to first- and second-grade children at South Boston Catholic Academy, who would refer to him as Padre Sheehan. "It was a beautiful remembrance of him that people had," Casey said. "He was loved by all, and he always used to say to me that he was happy to be retired, but he loved being a part of South Boston." Father Sheehan also loved sports, especially the Boston Red Sox. He would get so excited during games that he would have to turn it off and check the results later on.

An only child, Father Sheehan had a large extended family, including numerous cousins. In October, he put together a Cousins Lunch, where almost 100 of his cousins from around the country, many of whom he had baptized and married, came together. Among his many cousins, Father Sheehan was very close to Elizabeth Fawcett of Weston, with whom he would share a daily 7:10 p.m. phone call. "He lived the most perfect life I think I've ever seen," Fawcett said.

Father Sheehan leaves several cousins, parishioners, and fellow priests. A concelebrated funeral Mass will be said in St. Brigid Church at 11 a.m. today. Burial will follow in St.

Mary's Cemetery, Danvers. Chrobak of North Smithfield, R.I., Lawrence C. Kruger was born in Savannah, and spent his youth in Holliston, graduating from Holliston High in 1963. He attended the Cambridge School of Broadcasting and then served in the Navy during the Vietnam War before settling in Swansea in 1975. He broadcast for 20 years at WPRO-AM; 16 of those years were spent as Salty Brine's sidekick on the morning show.

He was inducted into the Rhode Island Radio Hall of Fame in May. He loved to play and watch tennis and announced several tournament matches at the Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport. Besides his stepson, Mr. Kruger leaves his wife, Kim S. (Peters); his mother, Ann Mercure Kruger of East Providence; a daughter, Kristine Munroe of Providence; a stepdaughter, Jodi Morris of Lincoln, R.I.; two sisters, Suzanne of East Providence and Karen Chraim of Sleepy Hollow, two brothers, Kurt and Richard; and two grandsons.

67, noted Nigerian artist ASSOCIATED PRESS PROVIDENCE Longtime Rhode Island radio personality and television traffic reporter Larry Kruger died at home in Swansea, Monday. He was 66. WPRO-AM program director Paul Giammarco said the station was notified Tuesday of Mr. Kruger's death. His biography on the Rhode Island Radio Hall of Fame website says Mr.

Kruger joined WPRO in 1973. He was best known as the sidekick to Walter "Salty" Brine. They worked together from 1977 to 1993. WJAR-TV also said Mr. Kruger reported on traffic for the television station in the 1990s.

After Brine retired, Mr. Kruger, who had the on-air moniker Ice Cold, spent two years cohost-ing WPRO's morning drive-time show with John "Coach" Colletto. A service is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the War-ing-Sullivan Home of Memorial Tribute at Birchcrest in Swansea. According to his stepson Sean Prince Twins By William Grimes NEWYORK TIMES NEW YORK Prince Twins Seven-Seven, a prominent Nigerian artist and leading representative of the Oshogbo School, whose brightly colored, intricately patterned paintings evoked the world of Yoruba folklore and religion, died June 16 in Ibadan, Nigeria.

He was 67. The cause was complications of a stroke, said his dealer, Harriet B. Schiffer. Prince Twins Seven-Seven changed his birth name, Olaniyi Osuntoki, to signal his status as the sole surviving child of his parents' seven sets of twins. "They believed that I was the reincarnation of twins they had lost," he told The Baltimore Sun in 2001.

"Prince" was more than a flourish. His grandfather was king of Ibadan in the 1890s, and before the artist became seriously ill, he was about to be installed as chief of his clan, the Osuntoki. A dancer and singer, Prince Twins Seven-Seven found his calling as an artist in the 1960s when he became part of an experimental school in the city of and deities, especially the goddess Oshun, filling in outlines and borders with jewel-colored patterns based on traditional textiles. "Twins was the great modernist of the Yoruba tradition," said Henry Glassie, an emeritus folklore professor at Indiana University and the author of "Prince Twins Seven-Seven: His Art, His Life in Nigeria, His Exile in America." "He turned back to tradition, just as Kandinsky or Klee did, but in his context drew on Yoruban sources to figure out an escape from tradition into modernity." Taiwo Olaniyi Osuntoki Oye-wale was born in the village of Ij-ara. As a young man, he danced with a traveling medicine show that sold Superman Tonic.

He later formed a band, for which he was the lead singer and occasional drummer, that recorded a number of hit records; he continued to perform and record throughout his life. Like his artwork, his music was rooted in folk tradition. In 1964 he crashed a party at the Oshogbo art school and soon became one of its group of art INDIGO ARTS CALLER'S The artist completed "Blessed Fisherman Family and Golden Fish," an oil, acrylic, and pastel on canvas, in 2006. Smithsonian. In 2005, after being nominated by President Olusegun Oba-sanjo of Nigeria, Prince Twins Seven-Seven was named one of UNESCO's Artists for Peace, a po DANIEL J.

SHEEHAN in 1959, when he began a six-year stint stationed in Huancara-ma and Curahuasi, Peru. Those who knew him admired his selfless attitude. "He was always worried about other people, never himself," said his cousin James Sheehan. Father Sheehan later spent time at St. Mary Parish in Cambridge, St.

Patrick in Brockton, and St. Stephen Parish in Fra-mingham. He was pastor of St. Thomas Parish in Peabody. During his time off, Father ists.

After an exhibition of his work was mounted in Oshogbo, he moved to Lagos and later to London. His work was included in the 1989 exhibition "Magi-ciens de la Terre" at the Pompidou Center in Paris. He came to the United States in the late 1980s and settled in the Philadelphia area, although he traveled abroad frequently. His life entered a turbulent period, filled with drinking and gam-bling, he said. Destitute, he found work as a parking-lot attendant for Material Culture, a large Philadelphia store that sells antiquities, furnishings, and carpets.

When the owner learned that Prince Twins Seven-Seven was an artist, he had him decorate the store's wrapping paper. Later, he was given a small room to use as a studio. His career rebounded. In 2000, the Indianapolis Museum of Art opened a wing devoted to contemporary African art with an exhibition featuring his work, which was also included in an exhibition that year at the National Museum of African Art at the was revoked by Dorchester District Judge Rosalind Miller and set at $15,000 cash yesterday. J-Veyon was taken to Boston Medical Center, where he remained for two weeks, Wark said.

"Doctors say his long-term prognosis is unclear, specifically with his head injury," he said. J-Veyon's grandmother, Virginia Humphries, said his health is questionable. "He's alive," she said, "but not well." Nelson's previous incidents were noted by Assistant District Attorney Patrick Devlin. Nelson crashed into three that day for religious reasons, and we don't want to deprive anyone of the ability to vote." Galvin, the state's top elections official, said the issue had already been brought to his attention, and though he could not commit to a new date he said there was no question that the election would be moved. "We've moved it before; we'll move it again," Galvin told State House News Service in response to an inquiry placed with his office.

"Obviously we can't have it conflict with Rosh Hashana." Finegold, Democrat of Andover and Senate cochairman of the Committee on Election Laws, suggested that the primary be held one week earlier, on Sept. 11, the 11th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that left thousands of Americans dead. Holding a primary on Sept. 11 would be precedent-setting, he said. "I think, if anything, it would be really symbolic," Finegold said.

"When events were happening, Secretary Galvin, to his credit, didn't call off the special elec- Woman pleads not guilty in hit-run injury to boy 6 Ruth Roberts, songwriter known for N. Y. Mets ditty Seven-Seven, ANTHONY FISHERINDIGO GALLERY Prince Twins Seven-Seven Oshogbo run by Ulli Beier, a German linguist who became a promoter of African culture, and his wife, Georgina. He began drawing in pen and ink on paper but soon began using ink and paint on large sheets of laminated plywood. His subject matter was Yoruban myths, many of them recited to him by his mother, but others absorbed through the novels of Amos Tutu-ola and Daniel O.

Fagunwa. In a consciously naive style, he depicted village scenes, animals, RUTH ROBERTS Step right up and greet the Mets," and included the assertion optimistic in the Mets' early days, when they were the worst team in baseball and unrealistic now that they play in the cavernous Citi Field that "the Mets are really sockin' the ball Knockin' those home runs over the wall." The lyrics were largely rewritten in 1984. (Ms. Roberts and Katz were not involved in the rewrite.) The reference to home runs was removed, as were the arguably sexist words that preceded it: "Bring your kiddies, bring your wife Guaranteed to have the time of your life." But the insistently high-spirited tune remained virtually unchanged, and continues to be heard regularly on radio, on television, and at all of the Mets' home games. "Meet the Mets" was not the first sports-themed song by Ms.

Roberts and Katz. Their previous collaborations included "Mr. Touchdown, U.S.A.," recorded by Hugo Winterhalter's orchestra in 1951; "I Love Mickey," recorded by Teresa Brewer and Mickey Mantle in 1956 (Brewer did almost all the singing, with Mantle occasionally interjecting "Mickey and "It's a Beautiful Day for a Ballgame," which was played for many years at Los Angeles Dodgers home games. I- By Derek Anderson GLOBE CORRESPONDENT A Mattapan woman pleaded not guilty yesterday to striking and seriously injuring a 6-year-old boy with her car and fleeing, while out on bail on a charge of leaving the scene of another accident, authorities said. Shaniqua Nelson, 19, was free on bail when she hit 6-year-old J-Veyon Humphries as he crossed Delhi Street in Mattapan on April 18, said Jake Wark, spokesman for the Suffolk district attorney.

Because of Nelson's previous charges, her earlier bail of $1,000 sition that gave him new international visibility. Prince Twins Seven-Seven, who lived in Ibadan and Oshogbo, leaves many wives, children, and grandchildren. was scared, the office said. Less than a month later, Nelson allegedly hit J-Veyon. "I forgive the driver for leaving my grandson in the street," said Virginia Humphries.

"Some people don't know what to do in those situations." Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said: "This woman should not be on the road, period. It's by God's grace that this child survived. The next victim might not be so lucky." Derek Anderson can be reached at derek. andersonglobe.

com. than the currently scheduled date. "It's going to be earlier than the 17th; I can tell you that," Galvin said, leaving open the possibility of holding the election on a Wednesday or Thursday instead of the traditional Tuesday election, if it fit with municipal schedules. Settling on a new date for the election, however, could take some time. Galvin said he is currently focused on making sure the redistricting process is completed in time to avoid a disruption in signature-filing deadlines and delegate selection for the presidential primary scheduled on March 6.

Elana Margolis, director of government affairs for the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston, called Rosh Hashana "one of the holiest days of observance in the Jewish tradition" and said holding an election on the second day of the holiday created a significant problem for many members of the community to vote. Date of 2012 primary to change due to conflict parked vehicles while driving with a suspended license on March 23, the district attorney's office said. Boston police attempted to stop her, but she allegedly tried to outrun them and lost control of her vehicle, according to the office. When approached, Nelson refused to leave the vehicle and repeatedly struck the officers, the district attorney's office said. Nelson explained those actions by saying her grandfather was dying, her boyfriend had broken up with her, she did not have a driver's license, and she tion with Steve Lynch, and it shows you no matter what happens, it doesn't deprive us of our freedoms." Finegold was referring to the special primary election held Sept.

11, 2001, and won by US Representative Stephen F. Lynch following the death of J. Joseph Moakley. Despite the turmoil after the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington using planes that took off from Logan International Airport, Galvin allowed the election to proceed that day. Galvin said he would not have a problem conducting another election on Sept.

11, despite the many memorial services and observances held on the anniversary of the attacks. "That is not a problem, but what may be a problem is the availability of public buildings," Galvin said. The secretary said he would work with municipalities to find a suitable alternative when polling locations would be available, committing only to a primary earlier, rather than later By Peter Keep news NEWYORK TIMES NEW YORK Ruth Roberts, a songwriter best known for her cheerful and durable baseball anthem "Meet the Mets," died last Thursday night at her home in Rye Brook, NY. She was 84. The cause was lung cancer, said her brother, Sam Roberts.

Among the many songs written by Ms. Roberts and various collaborators were "First Thing Ev'ry Morning (and the Last Thing Ev'ry Night)," written with and recorded by Jimmy Dean, and "Mailman, Bring Me No More Blues," originally done by Buddy Holly and later recorded by the Beatles in 1969 at a session for their album "Let It Be," although their version was not released until 1996. But Ms. Roberts is probably best remembered for "Meet the Mets," which beat 18 competitors to be chosen as the New York Mets' official song in late 1961, before the team ever played a game, and was introduced to the public in 1963. Written with her longtime collaborator Bill Katz (she provided the music and worked with him on the lyrics), "Meet the Mets" was described last year in The New York Times as endearing by Bob Thompson, founder of the Baseball Music Project.

It has also been described in less charitable terms. In a tongue-in-cheek analysis in The Times in 1963, Leonard Koppett wrote: "There is little in the score of interest to a mid-20th-century audience. The harmony is traditional; no influences of atonality or polytonality can be found." Certainly the upbeat, sing-songy melody of "Meet the Mets" is not complex. Neither are the words, which originally began "Meet the Mets, meet the Mets By Matt Murphy STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE The date of the 2012 state primary election will be moved and could be rescheduled to a Wednesday or Thursday to avoid a conflict with the Jewish observance of Rosh Hashana, Secretary of State William F. Galvin said yesterday as a top Senate lawmaker called the current election calendar problematic.

According to the calendar posted on GaMn's website, the state primary in 2012, when voters will be asked to decide Democratic and Republican races for US Senate, the US House of Representatives, and the Legislature, is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 18. That date coincides with the second day of Rosh Hashana, a two-day observance of the Jewish New Year that starts at sundown on Sunday and ends at sunset on the 18th. "I see this as very problematic," state Senator Barry Finegold said. "There are people who literally won't travel to the polls on.