Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 42

C-6 PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE FRIDAY, JULY 18, 1997 OBITUARIES DENNIS SCHATZMAN ARTHUR LIMAH One of best trial lawyers in America Columnist famed for defending O.J. I 'i -x I -rrrt -tM i Post-Gazette Dennis Schatzman packs up his office in Oakland in September 1986. The New York Times Arthur Liman, a dazzling legal strategist who made his living representing both corporate tycoons and scalawags but made his public mark investigating pivotal events like the Iran-Contra affair and the Attica prison uprising, died yesterday in New York City. He was 64 and had been suffering from bladder cancer, his wife, Ellen, said. In an age of celebrity lawyers, Mr.

Liman may not have rung as many bells of instant recognition as flashier types like Johnnie Cochran and F. Lee Bailey. If anything, Mr. Liman was the antithesis of flash: a man with an often distracted and rumpled manner, a lumbering gait and an unruly hank of hair that spilled across his forehead. "Walter Matthau doing a Perry Mason impersonation" was how a magazine writer described him a few years ago.

But stylistic quirks did not disguise the fact that Mr. Liman was widely regarded as one of the best trial lawyers of his day, especially when it came to defending people charged with securities fraud or other white-collar crimes. Most Americans got their best chance to evaluate his skills firsthand in the spring and summer of 1987, when he became a familiar figure as chief counsel to the Senate committee investigating the Reagan administration's arms-for-hos-tages scheme known as the Iran-Contra affair. Televised images of Mr. Liman jousting with Lt Col.

Oliver North and other witnesses remain fixed in the collective national memory, as do disputes over who got the best of whom in those epic congressional hearings. Some critics accused the committee of failing to pursue all possible leads that would have shown President Ronald Reagan's involvement in the affair. Others complained that Mr. Liman was not aggressive enough in questioning North. By Mackenzie Carpenter Post-Gazette Staff Writer He was a one-man trivia quiz, linked to some of the more notorious episodes in recent tabloid history none of them related He turned up in more places than Forrest Gump, garrulous, charming, articulate, unable to stay in one place or one job for very long, always, it seemed, able to find a better showcase somewhere else for his unusual talents.

Before his death Wednesday at age 47, Dennis Schatzman, a former track star, city editor of the New Pittsburgh Courier, district justice 'and deputy school controller, had moved far beyond his Lincoln-Lem-! ington roots to become a noted, if sometimes controversial, journalist His passionate defense of O.J. Simpson during the much-vaunted "trial of the century" appeared in 200 black newspapers nationally, the New Yorker magazine, television talk shows, and later, in a syndicated column and a book. Mr. Schatzman had been planning to speak at this week's annual convention of the National Association of Black Journalists in Chicago when he began experiencing difficulty breathing on his way to the airport Wednesday night, said Vicky Carter, a family friend. He collapsed and died at San Antonio Community Hospital, not far from his home in Ontario, around 7 p.m., Carter said.

Mr. Schatzman, who had suffered from asthma for years, had only one working lung the result of a shooting incident in 1990. He had also been diagnosed with colon cancer, he told acquaintances in recent years. While O.J. Simpson's predicament brought Mr.

Schatzman national attention, he was something of a minor Pittsburgh legend before that An black man whose name came from his Jewish-German paternal grandfather, Mr. Schatzman was a star on the track teams at Peabody High School and Pitt. He became fascinated with journalism while in college "black journalism," he emphasized in an interview a year ago and became a local reporter known for hustle and storytelling flair, eventually becoming city editor of the New Pittsburgh Courier in 1978. "Good journalists are born, not made, and he was one of the good ones," said Frank Bolden, former city editor of the Courier. "You have to have a sense of what makes a story, and he did that and he used the English language to explain it, which not too many journalists do nowadays." After a serious car accident left him with a leg injury, he switched careers, becoming a district justice in Homewood before being hired as a deputy school controller under city Controller Tom Flaherty.

And it was during that stint that Mr. Schatzman earned his place in Pennsylvania trivia history, by being the first to discover financial discrepancies in a state contract that led to a scandal that ended with state Treasurer R. Budd Dwyer shooting himself at a news conference in 1986. Four years later, Mr. Schatzman went national He had left the controller's office on amicable terms, says Flaher- Sr, although Mr.

Schatzman had escribed the parting as acrimonious and moved to Washington, D.C., where his life spiraled downward: there was cocaine abuse and a failed marriage, and numerous run-ins with employers. The low point came in 1990, when he was shot and left for dead on a street in Washington, D.C., while making a call at a pay telephone. Washington Post columnist William Raspberry, an old friend, took up the cause of paying for Mr. Schatz-man's hospital bill. He wrote, "When Dennis Schatzman gets gunned down, I take it personally," and cited the incident as symptomatic of the city's crime problems.

Mr. Schatzman recovered, buty there was a bizarre postscipt when, four years later, while proclaiming Simpson's innocence in the New Gazette March 1. In praising his former coach and mentor, Mr. Schatzman invoked Sir Walter Raleigh, whom, he said, once remarked that 'if it appears that I have seen more than others in my life, it is because I have stood upon the shoulders of Banner's was one set of those shoulders I have stood upon for all these years." Mr. Schatzman is survived by his wife, Sandra, of Ontario, and one daughter, Cicely, 14, of Richmond, Va.

Funeral arrangements have not been completed. A memorial service sponsored by the Westinghouse High School Commission of Recognition will be at 7 p.m. tomorrow at Ramsey's II, at 7310 Frankstown Homewood. OTHER DEATHS Winfred Lamar Godwin, 71, who played a central role in advancing education in the South and shaping educational objectives for 2000, last Friday in Smyrna, Ga. Yorker profile, he mentioned almost off-handedly that he had tracked his Washington assailant down and shot him twice in retaliation.

He then caught the first bus out of town and ended up in California. "I still don know if the guy died or not," he told the New Yorker. His remarks made national news, but police in the District of Columbia were never able to find any proof that a crime had been committed. "He reminded me a bit of that character in L'il Abner, you know, this little guy who goes around with a little cloud over his head all the time," Raspberry recalled yesterday. "Dennis was like that, except he had this little news cloud over him all the time.

Wherever he went, it wouldn't be long before things happened, sometimes to him, sometimes around him." After the shooting incident, Mr. Schatzman's life began to turn around. By the time the Simpson trial began, Mr. Schatzman had a nationally syndicated column for the Los Angeles Sentinel. "He was getting more ink than the editors," recaDed Bolden, and after the trial, Mr.

Schatzman was fired for allegedly handing In "substandard copy," a charge he vehemently denied. And he rebounded with a book co-written with former Scripps-Howard reporter Thomas Elias who believed Simpson was guilty. The book, "The Simpson Trial in Black and White," was published in 1996, earned decent reviews and sold moderately well, but had to compete with a plethora of other Simpson post-mortems. He returned to Pittsburgh often, last year with Elias to promote his boot and later, to attend a dinner of the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation, and to visit old friends and former colleagues, including Flaherty, who said! Mr. Schatzman paid him a surprise visit to talk about old times, about his newfound fame, about his multiple appearances on "Geraldo." "He said, 'I'm still kickinV He always used to say that as long I've known him," Flaherty said.

And when John E. Banner, longtime coach of the Pittsburgh Panthers, died in February, Mr. Schatzman penned an emotional tribute, which appeared in the Post- BOTOMSDES CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING MAGDICH, Peter Martin, 46, of South Fayette, died July 16. Fryer Funeral Home, Bridgeville. (DN) MIKELL, Herman 69, of North Versailles, died July 14.

Thomas E. Waters Funeral Home, McKeesport. MILLER, Donald 69, of South Side, died July 17. Readshaw Funeral Home, Carrick. (DN) MONTGOMERY, Harry died July 17.

John F. Murray Funeral Home, Lawrenceville. (DN) NEUGEBAUER, Delia, Gray, 85, of Moon, died July 17. Copeland's Funeral Home, Moon. (DN) OCEL, Pauline M.

Darak, of North Braddock, died July 1 6. Raymond J. Yuhas Funeral Home, East Pittsburgh. (DN) OPATICH, Bernard 66, of Elizabeth Township, died July 16. Willig Funeral Home, McKeesport.

(DN) PARAVATI, Joseph 80, of Penn, Hills, died July 16. Thomas Nied Funeral Home, Swissvale. (DN) PATTERSON, Sally of O'Hara, died July 16. Burket-Truby Funeral Home, Oakmont. (DN) PRIMERANO, Domenic of Shaler, died July 17.

Neely Funeral Home, Shaler. (DN) REDO, Lena Baccari, 78, of Turtle Creek, died July 17. Jobe Funeral Home, Turtle Creek. (DN) ROTHRAUFF, Elizabeth "Betty," Cicco, of North Braddock, died July 17. Albert G.

Lesko Funeral Home, North Braddock. (DN) SADLER, Dorothy E. Ritter, of Wilkinsburg, died July 17. Thomas L. Nied Funeral Home, Swissvale.

(DN) SEWCHOK, Josephine Radomsky, 81, of South Park, formerly of Slippery Rock, died July 16. Griffith Mortuary, South Park. (DN) SIMMONS, Bernadine 88, of Gibsonia, died July 17. McDonald-Aeberll Funeral Home, Mars. (DN) LATEST DEATHS To our reader: The Post-Gazette's comprehensive listings of recent deaths Include two types of obituaries.

New obituaries, prepared by our staff, are pub-' lished at the discretion of our editors. Death no-. tlces are paid obituaries prepared by the friends and family of the deceased or funeral-home directors. To place a death notice, call 263-1371. To suggest a news obituary, call 283-1601.

The following list Is provided free as a public service. Listings followed by (DN) Indicate that a death notice Is published elsewhere In these pages. We accept Information for the following list only from funeral directors and employees of crematoriums and memorial societies, who may call 263-1601 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

ALLEGHENY COUNTY BAGINSKI, Margaret died July 16. Simons Funeral Home, North Side. (DN) BARCLAY, Olive 92, formerly of Ross, died i July 17. McDonald-Linn Funeral Home, Avalon. (DN) BELL, Arthur 69, ol Harmar, died July 17.

Burket-Truby Funeral Home, Oakmont. (DN) BELL, Doris 78, of Coraopolis, died July 15. William Slater Sons Funeral Home, Mount Washington. (DN) CAPPELUNI, Lidutna, 96, of Mount Washington, died July 16. William Slater Sons Funeral Home, Mount Washington.

(DN) CASKEY, Harry 72, of Ross, died July 16. Schellhaas Funeral Home, West View. (DN) DEMESTICHAS, Dr. Peter 86, of Whitehall, died July 15. John F.

Slater Funeral Home, Brentwood. (DN) ENGLISH, Geraldine Stebbins, 57, of Avalon, died July 15. Orion C. Pinkerton Funeral Home, Avalon. FALBO, Juliette "Julia" Florrtelll, died July 14.

Anthony J. Sanvito Funeral Home, Coraopolis. (DN) FINCH, George W. 85, of Verona, died July 17. Percy E.

Law Jr. Funeral Home, Wilkinsburg. (DN) GILL, Michael 67, of Greenfield, died July 14. Edward P. Kanai Funeral Home, Greenfield.

(DN) GROMEK, Peter, 54, of Brookline, died July 16. Beinhauer's, Beechview. (DN) HANLON, Norma Jean Tuite, died July 15. John F. Murray Funeral Home, Lawrenceville.

(DN) HENRICKSEN, Bertie D. Dansie, 88, of Pleasant Hills, died July 15. Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home, Pleasant Hills. (DN) HUBICKI, Andrew 72, of Morningside, died Jury 15. McCabe Brothers Funeral Home, Bloom-field.

(DN) HUDDART, James H. 67, of South Park, died July 16. Griffith Mortuary, South Park. (DN) KENNEDY, Geraldine M. Dunsavage, 71, of Squirrel Hill, died July 16.

William R. Welsh Funeral Home, Homestead. (DN) KENNELLY, Stephen 42, of Indiana Township, died July 17. Charles B. Jarvie Funeral Home, Cheswick.

(DN) KING, Elizabeth 100, of O'Hara, formerly of Imperial, died July 16. Thomas D. English Funeral Home, Oakmont. (DN) KNESS, Jeffrey Scott, 37, of McKees Rocks, died July 16. McDermott Funeral Home, Kennedy.

(DN) KOPP, Steven Carl, 21, of Carrick, died July 16. Boron Funeral Home, Carrick. (DN) LUISI, Patricia B. Glovengo, 74, of Bellevue, died July 15. Lawrence T.

Miller Funeral Home, Bellevue (DN) SLANEY, Charles formerly of Emsworth, died July 15. George A. Thoma Funeral Home, McCand-less. (DN) TAYLOR, Luster of Green Tree, died July 16. Beinhauer's, Beechview.

(DN) TORCHIA, Frank A 68, of Carnegie, died July 15. Bagnato Funeral Home, Carnegie. (DN) VARLEY, Elizabeth 86, of Carnegie, died July 16. Leo J. Henney Funeral Home, Carnegie.

(DN) VERNER, Ethel E. Cantle, 81 formerly of Greenfield, died July 16. Edward P. Kanai Funeral Home, Greenfield. (DN) VERRENGIA, Ersilia, 79, died July 15.

Lawrence B. McCabe Funeral Home, Penn Hills. (DN) WALTERS, Clare K. Weprich, 81, of Munhall, died July 15. Goerge Irvin Green Funeral Home, Munhall.

(DN) WRIGHT, Jack of Jefferson, died July 17. Teichart-Gracan Funeral Home, Duquesne. (DN) ZAGORSKI, Kathleen 74, of Shaler, died July 16. Healy-Hahn Funeral Home, Mlllvale. (DN) BEAVER COUNTY TRAINER, Esther 107, of Beaver Falls, died July 16.

Spratt Funeral Home, New Brighton. WILKISON, Larry Stephen "Wllkie," 48, of Center, died July 16. Anthony Mastrofrancesco Funeral Home, Allquippa. (DN) WESTMORELAND COUNTY BORDENICK, Lester, 63, of Hempfield, died July 15. Kepple-Graft Funeral Home, Greensburg.

FRISKO, Leah, 77, of Hempfield, died July 16. Kepple-Graft Funeral Home, Greensburg. GRAHAM, Helen 87, of North Huntingdon, died July 17. William Snyder Funeral Home, North Huntingdon. GRIMES, Charles 85, of Delmont, died July 16.

Mason-Gelder Funeral Home, Jeannette. KELLY, Janet Lee Rice, 38, of Ligonier, formerly of Waynesburg, Greene County, died July 15. Milliken and Throckmorton Funeral Home, Waynesburg. McLAIN, Pamela Hlxenbaugh, 45, of Greensburg, died July 15. Kepple-Graft Funeral Home, Greensburg.

RUGH, Lulu E. Carr, 84, of Salem, died July 16. John L. Bash Funeral Home, Delmont. SILVESTRI, Benjamin, 76, of vandergrlft, died July 14.

Brady-Cline Funeral Home, Vandergrlft. SMITH, Eileen Cope, 88, of Greensburg, died July 16. Bacha Funeral Home, Greensburg. SPICKEL, Ethel 85, ot West Newton, died July 16. J.

William McCauley Jr. Funeral Home, West Newton. TARSALA, Ruth P. Nemanick, 71, of North Huntingdon, died July 15. Vincent V.

Rodgers Funeral Home, Irwin. OTHER BECKES, Martha 77, of Chandler, formerly of Pittsburgh, died July 16. Mesa Funeral Care, Mesa, Ariz. BIGELOW, Thomas, 54, of Baltimore, died Jury 13. White Memorial Chapel.

Point Breeze. (DN) HURLEY, Doris of New Smyrna Beach, formerly of Bellevue, died July 16. O'Brien's Funeral Home, North Side. (DN) MANGAN, William 74, of Spring Hill, died July 15. Readshaw Funeral Home, Carrick.

(DN) SCHATZMAN, Dennis, of Ontario, formerly of Lincoln-Lemlngton, died July 16. SHIRLEY, Mary K. Keller, 87, of Belleville, Mifflin County, formerly of North Huntingdon, died July 16. William Snyder Funeral Home, Irwin. BAGINSKI MARGARETS.

On Wednesday, July 1997, Margaret Mertz Baginskl, beloved wife of Joseph S. Baginskl; mother of Peggy Geyer and Thomas J. Baginskl; sister of Jean Rom of FL, Myrtle Crawford of FL and Robert Mertz; also survived by four grandchildren. Friends received on Thursday and Friday, from 2-4 and 7-9 PM, at the SIMONS FUNERAL HOME INC, 7720 Perry Hwy. Mass Christian Burial in the Incarna-' tlon of Our Lord Parish, Annunciation Church, Saturday, 10 AM.

BARCLAY OLIVES. On July 17, 1997; Olive S. Barclay age 92 formerly of Ross ''Twp; wife of the late David Thompson Barclay mother of Mariorie J. Hager of Ross Twp; Ronald D. of Allentown, PA David T.

Jr. of Ross Twp; also 8 grandchildren 11 great grandchildren Friends received Fri 2-4 7-9pm Sat. 10am until time of service at 11am at the MCDONALD-LINN FUNERAL HOME, 529 California Avenue, Avalon. Memorial gifts are suggested to the Emsworth UP Church, Highland Ave. PA 15202.

GROMEK PETER Of Brookline, age 54, on Wed, July 16, 1997; beloved son of the late Walter and Angeline Gromek; brother of Antoinette, Jenny Sub-isak, Paul, and the late Walter Gromek Jr; uncle of Walter Dusch, Debbie Shimkets, Janet McGrath Sittig, Donna Maieski, Jennifer, Kim, Greg, Paul, Jonathan, and Ashley Gromek; greatuncle of 10 nieces and nephews. Funeral arrangements by BEINHAUERS. Friends welcome at 2630 West Liberty Avenue, 531-4000, Fri l-9pm. Mass of Christian Burial 10am Sat, Church of the Resurrection. HANLON NORMA JEAN (TUITE) On July 15, 1997 Norma Jean; wife of the late John R.

Han-Ion mother of Mary Lynn Ko-vacich, John Patrick T. and Timothy D. Hanlon; sister of James and William Tuite and Lorraine Kolling; grandmother of Nicole and Brittany Hanlon. Friends and Members of St. Matthew Christian Mothers and The Guild received at the JOHN F.

MURRAY FUNERAL HOME, Butler at 52nd Lawrenceville. Mass of Christian Burial St. Matthew Parish, St. Kie-ran Church Sat. at 10 a.m.

Visitations THURS. FRI. 2-4 7-9. Morningstar of Coraopolis the late Chris Floritelli, Annie Cantelmi Laura Moody; grandmother of Dagn'e Falbo Marvin. Friends received at ANTHONY J.

SANVITO, INC. FUNERAL HOME, 1316 4th Coraopolis, until Saturday Mass of Christian Burial St. Joseph Church 10am. Visitation Thursday 7-9pm, Friday 2-4 7-9pm FINCH GEORGE W. JR.

On Thurs. July 17, 1997, George W. Finch age 85, of Verona; beloved husband of Viola; father of adopted son Thomas and his wife Geraldine Cole of Verona. Friends will be received Sat. 2-4 and -9 at the PERCY E.

LAW, JR. FUNERAL HOME corner of Center at Wallace, Wilkinsburg. GILL MICHAEL P. On Monday, July 14, 1997, age 67, of Greenfield, beloved husband of Joann (Scott); father of Michael and Carol Gill and Barbara Weber; brother of John Gill of St. Johns, Newfoundland and Mary Ann Bober of Churchill; also survived by three grandchildren.

Friends received in the EDWARD P. KANAI FUNERAL HOME, 500 Greenfield Funeral Saturday, 9:30 a.m with funeral Mass in St. Rosalia Church, 10 a.m. Visitations with the family Thursday and Friday 2-4 8J-9 p.m. In lieu of flowers the family suggests remembrances to The Forbes Hospice, 6655 Frankstown Pgh.

PA 15206. gests donations to the American Heart Association or the charity of your choice. DEMESTICHAS DR. PETER D.D.S. Retired Carrick Dentist living in Whitehall, died July 15, 1997; Dr.

Demestichas graduated from the Univ. of Pittsburgh School of Dentistry in 1933 and practiced in the South Hills for 45 years. He served as an officer in the U.S. Army during WWII. Dr.

Demestichas was a long time member of South Hills Country Club. Peter is survived by his wife Edythe Minetti Demestichas; one daughter Eda Dean of Whitehall and one son Michael Demestichas of Florida; also surviving is a sister Rose Koe-hler of Doylestown, PA. He was predeceased by sisters Lillian Demestichas and Bernadette Landis and brothers Louis and Phillip Demestichas. Friends received at JOHN F. SLATER FUNERAL HOME, INC.

4201 Brownsville Road, Brentwood.Thurs. Fri. 2-4 7-9 p.m. Funeral service held at the convenience of the family. If desired family suggests contributions to American Cancer Society, 241 Fourth Pittsburgh, PA 15222 FALBO JULIETTI (JULIA) FLORITELLI On July 14, 1997, Juliette (Julia) Floritelli Falbo of Florida, formerly of Coraopolis, wife of Joseph M.

Falbo; mother of Janet L. Falbo of Florida; daughter of the late Sal-vatore Concetta Floritelli; sister of Mary DiCicco of Allquippa, Virginia Cercone of Pittsburgh, Lucia BELL ARTHUR L. On Thursday, July 17, 1997, Arthur L. of Harmar beloved husband of Ida Marie (Celo) Bell; dear father of Rosemary Llppert, Leslie Phillips, Keith, Chris, Vincent, Mark and Annette Bell; brother of Marion Farren and the late Lynn Bell; seven grandchildren. Friends may call BURKET-TRUBY FUNERAL HOME, INC.

421 Allegheny Oakmont. Friday 2-9. Christian funeral mass Saturday 11 a.m. Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church. Family suggests memorials to the American Heart Assoc.

or the American Lung Association. BELL DORIS M. On Tuesday, July 15, 1997, wife of the late Noah Bell; mother of Eileen Crawford James Noah Bell; sister of Alice Clark, Betty McCrackln, Lois Crozier the late Albert Jr. George J. Miller; grandmother of Jonathan Kathleen Crawford.

Visiting hours Thursday 7-9 Friday 2-4 7-9 pm. WM. SLATER SONS, INC. Virginia Ave. and Kearsage Mt.

Washington. Funeral Service Saturday 11 am. BIGELOW THOMAS Quietly, on July 13, 1997, In Baltimore, MD; beloved husband of Linda A. Bigelow; father of Thomas Martin Bigelow, and Gloria Lynette Bigelow of Atlanta, GA; son of William Nancy Bigelow; brother of William Bigelow of Florida, Marty Bigelow of Washington D.C, Donald Gwendolyn Judy Bigelow of Pgh, Robert Bigelow of Myrtle Beach, SC; also survived by a host of other relatives and friends. Friends may call Frl 2-4 and 7-9pm at WHITE MEMORIAL CHAPEL of Point Breeze.

Mass of Christian Burial Sat 1pm at St. Benedict The Moore. CAPPELLINI LIDUINA On Wednesday, July 16, 1997; beloved mother of Dr Raymond A. Cappellini of Somerset, NJ and the late Louise G. Marshall; also survived by 8 grandchildren 18 great grandchildren.

Visiting hours Friday 7-9 pm WM. SLATER SONS, INC. Virginia Ave. and Kearsage Mt. Washington.

Funeral Mass St. Mary of the Mount Church on Saturday at 10 am. CASKEY HARRY D. On July 16, 1997, age 72 of Ross Twp; beloved husband of Rosemary Henzler Caskey and the late Dorothy Caskey; father of Deborah Acierno, Patricia Scott, Peter Barry and the late Harry D. also survived by 16 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.

Friends received on 11:30 am until time of service at 1:00 pm at SCHELLHAAS FUNERAL HOME, INC. 388 Center Avenue (between Ross Twp. Police Station West View Park Shopping Center). Mr. Caskey was a WWII veteran and POW, a member of the Mt.

Royal VFW Post 9199 and the Allegheny Country Rifle Club. Family sug- I. Cont. on Pag C-7.