2 - September, 2012 - Edition 5
Obituary
Marketing Director Chris Catoggio chris@bocaratontribune.com
Delray Beach Tribune
Ron Palillo, Horshack of ‘Kotter’ fame, G-Star teacher, 63 By Staff and Wire Reports Services for Ron Palillo, best known as mouthy classroom goofball Arnold Horshack on the 1970s TV series “Welcome Back, Kotter,” were on Aug. 22 at St. Patrick’s Church in Jupiter. He died Aug. 14 at his home in Palm Beach Gardens after an apparent heart attack. He had not been ill or hospitalized, those close to him said. Mr. Palillo, who was 63, had been teaching acting classes to 9-12 grade students at G-Star School of the Arts in Palm Springs for about three years. “His students admired and respected him,” said principal Kim Collins, who worked with Mr. Palillo since he joined the staff. “He really wanted what was best for them and wanted to share his craft with them, because he was so good at it — not that he would say that. He was very humble.” Mr. Palillo was inextricably linked with the character he played from 1975 to 1979 on “Kotter,” the hit ABC sitcom, in which title character Gabe Kotter returns to his Brooklyn alma mater to teach a group of lovable wiseguys known as the Sweathogs. Horshack was the nasal teen who yelped, “Oooh, ooh,” and shot his hand skyward whenever Kotter posed a question. The show’s cast included a young John Travolta as ladies’ man Vinnie Barbarino; Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs played the always cool Freddie “Boom-Boom” Washington; and Robert Hegyes played tough Jewish Puerto Rican wheeler-dealer Juan (Luis Pedro Phillipo de Huevos) Epstein. Hegyes died in January from an apparent heart attack at 60. The show was a ratings success and pop-culture phenomenon, injecting smartaleck phrases such as “Up your nose with a rubber hose” into the mainstream and propelling Travolta to stardom. But the series only lasted as long as a high school education and its end, for Mr. Palillo, brought professional difficulty. He said he felt exiled throughout the 1980s, unable to find parts, sinking into depression and rarely venturing from his apartment. When offers did come, he felt typecast as Horshack. Born April 2, 1949, in Cheshire, Conn., Ronald Paolillo eventually dropped the first “o’’ from his surname. His father died of
lung cancer when Mr. Palillo was 10 and he developed a stutter. His mother thought that getting him involved in local theater might help. He fell in love with the stage and overcame his speech impediment. He attended the University of Connecticut and earned parts in Shakespearean productions before his big break. He told interviewers that his dying father’s voice inspired Horshack’s trademark wheezing laugh, but when he auditioned for “Kotter” he thought he’d be passed over for others who had more of a tough-guy New York look. The casting agents knew better, and so did Gabe Kaplan, who played Kotter. “When Ron walked into the audition and did his first line, ‘Hello, how are you, I’m Arnold Horshack,’ I said ‘That’s him. That’s the guy,’ ” Kaplan recalled in an email to the Associated Press. In a 2009 newspaper interview, Mr. Palillo said he always felt very at home in West Palm Beach unlike New York. “People go out of their way for you in West Palm Beach. They don’t do that in New York,” he said then. Greg Hauptner, founder and CEO of GStar, said, “He was the kind of guy that you met and immediately made you feel really good.” Survivors include his partner of 41 years, Joseph Gramm, a retired actor, sister Ann, who lives in Connecticut, and brothers Richard and Bobby, of Florida.
Account Executive Angelo Lima Marguax Vickers
Mary Barrett, 71, Boynton Beach Mary Barrett, 71, Boynton Beach Mary Barrett (nee Curran) Age 71, of Boynton Beach, previously of Bay Shore, NY, born and raised in Ballinskelligs, Co. Kerry, Ireland passed away peacefully on August 12, 2012 after a three year battle with cancer. She was predeceased by her parents, Daniel and Mary and her brothers, John and Daniel (Donie). Mary moved to New York City, NY in November 1962 and met and married John a year and a half later. She was a vivacious, spirited woman who loved her family and friends. She enjoyed long walks, Bingo and cards and fiercely rooted for her championship teams, The Kerry Irish Football Team and The New York Yankees. Mary was also a woman of faith, attending daily mass at St. Thomas More Church until her illness wouldn’t allow it. She is survived by her loving husband, John; son, John (Christine); daughter, Maureen (Tony) Sales; grandchildren, Anthony, Danny, Patrick, Dominic, Isabel, Reagan and baby, Emma; sisters, Delia Kelly, Sheila (Bob) Miller and Eileen (Daniel) O’Connell and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends. The Funeral Mass was held on Aug. 16 at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, Boynton Beach. Burial will be private. SCOBEE-COMBS-BOWDEN FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY Boynton Beach Family Owned & Operated Death Notices Maggie Macon Johnson, 86, of Boynton Beach, died Aug. 7. A.J. Manuel Funeral Home, Hollywood. Willie Gerald, “Peter”, of Delray Beach, died Aug. 11 Straghn & Son Funeral Home, Delray Beach, Jane C. D’ursi, of Delray Beach, died Aug. 19. Lorne & Sons Funeral Home, Delray Beach. Katora Sha-na Hamilton, 29, of Boynton Beach, Straghn & Son Funeral Home, Delray Beach,
Birthday Lawrence Moncrief of Boca Raton, Aug. 3 Ike Powell of Boynton Beach, Aug. 6 Tyler Kitchens of Delray Beach, Aug. 9 Alberta McCarthy of Delray Beach, Aug. 10 William Nix of Delray Beach, Aug. 20 Nigel Roberts of Delray Beach, Sept. 9 Demetrius Thomas of Boynton Beach, Sept. 29
Art Director Marjorie Brandner Graphic Design: Matt Epperson Photographers: Nicole Vickers, Gabriela Heizer Barbara McCormick Video Production Director Klaiton Silva
Delray Beach Tribune
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Anniversary Tim and Sheila Moore, 5 years, Sept. 11. Arthur and Rose Cohen 47 years, Sept 17
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