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  • Sam Roberts

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Noel Parmentel Jr., Essayist, Polemicist and Apostate, Dies at 98

A self-described “reactionary individualist,” he mentored Joan Didion and was credited with famously comparing Nixon to a used-car salesman.

Charlie Moss, Whose Ads Spread Love for New York, Dies at 85

As a pioneer of Madison Avenue’s creative revolution, he collaborated on campaigns for Alka-Seltzer and other products. But his tourism pitches were a game changer.

Howie Cohen, Whose Alka-Seltzer Ads Spawned Catchphrases, Dies at 81

A copywriter, he and a partner in 1972 came up with “Try it, you’ll like it” and “I can’t believe I ate that whole thing.”...

Walter Shapiro, Political Columnist With a Contrarian Streak, Dies at 77

He brought to his writing a sharp sense of humor, honed in stand-up comedy clubs, and never pulled punches even though he was an unabashed...

Jeannette Charles, Who Doubled for the Queen, Is Dead at 96

She bore a startling resemblance to Elizabeth II. In “The Naked Gun” and other movies, and in comedy sketches on TV, she wore the crown...

Martin Wygod, a Winner on Wall Street and the Racetrack, Dies at 84

After he made a fortune selling prescription drugs and providing medical information online, he and his wife became leading breeders of thoroughbred horses.

Don Wright, Editorial Cartoonist With a Skewer for a Pen, Dies at 90

He won two Pulitzers for Florida newspapers, commenting wryly on war, segregation, church scandals and more while reaching readers nationwide through syndication.

Stephen Adams, Who Made Yale Music School Tuition-Free, Dies at 86

A billionaire businessman and a late-blooming piano aficionado, he set a record with the anonymous $100 million gift that he and his wife gave the...

Ira M. Millstein, Corporate Lawyer With Public Impact, Dies at 97

He crusaded for stronger corporate governance by company boards, advised New York City on avoiding bankruptcy and helped put Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the federal...

William Whitworth, Revered Writer and Editor, Is Dead at 87

After writing memorable character sketches and fine-tuning others’ copy at The New Yorker, he spent two decades as editor in chief of The Atlantic Monthly.