Obituary

May 2024

Robert MacNeil, co-founder of NewsHour, 93

ROBERT MacNeil, a pioneer of public media journalism and a driving force behind the show that would become the PBS NewsHour, died on April 12 at the age of 93. He interviewed Martin Luther King Jr., Ayatollah Khomeini, Fidel Castro, and former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. MacNeil was born in Montreal and raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He was in Dallas in 1963 when Kennedy was shot and killed, even reporting live by phone from inside the Texas school book depository where Lee Harvey Oswald worked. His connection to PBS began in 1973, during the height of the Watergate fallout, that MacNeil was first teamed with Lehrer. The two rebroadcast the hearings with analysis late into the night — some 250 hours in all.” The success of their coverage — and the chemistry of their team — led to the creation in 1975 of The Robert MacNeil Report, with Lehrer as the show’s Washington correspondent, before becoming a full partner in The MacNeil-Lehrer Report. The hour-long program became noted for its civil tone and the depth of its coverage, gaining honors, viewers — and the attention of cartoonists. (PBS.org)


Joseph Tony "Butch" Valdez, of Chicago, died on April 7. He was 68 years old. Tony was a retired deacon at St. Martha Catholic Church, Class of 2014, in Morton Grove, Illinois. He was the brother of Fr. Mario, Reuben, Daphne, and Grant; uncle of Maricar, Margarita, Maydel, Mariz, and Melissa Grace. Wake and held at Simkins Funeral Home. Funeral to St. Martha Church for funeral mass. Cremation private. 

Former rebel turned AFP intel chief Victor Corpus
By John Eric Mendoza INQUIRER.net

MANILA—Victor Corpus, a former rebel turned chief of the military intelligence service and an author, died on April 4. He was 79. The cause of death has not yet been disclosed. Corpus defected to the New People’s Army (NPA) on Dec. 29, 1970, and led the Maoist insurgent’s raid to the Philippine Military Academy’s armory. He surrendered to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on July 14, 1976, and then, spent several years in a military prison before being reinstated in the army as a reserve officer in 1987 through the order of former President Corazon Aquino.

Afterwards, he held various posts in the AFP in the 1990s before being appointed AFP’s intelligence service chief under former President Gloria Arroyo. Corpus authored the book ‘Silent War’ published on Jan. 1, 1989, which tackled the government’s counterinsurgency efforts against the NPA. The introduction of Silent War stated, “It is the first book ever written on insurgency by a member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines based on his own inside view of the enemy.” On Jan. 1, 2009, Corpus also wrote ‘America’s Dim Mak Points: Unrestricted Warfare in the 21st Century.’ Corpus’ life was also the basis of the eponymous biographical film titled ‘Operation: Get Victor Corpus’ released in 1987. 

PERRY Diaz, born Porfirio Maximo Carpio Diaz, Jr., died on April 4 at the age of 79 in Sacramento, California. He is survived by wife, Dolores (Babes); children Lara Diaz Dunbar (Harvey) and Andrea Diaz-Vaughn (Scott); and grandkids Ty, Elle, Marissa, Dane and Maximo. Perry published his articles covering Filipino and Filipino-American news for the website Global Balita and email newsletter “Perryscope.” He earned an industrial engineering degree from Adamson University. Former President George H.W. Bush appointed him to the Federal Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board in 1995. Memorial service and funeral service were held in California.

MARIA Pura died April 13. She was 82 years old. Maria is survived by her husband Benjamin Pura; Mother of Ray Pura, Roy Pura, and Rosemarie Leurck; Grandmother to Morgan, Joshua, Joseph, Peter, Kate, Alexis, Samuel, and Abbey; survived by siblings: Amante, Reynaldo, Virginia, Anita, and Condrado. Maria was a long-time member of Couples for Christ. Wake held at Hursen Funeral Home & Crematory. Prayers from the funeral home to Holy Name Cathedral for Funeral Mass. Private Cremation. 

EMMANUEL A. Rabor, died on April 14. He was 83. Husband for 52 years of the late Alice Rabor; father of Barber (Ella) Rabor, the late Aloy Rabor, Melody (Dino) Dizon, and Angie (Jason) Maranan; lolo of nine. Member of Couples for Christ. Nolit was a teacher, basketball coach, and scout master. He represented the Philippines in the Olympics in the 1984 Los Angeles games. Visitation and Funeral Service held at Lawrence Funeral Home. Interment private.

JULIAN E. Banzon, Jr., DR. Banzon, Jr. died on March 31 at age 92. He was the husband of the late Gildegarda, and the late Linda. Survived by five children and, predeceased by daughter Anna (Ronnie) Lao. Grandfather of 11, great Grandfather of eight. Wake held at Colonial-Wojciechowski Funeral Home. Prayers at the funeral home to St. Alphonsus Liguori Church for Memorial Mass. Interment Maryhill Cemetery.

EDUARDO Madamba died April 4 at the age of 83. He is survived by his wife Luningning; his children Jonathan and Jennifer; and his five granddaughters. He was preceded in death by his son Jan-Michael. Dr. Madamba was recognized by administration and his peers, for his 45 years of service as a medical staff member at Saint Mary and Saint Elizabeth Medical Center. By estimates, Dr. Madamba delivered over 10,000 babies in his career. Wake and Funeral Service held at Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home. Interment Maryhill Cemetery.