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In Memoriam |
| Michael J. Stelmach Sr., 52, owner of Universal Martial Arts died Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2007 at his home following a courageous battle with cancer. Mr. Stelmach, son of the late Bruno and Lorraine Stelmach. He was a member of the Rakkasans Jiu-juitsu Ryu Martial Arts Club where he studied under Sensei William Keily. Mike is survived by his wife, Winona 'Nona' Stelmach and his son, Michael Stelmach Jr. |
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Prof. Frances Brown, wife of Prof. Ed Brown, was born in Connecticut on November 09, 1941 and passed away on July 30, 2007 at the age of 65. We will remember her forever. A website in memory of Prof. Frances Brown was created by Georgette Patenaude. You can visit the site by going to http://prof-frances-brown.memory-of.com On this site, you can read about Prof. Frances Brown, light a candle in her memory, pay tribute, offer your condolences, view a photo album and more. If you have any photographs that you would like to add to Prof. Frances Brown's website, you can upload them directly to the website. |
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Dr. Freddy Stark, an instructor in gross
anatomy and histology at the University of Pennsylvania School of
Medicine, died on March 7, 2005 at the age of 48.
Dr. Stark was well known for the Sunday review meetings of gross anatomy he started with some medical students several years ago. It quickly grew to 80-100 students for a two-four hour weekly session. He developed the book, Start Exploring "Gray's Anatomy": a fact-filled coloring book (Running Press Book Publishers, 1991) geared toward children of all ages to help them understand the concepts of the human body. Dr. Stark was also an accomplished martial arts practitioner. He held black belts in Judo, Karate and JuJitsu from the U.S. Martial Arts Association. The Association inducted him into the U.S. Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2003. Beginning in 1986, he was the head instructor of Penn's Martial Arts Club, Chi Do Kwan, and South Central Tae Kwan Do Association. In memory of Dr. Stark's generosity of spirit, two prizes in his name have been established: the Dr. Freddy Stark Award for Gross Anatomy, established in 2005 by friends and colleagues and awarded at graduation, and the Dr. Freddy Stark Award for teaching Excellence, awarded annually to the best teaching assistant selected by medical students. In addition, the Penn Martial Arts Club and his students are seeking to dedicate the lawn outside of Goddard Laboratories in his name and to his memory as he taught and practiced martial arts on these grounds for 16 years. Donations in Dr. Stark's memory may be made to the Abramson Cancer Center, or to the Freddy Stark Award program in cell & Development biology. He is survived by his wife Margaret (Peggy) M. Yetter,, his students, his friends and his spirit. |
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February 25, in Sacramento,
Raymond V. "Duke" Moore, entered into rest. Known
across the United States as well as the world in martial arts circles.
Duke was a gentleman as well as a gentle-man. Duke was born April 19, 1915
in San Francisco to Chester H. and Antoinet Moore. Preceded in death
by his wife Vera and his brothers, Donald and Richard Moore. Duke is
survived by his companion of the last seven years Olga Compton, and her
children as well as his nephew Dennis Moore, his nieces Joyce Tullos and
Pamela Moore, and a cousin Richard Cable. Duke also leaves behind
"a thousand children" whom he has taught the martial arts.
Duke was a graduate of Polytechnic High Class of 1933. Duke served in the CCC's and was also a veteran of the US Army from February of 1941 to November 1941 when he received a medical discharge due to ulcers. Duke was a cofounder and the last living cofounder of The American Judo & Jujitsu Federation in 1948. Duke resigned in 1950 over policy matters. Duke also developed his own Zen Budokai System of martial arts by 1960. Duke had four dojo's in San Francisco, two simultaneously. The most well know was at 1819 Market Street. Duke taught self defense at College of Marin, San Francisco City Collage, US Marine Reserves in Marin county and Stanford University where he retired in 1980. The following took place in Chinatown, San Francisco, California: On October 25, 1980, (at an awards dinner), The Zen Budo Society awarded Raymond V. 'Duke' Moore the rank of 10th Dan. He was given a certificate which reads as follows: "Whereas he has mastered, taught and demonstrated in his life and work the philosophical truths and spiritual forces of Aiki and Budo; and in recognition of his being a Master Sensei and practitioner of over forty-five years experience in the martial art of Aiki Jujitsu, the Zen Budokai hereby awards to its founder Duke Moore the title, rank and honor of hanshi-judan (10th degree)". "The American Teachers Association of the Martial Arts was founded in 1981, in San Francisco, California, by Raymond "Duke" Moore, Judan. It's history is best expressed by its founder: "Paradoxically, it became a viable organization only because of an 'afterthought'. The original plan was to expand Zen Budokai, a credentialing organization founded by me in 1960. Its purpose was to promote members of the top ten blackbelters to the ranks of Masters and Professors…" Duke's Sensei's were Professor Ray Law (JuJitsu), George Yoshida and Mits Kimura (Judo), Kiyose Nakae (Jujitsu), Masutatsu Oyama, Hidetake Nishiyama and Richard Kim (Karate). In 1990 the Ken Studies Institute of Calabasas conferred upon Duke an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree for his many humanitarian accomplishments and publications. Dukes books include the following, many of which have changed titles.
"Duke's strong points were randori, teaching and organizational skills. Pound for pound I don't think Duke had an equal. He was a great teacher as evidenced by the number of black belt students he produced and was greatly respected in his skills to set up harmonious and fair Martial Arts organizations." Delmo M. Esposti For the last six plus years Duke was studying under a new Master, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. His favorite author was Ellen G. White. |
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We announce with great regret the passing of
Lou Thesz, America's greatest professional wrestler. Lou was born in 1916, and he started hard wrestling
training under his father in St. Louis in 1924, the year I was born. By the
age of 20, Lou was World Professional Wrestling Champion, a title he held six times over the next 20 years of fighting all over the world, in
thousands of matches. In those days, armlocks and chokes which ended the match were called "hooks," and Lou was one of the greatest hookers of them
all. Through Mike Riley of Minnesota, I got to know Lou and we invited him to attend and teach a short seminar at our 2001 USMA Hall of Fame in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Lou came, gave us a great seminar, and I had the pleasure of taking him to breakfast for several days. He told me he had never had a kid brother, and from now on I would be his kid brother (and me at age 76 at the time!). Lou was a charming gentleman as well as a tremendously gifted athlete. He continued to wrestle professionally right into his 70s, in spite of a hip replacement. We send sincere sympathy to his gracious wife and all his family. We won't see his like again, they just don't make 'em like that any more. Goodbye Lou, we'll always love you and miss you. .... Phil Porter |
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15 February, 2002 We lost Mr. Marty
Russell, judoka and USMA member during a heart surgery operation. Mr.
Russell served his country with three tours of duty in Vietnam and
received three Purple Hearts from 1968 to 1971. Living and
practicing judo in the Fayetteville, Arkansas area for thirty years, Mr.
Russell was promoted to the rank of Rokudan (6th degree) in 2001 by
Osensei Phil Porter. He is survived by his wife Jan and daughter
Linda. ....Mike Baker |
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It is with deep regret that we announce
Coach Ron McDowell's recent passing.
Coach began training in the martial arts in 1952 under the guidance of his
uncle, Paul Sylva. In 1956 he joined the US Navy Seabees and from that
time on, trained with legendary martial artist like Rene Zeelenberg, Paul
Mauryama, George Harris, Ben Campbell, and Phil Porter. In December 1995,
Coach McDowell founded the Elko Judo Club at the University of Nevada
Great Basin College. Having studied judo (6th dan), jujitsu (7th dan), and
karate (3rd dan), he has served the martial arts in many official
capacities over the years, and received the "Golden Life Award"
at the 2000 USMA Hall of Fame Banquet. ....Donn Schucker |
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Trevor Pryce
Leggett. 9th Dan, Judo. In 2001, our beloved teacher
"T.P." passed away at age 80. He was the real foundation
of British Judo. I first met him at the famous Budokwai in London,
England, in September, 1954, and was fortunate to be guided by him in Judo
and Yoga for the next four years. He was tremendously supportive,
kind and helpful. Although he was the highest ranking non-Japanese
in the world at that time (Rokudan) he always found time to help us and
tell us about the history of Kodokan Judo. He won his fighting 5th
Dan in Tokyo the day before Pearl Harbor in 1941. His books are
famous, but it is the memory of his kindness to us young students which
stays in our minds. Truly, T.P. Leggett was one of the few who
brought Judo from Japan to the West. .... Phil Porter |
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Mike Dignan. Mike
Dignan, who passed away in 2000, should be remembered for his loyal
devotion to Judo and to the future of our Association. His club was
in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where I visited him for seminars many
times. He was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and a retired
school teacher. He always signed his letter off with "Semper Fi,"
and that is the way we will remember him, always faithful. .... Phil Porter |
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Walter Todd. 9th
Dan, Karate, 8th Dan Judo. Walt Todd passed away in 2000. He
was my first Judo and Karate teacher, starting in November 1951 at Travis
AFB, California. He was a fighting Nidan when he came back from
Japan in 1948, and was an outstanding technician. It was Walt Todd
more than any other person who fascinated many of us with Judo.
George Harris started Judo there at Travis six months after I did in the
same club. There are many others who owe their start in Judo and
Karate to Todd Sensei. He was the first person in the United States
to be given a black belt in Shotokan Karate, in 1953, by Obata Sensei,
then the highest ranking Karate leader outside of Funakoshi Sensei
himself. .... Phil Porter |