Enjoyed

Richard William Luckan, a retired banker and Vietnam War veteran who enjoyed gourmet cooking and dining, died of melanoma and leukemia Saturday at Upper Chesapeake Medical Center in Bel Air. He was 62. Mr. Luckan was born in Baltimore and raised in Towson. He attended Loyola High School and graduated from Parkville High School in 1963. He earned a degree in 1967 from the University of Baltimore School of Law and a bachelor's degree in economics from Loyola College in 1973. He earned a master's degree in banking and finance from the University of Maryland in 1979.

Vincent F. Toomey, a retired insurance underwriter and baseball fan, died Monday of complications from a stroke at Johns Hopkins Hospital. The Homewood resident was 79. Mr. Toomey was born in Manhattan and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y. After graduating from Boys' High School in 1945, he was drafted into the Army Air Forces and served in the Philippines for 1 1/2 years before being honorably discharged. He attended Columbia University before going to work in 1947 in New York City for the Zurich Insurance Co. He later was transferred to Atlanta.

Lydia Owens Gillespie, a debutante and horsewoman who worked for 20 years as a medical research assistant at the Johns Hopkins University, died Friday of complications from Alzheimer's disease at Fairhaven retirement community in Sykesville. She was 82.Born in Metuchen, N.J., she moved to England as a child, then to Baltimore, where her father, the late J. Hamilton Owens, was editor in chief of The Sunpapers from 1943 to 1956.She grew up at the family home in Riderwood, graduated from Roland Park Country School in 1936 and made her debut at the Bachelors Cotillon.

WASHINGTON -- Lamar Alexander was correct when he complained that a presidential candidate shouldn't be chosen on the basis of money and family name. But he is mistaken if he believes his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination failed because George W. Bush enjoyed those advantages.The problem for Mr. Alexander was that he was never able to persuade enough voters -- or, for that matter, Republican party leaders -- to take him seriously. That was the case, moreover, long before the Bush phenomenon developed.

It was Joseph Augustus Lee's manner to give, and he did it whenever possible, friends and relatives said. Mr. Lee drove a cab for nearly 30 years and provided almost as many free rides as paid ones; he sold Christmas trees for 20 years and gave away countless Scotch pines; and he managed a West Baltimore convenience store where he had a sizable list of debtors.Mr. Lee, 78, who died Thursdayof a heart attack at his Randallstown home, was always willing to help others and share what he had -- even if it meant he took a loss.

25 years ago:The Carroll County school board was warned again at this month's meeting that the price of school lunches will almost certainly have to rise as a result of the ever-increasing cost of food. Price of school lunches was held at 45 cents when school started in September, but cafeterias have been operating at a loss. The cost of milk has doubled in county schools this year due to the fact that it is no longer subsidized by state funds. Parents must now pay the full price for milk, 10 cents for a half-pint.

Quote: "I enjoyed the first homer myself. I'm not the only one to give up a homer to Sammy Sosa. The second one I said, 'Up, up,' in the air and then I forgot it's Wrigley Field. If I struck him out, I'd enjoy it, too. But we got the win." -- Jose Lima of the Astros, who gave up Sosa's 50th and 51st homers.It's a fact: NASA astronaut Scott Altman, a longtime Cubs fan, came to Wrigley Field and brought a team flag and a Ryne Sandberg jersey he took into space with him in April on a shuttle flight.

Six weeks into a complicated career decision, Orioles pitching coach Mike Flanagan says he will decide by early next week whether to remain part of Ray Miller's staff or to return to the Home Team Sports broadcast team.Trying to decide whether to remain with the club or jump to its television rights holder, Flanagan, 46, insists his personal tug-of-war will be won by whichever option he believes is in his best long-term interest. Miller has repeatedly lobbied Flanagan to return for the 1999 season.

David enjoyed the fish, and Bonnie enjoyed the mushrooms.If that proves anything, it may be that Japanese dining has strange effects on people.Just back from nearly three weeks in Japan, Bonnie was craving Japanese food, and Kyoto seemed a likely choice -- not the ancient city over there, but the restaurant over here in Severna Park.Although the name on the front of the restaurant said Kyoto, Bonnie knew we weren't in Japan because no plastic food was displayed in the window. In Japan, such displays are necessary for patrons who don't speak Japanese.

Charles Hillary Griffin had a distinctive way of greeting neighbors who moved into his community near Crownsville. He presented them with redwood mailboxes he had made in his basement workshop.Mr. Griffin, who was 65, died of heart failure Tuesday at North Arundel Hospital.Anne Scott, a neighbor on Waterbury Heights Drive, recalled last week a morning 30 years ago when she was awakened by the sound of a hammer."He was the first one to welcome us to the neighborhood. It was a complete surprise.

Raymond Morrison Geisendaffer Sr., a retired Amtrak passenger conductor whose railroad career spanned more than three decades, died of bladder cancer Aug. 21 at his Parkville home. He was 86. Mr. Geisendaffer, the son of a mover and homemaker, was born in Baltimore and raised on Lanvale Street. He was a semi-professional middle-weight boxer during the 1930s in Baltimore and was a 1939 graduate of City College. During World War II, he enlisted in the Army and served as a military policeman in North Africa and Italy, until he was honorably discharged in 1945.

The Baltimore Museum of Art's sculpture garden was brimming with people who were listening to a live bluegrass band, browsing crab-themed buffets and enjoying a warm - but dry - summer evening. It was the largest crowd yet for Crabaret. In its seven years, the fundraiser for the House of Ruth has become one of Baltimore's favorite summer parties. "Response has been overwhelming. We sold out two weeks in advance," said Louise Miller, who chaired the event with husband Gabe Purviance, and Marsha and Gordon Becker.

A two-year captain and four-year varsity player, senior center midfielder Alex Workman is looking forward to leading a largely new group of starters while maintaining the success the Bruins have enjoyed in his first three seasons. While he will provide vocal leadership when called upon, Workman's tireless work and technically sound play in the middle of the field speaks volumes. Maintaining a weighted 3.6 grade-point average, Workman plans to study business and play soccer in college. LaSalle University tops his list among the various schools showing interest in him. Over the summer, Workman helped his Baltimore Bays' 91 premier club win the State Cup championship.

Donald Quentin Cornish, a retired Baltimore firefighter and longtime Abingdon resident, died Wednesday of end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at St. Agnes Hospital. He was 73. Mr. Cornish was born in Baltimore and raised on Schroeder Street. After graduating from Douglass High School, he held various jobs before joining the city Fire Department in 1957. At the time of his 1987 retirement, he was acting lieutenant at Engine 30 on Frederick Avenue. He enjoyed playing poker, watching CNN, traveling and attending family reunions.

Rosamond K. "Roz" Carter, died in her sleep Wednesday at Gilchrist Center for Hospice Care. The former Lutherville resident was 78. Rosamond Ruth Kraus was born in Baltimore and raised in Guilford. She was a 1947 graduate of Girls' Latin School and earned a bachelor's degree from Brenau College in Gainesville, Ga., in 1951. In 1952, she married Dr. Donald S. Carter, an ear, nose and throat surgeon, who died in 2004. Mrs. Carter earned a private pilot's license and enjoyed flying with her husband, who also had his license, to various East Coast destinations.

Richard William Luckan, a retired banker and Vietnam War veteran who enjoyed gourmet cooking and dining, died of melanoma and leukemia Saturday at Upper Chesapeake Medical Center in Bel Air. He was 62. Mr. Luckan was born in Baltimore and raised in Towson. He attended Loyola High School and graduated from Parkville High School in 1963. He earned a degree in 1967 from the University of Baltimore School of Law and a bachelor's degree in economics from Loyola College in 1973. He earned a master's degree in banking and finance from the University of Maryland in 1979.

Recently, I watched "Spam," the Monty Python sketch, for about the 100th time. The segment shows Mr. and Mrs. Bun arguing and attempting to order breakfast while a group of burly-voiced Vikings chant in unison: "Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam ... " Much to my disappointment, watching the skit reminded me that Hormel's infamous "meat in a can" is treated more like a punch line rather than an actual food product. But people still eat Spam. And if you're like me, you love eating it. I was about 9 years old when I first discovered Spam.

Walter Q. "Nick" Nicholas, a retired electrical engineer who enjoyed helping family and friends with home improvements, died Monday of complications from muscular dystrophy at his Fallston home. He was 73. Mr. Nicholas was born and raised in Baltimore. He was a 1952 graduate of City College and the next year went to work as an electrical helper at Bethlehem Steel Corp.'s Penwood Power Station at Sparrows Point. He served in the Army from 1956 until 1958, when he returned to Sparrows Point.

Vincent F. Toomey, a retired insurance underwriter and baseball fan, died Monday of complications from a stroke at Johns Hopkins Hospital. The Homewood resident was 79. Mr. Toomey was born in Manhattan and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y. After graduating from Boys' High School in 1945, he was drafted into the Army Air Forces and served in the Philippines for 1 1/2 years before being honorably discharged. He attended Columbia University before going to work in 1947 in New York City for the Zurich Insurance Co. He later was transferred to Atlanta.

Margaret V. Clazey, a retired interior decorator who enjoyed cooking and entertaining, died Sunday of a stroke at Johns Hopkins Hospital. The Chestertown resident was 71. Margaret Gozik was born in Clarksburg, W.Va., and graduated from high school in Flemington, W.Va. In 1952, she moved to Catonsville and worked for a printing company. From 1990 until retiring in 2002, she was an interior decorator with PCF Homes. The former Queenstown resident, who moved to Chestertown five years ago, liked to cook standard American fare.