The obituary section provides a poignant farewell to Lee Van Cleef, the legendary film actor renowned for his roles in Westerns, notably alongside Clint Eastwood in iconic films like “For a Few Dollars More” and “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.” Van Cleef, who passed away at 64 after an apparent heart attack on December 16 in Oxnard, California, had a career marked by a transformation from an obscure actor with minor villain roles to a European box-office star by the early 1970s.

Born in Somerville, New Jersey, before venturing into acting in local theatrical productions. His breakthrough came in 1952 with a role in the classic Western “High Noon.” However, it was his collaboration with Italian director Sergio Leone that catapulted him to international stardom. Van Cleef’s portrayal of the lone, proficient killer in spaghetti Westerns, with a tough exterior masking gentility and rudimentary justice, resonated with audiences.

The obituary briefly touches on Van Cleef’s later years, where he faded from the limelight with roles in forgettable productions like “The Master” and “Killing Machine.” The narrative also mentions other individuals who recently passed away, such as Brunello A. Landi, a printing executive, George I. Snowden, a former advertising director of Hecht’s department stores, Katharine Roy Olivier Maddux, an area resident since 1923, Mary A. Moore, an Army employee, and Patricia Reed, a former area resident. Together, these obituaries pay tribute to lives that left lasting imprints on their respective fields and communities.