In Passing

David Thompson, Caribbean leader

Bridgetown, Barbados – Prime Minister David Thompson of Barbados died before dawn Saturday after struggling to beat pancreatic cancer most of the year. He was 48.

Thompson, who became prime minister of the Caribbean nation of 270,000 people in January 2008, died at his private residence in St. Philip.

Freundel Stuart, who was attorney general and deputy prime minister, was sworn in as the new prime minister and said he did not anticipate any immediate changes to the Cabinet.

James Neal, trial lawyer

Nashville, Tenn. – Outside the courtroom, James F. Neal had an amiable, backslapping way with friends and foes alike. Inside the chamber, the face of one of America’s greatest trial lawyers often became fixed in a steely gaze.

The attorney who regularly grabbed national headlines – whether prosecuting Jimmy Hoffa or key Watergate figures, or defending Elvis Presley’s doctor or the Exxon Corp. after the Alaska oil spill – died Thursday night. He was 81.

Law partner Aubrey Harwell said Neal died at a Nashville hospital after a months-long battle against cancer.

In the words of actor/politician Fred Thompson, already a lawyer in real life before he became one on TV, “Jim Neal was the greatest trial lawyer of his time.”

Alexander, creator of ‘Rocky and Bullwinkle’

Carmel, Calif. – Alexander Anderson Jr., recognized as the creator of the “Rocky and Bullwinkle” cartoon, died Friday at a home in Carmel, Calif. He was 90.

Anderson came from a family of creative artists and in 1938 started working in animation with his uncle Paul Terry in New York at Terrytoons, the studio that created “Mighty Mouse.”

After World War II, Anderson returned to Berkeley, Calif., where he and childhood friend Jay Ward began making cartoons for TV. Ward ran the business side and Anderson handled the artistic and creative work.

Most notably, Anderson is credited with creating Rocky the Flying Squirrel and his pal Bullwinkle, a moose.