MONDAy, MARCH 2 , 2020. THE WASHINGTON POST EZ rE B7
obituaries
BY TERRY SPENCERSy Sperling, the founder of the
Hair Club for Men who became
well known for TV commercials
where he proclaimed, “I’m not
only the Hair Club president, but
I’m also a client,” died Feb. 19 in
Boca Raton, Fla. He was 78.
A spokeswoman, Te rri Lynn,
confirmed the death but did not
cite a specific cause.
In the late 1960s, Mr. Sperling
was a balding New York City
swimming pool salesman who
was growing frustrated with tou-
pees. “If you’re dating and going
to be having special moments,
how do you explain, ‘I got to take
my hair off now?’ ” he said.
Using a weaving technique he
learned from his hairstylist, Mr.
Sperling took on $10,000 in credit
card debt to open his own salon
on Madison Avenue and devel-
oped a system where a nylon
mesh cap was glued to the scalp.
The client’s r emaining hair would
grow through it, then hair of a
matching color, purchased from
women who cut their hair, was
woven into the mesh. The clients
would then come in several times
a year for adjustments.
Business took off but by the
late 1970s had stagnated. Word of
mouth was unreliable because
many clients weren’t eager to tell
their friends they were using a
hair-replacement system.
Mr. Sperling began advertising
on television and in 1982 went
national with commercials run-
ning 400 times a day on late-night
TV. They became so ubiquitous
they were spoofed on “ The To -night Show” and “Saturday Night
Live.”
The ads featured before and
after photographs of men who
used the system, ending with
Sperling himself who would pro-
claim in his slightly stilted and
stiff manner, “I’m not only the
Hair Club president, but I’m also
a client.” He then held up a photo
of himself without his hair. The
commercials cost him $12 million
annually but were generating
10,000 calls a month.
By 1998, Hair Club for Men had
85 franchises. Men paid between
$2,000 and $3,500 for the system
and then $65 for maintenance
appointments. Revenue reached
$100 million annually.
Mr. Sperling later dropped “For
Men” from the company name, as
the clientele expanded to include
women who lost hair naturally
and from cancer treatments. He
also started Hair Club for Kids,
which provided free hair to chil-
dren treated for cancer.
Mr. Sperling sold the business
to a group of investors in 2000 for
$45 million.
Survivors include his wife, Su-
san; two children; and a sister.
— Associated PresssY sPERLIng, 78
‘Hair Club for Men’ founder, client
HAIr CluB
S y Sperling’s “Hair Club for
Men” ads were spoofed on SNL.BY EMILY LANGERTheir numbers have reached
7.8 billion if not more, roughly
the population of the Earth.
Their ranks include police offi-
cers and firefighters, pirates and
knights, astronauts and elephant
keepers.
Their physical dexterity is lim-
ited, their facial features rather
plain. But for more than 40 years,
standing only four Lego blocks
tall, they have been giants of the
toy world and the object of untold
hours of enjoyment for genera-
tions of children and collectors.
They a re Lego m inifigures, and
their creator, the Danish Lego
designer Jens Nygaard Knudsen,
has died at 78. The Lego Group
announced his death, describing
him in a statement as “a true
visionary whose ideas brought
joy and inspiration to millions of
builders around the world.”
The Lego company was found-
ed in 1932 by Ole Kirk Kristians-
en, a master carpenter, in the
central Danish town of Billund,
where he made stepladders, iron-
ing boards, stools and wooden
toys. It was christened Lego two
years later, according to a compa-
ny history — a name that com-
bined the Danish words “leg
godt,” meaning “play well.”
Over the decades, the company
honed modern techniques of
manufacturing plastic toys, pat-
enting its signature stud-and-
tube locking system for its build-
ing bricks in 1958. But until Mr.
Knudsen’s innovations in the
1970s, Lego lacked a human or
even humanoid element to enliv-
en its playscapes.
“There was something missing
from the houses, cars, planes and
fantasy world these children
spent hours playing with,” Sarah
Herman wrote in her book “A
Million Little Bricks: The Unoffi-
cial Illustrated History of the
LEGO Phenomenon.” Mr. Knuds-
en’s minifigures, she wrote, went
“on to define and drive” the Lego
system “more than any other part
since the launch of the new Lego
brick in 1958.”
In 1974, the company intro-
duced human figures best re-
membered for their appearance
in the popular “Family” set,
which included a mother and a
father, a grandmother and two
children, all with round yellow
heads. The characters proved
popular with young Lego enthu-
siasts but were too large to be
comfortably employed in the
small-scale Lego world.
Mr. Knudsen, who had joined
Lego in 1968 and ultimately be-
came the company’s chief d esign-
er, was tasked with overseeing
the development of a new line of
miniature figures. The project
took him and the company
through dozens of iterations, in-
cluding the faceless “Extra,”
which had stiff arms and no
means of ambulation.
It was a start, but Mr. Knudsen
wanted a character with greater
capacity for play. Introduced in
1978, the blocky minifigure had
movable arms and legs, C-shaped
hands to grip other Lego ele-
ments, and basic if sometimes
inscrutable facial features.With its head made from yel-
low plastic, the minifigure had
“no obvious ethnicity,” according
to the company’s description.
(Future characters featured n atu-
ral skin tones.) Minifigures were
people in the most rudimentary
form, allowing seemingly infinite
possibilities for children to imag-
ine the lives behind them.
“A s a child, when you’re creat-
ing and building an imaginative
world from Lego, being able to
play with real people in that
world is part of the pleasure and
fascination and gives character
and life to whatever you’ve creat-
ed,” Herman said in an interview.
“They have so much spirit.”
Early minifigures included a
police officer, a firefighter, a doc-
tor, a gas station attendant, a
knight and an astronaut. The line
proved so popular that it grew
over the years to include 8,000
characters, among them figures
from the Star Wars and HarryPotter franchises. Lego-loving
children who grow into Lego-lov-
ing adults have been known to
place bride-and-groom minifig-
ures atop wedding cakes.
Mr. Knudsen also was credited
with designing Lego sets includ-
ing the “Castle” theme, which
Herman described as “one of the
first to take Lego building to
another time period.”
“The addition of these knights
and guards,” she observed, “with
their helmets, horses, and weap-
onry, transported the castle mod-
el from historical relic to a living,
breathing battlement.”
Other sets that Mr. Knudsen
helped design included the
“Space” theme, introduced in
1978 — a n undertaking Mr. Knud-
sen said sapped him of 14 m onths
of work hours in a single year.
Another popular set was the “Pi-
rates” theme, which required a
new look for the minifigures
previously known for their ano-
dyne expressions.
“It was necessary to alter the
minifigure’s expression in order
to develop credible pirates,” Mr.
Knudsen said, according to the
company. “A real pirate captain
must have a patch on his eye, a
peg leg and a hook!”
Little information was avail-
able about Mr. Knudsen’s early
life. He designed cars, fire sta-
tions and a police heliport for
Lego, according to Herman’s
book, before his work on minifig-
ures. He retired in 2000.
The Lego Group was not able
to immediately confirm details of
Mr. Knudsen’s d eath. A colleague,
Lego designer Niels Milan Peder-
sen, told Agence France-Presse
that he died Feb. 19 at a hospice
center in Hvide Sande, Denmark,
and that he had amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis (ALS), also
known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Survivors, according to the
AFP report, include his wife,
Marianne Nygaard Knudsen.
Some children who grew up
playing with Legos retained such
an affection for their toys that
they became collectors. Many
more became parents of children
who delighted in the stubby
bricks and minifigures, leaving a
trail of them across the house,
with others still to t urn up under
car seats and in coat pockets.
“ I am convinced,” Mr. Knudsen
told Herman, “that the minifig-
ure will live as long as children
play with Lego.”
[email protected]JEns nYgAARD KnUDsEn, 78
Designer conceived Lego minifigures
lEGo GroupMr. Knudsen’s minifigures became giants of the toy world and grew to include thousands of characters.
“As a child, when you’re
creating and building
an imaginative world
from Lego, being able to
play with real people in
that world is part of
the pleasure.... They
have so much spirit.”
sarah Herman,
author of “A Million little Bricks”DEATH NOTICESTEPHANIEJ. FLOYD
Entered into eternal rest onTuesday,February
18, 2020. She is survived by her three children,
MarcusJackson, Lisa Jeffrey and PrestonJack-
son; 12 grandchildren;onegreatgrandchild;
andahost of other relatives and friends.Mrs.
Floyd may be viewed at Stewart Funeral Home,
4001 Benning Rd., Ne onWednesday,March 4
from 10 a.m. until service at 11 a.m. Interment
is private.FLOYDWARREN WILBERT HOLLAND
(Age 76)
Left us onTuesday,February 18, 2020, at
his residence inTakomaPark, Maryland.
Viewing onTuesday,March 3, 2020, 9:30
a.m., Service to follow at 10:30 a.m., at
JB Jenkins Funeral Home,7474 Landover
Road, Hyattsville,Maryland. Interment at
FortLincolnCemetery,Brentwood,Mary-
land.HOLLANDARTHUR ISACK
OnFriday,February 28, 2020,
ArthurG.Isack, ofWashing-
ton, DC.Beloved husband of
Harriet Isack; devoted father
of Suzanne Scherr (Mitchell)
and Michael Isack; cherished
grandfather of Madelline and
Isabelle Scherr.Funeral services will be
held on Monday,March 2, 2020 at 10 a.m.
at Adas Israel Congregation, 2850 Quebec
St. NW,Washington, DC 20008. Interment to
follow at Judean Memorial Gardens,Olney,
MD.Family will be observing Shiva at the
residence of Harriet Isack starting Monday,
March 2, 2020 at 7:30p.m. through Thurs-
day,March 5, 2020 at 7:30p.m. Contribu-
tions may be made to the ALS Association.
Arrangements by Hines-Rinaldi Funeral
Home,LLC under the Jewish Funeral Prac-
tices Committee of GreaterWashington.ISACKCASSANDRAD. JONES
On Saturday,February 22, 2020. Survived by
siblings,Anita, Jvetta and Morgan, other rel-
atives and friends.VisitationTuesday,March
3, 10 a.m. until service 11 a.m. at Evangel
Assembly of God, 5600 Old BranchAve.,Tem-
ple Hills,MD.Interment Resurrection Cemetery.JONESCHARLESS. MITCHELL (Age 77)
OfFalls Church,VA,passed away
onFebruary 25, 2020, at Virginia
Hospital Center,Arlington, VA.
Born in NYC,Chuck wasraised
in New Haven, CT and had lived in
Virginia since 1971. Chuck served
in the Army includingatour in
South Vietnam. He was an Attorney for the
Navy,alaw firm, and his own practice for
44 years and retired in 2012. He graduated
Syracuse University in 1965 withaBS,and
then went on to Boston University where he
received his Law Degree in 1968.
Chuck is survived by his wife,Sandy (Neuss)
Mitchell of 52 years; his children Brent Mitchell
and Jenny Hopp,and Jonathan and Nicki Halter-
man-Mitchell; three grandchildren, Noah and
Isaac Halterman-Mitchell, andJacob “Jake”
Mitchell; andasister Emily Thacker
There will beamemorial service and lunch
at 11 a.m.,Wednesday,March4atNorthern
Virginia Hebrew Congregation in Reston,VA.A
full obituary may be viewed at:
http://www.flynnfuneral.comMITCHELLWhentheneed aris es,letfamiliesfind youint heFuneral ServicesDirectory.To be seen in the
Funeral Services
Directory,pleasecall
paid DeathNotices
at 202-334-4122.DEATH NOTICElaw firm. Mary Alice was also one of the
founding members of the DC Lawyer’sWives;
holding many positions including President
in the 1980s.
Later in life her biggest joy was being “Mimi”
to her granddaughter Allison. Sleepovers,
shopping, playing Old Maid, getting their nails
done,and taking her to Columbia Country
Club for lunch and dinner gave her such
delight.
Mary Alice’sdetermination allowed her to
meet and exceed any challenge.She will
always be remembered by her friends and
family of her kindness,beautiful blue eyes
and Irish wit, and having the style and grace
second to none.
She is survived by her daughter,Kathleen
Delaney Jordan Baldino,her granddaughter,
Allison Fleming Baldino,and son-in-law,Eric
Joseph Baldino.
Relatives and friends are invited toaMemo-
rial Service at Joseph Gawler’sSons LLC
5130 WisconsinAve,NW (Corner of Harrison
Street)Washington, DC (valet parking),Tues-
day,March 3, 2020 from 11:00 am to 1:00
pm. Mass and internment will take place
at Arlington Cemetery onadate to be estab-
lished.
Memorial contributions,ifany,may be made
in her name to the Nativity Catholic School in
Burke,Virginia.Foradditional information or
to leave online condolence please visit
http://www.josephgawlers.comMARYALICE JORDAN
Of Chevy Chase,Maryland, passed away
peacefully onFebruary 26, 2020. Mary Alice
was born on April 21, 1934 in Springfield,
Illinois.
She was preceded in death by her parents,
James Clarence Fleming and Gertrude
Delaney Fleming, her brother,Clarence
Joseph Fleming, and her husband of more
than 50 years,JamesFrancis Jordan.
She attended Sacred Heart Academy High
School in Springfield, Illinois and later joined
Eastern Airlines asastewardess.She moved
toWashington, DC in the late 1950s and
there met and married Jim.
In her years living in Potomac,Maryland
and Chevy Chase,Maryland she made long
lasting friendships with many ladies; an avid
tennis player and bridge player,and the
quintessential hostess and supporter of Jim’sJORDANC0979 2x3Becauseyourlovedoneservedproudly...Military emblemsare available with death noticesand in-memoriamsTo placeanotice call202-334-4122or800-627-1150,ext. 44122DEATH NOTICEWILLIAM CHARLES NEEL
RADM USN (Ret.)
William Charles Neel--known professionally
and personally as "Bill"-- passed away peace-
fully on February 26, 2020, surrounded by
beloved family.Hewasanative of Rochester,
NewYork, born October 13,1930 as the sixth
child of Robert and AnnaD.Neel. This birth
date was auspicious as the US Navy celebrates
October 13, as its founding day.Bill loved
the Navy.Hegave his life to Navy service,
sacrificing everything for his true love--the
Navy.Working for Evaluation Research Corpo-
ration and later Advance Inc., Bill continued
resolving Navy issues asacontractor,but
active duty remained his true calling.Asa
seminal member of Admiral Hyman Rickover's
Nuclear Navy,Bill found his life partner while
on assignment to the Idaho Naval prototype
reactor,and his nuclear engineering work
forged some of the Navy's toughest engi-
neering assignments and commands.Naval
service took him to Flagrank, Rear Admiral
(RADM). He relished command and the sea-
-the operational environment. When threat-
ened with the bureaucracy ofWashington,
andafuture of tours through what was then
known as the paper palace,heretired in- Rear Admiral Neel was married to the
former Colleen Stibal of Roberts,Idaho who
preceded him in death. Bill is survived byTo m
andMarkNeel,Tom'swife,MaryAnnClark,
Mark's wife,Lora, and his grandchildren, Daniel
and Benjamin Neel. Relatives and friends may
call atFairfax Memorial Funeral Home,9 902
Braddock Rd.,Fairfax,VAon Sunday,March
8, 2020 from3to6p.m. Funeral service at
Ft. Myer Old Post Chapel with interment in
Arlington National Cemetery will be atalater
date.Inlieu of flowers,the family recommends
donations in Bill's name to theWoundedWar-
rior project, The American BrainFoundation,
and the Naval Institute.
http://www.fairfaxmemorialfuneralhome.com
NEELDEATHNOTICELAVINIA ASH STUART (Age 91)
OnTuesday,February 25, 2020 of Bethesda,
MD.Born June 11, 1928 in Deltaville,VA
to the late MarieB.andJames H. Ash.
Beloved wife of the late Donald Goodman
Stuart, Sr;devoted mother of DonaldG.
Stuart, Jr.(wife,Ginger Gilchrist),James
W.Stuart, Esq. and Susan A. Stuart, MD
(husband,C.Joseph Botticelli, Jr.) cherished
grandmother ofJacqui Gilchrist, PhD,Gina
and Nicholas Botticelli; loving sister of
JamesO.“Sonny” Ash and the late Lois
Marie Carr.
Family will receive friends at PUMPHREY’S
BETHESDA-CHEVY CHASE FUNERAL HOME,
7557 WisconsinAve,Bethesda, MD on
Monday,March2from5to8p.m. Funeral
Service will be held atWestmoreland Con-
gregational UCC,1Westmoreland Circle,
Bethesda, MD 20816 onTuesday,March 3,
2020 at 1:30p.m. Interment will be held
at Gloucester Point Cemetery,Gloucester,
VAonWednesday at1p.m. Memorial con-
tributions may be made to Alzheimer’s
Association National Capital Area, 8180
Greenboro Dr.#400, McLean,VA22102 or
theWestmoreland Church at the above
address.Please view and sign the family
guest book at:
http://www.PumprheyFuneralHome.comSTUARTDEATH NOTICEIN MEMORIAMMARGE LEVIN
January 10, 1929-March 2, 2010
Toknow her truly was to love her.LEVINDEATH NOTICEHENRYOWEN LOUIE
Of Potomac,Maryland, died peacefully at home
onFebruary 18, 2020 at age 94. Born on May
20, 1925, in Akron, Ohio,toJohn and Ong
Shee Louie,Mr.Louie,the second of eleven
children, spent his childhood in his family’s
ancestral village in China before returning to
the United States in 1939 to live with his
family in Easton Maryland, where his father
had establishedasuccessful laundry business.
Mr.Louie married his wife of 66 years,Gloria
Lee Louie,inPhiladelphia in 1953. That same
year,Mr.Louie embarked onathirty-three
year career asaChinese language expert for
the United States Central Intelligence Agency.
Mr.Louie’sdistinguished service to the govern-
ment includedasix year overseas posting in
Taiwan, and culminated in his appointment as
chief of the China Political/Military Program
of theForeign Broadcast Information Service.
Together Mr.and Mrs.Louieraisedafamily
of six children. In retirement Mr.Louie stayed
active for many years by playing tennis and
enjoying the company and companionship of
his family andalarge circle of friends.Mr. Louie
is pre-deceased by his daughter,Margaret
(DennisLynch), and is survived by his wife,
Gloria, daughters,Janet Spann (Robert), Eliz-
abethTerry (Kenneth), Linda Kanz (Michael),
and Barbara, son, Henry John (James Gray),
brothers,Thomas andJames,sister,Pauline
Khu (Eric), eight grandchildren and five great
-grandchildren. Afuneral mass for Mr.Louie
will be held at 10 a.m. on March 6, 2020 at Our
Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, 9200Kentsdale
Drive,Potomac,MD20854, immediately fol-
lowed by an internment of Mr.Louie’sashes at
the Gate of Heaven Cemetery,13801 Georgia
Avenue,Silver Spring, MD 20906. In lieu of
flowers please consideradonation in Mr.
Louie’sname to the Holy Redeemer Chinese
Catholic Church, 915 Vine Street, Philadelphia,
PA19107.LOUIEJAMESB. STEVENS,JR., DDS,
“J.B.” ,
Passed away unexpectedly in his home in
Mitchellville,Maryland onFebruary 23, 2020,
at the age of 74.J.B.is survived by his mother,
Aretha Holmes Fields,his wife of nearly 50
years,Betty Nash Stevens,daughter,Kortney
Marie (Jermaine) Hammonds,granddaughter,
Autumn Marie of Maryland, half-brother,
Etheridge Williams,and long-time companion,
Revella Baker.Heispreceded in death by his
father,James Benjamin Stevens,Sr.
Acelebration of life and repast forJ.B.will be
held on Saturday,April 18 from 12 to3p.m. at
theWest Bowie Village Hall, 13711 Annapolis
Road, Bowie,Maryland.STEVENSDEATH NOTICES
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