This week: the creator of SpongeBob, the oldest nun in the world and a Charlton midfielder
THE animator Stephen Hillenburg, who has died aged 57, was known for creating the cult cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants, an animated sponge that lives in a pineapple under the sea.
Mr Hillenburg was a former marine biology teacher who used illustrations of the sea and its creatures as teaching tools, with some of the characters later becoming inhabitants of Bikini Bottom, the underwater town where the show is based.
In 1987, he left his teaching career to pursue an animation degree, later garnering critical acclaim for his award-winning short film Wormholes in 1992 as he earned a masters in fine arts. He then worked at Nickelodeon on their show Rocko's Modern Life from 1993 to 1996.
Mr Hillenburg received two Emmy Awards and six Annie Awards, from the International Animated Film Association, for SpongeBob SquarePants.
In March 2017 he told Variety that he had been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease, also known as ALS, a progressive disease that attacks nerve cells that control the muscles and has no known cure.
THE nun Cecylia Roszak, who has died aged 110, was believed to be the world’s oldest nun; she was also known for rescuing Jews during the Holocaust.
Father Pawel Rytel-Andrianik, spokesman for Poland’s Roman Catholic Church, confirmed Sister Roszak's death at a Dominican convent in Krakow. He described her as “probably the oldest nun in the world” and someone remembered as saying that “life is so short and passes so quickly.”
Born on March 25, 1908, Roszak joined the convent when she was 21 years old. During the German occupation of Poland during the Second World War, when she was in her 30s, she was one of several nuns who set up a new convent near Vilnius, today in Lithuania, sheltering Jews who had escaped the ghetto there.
THE footballer Darren Pitcher, who has died aged 49, was a former Charlton midfielder. He came through the club's youth ranks, joining them at 13, and went on to make 214 appearances, scoring 12 goals before joining Crystal Palace in 1994.
The midfielder was part of the Charlton team which returned to their home stadium at The Valley on December 5, 1992, and helped set up the goal in the 1-0 win over Portsmouth.
Pitcher moved across south London to Palace and the Eagles went on to reach the semi-finals of both the League Cup and FA Cup in his first season.
The midfielder saw his playing career eventually come to a premature end in the wake of a serious knee injury suffered against Huddersfield following a challenge from Paul Reid during a First Division match on August 31, 1996.
Pitcher had a brief spell with Leyton Orient during 1998, but never played professionally again afterwards.
In 2001, he lost his case of alleged negligence against Huddersfield at the High Court, in which he was seeking damages of more than £1million.
Since leaving professional football, he had been working in the building trade.
Charlton historian Colin Cameron reflected on Pitcher's time with the Addicks in his book Valiant 500. He wrote: "What was admirable about Pitcher was his attitude, patience and determination to improve his game."
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