Obituaries of note

GEORGE E. PAKE, 79, a physicist who helped found the research lab that gave birth to advances that would ultimately shape the modern computer industry, died March 4 in Tucson, Ariz. His scientists and engineers invented a range of computing technologies, including the laser printer, office networking and the graphical user interface. The researchers' vision of the office of the future eventually was successfully commercialized by companies like Apple Computer and Microsoft.

ALF BICKNELL, 75, chauffeur to the Beatles at the height of their fame and inspiration for the song Baby You Can Drive My Car, died Tuesday in Oxford, England, said the band's former promoter, Sam Leach. He said Mr. Bicknell started working for the Beatles in 1964 during the filming of Help.

MARY LINDSAY, 77, the wife and trusted adviser of former New York Mayor John Lindsay, died Tuesday in Palm Beach, said her daughter, Margaret Picotte. Mrs. Lindsay, who was described as bringing elegance, energy and political acumen to her husband's campaigns, lived in Hilton Head, S.C. John Lindsay was mayor of New York from 1966 to 1973. He died on Dec. 19, 2000, at age 79.

RAY "HERCULES HERNANDEZ" FERNANDEZ, 47, a former wrestling star known for wearing chains around his neck while wrestling for the World Wrestling Federation in the mid 1980s, died March 6 in Tampa of heart disease, his wife said.

RUTH ELLINGTON BOATWRIGHT, 88, Duke Ellington's only sibling, who for many years took care of his business affairs, died March 6 in New York City. She was a former president of Tempo Music, a company that owns most of Ellington's compositions. When Ellington died in 1974, she oversaw his copyrights, contracts and business matters for many years. She sold a number of his musical scores and manuscripts to the Smithsonian Institution in 1991.

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