Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1538243
72 SAG-AFTR A | Summer 2025 | sagaftra.org We honor the memory of members whose deaths were reported to SAG-AFTRA between April 2 - June 30, 2025. * Please note: Due to publishing deadlines, notices that are received outside of these dates will be considered for future publication. Patrick Adiarte 4/15/2025 Lisa Aires 3/20/2025 Michael Alaimo 5/2/2025 Aki Aleong 6/22/2025 Colette Alexander 5/23/2023 Manny Alfaro 5/13/2025 Sian Barbara Allen 3/31/2025 Dennis Charles Alpert 9/17/2024 Barbara J. Alston 11/24/2024 Teal Ames 10/28/2020 Amber Andrews 4/13/2025 Ann Armour 6/17/2024 Denis Arndt 3/25/2025 Jean Aubuchon 2/5/2019 Hank M. Azcona 6/4/2025 Joe Don Baker 5/7/2025 Norma Barbour 2/15/2025 Rachel Bard 6/12/2025 Charles Bartlett 4/1/2025 Della Basnight 11/5/2021 William H. Bassett 2/9/2025 Bob Basso 4/27/2025 Nathaniel D. Bates 2/11/2024 David Hekili Kenui Bell 6/12/2025 T he beating heart of SAG-AFTRA is the members who volunteer their time to serve their union. Their devotion to uplifting fellow members is a meaningful and worthy legacy. This issue, SAG-AFTRA remembers five past National Board members who recently passed away. AKI ALEONG, a performer and former SAG National Board member from L.A. and New York, died June 22 at the age of 90. Aleong, who appeared in numerous productions, including Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, Superhero Movie, V and many others, was also a singer, writer, producer and activist. Aleong had a hit record, "Trade Winds, Trade Winds," in 1961, which he wrote and co-produced. Aleong served on several SAG committees, including the Affirmative Action, Extras, Senior Performers, and National Ethnic Employment Opportunities Committees, as well as the TV/Theatrical and Asian/Pacific Islander Caucuses. MANNY ALFARO, an actor, former SAG-AFTRA New York Local Board member and SAG National and New York Division Board member, died May 13 at the age of 84. Alfaro, who joined the union in 1976, was a past recipient of the Joseph C. Riley Award for his work on the New York Conservatory Committee. Professionally, Alfaro appeared in films and television series, including Law & Order: Criminal Intent, The Basketball Diaries, Goodfellas and Sea of Love. A champion for the Latino acting community, Alfaro previously served as executive director for the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors, known as HOLA, and later served on its advisory board. PETER KWONG, an actor and union leader who served as a SAG National Board member from L.A., died May 27 at the age of 73. Kwong may have been best known for his role as Rain, one of the Three Storms in the cult classic film Big Trouble in Little China. Kwong also appeared in The Golden Child, Gleaming the Cube, King of the Hill, The A-Team, and many other films and television shows. At SAG, he served on the Awards, Elections, Dancers, Singers and New Technologies Committees, as well as the Asian/Pacific Islander Caucus, among others. KAY PETERS, an actor and former SAG National Board member from New York, died May 9 at the age of 83. Peters appeared in 34 episodes of Days of Our Lives, as well as CHiPs, Little House on the Prairie and It Takes a Thief. She served as chair of the SAG Telecommunications Committee and, representing the Guild, she testified about copyright issues before the House Judiciary Committee in 1979. In 1994, she pursued a new passion in communications training, founding her own company to train CEOs, scientists, lawyers, doctors, management consultants, investment bankers and others. MARK ROBERTS, a radio broadcaster, voiceover performer and former elected leader of both SAG-AFTRA and AFTRA from Pittsburgh, died May 21 at the age of 77. Roberts, who was a mainstay of Pittsburgh radio, was the first AFTRA National Board member from the AFTRA Pittsburgh Local. He also served on the AFTRA Local Board as well as on the union's Finance and IT Committees, and on the Investment Subcommittee to the Finance Committee. After the merger of SAG and AFTRA, Roberts served on the SAG-AFTRA National Member Review Committee and chaired the National Voiceover Performers Committee.