National Obituaries

NEW YORK (AP) — Francine Pascal, a onetime soap opera writer whose “Sweet Valley High” novels and the ongoing adventures of twins Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield and other teens captivated millions of young readers, has died at age 92.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Erica Ash, an actor and comedian skilled in sketch comedy who starred in the parody series “Mad TV” and “Real Husbands of Hollywood,” has died. She was 46.

NEW YORK (AP) — Edna O'Brien, Ireland's literary pride and outlaw who scandalized her native land with her debut novel “The Country Girls” before gaining international acclaim as a storyteller and iconoclast that found her welcomed everywhere from Du

NEW YORK (AP) — Edna O'Brien, Ireland's literary pride and outlaw who scandalized her native land with her debut novel “The Country Girls” before gaining international acclaim as a storyteller and iconoclast that found her welcomed everywhere from Du

CALGARY — Longtime hockey executive Murray Costello has died. He was 90. Hockey Canada said in a statement Costello, who led both that organization and the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association for two decades, died Saturday. The South Porcupine, Ont.

OTTAWA — Former Ottawa Senators assistant coach Bob Jones has died following a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis — the disease commonly known as ALS. He was 54. Both the Senators and the NHL Coaches' Association confirmed the Sault Ste.

NORWICH, Conn. (AP) — Veteran diplomat Martin S. Indyk, an author and leader at prominent U.S. think tanks who devoted years to finding a path toward peace in the Middle East, died Thursday. He was 73.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Pat Doughty, the Charlotte Hornets' public address announcer for the past 20 seasons, died on Wednesday, the team announced. He was 55. The Hornets said family members notified them of Doughty's death.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Bob Marcum, who served as athletic director at Kansas, South Carolina, UMass and Marshall, has died a few days after suffering a stroke. He was 87.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Mark Carnevale, a former PGA Tour winner who had been calling tournaments for Sirius XM Radio, died Monday, a week after working his last tournament, the PGA Tour said. He was 64.