True Stories From the Obit Files - Ordinary People You Never Knew, But Won’t Forget

Martin Roy First left apartheid South Africa with two kids, two suitcases, and a thousand dollars. He became a global leader in kidney transplant medicine—authoring 400+ papers, meeting the Pope, and changing lives with his fierce compassion and brilliant mind. But he was also the kind of dad who got red-carded on the sidelines and fed the family dog like royalty. This is the story of a healer, a prankster, a wine connoisseur—and a...

Jan Muyskens taught more than gym class. She taught self-reliance, compassion, and how to build a bridge between people using nothing more than ski poles, stained glass, and a home-cooked meal.

This unforgettable PE teacher from Grand Junction, Colorado, lived 91 quietly remarkable years — shaping generations of students, building furniture and friendships alike, and feeding every stray dog or cat that crossed her path. In today’s e...

Melonie Wigley’s story is one of resilience and connection, making her a remarkable subject for our life stories podcast. She grew up crossing continents — from London to South Carolina to Tokyo — always adjusting and connecting with those around her.

Throughout her life as a nurse and childbirth educator, Melonie guided others with compassion. While her legacy remains quiet, it is far-reaching, filled with gentle signposts that he...

In small-town Dansville, Michigan, Larry Soule spent 86 years quietly building an extraordinary life. A high school sports legend, 101st Airborne paratrooper, 30-year GM tradesman, and farmer who played softball into his 70s, Larry's passion for preserving history through his beloved tractor collection (especially his 1925 John Deere Spoker D) reveals a man who saw value in what others overlooked. His workshop—affectionately called...

Not everyone makes the front page, but everyone leaves a story worth telling. In this episode of our life stories podcast, meet Marge Charleville (1940-2025): weekend pilot, coffee entrepreneur, and avid gardener who transformed her deepest grief into powerful advocacy. After her daughter was killed by a drunk driver in 1980, Marge founded St. Louis' chapter of Remove Intoxicated Drivers, fighting for legislative changes that c...

In a garage in Tucson, Arizona, Gerald Armbruester spent decades perfecting the art of his craft as a mechanic. From maintaining military vehicles in Alaska to repairing medical equipment at the Red Cross, his mechanical expertise kept the world running. However, as his daughter and friends recall, Gerald's greatest gift went beyond fixing engines—it was his extraordinary ability to truly listen and offer support when needed. E...

You don’t know him yet.
But today… you will.

Juan Omar Chaidez was 37 when he passed away in Princeton, Texas. He loved two-stepping, served as a firefighter paramedic, and once ran toward horrific danger when everyone else was running away.

🎧 He was often the first on the dance floor — and the kind of person who didn’t wait to be asked.

This is the kind of life most people would walk past.
Until someone stops… and tells the st...

You may not know Sharyl Jeannine Anderson yet, but after hearing her life story today, you'll understand why her memories live on. At 85, Sharyl passed away in Lutz, Florida, leaving behind not just a tray of warm cookies and a packed calendar but the rich tapestry of a true life story. Known for her sweet treats and spirited cheers during every halftime show, she encapsulated what it means to live life fully and fiercely. Her ...

George Walker was the kind of man you’d walk past without noticing — quiet, steady, always fixing what was broken. This life stories podcast explores behind the silence of George's life, revealing a lifetime of service to his family, neighbors, and the countless people lucky enough to know him. From frozen pipes to flickering porch lights, George's impact is felt through the steady hands and lit rooms he left behind. This e...

You probably walked past someone like Isaiah Allen this week. A wrestling champion turned HVAC tech who had a pet lizard named Diddy and ran a business called "Sock It to Me Transport." But what made Isaiah extraordinary wasn't his takedown records or his endurance challenges — it was his rare gift for making people feel completely understood.

From printing maps for confused coworkers to staying on the phone for hours ...

Not everyone makes the front page. But everyone leaves a story worth telling.

September 1951, East Lansing, Michigan. A twelve-year-old boy sees another kid lost at the school bus stop and walks over to help. "Hey, the bus stops right here. I'll wait with you."

That moment of kindness became the foundation for how Thomas John Amiss would treat people for the next 73 years.

Tom looked like any other well-dressed car salesman walking do...

You probably walked past someone like Arthur today — a quiet postal worker in Louisville, sorting mail with steady hands and a button-down shirt. Just another face in the morning routine, right?

But what if that same person carried music inside him that no one else would ever hear? What if he had this one habit that made everyone around him feel different — more seen, more valued, more human?

This is the story of Art Hopkins, who spe...

Not everyone makes the front page. But everyone leaves a story worth telling.

You probably walked past someone like Larry Metherd today — a friendly neighbor watering his garden, maybe sharing a quick story about his beloved Siberian Husky. Just another retiree, right?

But those gentle hands had once helped desperate war refugees climb aboard ships in foreign ports. That calm voice had once shouted "Geronimo!" while jumping...

Dive into the remarkable life story of Laurice Arab, a 90-year-old woman whose journey exemplifies the power of connection and love. In this episode of our life stories podcast, we unwrap the layers of Laurice’s life, from her humble beginnings in the Lebanese village of Diman in 1935 to becoming a matriarch whose meals were an act of love, binding her family across three countries. After experiencing devastating losses early on, L...

You might have walked past Mel on a Boston street and never looked twice. Just another guy in a button-down shirt heading to work. But behind his front door was one of New England's most significant private art collections — and a man who spent forty years seeing potential in people before they saw it themselves.

From buying unknown artists' work for twenty dollars to making homeless strangers laugh over coffee at Dunkin Don...

Picture this: A woman is dying, and her family knows exactly what will comfort her. Not music. Not prayers. The voice of Cleveland baseball calling one last game.

Meet Rose Montali — a 67-year-old grandmother from Cleveland whose kitchen was a sanctuary and whose love made everyone feel extraordinary. For 60 years, she was the mom who showed up at every swim meet, the neighbor who remembered birthdays, and the grandmother who convin...

In this episode, we explore the life of Stanley Crawford, an extraordinary ordinary person who transformed Elizabethtown, Kentucky through fifty years of faithful walking. Known as "Stan the Man," he wasn't just a familiar face—he was the heartbeat of his community. This is the story of how one man's simple presence created lasting change, and why people like Stan represent the forgotten heroes walking past us every day.

Journey wit...

At 27, Teddy Golubowski was excelling as Class Leader at the Ocean County Police Academy when he received devastating news. Despite debilitating pain, he still planned to drive to the Academy to be properly dismissed — because that's what you do when you've made a commitment.

This is the story of a young man who spent his life serving others: from a 5-year-old Toms River Raider to a college football player, from public works employe...