John Lyday; Model for ‘MASH’ Character

John Lyday, 78, Army surgeon during the Korean War who was the inspiration for the character Trapper John in the movie and subsequent television series “MASH.” Lyday was an enlisted man in World War II and an Army doctor in Korea. While serving in the 8055th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital in Korea, he worked with another surgeon, Dr. Dick Hornberger, who under the pen name Richard Hooker wrote a book based on his experiences. The book became the basis for the hit 1970 antiwar movie “MASH” and the popular television series that aired from 1972 to 1983. Hornberger used Lyday as the model for Trapper John, the character played by Elliott Gould in the movie and by Wayne Rogers on TV, who was always breaking Army regulations and playing practical jokes along with fellow surgeon Hawkeye Pierce. Lyday was a North Carolina native who established a surgical practice in Greensboro after returning from the Korean War. He later became chief of surgery at Moses Cone Hospital in Greensboro. In 1989 he retired after developing lung cancer. He recovered from the cancer and spent his retirement years gardening and tinkering with old cars. On Monday in Greensboro.

Ruth Welting; American Opera Singer

Ruth Welting, 51, an American opera singer who was an expert in the coloratura soprano repertory. Welting made her debut with New York City Opera in 1971, singing Blonde in Mozart’s “Abduction From the Seraglio.” Five years later she joined the Metropolitan Opera, where her first performance was as Zerbinetta in Richard Strauss’ “Ariadne auf Naxos” in March 1976. She was heard in Los Angeles as Rosina in “The Barber of Seville” at the Greek Theatre in 1975. After more than 50 performances with the Metropolitan Opera, Welting gave her final one, as Queen of the Night in Mozart’s “Magic Flute” on Nov. 20, 1993. From 1994 to 1998, in preparation for government service, Welting studied at Syracuse University. After graduation in 1998, she entered the Maxwell School of Government at Syracuse. On Dec. 16 in Asheville, N.C. of cervical cancer.