Obituaries - June 1, 1999

Kent Hollingsworth; Lawyer, Editor of Horse Racing Magazine

Kent Hollingsworth, 69, a lawyer and teacher who became the editor of the Blood-Horse and turned it into one of thoroughbred horse racing’s most respected journals. When he assumed the editorship in 1963, the publication had a staff of 30 and a circulation of 6,800. When he left as publisher 23 years later, the staff had grown to more than 100 with a circulation of 21,700. During his tenure, the magazine expanded its reputation as an authoritative source of information, commentary and analysis on thoroughbred racing and breeding. After leaving Blood-Horse, Hollingsworth returned to the practice of law and lectured on equine law at the University of Louisville. During his journalism career, he served as president of the National Turf Writers, president of the Thoroughbred Club of America and chairman of the Racing Hall of Fame Committee. On Wednesday in Lexington, Ky.

Raphael Recanati; Israeli Banker, Shipping Magnate

Raphael Recanati, 75, former chairman of one of Israel’s largest banks and founder of a shipping company that brought vital supplies to the fledgling state. Recanati was born in Greece in 1924 and emigrated to what was then Palestine in 1935 with his family, which founded Israel Discount Bank. He enlisted in the Jewish militia Palmach and was sent to Egypt, where he helped Egyptian Jews reach Israel. When the state of Israel was established in 1948, he founded the shipping company Israel-America Line, which brought badly needed food and weapons to the country. Recanati served as chairman of Israel Discount Bank from 1982 until 1986, when a Jerusalem court sentenced him to eight months in prison for fraudulent business dealings. The sentence was reversed on appeal. Recanati then moved to New York, where he founded and headed foreign subsidiaries of the bank. On Friday in New York after a long history of liver problems.

Mary Allen Rowlands; Artist-Actress, Mother of Gena Rowlands

Mary Allen Rowlands, 94, artist and actress billed as Lady Rowlands. The widow of Wisconsin state Sen. Edwin Rowlands, she was the mother of Dr. David Rowlands and actress Gena Rowlands Cassavetes. As Lady Rowlands, she appeared in several of the films starring her daughter and directed by her late son-in-law, John Cassavetes. Among them were “Minnie and Moskowitz,” “A Woman Under the Influence” and “Opening Night.” She also had a cameo role in the non-Cassavetes film “The Teachers” and appeared on television with comedienne Lily Tomlin. Rowlands, known for portrait painting, was active in the Artists Guild and had been president of the Motion Picture Mothers. On Friday at Motion Picture Country Hospital in Woodland Hills of heart failure.