PASSINGS

Drummer for Shadowfax

Stuart Nevitt, 55, composer, drummer/percussionist and one of the early members of the Grammy-winning world beat band Shadowfax, died March 15 of complications from diabetes and heart disease at his home in Rio Rancho, N.M.

Born in Elizabeth, N.J., Nevitt learned the rudiments of drumming at age 4 from his father, who was also a drummer. Nevitt played in rock bands and orchestras throughout high school before going off to the University of Miami to study music.

He moved to Chicago in the early 1970s and met woodwind player Chuck Greenberg, bassist Phil Maggini and guitarist G.E. Stinson.

They invited him to join their experimental group named after Gandalf's horse, "Shadowfax," from J.R.R. Tolkien's novel "Lord of the Rings." The group recorded 10 albums and released two greatest-hits packages. It was awarded a Grammy in 1998 for its album "Folksongs for a Nuclear Village." The band quit touring and performing after Greenberg's death in 1995.

After the band broke up, Nevitt continued to perform and record, most recently producing and releasing his first solo project "The Marion Kind." He also performed on recordings by violinist Kim Angelis.

Ben Carnevale

Longtime Navy basketball coach

Ben Carnevale, 92, the longtime Navy basketball coach who later headed the U.S. Olympic Basketball Committee, died Tuesday, the U.S. Naval Academy announced, without giving a cause of death. He had been living in Williamsburg, Va.

Born Bernard Louis Carnevale on Oct. 30, 1915, in Raritan, N.J., he played for New York University and was a member of the 1935 national championship team. He also played in the first National Invitation Tournament in Madison Square Garden in 1938.

He played professionally with the Jersey Reds of the American Basketball League. He served in the Navy during World War II and was awarded the Purple Heart.

In 1944, he became coach at the University of North Carolina. The Tar Heels went 52-11 in his two seasons and played in the NCAA national title game in 1946, losing 43-40 to Oklahoma A&M.

He took over at Navy in 1946 and over the next 20 seasons became the school's winningest basketball coach. The Midshipmen went 257-160 and made six postseason tournaments under Carnevale, despite not allowing players to be taller than 6 feet 5.

He was athletic director for NYU from 1966-72 and at William & Mary from 1972-82.