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People

November 1-15, 2005 Edition PEOPLE Spiers Leaves Mediabistro to Finish Book

NEW YORK, NY/10/22/05—Elizabeth Spiers is leaving Mediabistro to work as a freelance journalist and complete her novel, And They All Die in the End. The work has been acquired by Geoff Kloske at Simon & Schuster. Kate Lee of ICM, is the agent. Spiers is founder of the blog named Gawker.

Memorial Service Set for Theatrical Agent Santoianni

NEW YORK, NY/ 10/31/05—A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. November 8 for John B. Santoianni, a theatrical agent and poet, who died July 15 at the age of 45. The service will be held at The Duke, 229 W. 42nd St., in New York City.

John B. Santoianni studied communications and journalism at Temple University, then came to New York City from Philadelphia. After intensive training as a chef, he later began working as an actors’ agent at Honey Sanders Agency in 1983. He worked with several other agencies and then went on his own in 1990. He had represented actors, playwrights, screenwriters, directors and choreographers in theater, film, and television.

He is survived by his mother, stepfather and a brother and a sister.

The Academy of American Poets has established the John B. Santoianni Award for Excellence in Poetry, to honor his memory. Contributions can be made to the Academy of American Poets, 584 Broadway, Suite 604, New York, N.Y.10012.