Convenience store magnate, governor candidate Mihos dies Darlene Cates, the mother in ‘Gilbert Grape,’ dies at 69 Phyllis “Miki” Seefeldt

BOSTON >> Convenience store magnate Christy Mihos, who built and sold a chain of markets bearing his name, twice ran unsuccessfully for governor and endured a nasty divorce and bankruptcy, has died at age 67.

He died Saturday in hospice care in Stuart, Florida, after a battle with cancer, his sister, Marlene Bucuvalas, told the Cape Cod Times. His death was confirmed Tuesday by the Haisley Funeral Home in Fort Pierce, Florida, which is handling arrangements.

Mihos, who was born in Brockton, turned his father’s grocery store into a chain of nearly 150 stores across New England called Christy’s Markets. He and his brother eventually sold the chain for millions of dollars.

He was appointed to the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority board in 1999 and crusaded against mismanagement and cost overruns in the multibillion-dollar Big Dig highway project.

He and another board member, Jordan Levy, were fired by acting Republican Gov. Jane Swift but took their case all the way to the state’s highest court and were reinstated.

Mihos, who lived in a waterfront home in Yarmouth, later wrote a book about the Big Dig.

He mounted failed runs for governor as an independent in 2006 and as a Republican in 2010. NEW YORK >> Darlene Cates, who played the housebound mother in the 1993 film “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape,” has died.

Cates died in her sleep Sunday morning at her home in Forney, Texas, according to her son-in-law, David Morgan. She was 69.

Cates was cast in the film as the morbidly obese mother of Johnny Depp, in the title role, and his younger brother, played by Leonardo DiCaprio. She had been spotted by the film’s screenwriter, Peter Hedges, while appearing on the “Sally Jessy Raphael” talk show, where she discussed her struggles with her weight.

The film, directed by Lasse Hallstrom, won acclaim for its sensitive portrayal of a troubled but loving family in a small Iowa town.

Cates later appeared on episodes of the series “Picket Fences” and “Touched By an Angel.”

Phyllis “Miki” Seefeldt, age 78, died peacefully on March 25th. She lived in Media Pa.

Phyllis worked as an interior designer for most of her life.

She is survived by her children: Joseph Seefeldt of Seattle Washington, Jeffrey Seefeldt of Phoenix Arizona and Carolyn Lewis of Broomall Pa, as well as a sister, Jeanette Minton of Broomall.

Memorial Service will be held on Saturday April 1 at 1:00 P.M at Laguna Miramare, 700 W. Neilds St. West Chester, Pa.19382.

Relatives and friends are cordially invited.

Condolences: Jnelsonrigbyfh.com