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Herman Raucher, whose Oscar-nominated Summer of ’42 screenplay became one of Hollywood’s best-loved coming-of-age tales, has died of natural causes at Stamford Hospital in Stamford, Ct. He was 95.

His December 28 death was announced by daughter Jenny Raucher, who was by his side when he passed.

Subsequently adapted by Raucher into an international best-selling novel, 1971’s Summer of ’42 was nominated for four Academy Awards including Best Original Screenplay. It told the nostalgic and bittersweet story of teenager Hermie — played by Gary Grimes and based on Raucher himself — who, during a summertime vacation on Nantucket Island, becomes infatuated with a beautiful (and soon grieving) older woman (Jennifer O’Neill) whose husband has gone off to fight in World War II.

The film, directed by Robert Mulligan (To Kill a Mockingbird), was a critical success and a major hit for Warner Bros. Michel Legrand’s score won an Oscar and quickly became...

Here are the 2010 New York Reader's Choice results for categories dealing with classes and coaches. To look at all of the categories, be sure to visit the main page. Favorite Vocal/Singing Coach: Jackie Presti "Singing is a big coordination act, and I think a lot of people come in focusing on one aspect," says voice therapist and teacher Jackie Presti. "It's sort of like juggling and riding a bike and reciting Shakespeare at the same time."Clearly, Presti, who's also a singer, musician, and conductor, hits the right notes with her students. Her knowledge of both technical and artistic matters, not to mention her versatility and flexibility as a teacher, appealed to Valerie Ryan Miller, who has studied with her for three years. "After developing a strong belt, and a lot of vocal tension," Miller says, "I came to Jackie, who has expanded my range enormously—we are talking octaves!