Milestones

DIED. Harold Peary, 76, radio actor who starred from 1937 to 1950 as "The Great Gildersleeve," the pompous windbag with a heart of gold well hidden behind a wall of bluster, first on Fibber McGee and Molly and then on his own show, and made "You're a ha-a-ard man, McGee" and his trademark oily giggle national crazes; of a heart attack; in Torrance, Calif. Peary (born Harrold Jose Pereira de Faria) made several movies and numerous TV appearances as Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve and in other parts; the radio role, which he abandoned, was continued until 1958 by another actor.