† January
†
John Baldessari, 88, January 2, Los
Angeles. American artist and teacher. Towering conceptual
artist at 6'7" tall. 200+ solo exhibitions. $US4.4M top price
paid for a Baldessari. Long-time art teacher at Californian
universities (1968-2008), ending as
Professor at UCLA. Awarded National Medal of The Arts (2014).
In 1970, famously burned
all art he made 1953-1966 at a crematorium, baking the ashes
into cookies. Died in his sleep, natural causes.
Qasem Soleimani, 62,
January 3, Baghdad, Iraq. Long-time Iranian Major-General of the
Iranian Revolutionary Guard, commanding the Quds forces for
foreign operations. Directed Iranian involvement in defending
al-Assad regime in the Syrian Civil War (2011-), also directing
troops and arms sales to Kurdish, Yemeni, and Shi'ite Lebanese
and Iraqi forces. Killed in US drone attack while leaving
airport. 60+ people died in a crowd crush at his Tehran funeral
the next day. Assassinated.
Tom Long, 51,
January 5, Melbourne. Australian stage, film, and television
actor. TV soapie star, best known for 1990's series SeaChange,
and feature film The Dish (2000). Survived fatal
motor crash (2005). Died five months after being declared free
of the cancer multiple myeloma (diagnosed 2012). Encephalitis.
Neal Peart, 67,
January 7, Santa Monica, California. Canadian musician,
songwriter, author. Thunderous drummer for the band Rush,
for whom he wrote the lyrics. Sold 40 million albums. Considered
among the top five rock drummers of the 20th century. Antithesis
of a rock star, shunned fame, scholar and gentleman. Wrote seven
memoirs. Brain cancer.
Elizabeth Wurtzel,
52, January 7, New York. American author and lawyer. Best known
for 1994 memoir, Prozac Nation: Young and Depressed in
America, written at age 27, popularising the unsparing
confessional memoir. Graduated Harvard and Yale, spent later
life working as a lawyer. Complications of breast cancer.
Sultan Qaboos
bin-Said, 79, January 10, Muscat, Oman. Omanian prince and
Sultan of Oman. Longest serving ruler in the Arab region, after
a 1970 coup d'tat against his father, aided by the UK. Known for
modernising the economy through oil revenue and "quiet
diplomacy". No children, as per protocol, new Sultan appointed
by committee after opening a letter from Qaboos containing the
name. Colon cancer.
Sir Roger Scruton KB,
75, January 12, Brinkworth, Wiltshire. English conservative author, scholar,
philosopher. Sometimes described as Margaret Thatcher’s “court
philosopher.” Occupied various academic posts largely devoted to
the study of aesthetics. Books on philosophy the subject of much
controversy. Turned to writing novels in final years. Knighted
(2016). Rheumatoid-related cancer.
Stanley
Dudrick, 84,
January 18, Eaton, New Hampshire. American surgeon and
academic. Starting on beagle puppies in the late 1960's,
developed an intravenous feeding system for people surviving
catastrophic and critical surgery and for premature newborn
babies, preventing their deaths from severe malnutrition.
Surgery professor emeritus at both Harvard and Yale,
founding chair University of Texas, Houston, Medical School.
Kidney failure.
Terry Jones, 77,
January 22, London. British comedian, historian, poet, film
maker, screen writer, children's author, scholar, gentleman.
Leading figure in the six man cast of Monty Python's Flying
Circus (1969-74). Directed two Monty Python
feature films. Highly regarded specialist in ancient and medieval history. Published
numerous children's books and poems. Rare form of dementia.
Tony Bilson, 76,
January 23, Sydney. Australian chef and restaurateur. Brought
classic French gastronomy to Sydney opening Bon Gout
(1972), later running world famous fine-diner Berowra Waters
Inn (1976-1983),
then managed a string of Sydney restaurants for decades.
Devotee of Escoffier. Retired 2011 due to tax
difficulties. Complications of prostate cancer and chronic
illnesses.
Jim Leher, 85,
January, 23, Washington, DC. American journalist, TV news
anchor, playwright, novelist, renaissance man. 36 year veteran
of evening television news, best known for hosting the Public
Broadcasting Service (PBS) nightly Newshour. Authored
almost twenty popular spy thrillers and murder mysteries. Wrote
four stage plays, and three memoirs. Collected vintage buses. Awarded National Humanities Medal.
Died in sleep, natural causes.
Kobe Bryant, 41,
January 26, near Calabasas, California. American basketball
champion, superstar, philanthropist. Living legend and national
hero in the United States. 18 times NBA all-star, scoring more
than 33,000 points in 20 career with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Killed with four others, including his daughter, in a helicopter
crash. Accident.
† February
†
Daniel arap Moi, 95, February 4,
Nairobi, Kenya. Kenyan politician and longest serving
president of Kenya (1978-2002). Created autocratic
one-party state, before being forced to stage elections,
widely seen as rigged. Eventually term-limited out of
power. Dementia and multiple organ failure.
Israel “Izzy”
Young, 90, February 4, Stockholm. American beatnik and
folklorist. Opened the Greenwich Village Folklore Centre in
New York City (1957-73), venue for inaugural gigs by Bob
Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Emmylou Harris, and others who
went on to international stardom. Developed an interest in
Swedish folk music, and spent his last 47 years operating a
similar venue in Stockholm. Old age.
Kirk Douglas, 103, February
5, Beverly Hills, California. American actor, Hollywood
heart-throb, author, film producer, philanthropist. First came
to prominence when nominated for best actor Oscar for the film Champion
(1949). Leading man in Hollywood blockbusters throughout the
1950's and 60's. Embraced Judaism after surviving a fatal helicopter
crash (1991). Wrote novels and memoirs in later life. Donated
more than $60M to worthy causes during lifetime. Awarded the US
Presidential Medal of Freedom (1981), Légion d'honneur,
and Academy Award for Lifetime Achievement. Extreme old age.
Li Wenliang, 34,
February 7, Wuhan, China. Chinese doctor and ophthalmologist.
After consulting eye patients with a mystery illness, correctly
identified novel Covid19
coronavirus as a "SARS-like virus" on 30th Dec 2019, and warned
colleagues on social media before being suppressed by Chinese
authorities. Complications of coronavirus
Covid19.
Charles Portis,
86, February 17, Little Rock, Arkansas. American author,
journalist, and former US Marine. Best known for the classic
western novel True Grit (1968), twice adapted into
Hollywood movies. Described as "America's best unknown writer".
Alzheimer's disease.
Pop Smoke, 20,
February 19, West Hollywood, California. American petty criminal
and emerging rap star. Shot dead during armed robbery. Murder.
June Dally-Watkins
OAM, 92, February 22, Sydney. Australian entrepreneur,
agent, and etiquette and deportment guru. Founded the June
Dally-Watkins School in 1950 for "finishing" young women. Also
ran a model agency and PR company. Australian Model of the Year
(1949). Established deportment schools in China in final years.
Old age.
"Mad" Mike Hughes, 64, February 22,
near Barstow, California. American daredevil and staunch
advocate of the "Flat Earth" theory. Enthusiastic promoter of
steam rocketry. Survived flying two home made rockets less
than a kilometre. Died in third steam rocket flight attempt,
when the landing parachute detached from the vehicle.
Accident.
Chitetsu
Watanabe, 112, February 23, Niigata, Japan. World's
oldest man at time of death. Survived by all his five
children, 12 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and one
great-great-grandchild. Credited his longevity to always
smiling, eating cream puffs, and pruning bonsai. Extreme old
age.
John Franzese,
103,
February 24, New York. Feared
American mobster, killer, and underboss of New York's
notorious Colombo organised crime family. Active in the
underworld for 80 years. Did at least eight jail stretches,
never convicted of murder. Released from prison for the last
time four months after turning 100. Extreme old age.
Katherine Johnson, 101, February 24,
Newport News, Virginia.
American scientist and mathematician. Long time NASA employee
on the Apollo Space Program, making crucial orbital
calculations accurate enough to complete the Apollo 11 moon
landing (1969). Extreme old age.
Hosni Mubarak, 91, February 25,
Cairo. Egyptian military leader and politician. Long time
Egyptian President (1981-2011),
and Air Force chief marshall (1973-2011), seizing power after
the assassination of predecessor Anwar Sadat. Overthrown and
forced from office in the 'Arab Spring' (2011). Sentenced to
life in prison for complicity in the deaths of 600 peaceful
protestors, and later on corruption charges. Released on
appeal (2017). Hospitalised for last six years of his life.
Chronic illnesses.
† March †
Francisco
Pérez de Cuéllar KCMG, 100, March 4, Lima. Peruvian peace
broker and career diplomat. Two term Secretary General of the
United Nations (1981-1991), former Prime Minister of Peru.
Credited with brokering an end to conflicts in Cambodia, El
Salvador, Angola, the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war, and the withdrawal
of Soviet troops from Afghanistan. Honourary Knighthood, US
Presidential Medal of Freedom, Légion d'honneur
(all in 1991). Extreme old age.
Roberto Stella,
67, March 11, Busto
Aristo, Italy. Italian doctor and former Alpine soldier. Leading
rescue medic during 1980 Italian earthquake. Well respected
regional chief in the Italian GP's Association, teaching a
generation of doctors. Continued to treat patients until six days before
his death. Complications of coronavirus Covid19.
Don Burrows AO MBE,
91, March 12, Sydney. Australian jazz musician, teacher,
academic, band leader and impresario. Led the Don Burrows Quartet on
flute, clarinet and sax, achieving fame in the 1970's recording
Australia's first jazz gold record Just the Beginning (1973).
Played Carnegie Hall and both the Montreux and Newport Jazz Festivals (1972).
Later life as Professor Jazz Studies at Sydney Conservatorium of
Music, teacher and mentor of young jazz musicians. Complications
of Alzheimer's Disease.
Al Worden, 88,
March 17, Sugar Land, Texas. American astronaut, engineer, US
Air Force test pilot. Became the first person to perform a "deep
space" space walk (1971), during the return to earth after
orbiting the moon 72 times during the Apollo 15 mission. Stroke.
Catherine Hamlin AC,
96, March 18, Addis Ababa. Australian gynecologist and
humanitarian. Lived in Ethiopia for 62 years, offering free
health care for obstetric fistula, known as a "poverty disease",
almost entirely eradicated in the developed world, treating more
than 60,000 women over her lifetime. Old age.
Kenny Rogers,
81, March 20, Sandy Springs, Georgia. American signer
songwriter, country music icon, actor, impresario. Sold more
than 90 million records world wide, one of the most successful
'cross over' artists of the modern era. Charted 120+ hit
singles. Five times married. Natural causes.
Frederick
"Curly" Neal, 77,
March 26, Houston, Texas.
American basketballer and long-time Harlem
Globetrotter superstar. Played more than 6,000 games for the
exhibition outfit over 22 years, with his
trademark shaved head, flashy extravagant dribbling style
and distance shot scoring skills. Natural causes.
Michael D. Sorkin,
71, March 26, New York. American architect, author, teacher and
green urban renewal advocate. Designed futuristic urban spaces
in New York, Hamburg and Jerusalem. Complications of coronavirus
Covid19.
Hilda
Churchill, 108, March 28, Salford, England. British
centenarian and former seamstress. Survived 1918-19 Spanish
Flu pandemic that killed her one-year-old sister. Died the day
after being diagnosed with coronavirus Covid19. Complications
of coronavirus Covid19.
Joe
Diffie, 61, March 29, Nashville, Tennessee. American
country singer/songwriter and bluegrass musician. More than a
dozen top ten country hit singles in the 90's in a belated
career. Returned to bluegrass in later years, while "package"
touring with other nostalgia acts. Complications
of corona virus Covid19.
Bill Withers,
81, March 30, Los Angeles. American singer/songwriter and
soul musician. Recorded a string of top ten hits in the
1970's including Aint No Sunshine and Lean On
Me. Retired from the music scene in 1985. Inducted
into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame (2015). Congestive
heart disease.
† April †
Bruce Dawe AO,
90, April 1, Caloundra, Queensland. Australian poet, academic,
teacher. Known as "The Poet of the Suburbs", and best known
for a collection of poems Drifters, reflecting on life
in 1930's Victoria. Old age.
Ellis
Marsalis, 85, April 1, New Orleans, Louisiana.
American Jazz pianist, teacher and progenitor of the
Marsalis family (Wynton, trumpet. Branford,
saxophone). Complications of coronavirus
Covid19.
Anick Jesdanun,
51, April 2, New York. American eccentric, journalist and
technology writer. Covered internet technology for the
Associated Press news agency for more than 20 years. Ran 83
marathons on every continent (including Antarctica) and
watched 365 movies in 2019, mostly in cinema's. Complications
of coronavirus
Covid19.
Kathleen
Kennedy Townsend, 40, April
2, Chesapeake Bay,
Maryland. American lawyer and
human rights advocate. Grand-daughter of the assassinated
Robert Kennedy, the brother of former US President JF
Kennedy. Her death continued the so-called "Curse of the
Kennedy's". Died in a canoeing mishap, along with her
eight year old son, Gideon. Drowned
Honor Blackman,
94, April 5, Lewes, Sussex. English film, television and stage
actor. Came to prominence playing the character Cathy Gale in
the TV series, The Avengers (1962-64). Starred
as the "bond girl" Pussy Galore in the James Bond film Goldfinger
(1964) opposite Sean Connery. Long career on the
London stage, retiring at age 80. A staunch republican,
declined a CBE (2002). Old age.
John Prine, 73,
April 7, Nashville, Tennessee. American folk musician and
singer/songwriter. Low key acoustic act; recorded 18
albums and wrote hits for others in popular genres. Grammy
Lifetime Achievement Award (2020).
Survived oral and neck lymph node cancer (1998) and lung
cancer (2013). Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
(2020). Complications of coronavirus
Covid19.
Linda Tripp,
70, April 8, Middleburg, Virginia. American public
servant. Secretly recorded conversations with Monica
Lewinsky, a key part of impeachment proceedings against
US President Bill Clinton (1998). Pancreatic cancer.
Mort
Drucker, 91, April 9, Woodbury, New York. American
cartoonist and caricaturist. Best known as
in-house cartoonist for Mad Magazine over 55 years
(1956-2011) and for his caricatures of film and
TV stars. Complications
of suspected coronavirus
Covid19.
Tim
Brooke-Taylor OBE, 79, April 12, Cookham, Berkshire.
British comedian and actor. Best known as a member of the
long-running 1970's comedy duo The Goodies.
Complications of
coronavirus Covid19.
Sir
Stirling Moss KB OBE, 90, April 12, British racing
driver. Runner-up four times in Formula One World Drivers'
Championship (1955-62), regarded as "the greatest driver never
to win a World Championship". Also set numerous land speed
records. Retired from racing after serious accident left him
in a coma for a month. Survived a fall down a lift shaft at
home at age 80, becoming permanently wheelchair bound. Long
illness.
Sir
John Houghton KB CBE, 88, April 15, Dolgelau,
Wales. British physicist, climate scientist, Royal
Commissioner. Lead author first three reports for the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change. Shared Nobel Peace Prize (2007).
Chair of British Royal Commission on Environmental
Pollution (1992-98). Fellow Royal Society (1972). Knighted
(1991). Complications of coronavirus Covid19.
Henry
Geller, 96, April 20, Washington DC. American lawyer and
public servant. Instrumental in the banning of cigarette
advertising on television in the US (1970). Bladder cancer.
Florian Schneider,
73, April 21, Dusseldorf, Germany. German musician and
co-founder of Kraftwerk (1970), the seminal
electronic/pop crossover band of the era. Short cancer
related illness.
Sir
Robert May OM AC KB, The Lord May, Baron of Oxford, 84,
April 28, London. Australian-born British scientist, academic,
public servant, politician. Research in biology and physics
laid the foundations of the influential "Chaos Theory" (1976).
Visiting professor at Oxford, Princeton, and Sydney
University's at time of death. Former UK Chief Scientist
(1995-2000), President of the Royal Society (2000-2005). Life
peerage (2001). Cross-bencher in the House of Lords until
retirement at age 80. Brief illness.
Martin
Lovett OBE, 93, April 29, London. British
classical musician. Last surviving member of the legendary
Amadeus Quartet, playing cello in the string
quartet for 40 years (1947-87). Complications of coronavirus
Covid19.
Rishi Kapoor,
67, April 30, Mumbai, India. Indian
character actor and Bollywood superstar. Born into
Bollywood 'royalty', played the romantic lead in 92 Hindi
language feature films (1975-2019). Leukemia.
Irrfan Khan, 54,
April 30, Mumbai, India. Indian character actor and Bollywood
superstar. Rated as "the best actor in Indian cinema", appeared
in films grossing $US3.6 billion at the box office, later
playing character roles in Hollywood films. First came to
international prominence in film Slumdog Millionaire (2008). Colon cancer.
† May †
Dave Greenfield,
71, May 3, Guildford, Surrey. British musician and songwriter.
Keyboard player for The Stranglers (1974-), writing
their biggest hit Golden Brown. Chronic heart disease
and complications of coronavirus Covid19.
Millie Small,
72, May 5, London. Jamaican singer/songwriter. Became the
Caribbean's first female international music star through her
1964 smash hit My Boy Lollipop, later becoming a
regular on the ska music scene in London. Stroke.
Darby McCarthy OAM,
76, May 7, Toowoomba, Queensland. Indigenous Australian jockey.
One of the leading Brisbane and Sydney jockey's during the
1950-60's, riding more than 1000 winners. Famously won the AJC
Derby and the Epsom Handicap on the same day in 1969. Long
illness.
Roy Horn, 75,
May 8, Las Vegas, Nevada. German-born American magician and
illusionist. Together with Siegfried Fischbacher starred in Siegfried & Roy
magic act with lions and tigers at various Las Vegas
casino's (1981-2003). Never recovered physically after
being mauled by a tiger on stage during a performance on his
59th birthday. Complications of
coronavirus Covid19.
Little Richard,
87, May 9, Nashville, Tennessee. American singer/songwriter.
Self-described "architect of rock'n'roll". Hit the charts in
1955 with Tutti Frutti, scoring numerous No.1's until a
brief flirtation with born-again Christianity in 1958. The first
'crossover artist' with his frenetic piano playing and emotive
vocals. Major influence on Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee
Lewis and others. Became addicted to alcohol, cocaine and heroin
before swearing off all drugs in 1977 with a return to religion
as a pastor and wedding celebrant. Spent the last ten years of
his life in poor health. Bone cancer.
Jack Mundey AO,
90, May 10, Sydney, Australian trade union leader and
environmental activist. Secretary of the Builders Labourers
Federation (1968-75). Credited with saving Sydney's historic
Rocks district from redevelopment through "green bans"
preventing demolitions. Remained involved in environmental
issues and preserving the city's built heritage until weeks
before his death. Short illness.
Astrid Kirchherr,
81, May 14, Hamburg, Germany. German photographer. Took the
first known photographs of The Beatles in concert (1960) and
became their un-official photographer. Engaged to the Beatles
original bass player Peter Sutcliffe until his sudden death
(1962). Credited with creating the Beatles early signature
"mop-top" hairstyles. Short illness.
Patrick Simon AO
(hon), 72, May 14, Villers-Bretonneux, France. French politician and
mayor of Villers-Bretonneux,
the scene of two major WWI battles involving Australian troops.
Renovated the Australian WWI Museum in the town, and was
described as 'Australia's best friend in France'. Complications
of coronavirus Covid19.
Wilson Roosevelt
Jerman, 91, May 16, Woodbridge, Virginia. American butler.
Served as butler for eleven US Presidents (1962-93) and was one
of the longest ever serving employees of the White House.
Complications of coronavirus Covid19.
Arthur Summons, 84, May 16, Wagga
Wagga, New South Wales. Australian rugby league football
legend and dual international. Played ten games for Australia
in rugby union and nine games in rugby league at half back
(1856-64). Complications of oral cancer.
Ken Osmond, 76,
May 18, Los Angeles. American child actor typecast as rebel
teenager Eddie Haskell in TV sit-com Leave it to Beaver
(1957-63). Served 18 years as a cop with LAPD after acting
career ended. Falsely rumoured to have become rock star Alice
Cooper and porn star John Holmes during the '70's. Complications
of lung disease and peripheral artery disease.
Annie Glenn,
100, May 19, Saint Paul, Minnesota. American disabilities
advocate, philanthropist and teacher. Achieved celebrity through
her 73-year-long marriage to astronaut John Glenn. A life-long
stutterer, raised millions for speech pathology research and for
those with speech impairments. Complications
of coronavirus Covid19.
Jimmy Cobb, 91,
May 24, New York. American jazz musician. Jazz drummer and
original member of the Miles Davis Sextet. Remained the
last surviving member of the group for almost 30 years.
Appeared on the ground breaking 1959 Miles Davis album Kind
of Blue. Lung cancer.
Stanley Ho OBE, 98, May 26, Happy
Valley, Hong Kong. Hong Kong-born Chinese Macau casino mogul.
Known as "The King". Held monopoly on Macau casino's for 40
years until 2001. Former chairman of the influential Macau
Jockey Club. Married four times, 17 children. Family in bitter
dispute for years over $US7B estate. Suspected money launderer
and Triad associate. Spent most of last decade of life in
hospital after brain surgery for stroke after a fall (2009).
Chronic illnesses.
Larry Kramer, 84, May 27, New York. American
playwright, novelist, screenwriter and human rights activist.
Best known for alerting the world to the American AIDS
epidemic (1981-84), working tirelessly on behalf of victims.
Established what would become the world's largest AIDS charity
(GMHC, New York), but
ousted 1983 for being too militant. Survived liver transplant
(2001). Known for his forthright views and abrasive
personality. Pneumonia.
Bobby Morrow, 84, May 30, San
Benito, Texas. American Olympian and track athlete. Won the
100m and 200m sprints at Melbourne Olympics (1956). Natural
causes.
Christo, 84,
May 31, New York. Bulgarian-born American monumental conceptual
artist. World famous for art installations involving wrapping up
landmarks in a variety of materials, including Sydney's Little
Bay (1969), eleven islands off Miami (1983), the Pont Neuf in Paris
(1984), and the German Reichstag (1995). Finished wrapping in later years
going on to create monumental gates, curtains, walkways, and
objects. Worked in close collaboration with his wife Jeanne-Claude Denat de
Guillebon before her death in 2009. None of his large scale
artworks survive. Natural causes.
† June †
Irene Triplett,
90, June 4, Wilkesboro, North Carolina. The last person to
collect a US Civil War veteran's pension. Her father, who was 83
at the time of her birth, fought for the Confederacy, before
deserting to the Union in 1864. After his death, the perpetual
pension of $US73.13 per month for
veterans and their families eventually devolved to her. Old
age.
Pierre Nkurunziza, 55, June 8, Karuzi, Burundi. Burundian
politician and ninth President of Burundi. In office for 15
years. Twice elected President, but hung on to power, for an
unconstitutional third term. Became increasingly autocratic,
repressive and suspected of human rights abuses. Died in
office. Cardiac arrest due to complications of suspected
coronavirus Covid19.
Bonnie Pointer,
69, June 8, Los Angeles. American singer/songwriter. One
of the four Pointer Sisters (1973-77). Left the group
before they recorded major hit singles, making three solo
albums. Complications of cirrhosis of the liver and
cardiac arrest.
Luce Douady, 16, June 14, Isère, France. French
athlete. Promising rock and boulder climber due for her debut
in wall climbing at the postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympics. 150m fall in training
in the French Alps. Accident.
Sushant Singh Rajput, 34, June 14,
Mumbai, India. Indian film actor. Bollywood heart throb,
appearing in 13 films. Best known for on-screen portrayal of
Indian cricket captain MS Dohni in hit movie. Suicide.
Noel "Ned" Kelly
OAM, 84, June 15, Sydney. Australian rugby league
footballer. Rated as one of the best forwards of the
modern era, played 25 matches for Australia, 111 games for
Western Suburbs, losing three consecutive Grand Finals.
Controversially claimed the referee was bribed to make
sure Wests lost the 1961 Grand Final. Inducted Australian
Rugby League Hall of Fame (2018). Complications of stroke.
Edén Pastora, 83,
June 16, Managua, Nicaragua. Nicaraguan
politician and freedom fighter. One of the original left wing
rebels of the Sandinista movement, known as "Commander Zero"
during the Nicaraguan Civil War (1978-90). Became disillusioned
with the Sandinista after victory and abandoned the movement.
Spent later years running a shark fishing business.
Complications of coronavirus Covid19.
Jean Kennedy-Smith,
92, June 17, New York. American diplomat, philanthropist,
activist. Last survivor of the eight siblings of former US
President John F. Kennedy. Present at the assassination of
brother Robert Kennedy. Founded a world wide charity (1974)
aimed at including disabled people in the arts. US Ambassador to
Ireland (1993-98) playing a pivotal role in the Northern Ireland
peace accords. Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom (2010). Old
age.
Dame Vera Lynn CH DBE OBE, 103, June
18, English singer, entertainer, author and philanthropist.
Sold a million records by age 23, having debuted at 19 (1937),
becoming enormously popular during WWII. Toured with troop
entertainment parties, and remained a best selling recording
artist into the 1960's, and then had a brief resurgence in the
late 2000's. Wrote three memoirs. Extreme old age.
Sir Ian Holm KB CBE, 88, June 19,
London. British stage and screen star, pantsman. Long-time
Shakespearean actor, made his film debut in Alien (1979).
Made late career resurgence, appearing in The Lord of Rings
and The Hobbit film series. Four times married,
numerous affairs, and three children by long-time lover. Complications of
Parkinson's Disease
John Kennedy Snr, 91, June 25,
Melbourne. Australian footballer and VFL superstar. Played 164
games for Hawthorn (1950-59) quickly assuming the captaincy.
Went on to become even more successful coach, coaching
Hawthorn to three Premierships (1961,71,76). Progenitor of the
Kennedy football dynasty. Son, John Jnr, played 241 games for
Hawthorn and appeared in four wining Grand Finals. Grandson
Josh played 250th game, mostly for the Sydney Swans, on the
day of his death. Inaugural
inductee Australian Football Hall of Fame (1999), elevated to
legend status (2020). Old age.
Milton Glaser, 91, June 26, New
York, American graphic designer. Co-founded New York magazine
(1970). Famous for the I Love New York logo (1977)
and Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits psychedelic album cover
(1966). Designed over 400 corporate logo's and event posters.
Awarded the National Medal of The Arts (2009). Died on his
91st birthday. Complications of kidney disease and stroke.
† July
†
Sir Everton Weekes KCMG GCM OBE,
95, July 1, Christ Church, Barbados. Barbadian test cricketer.
Opened the batting for the West Indies in 48 test matches
(1948-58). The last survivor of the "Three W's" of West Indian
cricket, all from Barbados, who dominated the game for a
decade, along with Sir Frank Worell and Sir Clyde Walcott
Only batsman in the history of the game to score five
consecutive test centuries. Congestive heart disease.
Nick Cordero, 41, July 5, Los
Angeles. Canadian musical theatre jobbing actor and singer.
Made Broadway debut 2012. Spent 95 days in hospital after
being diagnosed with coronavirus Covid19, suffering critical
lung and kidney damage and having his right leg amputated.
Complications of coronavirus Covid19.
Charlie Daniels, 83, July 6,
Nashville, Tennessee. Country music star. Best known
for hit song "The Devil Went Down To Georgia" (1979).
Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame (2016).
Spent last decade of life in poor health. Stroke.
Ennio Morricone, 91, July 6, Rome.
Italian film composer and arranger. In a 70 year career,
composed more than 400 scores for film and television,
beginning in 1960 with spaghetti westerns, before a highly
successful career in Hollywood films. Score to film The Good, the Bad
and the Ugly rated as one of the most memorable
in 20th century cinema. Two Academy awards, three
Grammy awards. Toured with his own orchestra in later years
and sold more than 70 million sound-track records world wide.
Complications of a fall.
Alex “Chumpy” Pullin, 32,
July 8, Palm Beach, Queensland. Australian athlete. Three-time
Winter Olympian (Vancouver 2010, Sochi 2014, Pyeongchang 2018) in snowboarding.
Australian flagbearer at 2014 winter games. Two times world
champion, but failed to medal at the Olympics. Drowned while
spear fishing. Accident.
Park Won-soon, 64, July 9, Seoul.
South Korean politician. Popular Mayor of Seoul since 2011,
elected three times. Disappeared the day after being charged
with sexual harassment; body later found in wooded area
outside the city. Died in office. Suicide.
Jack Charlton OBE, 85, July 10, Northumberland, England. English soccer
star and manager. Played for England in 35 matches, including
their 1966 World Cup winning team. Played 629 matches for
Leeds United and went on to a successful coaching club career,
before managing the Irish national side (1986-96). Awarded
honourary Irish citizenship. Complications of dementia and
lymphoma
Buddy, 8, July 11, Staten Island,
New York. American German Shepherd. First dog to
allegedly be diagnosed with coronavirus Covid19,
contracted from his owner. Complications of lymphatic
cancer and coronavirus Covid19.
Jack Ah Kit, 69, July 12, Darwin.
Indigenous Australian politician and activist. First Aboriginal
cabinet minister in the Northern Territory. Member of NT
Parliament for ten years. Played a key role in preventing any
further mining in Kakadu National Park. Spent the last 15 years
of his life in poor health. Chronic illnesses.
Joanna Cole,
75, July 12, Sioux City, Iowa. American children's
author. Wrote more than 250 books for children, her best
known, Magic School Bus, selling 93 million copies
world wide. Pulmonary fibrosis.
Katia Alexandrovskaya, 20, July 17,
Moscow. Russian-born Australian figure skater. Junior world
pairs champion (2017), teaming with
Australian skater Harley Windsor. Retired due to epilepsy six
months before her death. Threw herself clean out an apartment
window. Suicide.
John Lewis, 80, July 17, Atlanta,
Georgia. American civil rights activist and politician. The
last survivor of the "Big Six" who organised the 1963 March
on Washington which featured Martin Luther King's "I have a dream"
speech. Badly beaten by police in Selma civil rights movement,
and arrested dozens of times for peaceful activism. Elected to
the US House of Representatives for 17 consecutive terms,
including five times unopposed, from an impoverished area of
Atlanta. Presidential Medal of Freedom (2011). In poor health
in final years becoming wheelchair-bound, died in
office. Pancreatic cancer.
Lucio Urtubia, 89. July 18, Paris.
Spanish anarchist, bank robber, forger, printer, brick layer.
Exponent of "expropriative
anarchism" robbing banks and forging travellers cheques in the
1960's and 70's to fund South American guerilla groups and
also forging false papers for those fleeing persecution in
Franco's Spain. Exiled from Spain in 1954 and worked as a
bricklayer in Paris for the rest of his life. Natural causes.
Shane Tuck, 38, July 20, Adelaide.
Former Australian Rules footballer. Played 174 games for
Richmond (2004-13). Came from a large extended Victorian
footballing family; father, Michael, played 426 games and
appeared in seven winning Grand Finals for Hawthorn. Tried
boxing in 2017, before being badly knocked out. Suicide.
Rene Carpenter, 92, July 24,
Denver, Colorado. American TV host and newspaper
columnist. Achieved celebrity as an "astronaut's
wife". Married Scott Carpenter, the second American to
orbit the earth (1962), followed by a successful media
career. Last surviving member of the seven astronauts
and their wives selected for NASA's Mercury Project to
put a man into orbit around the earth. Congestive
heart failure.
Regis Philbin, 88, July 24,
Greenwich, Connecticut. American television host, singer,
author, and entrepreneur. Began as a writer for the Tonight
Show (1955) in a career of almost 60 years. Became
famous when his TV talk show went national in 1988.
Popularised game show "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?".
Appeared in a world record 17,000 hours of live television.
Retired 2011. Recorded three albums as a "crooner", wrote five
books including two memoirs. Relentless salesman of his own
merchandise. Complications of heart disease.
Steven dePyssler,
101, July 25, Bossier City, Louisiana. American career
soldier. Air Force colonel and only American known to have
survived four major wars (World War II, Korean War, French
Indochina War, Vietnam War). Complications of coronavirus
Covid19.
Peter Green, 73, July 25,
Canvey Island, Essex. English singer/songwriter and guitarist.
Founded seminal rock/blues band Fleetwood Mac (1976).
Left the band due to drug problems and later diagnosed with schizophrenia. Dogged by further drug
addictions in the 1980's and 90's, briefly returned to the
stage before retiring in 2009. Chronic illnesses.
Dame Olivia de Haviland DBE, 104,
July 25, Paris. British/American movie star. The last survivor
of the "Golden Age of Hollywood'. Best known for her role as Melanie Hamilton in Gone with the Wind (1939). Winner
of two Academy. Appeared in 49 feature films, including nine
swashbucklers with Errol Flynn. Long-running feud with movie
star sister Joan Fontaine. Moved to Paris after the end of her
second marriage in 1953 and never left. Became a Dame of the
British Empire at 100 years old. Extreme old age.
Connie Culp,
57, July 29, Cleveland, Ohio. First American recipient and
world's longest survivor of a partial face transplant,
after being shot by her husband (2004). Had more than 30
operations as 80% of her face was replaced. Worked as a
disability advocate. Sepsis.
Herman Cain, 74, July 30, Atlanta,
Georgia. American banker, businessman, columnist and would-be
politician. Ran for the Republican nomination for 2012 US
Presidential election; campaign derailed by sexual harassment
allegations. At the time of his death, co-chairman of Black
Voices for Trump. Complications of coronavirus Covid19.
†
August †
Frances Allen,
88, August 4, Schenectady,
New York. American computer scientist and engineer. Spent her
entire career at IBM (1957-2002). Best known for developing
landmark systems allowing software to "talk" to hardware. First
female scientist to win the Turing Award (2006). Died on her
88th birthday from complications of Alzheimer's disease.
Brent Scowcroft KBE,
95, August 5, Falls Church, Virginia. American Air Force general
and political adviser. Only person to serve as National Security
Adviser to two Presidents, Gerald Ford (1975-77) and George H
Bush (1989-93). Presidential Medal of Freedom (1991), Honorary
knighthood (1993). Old age.
James Harris,
70, August 9, New York. American pro wrestler going mainly by
the ring name of "Kamala - The Ugandan Giant". Known for the
longevity of his 32-year career with various franchises
(1978-2010). Both legs amputated due to diabetes (2014).
Complications of diabetes and coronavirus Covid19.
Stuart Christie,
74, August 15, Kettletoft,
Scotland. Scottish anarchist, would be assassin, author and
publisher. Attempted to assassinate Spanish dictator Fransisco
Franco, but apprehended with explosives before the attack could
be carried out (1964). Sentenced to 30 years jail, served three
years before being released and returned to the UK. Acquitted of
involvement in far left Angry Brigade. Spent later life running
the anarchist Cienfuegos Press and Anarchist
Film Channel from the remote Orkney Islands. Natural causes.
Robert J. Trump,
71, August 15, New York. American merchant banker and
businessman. Younger brother of sitting US President Donald
J.Trump. Known as the "Quiet Trump", cultivated an image of the
exact opposite of Donald. Fell out with his brother for 15
years, retiring from public life in 2009. Returned to work on
Donald's campaign for President (2015-16). Complications of
strokes after a fall.
Chetan Chauhan,
73, August 16, Gurugram, India. Indian test cricketer,
playing 40 test matches. Opened batting with the legendary Sunil
Gavaskar, always playing second-fiddle. Complications of
coronavirus Covid19.
Paddy Garrity,
83, August 16,
Melbourne. English
born Australian trade unionist, social activist, arts patron,
and colourful Melbourne identity. Best known for establishing
and running a bar and art gallery at the Victorian Trades Hall.
Worked as a merchant seaman, painter & docker, one time
secretary of the Unemployed Workers Union, supporter of the
Victorian arts community for more than 40 years. Complications
of coronavirus Covid19.
Charles "Chilla" Porter, 84, August
16, Perth. Australian Olympian and field athlete. Best known
for his silver medal performance in the high jump at the
Melbourne Olympics (1956), in a five hour marathon against
American Charles Dumas who won gold with a jump of 2.12m. Also
won silver at two Commonwealth Games, Cardiff (1958), Perth
(1962). Bone cancer.
Frank Cullotta, 81, August
20, Las Vegas, Nevada. American mobster, author, tour guide.
Prominent member of the "Chicago Outfit" and the notorious
"Hole in the Wall Gang". After turning informer (1984),
admitted to 300 crimes, including four murders. Spent only
eight years behind bars. Wrote two memoirs in later life and
spent his final years as a tour guide at the Las Vegas Mob
Museum. Complications of coronavirus Covid19.
Gail Sheehy, 83,
August 24, American journalist, critic, author. Key figure in
the so-called "New Journalism" of the 1960's and 70's writing
for Vanity Fair and New York magazines. Turned
to biography in later life, penning biographies of Mikhail
Gorbachev, Margaret Thatcher, Anwar Sadat, both President Bush's
and Hillary Clinton. Pneumonia
Chadwick Boseman, 43, August
28, Los Angeles. American film actor. Played lead in biopics of
Jackie Robinson and James Brown, before starring in Hollywood
blockbuster Black Panther. Concealed illness for four
years before death. Colon cancer.
Pranab Mukherjee,
84, August 31, New Delhi. Indian politician and 14th President of India.
Leading figure in the Indian National Congress Party for
almost half a century (1969-2017) and Indira Gandhi's right hand man. Awarded India's highest civilian honour,
the Bharat Ratna. Complications of a fall and coronavirus
Covid19.
Tom Seaver, 75,
August 31, Calistoga,
California. American baseball legend and Hall of Famer. One the
greatest right hand power pitchers. Won 311 games for four
different teams, but best remembered for leading the New York
Mets to winning the World Series "miracle" (1969). Universally
known as "Terrific Tom", retired to wine making in the Napa
Valley. Complications of dementia and coronavirus Covid19.
†
September †
David
Capel, 57, September 2. English test
cricketer. Played 15 matches for England (1987-90) as an
all-rounder, never living up to the curse of being labelled "the
next Ian Botham". Better known as a player and coach of
Northamptonshire for more than 30 years. Brain cancer.
Kang Kek Iew aka "Comrade Duch",
77, September
2, Phnom Penh. Cambodian war criminal and Pol
Pot henchman. Responsible for the torture and murder of
thousands of political prisoners during the Khymer Rouge rule in
Cambodia (1975-79). Fled Cambodia and on the run for 20 years.
Arrested in 1999 and convicted of crimes against humanity
(2009), jailed for life, freely admitting to his guilt. Died in
custody of unknown causes.
Forrest Fenn,
90, September 7, Santa Fe, New Mexico. Eccentric American art
collector and dealer, poet, writer, self-described schmoozer, pants-man, and
possible hoaxer. Claimed to have buried a 40lb treasure chest of
mainly gold artifacts in the Rocky Mountains, allegedly leaving clues as to
its whereabouts in a poem in his 2010 memoir. Claimed the chest
had been found and secured by someone in Wyoming months before
his death. Old age.
Shere Hite, 77,
September 9, London. American-born German feminist and
unorthodox sociologist. Converted her PhD thesis into The Hite Report on Female
Sexuality (1976) selling 50+ million copies world wide. Advocate of female masturbation and sexual
fulfillment. Renounced US citizenship and moved to Germany (1995)
where she remained, before going to the UK in later life.
Complications of Alzheimer's
and Parkinson's diseases.
Dame Diana Rigg CBE
DBE, 82, September 10, London. British film and television
actress. Shakespearean actress best known for film and
television roles. Played Emma Peel in long running TV series
The Avengers (1961-67). Played James Bond's only wife in On Her Majesty's Secret
Service (1969).
Continued acting up until her death. Appointed a Dame in 1994.
Short cancer related illness.
Frederick "Toots"
Hibbert, 77, September 11, Kingston, Jamaica. Jamaican
musician and reggae star. Leader of Toots and The Maytals, one
of the key influences in the world wide popularity of reggae.
Complications of Coronavirus Covid19.
John Fahey AC,
75, Sydney, September 12. New Zealand born Australian
conservative politician and former Premier of NSW. Best regarded
for steering the bid for the Sydney 2000 Olympics. Moved to
Federal politics and served as finance minister in the Howard
Govt. President
of World Anti-Doping Agency after retirement from politics.
Survived lung cancer surgery for almost 20 years. Complications
of chronic illnesses.
Bill Gates Snr,
94, September 14, Hood Canal, Washington. American lawyer,
author and philanthropist. Leading litigation lawyer in Seattle
for 30 years. Worked for international justice charities after
retirement. Father of Microsoft founder, Bill Gates. Alzheimer's disease.
Peter Starkey,
72, September 15, Melbourne. Australian musician. Founding
member of pop band Sky Hooks, but replaced by his
brother Bob before the group's wild popularity in the 1970's. A
talented guitarist, went on to play with many other bands and
worked as a session musician. Fall from a ladder. Accident.
Ruth Bader Ginsberg,
87, September 18, Washington DC. American lawyer, judge, author,
cultural icon.
Long serving liberal Justice of the US Supreme Court
(1993-2020). Died in office. Request that her replacement be
confirmed after 2020 election ignored. Chronic illnesses and
complications of
metastatic
pancreatic cancer.
Ang Rita Sherpa,
72, September 21, Kathmandu. Nepali mountaineer. Known as the
"Snow Leopard". Only person to have climbed Mt. Everest ten
times without the use of bottled oxygen, including once in
winter. National hero in Nepal honoured with the equivalent of
two knighthoods. Retired from the slopes at age 48 following a
fall. Chronic illnesses and stroke.
Juliette Gréco,
93, September 24, Ramatuelle, France. French singer, actor, bohemian,
muse. A French idol, post-WWII after being arrested and tortured
by the Gestapo for resistance activities at age 16. Popular
singer and actor who moved in post-war bohemian salons. La Muse de
l'existentialisme of Jean-Paul Satre, Albert Camus, Jean
Cocteau and others. Three times married with many lovers. 42
year long affair with American jazz musician Miles Davis.
Commander Légion
d'honneur (2012). Commander Ordre des Arts et des
Lettres (2016). Old age.
Dean Jones AM,
59, September 24, Mumbai, India. Former Australian test
cricketer. A pugnacious batsman, played 52 tests matches, mostly
at No.3. Hospitalised after scoring
210 in the famous Tied Test in Madras (1986), in oppressive
heat. Scored 55 first class centuries for Victoria, Derbyshire,
and Durham in 17 year career. Died suddenly while in India
working as a television cricket commentator. Cardiac arrest.
Susan Ryan AO,
77, September 27, Sydney. Australian politician. First female
Cabinet-level Labor minister, serving in the Hawke ministry as
Education minister. Chief architect of the Sex Discrimination
Act (1984). Cardiac arrest while swimming.
Helen Reddy, 78,
September 29, Los Angeles, California. Australian-born American
singer and entertainer. First Australian to win a Grammy Award and top the US
charts with I am Woman (1972 ) which became a feminist
anthem. 15 singles in the US Top 40 in the 1970's. Became a US
citizen in 1974. Complications of dementia.
†
October †
Kenzo Takada, 81,
October 4, Paris.
Japanese-born French fashion designer. Departed Japan by boat
for a short visit to Paris in 1965 and never left. Initially
struggled before finding success with flamboyant fashion shows
in the 1970's and 80's, going on to create the eponymous fashion
and make up empire, Kenzo. Chevalier
Légion d'honneur.
Complications of coronavirus Covid19.
Eddie Van Halen,
65, October 6, Santa Monica, California. Dutch born American
musician, guitarist and band leader. Founded the eponymous
1970's super group Van Halen with his brother drummer
Alex (original band 1972-1985). Sold 56 million records after
various reformations and comebacks. Also worked on film
soundtracks and as a session musician. Rock and Roll Hall of
Fame (2007). Rated by Rolling Stone as one of the top
ten best rock guitarists of all time. Long-time self-admitted
alcoholic. Complications of metastasis of tongue cancer.
Edward "Whitey" Ford, 91,
October 8, Lake Success, New York. American baseballer
known as the "Chairman of the Board". Star pitcher who played
his entire 16 year career (1950-67) at the New York Yankies,
winning six World Series. Took two years off to join the US
Army in the Korean War, before making a comeback. Serial ball tamperer.
Opened a short-lived Yankee's-themed restaurant and bar in
retirement. Dementia.
Johnny Nash, 80,
October 8, Houston Texas. American singer/song writer and one
hit wonder. Went from being a "black crooner" to a reggae star
in 30 year career. Best known for penning multi-million selling anthem “I
Can See Clearly Now.” (1972). Chronic illness.
Jacinda
Barclay, 29, October 12, Sydney. Australian
sportswoman. Represented Australia at five women's baseball
World Cups, played one season of women's American football
for the Chicago Bliss, and played 23 games for GWS in
women's Australian Rules football, before being put on the
"inactive list" for 2021. Suicide.
Roberta McCain,
108, October 12, Washington DC. American political activist,
philanthropist, socialite and heir to an oil fortune. Mother of
long-serving progressive Republican Senator and Vietnam War POW,
John McCain, and last seen in public at his funeral in 2018. Her
Washington home became a favoured salon for politicians and
lobbyists. Extreme old age.
Herbert Kretzmer
OBE, 95, October 14, London. South African born British
journalist, translator, and lyricist. Best known for writing the
English language libretto of the musical Les Miserables and
translating into English the lyrics of French crooner Charles
Aznavour. Also worked as a theatre and television critic.
Complications of Parkinson's Disease.
John Reid
CNZM OBE, 92, October 14, Auckland. New Zealand's oldest
surviving test cricketer, captaining NZ in 39 tests, 56 matches
in all (1945-69). Bowling all rounder. After retirement, nine
years as an ICC match referee, calling out three Pakistani
players for throwing and ball tampering. Wrote two memoirs.
Life-long Squash enthusiast. Old age.
Spencer Davis, 81, October 19, Los
Angeles. Welsh musician and leader of the eponymous Spencer
Davis Group. Two consecutive #1 singles in the UK in
1966, but faded to musical obscurity. Better known as chief
executive of Island Records in the 1970's, promoting Bob
Marley and the "reggae wave". Pneumonia.
Paul Murphy AM, 77,
October 20, Sydney. Australian radio and television journalist
in celebrated 35 year career. Inaugural host of ABC current
affairs program This Day Tonight (1967), before joining
the Canberra press gallery. Hosted the ABC's flagship radio
current affairs program PM for a decade (1983-1993), and inguinal
host of SBS foreign correspondent show Dateline. Also
read the satirical This is the South Coast News and I'm Paul
Murphy on the ABC's This Sporting Life with Roy &
and HG. Cancer-related illness.
Robert Fisk, 74, October 30, Dublin.
English war correspondent and author. Covered eleven major
world conflicts (1976-2000) for the London Times and
later The Independent. Fluent in Arabic and only
western journalist to interview Osama bin Laden three times.
Wrote six books on conflicts in Northern Ireland, the Middle
East and the Balkans. Stroke.
Sir Sean Connery KB,
90, October 31, Nassau, Bahamas. Scottish actor and cinema
superstar. The original James Bond, appearing in the title role
in seven films of the franchise (1962-83), and went on to star
in a string of Hollywood thrillers. Oscar for The
Untouchables. Named by People magazine as the "Sexiest Man
of the Century" (1999). Knighted 2000. Retired to The Bahamas
2006 with financial issues. Denied serial tax evasion. Old age.
†
November †
Don Talbot AO OBE,
87, November 3, Gold Coast, Queensland. Australian swimming
coach and sports administrator. Coached world record breakers
in the 1950's and 60's and head coach of Australian men's team
(1964-72). Coached in Canada and the US before returning
to Australia as inaugural director of the Institute of Sport
(1980). Coached Australian swimming again from 1989, with
career highlight at the 2000 Sydney Olympics with 18 medals,
including five gold. Outspoken critic of performance enhancing
drugs. Complications of dementia.
Bones
Hillman, 62, November 7, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. New Zealand
musician. Bass player in iconic 1980-90's band Midnight
Oil. Moved to Australia
in 1987 to join the Oils, then took up residence in
Nashville in 1997, spending most of the rest of his
career as a session musician in country/rock.
Cancer-related illness
Jeanne Little OAM,
82, November 7, Sydney. Australian entertainer, singer and
television personality. Came to prominence as a comedy act on
the Mike Walsh Show in the 1970's, and achieved international
fame in the 80's with her zany personality and drawling
Australian accent. For decades, toured her self-penned solo
act Marlene, a tribute
to Marlene Dietrich.
Alzheimer disease.
Saeb Erekat, 65, November
10, Jerusalem. Palestinian political activist and prominent
advocate of Palestinian independence, power broker, and
spokesman for Palestine Liberation Organisation faction Fatah.
Close confidant of both PLO leaders Yasser Arafat and later Mahmoud Abbas. Complications of pulmonary
fibrosis and coronavirus Covid19.
Dame Margaret Guilfoyle AC DBE,
94, November 11, Melbourne. Australian politician. First
female Cabinet-level minister in Australian political
history (1975-83) serving in the Fraser ministry.
Senator for Victoria for 16 years. Old age.
Peter Sutcliffe, 74, November 13,
Brasside, England. English serial killer known as the
'Yorkshire Ripper'. Killed 13 women, and attempted to kill
seven others between 1975-80. Caught and convicted in 1981,
after a bungled police investigation, sentenced to life with
no parole. Cause of death not known. Died in custody.
Jan Morris CBE, 94,
November 20, Pwllheli,
Wales. English
trans-gender journalist and author. Born James Morris,
became a successful journalist and fathered five children by
wife Elizabeth Tuckniss, including distinguished Welsh poet
Twm Morys. Underwent pioneering gender
re-assignment surgery in 1972. Never divorced and remained
close. Lifelong newspaper freelancer and foreign
correspondent. Wrote a three-volume history of the British
Empire Pax Britannica, but better known for 19 best
selling travel books. Also wrote eight personal memoirs. Old
age.
Lupo, 9, November 21, London. English
cocker spaniel. Royal male pure-bred dog owned by the
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, bred by the Duchess's parents.
The subject of a series of three children's books, with one
published. Just couldn't give a shit anymore. Dropped dead.
Honestie Hodges, 14, November 22, Grand Rapids, Michigan. American
schoolgirl. Came to prominence as an 11-year-old after being
handcuffed by police along with her mother near her home
without cause, sparking a national outcry. Complications of
coronavirus Covid19.
Patrick Quinn, 37,
November 22, New York. American teacher, disability
activist, charity worker, and Lou Gehrig's disease sufferer.
Co-created the viral "Ice Bucket Challenge", raising $US220M
for research into motor neuron disease. Died seven years after
diagnosis. Complications of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Bruce
Boynton, 83, November 23, Selma, Alabama. American
civil rights pioneer. Arrested in 1958 testing the waters
by entering a "whites only" section of a bus station in
Virginia; the case went to the US Supreme Court and
inspired the "Freedom Rides" of 1961. Obtained a law
degree and spent the rest of his life as a civil rights
attorney. Brief illness.
David N. Dinkins,
93, November 23, New York. American Democratic politician,
lawyer, mathematician, Marines veteran. First black Mayor of
New York City (1990-93). Single term dogged by high crime rate
and riots, lost '93 election and succeeded by Rudi Guiliani.
Professor in public policy at Columbia University for 26 years
after retiring from politics. Died a month after the death of
his wife of 67 years, Joyce. Old age.
Christophe
Dominici, 48, November 24, Paris. French rugby union
footballer. 67 international matches for France with 34
tries. Played in three World Cups and won four Six Nations
Championships. Known as the funtabulist
("tight-rope walker") and as a well regarded sex symbol in
France. Suffered childhood abuse
and lifelong depression. Jumped from an
abandoned apartment building on the outskirts of
Paris.Suicide.
Alan Ramsey, 82,
November 24, Batemans Bay, New South Wales. Australian
political journalist. Long-time columnist for the Sydney
Morning Herald (1986-2008)
in 56 year media career. Worked as a foreign correspondent,
before joining Canberra Press Gallery for 12 years. Press
secretary and speech writer for ALP leader Bill Hayden
(1978-83). Complications of dementia.
Diego Maradona, 60, November 25, Tigre, Argentina. Argentinian
soccer legend, international super star, folk hero. Ranked
with Pelé as the world's best
footballer of the 20th century. 91 international
appearances for Argentina with 34 goals, and four World
Cup's. Famous for the "Hand of God" and
"Goal of the Century" goals within four minutes in
quarter-final v England in successful World Cup campaign
(1986). Legend in Italian city Naples after playing 188 games
for Napoli. Playing career ended after failing drug test for a
second time at 1994 World Cup. Coached Argentina and seven
different club teams. Known to enjoy a flamboyant lifestyle.
Addicted to cocaine since playing days and became alcoholic.
In ill health and frequently hospitalised in later years.
Complications of addiction related illnesses and heart
failure.
Mohsen
Fakhrizadeh, c.61, November 27, near Absard, Iran. Iranian
nuclear scientist. Key figure in the Iranian nuclear development
program (2007-present). Sanctioned by the UN, but kept a low
public profile. Ambushed and killed by alleged Israeli secret
service agents and exiled Iranian dissidents while travelling in
convoy. Assassination.
David Prowse MBE,
85, November 28, London. British actor and weightlifter.
Won British heavyweight title three times (1962-64). Played the
physical embodiment of Darth Vadar in the Start Wars Trilogy
(1977-83), but voice dubbed. Regularly appeared on the Star Wars
convention circuit in later years. Suffered acute rheumatoid
arthritis since his teen years. Complications of multiple
chronic illnesses
Ben Bova, 88,
November 29, Naples, Florida. American scientist and novelist.
Known as "the
last of the great pulp writers", wrote more than 124 books in
various genres, mostly science fiction. Worked as a technical
writer and draughtsman for the Vanguard Project to put the first
US satellite into orbit in the 1950's. Six time winner Hugo
Award for science fiction writing. Complications of stroke and
coronavirus Covid19.
†
December †
Valéry Giscard
d’Estaing, 94, December 2, Tours, France. Former French
President (1974-81). Universally known as VGE, a centre-right
reformer and avowed Eurocentric. Legalised abortion and no-fault divorce
against religious opposition, and lowered voting age to 18.
Initiated very fast train projects and made nuclear energy the
main source of power in France. Notorious serial womaniser.
Served single seven year term before being defeated by socialist
François
Mitterrand.
Grand-croix Légion
d'honneur. Honourary British knighthood GCB. Complications of coronavirus
Covid19.
Rafer Johnson, 86,
December 2, Los Angeles. American athlete, Olympian, actor.
Carried US flag at Opening Ceremony and won gold in the
decathlon at the Rome Olympics (1960). Lit Olympic flame at Los
Angeles games (1984). Took to acting in later life appearing in
nine Hollywood movies. Witnessed the assassination of Robert
Kennedy (1968), and helped disarm his killer. Stroke.
Betsy Wade, 91,
December 3, New York. Pioneering American journalist. Became the
first female copy editor at the New York Times (1956) beginning
a 41-year career at the Times. Lifelong union activist.
Famously sued the paper in a 1974 class action demanding equal
pay and equal opportunity. Sub-edited the Pentagon Papers,
winning a Pulitzer Prize (1972). Colon cancer.
Chuck Yeager, 97, December
7, Los Angeles. American Air Force test pilot and WWII
veteran. First person to travel beyond the speed of sound
(1947), breaking the world speed record with a flight of
1296kph/805mph at a height of 45,000 feet in an experimental
Bell X-1
rocket powered aircraft, beginning the supersonic age. Went
on to break numerous flight speed records, and is estimated
to have flown at least 360 different types of aircraft. Old
age
Mungo
MacCallum, 78, December 9, Ocean Shores, New
South Wales. Australian journalist, critic, columnist,
political commentator, raconteur, larrikin. Long-time
denizen of the Canberra Press Gallery. Staunch supporter of
Labor, pillorying both conservative and far-left politics.
Wrote five political memoirs. Columnist for the Byron
Shire Echo for last eight years of his life. Also
wrote numerous uncredited crosswords. Continued working
until a week before his death. Complications of throat and
prostate cancer.
Paolo
Rossi, 64, December 9, Siena, Italy. Italian football
and soccer superstar. Scored six goals to lead Italy to
winning the 1982 World Cup, becoming only the third player
to clean sweep all the tournament awards. Prolific goal
scorer at club level, at one point achieving a world record
transfer fee. Spent later years as a soccer commentator.
Cancer related illness.
Dame
Barbara "Babs" Windsor DBE, 83, December 10, London.
English actress, soapie star, philanthropist. Appeared in
nine of the Carry On "send-up" films, and starred in a
leading role in long running TV soap East Enders.Three times
married, first to convicted gangster, Ronnie Knight. Made a
dame at age 80. Complications of Alzheimer's
disease.
John le Carré,
89, December 12, Truro, Cornwall. British spy, novelist,
essayist, critic. After his retirement from the British Secret
Service, wrote 24 best selling spy novels, coming to prominence
with The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1963). Nine
novels made into films. Wrote two memoirs. Pneumonia.
Charlie Pride,
86, December 12. Dallas, Texas. American country singer. The
first black country music superstar. 52 Top Ten country music
hits from the 1960's to 1980's, including 29 Number Ones. Last
performance at being given the Willie Nelson Lifetime
Achievement Award a month before his death. Part-owned Texas
Rangers American football team in later years. Complications of
coronavirus Covid19.
Eric "Fritzy"
Freeman OAM, 76, December 14, Adelaide. Australian test
cricketer and footballer. Played eleven test matches for
Australia in cricket (1968-70) as a fast bowler, 83 first-class
games for South Australia, 166 games for Port Adelaide in SANFL
Australian Rules, kicking 390 goals. The first player to score
his first test runs with a six. Among the last of a rare breed
to play both the summer and winter games. Cardiac arrest.
Michael Jeffery AC CVO MC, 83, December 18,
Perth. Australian soldier and former Governor-General. Vietnam
veteran, rose to rank of Major General commanding the SAS and
1st Division. Appointed Governor of Western Australia
(1993-2000) before becoming Governor-General (2003-08). Natural
causes.
Doug Anthony AC CH,
90, December 20, Murwillumbah, New South Wales.
Australian politician, Country Party power broker, farmer,
engineer. Australia's longest serving deputy Prime Minister at
13 years in Gorton and Fraser Govts. At 27, succeeded his father
Larry Anthony Snr as MHR for Richmond in a by-election (1957),
after he died suddenly in office, and together they held onto
the seat for 57 consecutive years. Minister in coalition Govts
for 20 years. Country/National Party leader 1971-84. Shrewd
political operative, known for his rural laconics and genial
personality. Son Larry Anthony Jr held the seat for three terms
with dynasty finally ending in 2004. Old age.
Stella Tennant,
50, December 22, Duns, Scotland. English fashion model and minor
aristocrat. One of the three original "supermodels" of the
1990's, along with Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell. Became the
"muse" of designers Karl Langerfeld and Gianni Versace, and also
the "face of Chanel". Became an accomplished sculptor in later
life, married and had four children. Last Vogue magazine cover
in 2018. Died five days after her 50th birthday. Suicide.
John Edrich MBE,
83, December 23, Scotland. English cricketer. An opening
batsman, played in 77 test matches for England (1963-1976). One of the few
cricketers to score more than 100 first-class centuries, mainly
for Surrey, which he captained for five seasons. Spent later
life as a well respected cricket selector and administrator.
Leukemia.
George Blake,
98, December 26, Moscow. Dutch-born British diplomat, spy,
rogue, and double agent for the USSR. Converted to Communism
during three years as British POW in North Korea (1950-53).
Found out as a double agent after eight years under the Official
Secrets Act, guilty, sentenced to 42 years jail (1961).
Sensational bust out of Wormwood Scrubs jail (1966), fled across
Europe and arrived Moscow via East Berlin. Never left Awarded
Order of Friendship (2007). Old age.
Pierre Cardin,
98, December 29, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France. Italian-born French
fashion designer. Established fashion house 1950, a pioneer of prêt-à-porter after
being ostracised by haute couture. Known for
extravagant runway shows. Branched out into furniture in
1975 and later became known as the "Napoleon of branding",
selling a myriad of eponymous products in 140 countries.
Chevalier Légion
d'honneur and Ordre
des Arts et des Lettres. Old age.
Luke Letlow, 41, December 29,
Shreveport, Louisiana.
American Republican politician. Duly elected first-time
Congressman for the Louisiana 9th district, but died before
taking office. Died eleven days after diagnosis. Complications
of coronavirus Covid 19.
John Reid, 64,
December 30, Auckland. New Zealand cricketer. Opening batsman in
19 test matches with six centuries (1979-86). Cousin of former
Australian fast bowler Bruce Reid. No relation to his more
famous namesake former NZ captain, John Reid, who died in
October. Long illness.
Dawn Wells, 82,
December 30, Los Angeles. American actor, teacher,
philanthropist. Last surviving cast member of long-running
1960's sitcom Gilligan's Island. Complications of
coronavirus Covid19.
Tommy Docherty,
92, December 31, Glasgow, Scotland. Scottish soccer player and
coach universally known as "The Doc". Played 25 games for
Scotland but better known as a coach, managing 13 different
clubs (1961-88), famously taking Manchester United to 1977 FA
Cup victory. Coached Sydney Olympic and South Melbourne. Old
age.
