Caskets On Parade
2008 Contest
List of "Big Misses"
©2011 C.O.P. Audit Committee - file update generated 1-12-2011 at 02:14 GMT
theatrical/tv producer Michael Abbott staged the original (off-Broadway) production of Stalag 17 (1951)
expired 1-24-2008 in Manhattan, New York, New York age 81 cause: complications from cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
actress & comedienne Edith "Edie" Adams widow of Ernie Kovacs; played Daisy Mae in Broadway musical production of Li'l Abner (1956; received a Tony Award); appeared in May 1957 Playboy pictorial "Li'l Abner's Girls"; pitched Muriel Cigars on tv (1950s & 60s)
expired 10-15-2008 in Los Angeles, California age 81 cause: pneumonia; cancer
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| Guinness Book tallest woman Sandra Elaine "Sandy" Allen surgery halted her growth at 7 feet 7¼ inches born on 6-18-1955 in Chicago, Illinois expired 8-13-2008 in Shelbyville, Indiana age 53 cause: blood infection; kidney failure; diabetes
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| al-Qaeda muckety muck Abu Laith al-Libi supposedly the number 3 or 4 man in the terrorist network born on --1967 in Libya expired 1-28-2008 in Mir Ali, North Waziristan, Pakistan age 41 cause: Predator drone missile | ||||||||||||||||||
international terrorist Abu Ubaida al-Masri purported to have masterminded the London subway bombings; originally thought to have been killed in a Predator drone missle strike
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| former child actor Robert J. Anderson played the young George Bailey in It's A Wonderful Life (1946); also appeared on the Mickey Mouse Club's Spin and Marty serial born on 3-6-1933 in Hollywood, California expired 6-6-2008 in Palm Springs, California age 75 cause: melanoma | ||||||||||||||||||
| Ameriquest Mortgage founder Roland E. Arnall once was the largest sub-prime lender; it "crashed and burned" and was picked up by Citigroup (2007) born on --1939 in Paris, Île-de-France, France expired 3-17-2008 in Los Angeles, California age 68 cause: cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
| Joffrey Ballet Company co-founcer Gerald Arpino took over as artistic director after the death of Robert Joffrey born on 1-14-1923 in Staten Island, New York, New York expired 10-29-2008 in Chicago, Illinois age 85 cause: "a long illness" | ||||||||||||||||||
| cartoonist Gustavo Montano Arriola briefly worked as an animator at MGM; created & drew the Gordo strip (1941) born on 7-17-1917 in Florence, Arizona expired 2-2-2008 in Carmel, California age 90 cause: complications from Parkinson's disease | ||||||||||||||||||
| Stalin oil commissar Nikolai Konstantinovich Baibakov finally fired by Gorby (1985) born on --1911 in Sabunchi, Azerbaijan, Russian Empire expired 3-31-2008 in Moscow, Russia age 97 cause: pneumonia | ||||||||||||||||||
songwriter Gloria Shayne Baker widow of William Baker (d.2001); wrote music & lyrics to Goodbye Cruel World, The Men In My Little Girl's Life and the music to Do You Hear What I Hear? (1962; with lyrics by her then-husband)
expired 3-6-2008 in Stamford, Connecticut age 84 cause: cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
| dance criticaster Clive Alexander Barnes kvetched in print for the Times of London (1961-64), New York Times (1965-77) & New York Post (1978-2008) born on 5-13-1927 in London, England expired 11-19-2008 in Manhattan, New York, New York age 81 cause: complications from cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
| former Cuban military officer Ramón M. Barquín López lead a failed coup against Batista (April 1956); had a falling-out with Castro & left Cuba, never to return (1959) born on 5-12-1914 in Cienfuegos, Las Villas province, Cuba expired 3-3-2008 in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico age 93 cause: complications from leukemia | ||||||||||||||||||
| pioneering electro-acoustic musician Charlotte May "Bebe" Barron with then-husband Louis provided the "electronic tonalities" of the Forbidden Planet (1956) & music for Bells of Atlantis (1952); survived by second husband Leonard Neubauer born on 6-16-1925 in Minneapolis, Minnesota expired 4-20-2008 in Los Angeles, California age 82 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Procter & Gamble product researcher Fredric J. Baur designed the canisters that Pringles potato crisps come in (1970); he was cremated and his ashes interred in one born on 7-14-1918 in Toledo, Ohio expired 5-4-2008 in College Hill, Ohio age 89 | ||||||||||||||||||
former pro bodybuilder Shelley Anne Beattie was an original American Gladiatrix (1992-97) & a "grinder" on the America3 America's Cup team
expired 2-16-2008 in Salem, Oregon age 40 cause: suicide; pipolar disorder | ||||||||||||||||||
| character actor Henry How Beckman played Commander Paul Richards on Flash Gordon (DuMont network series 1954-58), the scientist/creator of My Living Doll (Dr. Carl Miller; 1964), Greg Anderson on Peyton Place (1964-65) & Capt. Roland Clancey on Here Come the Brides (1968-69) born on 11-26-1921 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada expired 6-17-2008 in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain age 86
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| character actor Paul Benedict had suffered from acromegaly; played the Mad Number Painter on Sesame Street (1969-76), the Chestnut Man in The Might Be Giants (1971), the Zen Buddhist in Cold Turkey (1971), neighbor Harry Bentley on The Jeffersons (1975-85), Tucker "Smitty" Brown in This Is Spinal
Tap (1984), Roy Loomis - "NOT Guffman" in Waiting for Guffman (1996) & Martin Berg in A Mighty Wind (2003) born on 9-17-1938 in Silver City, New Mexico expired 12-1-2008 in Martha's Vinyard, Massachusetts age | ||||||||||||||||||
| physicist & inventor William Ralph Bennett Jr. pioneered the gas laser, receiving numerous patents (1964) born on 1-30-1930 in Jersey City, New Jersey expired 6-29-2008 in Haverford, Pennsylvania age 78 cause: cancer of the esophagus | ||||||||||||||||||
| retired Dallas, TX police detective Paul Lester Bentley arrested Lee Harvey Oswald in the Texas Theater 80 minutes after JFK was assassinated born on 6-29-1921 in Dallas, Texas expired 7-21-2008 in Dallas, Texas age 87 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Dr. Frank Milan Berger created the first mass-marketed psychiatric (anti-anxiety) drug "Miltown" (meprobamate; 1955) born on 6-25-1913 in Pilsen, West Bohemia, Austri-Hungary expired 3-18-2008 in Manhattan, New York, New York age 94 cause: cardiac arrest; fall | ||||||||||||||||||
| disgraced Baptist minister James Luther Bevel had been an advisor to Martin Luther King Jr.; was Lyndon LaRouche's vice-presidential running mate in 1992 on the Wack-Job ticket; was convicted of molesting his daughter born on 10-19-1936 in Itta Bena, Mississippi expired 12-19-2008 in Springfield, Virginia age 72 cause: pancreatic cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
original drummer in the Mothers of Invention Jimmy Carl Black later toured with a Mothers tribute band
expired 11-1-2008 in Siegsdorf, German age 70 cause: lung cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
Marjorie E. "Marge" Boesch wife of Survivor 1 contestant Rudy Boesch
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| temperamental pro golfer Thomas Henry "Tommy" Bolt won the 1958 U.S. Open born on 3-31-1916 in Haworth, Oklahoma expired 8-30-2008 in Batesville, Iklahoma age 92 cause: liver failure | ||||||||||||||||||
| last Italian World War I veteran Delfino Edmondo Borroni served on the Alpine front born on 8-23-1898 expired 10-26-2008 age 110 | ||||||||||||||||||
| physicist & oceanographer Hugh Bradner credited as the inventor of the neoprene wet suit (1951) born on 11-5-1915 in Tonopah, Nevada expired 5-5-2008 in San Diego, California age 92 cause: pneumonia | ||||||||||||||||||
| singer/songwriter Delaney Bramlett with the band Delaney and Bonnie and Friends; with Eric Clapton wrote "Let It Rain"; with Leon Russell wrote "Superstar"; also wrote "The Never Ending Song of Love" born on 7-1-1939 in Pontotoc, Mississippi expired 12-27-2008 in Los Angeles, California age 69 cause: complications following gall bladder surgery | ||||||||||||||||||
| drunken lout Christian Brando did five years for the murder of Dag Drollet; had been a lover of Bonnie Lee Bakley — he thought her kid was his (until a DNA test proved it was Robert Blake's) born on 5-11-1958 in Los Angeles, California expired 1-26-2008 in Los Angeles, California age 49 cause: pneumonia | ||||||||||||||||||
| movie/tv screenwriter Irving S. Brecher wrote for Milton Berle & penned two screenplays for the Marx brothers (At The Circus - 1939 & Go West - 1940), Meet Me In St. Louis (1944; with Fred Finklehoffe) & Bye Bye Birdie (1963); was the creator of the Life of Riley radio & tv show; created & co-produced The People's Choice (1955-58), a Jackie Cooper sitcom with a "talking dog" (Cleo); directed Sail Crooked Ship (1961; Ernie Kovac's last film) born on 1-17-1914 in The Bronx, New York, New York expired 11-17-2008 in Los Angeles, California age 94 | ||||||||||||||||||
| agent/manager/producer/studio head Bernard J. "Bernie" Brillstein co-founded Brillstein-Grey Entertainment (1991); produced/executive produced The Larry Sanders Show, The Sopranos, Hee Haw & Alf as well as the Ghostbusters movies born on 4-26-1931 in New York, New York expired 8-7-2008 in Los Angeles, California age 77 cause: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | ||||||||||||||||||
1930s & 40s burlesque stripper Sherry Britton retired her pasties when LaGuardia shut down the burlesque houses
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| Wallace "Wally" Bronner founder of a year-round Christmas bric-a-brac store born on 3-9-1927 in Frankenmuth, Michigan expired 4-2-2008 in Frankenmuth, Michigan age 80 cause: cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
| one-time Venice Beach lifeguard-turned surfer photographer Robert A. "Bud" Brown "the father of surf film genre" (1953-64); a list of his movies includes: Hawiian Surfing Movies (1953), Trek to Makaha, The Big Surf, Surf Down Under, Cat on a Hot Foam Board & Surf Happy born on 7-14-1912 in Boston, Massachusetts expired 7-25-2008 in San Luis Obispo, California age 96 cause: complications from diabetes | ||||||||||||||||||
 
Penn Athletic Club sculling champion Joseph William. Burke won the 1939 Sullivan Awardborn on 1-17-1914 in Beverly, New Jersey, United State of America expired 1-13-2008 in Scottsdale, Arizona age 93 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Trek Bicycle Corp. co-founder (1976) Richard Alexander Burke Jr. born on 6-4-1934 in Chicago, Illinois expired 3-10-2008 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin age 73 cause: complications from heart surgery | ||||||||||||||||||
| philosopher & computing pioneer Arthur Walter Burks worked on the team that built the Eniac; collaberator with John von Neumann; spent 4 decades teaching at the University of Michigan born on 10-13-1915 in Duluth, Minnesota expired 5-14-2008 in Ann Arbor, Michigan age 92 cause: complications from Alzheimer's disease | ||||||||||||||||||
computing pioneer David Caminer helped to develop the L.E.O. computer (Lyons Electronic Office) for the J. Lyons & COmpany tea shops to do inventory control, payroll, etc. — the world's first business computer (1951)
expired 6-19-2008 in London, England age 92 | ||||||||||||||||||
| jazz trumpeter Walter Joseph "Pete" Candoli brother of Conti Candoli born on 6-28-1923 in Mishawaka, Indiana expired 1-11-2008 in Studio City, California age 84 cause: prostate cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
| former UPS driver Ronald Robert Carey got himself elected as president of the teamsters union, then turned into Sgt. Schultz (saw nothing, heard nothing when aides ran amok); had his re-election bid overturned by the Feds born on 3-22-1936 in Manhattan, New York, New York expired 12-11-2008 in Queens, New York, New York age 72 cause: lung cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
| farmer/poet Hayden Carruth won the 1996 National Book Award for Poetry for his collection of works titled Scambled Eggs and Whiskey born on 8-3-1921 in Waterbury, Connecticut expired 9-29-2008 in Munnsville, New York age 87 cause: complications from strokes | ||||||||||||||||||
| pulp sci-fi & horror artist Edward Daniel "Edd" Cartier was a World War II veteran who was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge; illustrated stories by L. Ron Hubbard, Isaac Asimov, Theodore Sturgeon & Robert Heinlein; worked on The Shadow (1936-41 & 1946-48); worked on such pulp
publications as Unknown, Astounding Science Fiction, Wild West Weekly, Movie Action & Detective Story Magazine expired 12-25-2008 in Ramsey, New Jersey age 94 | ||||||||||||||||||
| retired real estate salesman Benjamin Chapman in 1954 all 6' 5" of him was The Creature From The Black Lagoon (at least, above water; below water it was Ricou Browning) expired 2-21-2008 in Honolulu, Hawaii age 79 cause: congestive heart failure | ||||||||||||||||||
| civil rights attorney J. L. Chestnut Jr. involved in many of the groundbreaking legal actions in Alabama to end segregation & the Jim Crow laws born on 12-16-1930 in Selma, Alabama expired 9-30-2008 in Birmingham, Alabama age 77 cause: kidney failure | ||||||||||||||||||
| next-to-last Italian World War I veteran Francesco Demenico Chiarello born on 11-5-1898 expired 6-27-2008 in Calabria, Italy age 109 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Gerald Conrad "Jeff" Chouinard younger brother of Yvon Chouinard (Patagonia founder), whom he worked for back when it was still Chouinard Equipment Company; worked as a private investigator for Howard Hughes (1950-68) born on 9-23-1923 in Lisbon, Maine expired 6-19-2008 in Thousand Oaks, California age 84 cause: heart & kidney failure | ||||||||||||||||||
| jazz trombonist Jimmy Cleveland born on 5-3-1926 in Wartrace, Tennessee expired 8-23-2008 in Lynwood, California age 82 | ||||||||||||||||||
| machinist & hot rod designer Boyd Leon Coddington host of the American Hot Rod cable tv series born on 8-28-1944 in Rupert, Idaho expired 2-27-2008 in Whittier, California age 63 cause: complications from surgery; diabetes | ||||||||||||||||||
| exploitation-flick actress Roberta "Bobbie" Collins was Alcott in The Big Doll House (1971), Belle Tyson in Caged Heat (1974), Matilda the Hun in Death Race 2000 (1975) & Lana Logan in Hardbodies I & II born on 1-1-1946 expired 8-16-2008 age 62 | ||||||||||||||||||
| former Leflore County, Mississippi Chief Sheriffs deputy John Ed Cothran was one of the people that pulled Emmett Till's body from the Tallahatchie River; conducted the investigation of his murder expired 3-16-2008 in Grenada, Mississippi age 93 cause: heart failure | ||||||||||||||||||
| actress Hazel Court did a bunch of horror flix; widow of Don Taylor born on 2-10-1926 in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, England expired 4-15-2008 in Lake Tahoe, California age 82 cause: heart attack | ||||||||||||||||||
early late-night talk show host Les Crane went up against Carson and lost in the ratings; like to use a "shotgun" mic on the audience; left tv and went into the computer software business — was chairman of Software Toolworks ("Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing"); once married to Tina Louise (1966-71; daughter Caprice Crane)
expired 7-13-2008 in Greenbrae, California age 74 | ||||||||||||||||||
| blacklisted tv writer Oliver Kaufman Crawford wrote original Star Trek series' story for The Cloud Minders (1969), teleplay for Let That Be Your Last Battlefield (1969) and both story & teleplay for The Galileo Seven (1967) born on 8-12-1917 in Chicago, Illinois expired 9-24-2008 in Los Angeles, California age 91 cause: pneumonia | ||||||||||||||||||
| author John Michael Crichton graduated from Havard Medical School; wrote The Andromeda Strain and Jurassic Park; created the E.R. tv medical drama (1994); co-scripted Twister born on 10-23-1942 in Chicago, Illinois expired 11-4-2008 in Los Angeles, California age 66 cause: cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
| movie producer John Daly producer of Platoon (1986) & The Last Emperor (1987); won 13 Best Picture oscars; with David Hemmings formed Hemdale (1967) expired 10-31-2008 in Los Angeles, California age 71 cause: cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
| Wal-Mart seasonal(/disposable) employee Jdimytai Damour was trampled to death by moron "shoppers" when he opened the store's doors at 5:00 am on "Black Friday" expired 11-28-2008 in Mineola, Long Island, New York age 34 cause: positional asphyxiation; trampled to death | ||||||||||||||||||
| character actor Don Sinclair Davis played Scully's father on The X-Files and Major General Hammond on Stargate: SG1 & Atlantis tv series born on 6-4-1942 in Aurora, Missouri expired 6-29-2008 in Gibsons, British Columbia, Canada age 66 cause: heart attack; diabetes | ||||||||||||||||||
| composer Norman Dello Joio born on 1-24-1913 in New York, New York expired 7-24-2008 in East Hampton, New York age 95 | ||||||||||||||||||
| tv writer/producer William Allen "Bill" Dial wrote the famous "Turkeys Away" episode of WKRP in Cincinnati (as well as playing engineer Bucky Dornster); also wrote Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes "Tribunal" & "The Alternate" and the Star Trek: Voyager episode teleplay "Eye of the Needle" (1995) expired 6-2-2008 in Beaufort, South Carolina age 66 cause: heart attack; congestive heart failure; edema | ||||||||||||||||||
| actress Lydia Shum Din-ha big in Hong Kong flix born on 7-21-1945 in Shanghai, China expired 2-29-2008 in Hong Kong, China age 62 cause: liver cancer; diabetes; lypertension
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| operatic tenor Giuseppe di Stefano born on 7-24-1921 in Motta Sant'Anastasia, Sicily, Italy expired 3-3-2008 in Santa Maria Hoe, Lombardy, Italy age 86 cause: complications from head injury | ||||||||||||||||||
| actor/tv director Ivan Dixon played Sgt. James Kinchloe on Hogan's Heroes (1965-70) born on 4-6-1931 in New York, New York expired 3-16-2008 in Charlotte, North Carolina age 76 cause: hemorrhage
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| former Washington D.C. New York Avenue Presbyterian Church pastor Rev. George MacPherson Docherty he succeeded Rev. Peter Marshall as pastor of that church (just down the street from the White House); his 1954 sermon prompted legislation that resulted in the inclusion of "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance born on 5-9-1911 in Glasgow, Scotland expired 11-27-2008 in Alexandria, Pennsylvania age 97 | ||||||||||||||||||
| character actor Robert DoQui played Detroit Police officer Warren Reed in the first three RoboCop movies (1987, 1990 & 1993) & Noggra in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode Sons of Mogh (1996) born on --1934 in Stillwater, Oklahoma expired 2-9-2008 in Los Angeles, California age 73 | ||||||||||||||||||
| World War II bomber squadron leader Eric "Digger" Dowling shot down & put into Stalag Luft III; digger in tunnels "Tom", :Dick" & "Harry" for The Great Escape (3/24/1944) — he hated the movie born on 7-22-1915 in Glastonbury, Somerset, England expired 7-21-2008 in Stoke, Bishop, Bristol, England age 92 | ||||||||||||||||||
| folk singer Joseph Ronald "Ronnie" Drew born on 9-16-1934 in Dün Laoghaire, County Dublin, Ireland expired 8-16-2008 in Dublin, Ireland age 73 cause: throat cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
| character actor Maurice Dunster played a French cop in Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines; was Keifer Sutherland's personal assistant born on 9-23-1930 expired 9-12-2008 age cause: 77 | ||||||||||||||||||
| stand-up comedian & character actor Jack Eagle during the big band era played a trumpet; portrayed Brother Dominic in a famous 1977 Super Bowl commercial for Xerox born on 1-15-1926 in Brooklyn, New York, New York expired 1-10-2008 in New York, New York age 81 | ||||||||||||||||||
| retired Campbell's Soup product developer Kurt Eberling Sr. came up with the idea for Spaghetti-Os expired 3-6-2008 in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania age 77 cause: cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
1960s T&A "actress Julie Ege was 1962 Miss Norway (Miss Universe pageant); was the subject of a May 1967 Penthouse UK pictorial — "The Nudest Miss Norway"; appeared as one of Blofeld's henchwomen in the James Bond movie On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969); did a few more scantily clad roles, culminating in the Hammer Films cavegirl sendup When Heaving Bosoms Ruled the Earth (1972); eventually wound up working as a nurse
expired 4-29-2008 in Oslo, Norway age 64 cause: breast cancer; lung cancer
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| retired Zenith tv engineer (1948-97) Carl G. Eilers lead team that developed FM stereo broadcasting (1961), the main channel having L+R audio &Amp; employing a 19KHz "pilot" tone to indicate presence of a modulated 38KHz tone carrier of the L-R information, which when combined produces separate Left & Right audio channels — (L+R) + (L-R) = 2L and (L+R) - (L-R) = 2R; was the co-developer of multi-channel sound for NTSC television (stereo audio plus the SAP) born on 3-21-1925 in Fairbury, Illinois expired 6-20-2008 in River Forest, Illinois age 83 cause: heart attack | ||||||||||||||||||
cartoonist William Elder was a childhood friend of Bess Myerson; was one of the original cartoonists as MAD Magazine (1952); co-creator of Little Annie Fannie (October 1962) after the failure of the humor magazine Trump (only two issues were published: January & March 1957)
expired 5-15-2008 age | ||||||||||||||||||
| baseball pitcher Dock Phillip Ellis purportedly pitched a no-hitter while stoned on LSD born on 3-11-1945 in Los Angeles, California expired 12-19-2008 in Los Angeles, California age 63 cause: cirrhosis of the liver | ||||||||||||||||||
Playboy May 1955 & February 1956 Playmate of Month Diane Marguerite Empey daughter of Authur G. Empey
expired 8-19-2008 in Los Angeles, California age 76
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| writer Julius Fast brother of Howard Fast; won the first Edgar (Allen Poe) Award for Watchful at Night (1946) born on --1919 in Manhattan, New York, New York expired 12-16-2008 in Kingston, New York age 89 | ||||||||||||||||||
| former KGB head (1982-6) Vitaly Vasilyevich Fedorchuk born on --1918 in Ukraine, Russian Empire expired 2-29-2008 in Moscow, Russia age 89 | ||||||||||||||||||
"new-age" author Marilyn Ferguson wrote The Aquarian Conspiracy (1980)
expired 10-19-2008 in Banning, California age 70 cause: heart attack | ||||||||||||||||||
erratic chess champion Robert James "Bobby" Fischer arrested in Japan (7-13-2004) on outstanding warrant (played exhibition match in Yugoslavia in 1992, allegedly violating "international sanctions"); refused extradition to U.S., gained Icelandic citizenship & moved there
expired 1-17-2008 in Reykjavik, Iceland age 64 cause: kidney failure
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| modeling agency co-founder Gerard William "Jerry" Ford with wife launched the runway modeling agency (1946) born on 10-2-1924 in New Orleans, Louisana expired 8-24-2008 in Morristown, New Jersey age 83 cause: complications from Parkinson's disease | ||||||||||||||||||
one-time stripper & big-boob model Karen Ann Foxx quit the biz in 1992 & had her 44DDs removed
expired 1-1-2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada age 57 cause: heart failure; multiple sclerosis | ||||||||||||||||||
| dentist Aldred Louis Frank invented the "modern" root canal (1963) born on 7-17-1922 expired 1-16-2008 in Los Angeles, California age 85 cause: Alzheimer's disease | ||||||||||||||||||
| former UAW president (1977-83) Douglas Andrew Fraser was involved in the bail-out of Chrysler in the early 1980s born on 12-18-1916 in Glasgow, Scotland expired 2-23-2008 in Southfield, Michigan age 91 cause: empysema | ||||||||||||||||||
"pioneering" break dancer Wayne Frost appeared in Flashdance (1983)
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actor/playwright George Furth writer of "Company" (1970; 1971 Tony for Best Book-Musical); played railway agent Woodcock in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), Charlie Flagler in Myra Breckinridge (1971) & Van Johnson in Blazing Saddles (1974)
expired 8-11-2008 in Santa Monica, California age 75 cause: lung infection | ||||||||||||||||||
| virologist/pedophile Dr. Daniel Carleton Gajdusek shared the 1976 Nobel medicine prize; discovered the rare disease Kuru in the Fore Tribe of Papua, New Guinea (they eat their dead relatives); in their language Kuru means "shaking" or "shivering"; in 1997 plead guilty to child molestation — did his probation in Europe born on 9-9-1923 in Yonkers, New York expired 12-12-2008 in Tromso, Norway age 85 cause: congestive heart failure | ||||||||||||||||||
kid actor Alice Mae Gallagher appeared in the Our Gang movie shorts
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| former Whitesnake band guitarist Mel Galley born on 3-8-1948 in Cannock, Staffordshire, England expired 7-1-2008 in Heath Hayes, Staffordshire, England age 60 cause: cancer of the esophagus | ||||||||||||||||||
B-movie actress Beverly Garland widow of Fillmore Crank
expired 12-5-2008 in Hollywood Hills, California age 82 | ||||||||||||||||||
| former Marvel cartoonist Stephen Ross "Steve" Gerber created Howard the Duck; died awaiting lung transplant born on 9-20-1947 in Saint Louis, Missouri expired 2-10-2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada age 60 cause: pulmonary fibrosis | ||||||||||||||||||
| retired "composer" Irving Gertz scored such cinematic opuses as It Came From Outer Space (1953), The Creature Walks Among Us (1956), The Monolith Monsters (1957), The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957), The Deadly Mantis (1957), The Alligator People (1959), and tv episodes of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1964) & Land of the Giants (1968) born on 5-19-1915 in Providence, Rhode Island expired 11-14-2008 in Los Angeles, California age 93 | ||||||||||||||||||
| playwright William Gibson wrote The Miracle Worker for tv (1957), then as a Broadway play (1959) & Two for the See Saw (1958) born on 11-13-1914 in New York, New York expired 11-25-2008 in Stockbridge, Massachusetts age 94 | ||||||||||||||||||
| jazz clarinetist/saxophonist/arranger/composer James Peter "Jimmy" Giuffre born on 4-26-1921 in Dallas, Texas expired 4-24-2008 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts age 86 cause: pnemonia; Parkinson's disease | ||||||||||||||||||
| lawyer William R. Glendon argued the Pentagon Papers case before the Supreme Court on behalf of the Washington Post (won 6 to 3) born on --1919 in Medford, Massachusetts expired 12-25-2008 in White Plains, New York age 89 | ||||||||||||||||||
| juice purveryor Hyman Golden co-founder of the Unadulterated Food Products Co. (1972; with Leonard Marsh and Arnold Greenberg); they introduced Snapple (1980) and eventually changed the name of the company to Snapple Beverage Corporation; sold the company in the 1990s born on --1923 in Passaic, New Jersey expired 9-14-2008 in Great Neck, New York age 85 cause: complications from stroke | ||||||||||||||||||
| Gumby co-creator Ruth H. Parklander Clokey Goodell ex-wife of Paul Clokey; produced the Davy and Goliath animated show; was also a literature professor at Augstana College (Illinois) born on 9-12-1923 in Hallock, Minnesota expired 12-28-2008 in Los Osos, California age 85 cause: complications from Alzheimer's disease | ||||||||||||||||||
| comedienne/character actress Dolores "Dody" Goodman played the ditzi mother of Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman born on 10-28-1914 in Columbus, Ohio expired 6-22-2008 in Englewood, New Jersey age 93 | ||||||||||||||||||
| songwriter Alan Gordon (with Garry Bonner) wrote "Happy Together" (1967; hit for The Turtles) & "Celebrate" (1969; hit for Three Dog Night) born on 4-22-1944 in Natick, Massachusetts expired 11-22-2008 in Scottsdale, Arizona age 64 cause: cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
"swashbuckling" actor Stewart Granger
expired 8-16-2008 in Santa Monica, California age 95 cause: cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
| Life magazine photographer Allan Grant did last photo shoot of Marilyn Monroe (August 3, 1962) & took first pix of Marina Oswald after the JFK assassination (November 22, 1963) born on 10-23-1919 in New York, New York expired 2-1-2008 in Los Angeles, California age 88 cause: pneumonia; Parkinson's disease | ||||||||||||||||||
| L.A. media personality John "Johnny" Grant Jr. the Chamber of Commerce named him the honorary "mayor" of Hollywood, presiding over Walk of Fame ceremonies & drug store openings; he once dated Mamie Van Doren (back when she was still a nubile teenage Joan Olander) born on 5-9-1923 in Goldsboro, North Carolina expired 1-8-2008 in Hollywood, California age 84 | ||||||||||||||||||
| outdoorsman Claude Hamilton "Grits" Gresham Jr. was a field producer & host for The American Sportsman on ABC; for 26 years was the shooting editor of Sports Afield magazine; appeared in a number of Miller Lite beer commercials born on --1921 in Spartanburg County, South Carolina expired 2-18-2008 in Natchitoches, Louisiana age 86 | ||||||||||||||||||
| jazz tenor-saxophonist John Arnold "Johhny Griffin III born on 4-24-1928 in Chicago, Illinois expired 7-25-2008 in Availles-Limouzine, France age 80 | ||||||||||||||||||
| actor David Lawrence Groh played Rhoda Morgenstern's husband Joe Gerard on the Rhoda spinoff sitcom born on 5-21-1939 in Brooklyn, New York, New York expired 2-12-2008 in Los Angeles, California age 68 cause: kidney cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
conga (drum) master Tata Güines
expired 2-4-2008 in Havana, Cuba age 77 cause: kidney infection | ||||||||||||||||||
| role playing game pioneer Ernest Gary Gygax was co-creator of the Dungeons & Dragons game (1974) born on 7-27-1938 in Chicago, Illinois expired 3-4-2008 in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin age 69 cause: complications from abdominal aneurysm | ||||||||||||||||||
| pediatrician Dr. George Habash co-founder of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (1966) born on 8-2-1925 in Lydda, British Mandate Palestine (now Lod, Israel) expired 1-26-2008 in Amman, Jordan age 82 cause: heart attack
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| former Big Band trombonist & music arranger Earle H. Hagen composed "Harlem Nocture" (1939); also wrote the theme songs for numerous tv series, including The Andy Griffith Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, I Spy, That Girl, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., The Mod Squad & The Danny Thomas Show/Make Room For Daddy (a big band arrangement of "Londonderry Air") born on 7-9-1919 in Chicago, Illinois expired 5-26-2008 in Rancho Mirage, California age 88 | ||||||||||||||||||
big band singer Connie Haines she is survived by her 109 year old mother
expired 9-25-2008 in Clearwater, Florida age 87 cause: myasthenia gravis | ||||||||||||||||||
Broadway/tv actor Larry Haines played Stu Bergman for most of the run of the Search for Tomorrow tv soap opera (1951-86)
expired 7-17-2008 in Delray Beach, Florida age | ||||||||||||||||||
nut-job polygamist Robert Alan Hale a convicted rapist/pervert (boinked a bunch of pre-pubescent girls)
expired 5-24-2008 in Anchorage, Alaska age 67 cause: cirrhosis, diabetes
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nut-job polygamist Robert Allen Hale a convicted rapist/pervert (boinked a bunch of pre-pubescent girls)
expired 5-24-2008 in Anchorage, Alaska age 67 cause: cirrhosis, diabetes
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| retired GE research chemist Dr. Howard Tracy Hall a principal figure in the creation of artificial diamonds (February 1955) born on 10-20-1919 in Ogden, Utah expired 7-25-2008 in Provo, Utah age 88 cause: Alzheimer's disease; diabetes | ||||||||||||||||||
| character actor Bernard "Bernie" Hamilton brother of jazz drummer Chico Hamilton; played Captain Dobey on Starsky and Hutch tv cop drama (1975-9) born on 6-12-1928 in Los Angeles, California expired 12-30-2008 in Los Angeles, California age 80 cause: cardiac arrest | ||||||||||||||||||
| restauranteur Wilber Hardee opened the first Hardee's burger palace in his home town of Greenville, North Carolina (1960) expired 6-20-2008 in Greenville, Pitt County, North Carolina age 89 | ||||||||||||||||||
ship's master Yossi Harel commander of the ship Exodus 1947 that attempted to bring concentration camp survivors to Palestine; on July 18, 1947 the ship was violently turned away from Haifa (3 killed & hundreds injured) with the passengers taken by the British to a former Nazi SS camp near Hamburg; it was a public relations disaster for the British and lead the fledgling UN to create the State of Israel the following May; the book Exodus (1958) was inspired by the events
expired 4-26-2008 in Tel Aviv, Israel age 90 cause: heart attack | ||||||||||||||||||
tv clown Larry Harmon second person to portray Bozo the Clown; eventually bought up all rights to the character
expired 7-3-2008 in Los Angeles, California age 83 cause: congestive heart failure | ||||||||||||||||||
| one-time A&P heir George Huntington Hartford II grandson/nephew of the A&P founders; blew most of his wealth on bad artsie-fartsie drech born on 4-18-1911 in New York, New York expired 5-19-2008 in Lyford Cay, Nassau, Bahamas age 97 | ||||||||||||||||||
| former Texas Western (now UTEP) basketball coach (1961-99) Donald Lee Haskins his 1966 team won the NCAA basketball tournament born on 3-14-1930 in Enid, Oklahoma expired 9-7-2008 in El Paso, Texas age 78 | ||||||||||||||||||
| singer/songwriter/musician Isaac Lee Hayes Jr. wrote the Theme from Shaft (1971) born on 8-20-1942 in Covington, Tennessee expired 8-10-2008 in East Memphis, Tennessee age 65 cause: heart attack | ||||||||||||||||||
rock band performer/songwriter Robert Hazard wrote Girls Just Want To Have Fun
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| movie/tv music composer Neal Paul Hefti composed the Odd Couple & tv Batman theme & movie soundtrack for How to Murder Your Wife born on 10-29-1922 in Hastings, Nebraska expired 10-11-2008 in Toluca Lake, California age 85 cause: heart attack | ||||||||||||||||||
| journalist, sportswrite, author Wilfred Charles Heinz co-wrote the novel M*A*S*H (published 1968 under pen name Richard Hooker) born on 1-11-1915 in Mount Vernon, New York expired 2-27-2008 in Barington, VErmont age 93 | ||||||||||||||||||
| nuclear physicist Dr. Robert Linton Hellens while working for a Westinghouse division helped design the nuclear reactor for The Nautilus submarine born on 8-4-1925 in Fall River, Massachusetts expired 1-28-2008 in Boothbay Harbor, Maine age 82 cause: Wegener's disease | ||||||||||||||||||
| tv director Dwight Arlington Hemion won a bunch of Emmy awards (18) born on 3-14-1926 in New Haven, Connecticut expired 1-28-2008 in Rectortown, Virginia age 81 cause: renal failure | ||||||||||||||||||
last living Brown et al. v. Board of Education plaintiff Zelma Cleota Henderson
expired 5-20-2008 in Topeka, Kansas age 88 cause: pancreatic cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
| former race car driver Philip Toll "Phil" Hill born on 4-20-1927 in Miami, Florida expired 8-28-2008 age 81 cause: complications from Parkinson's disease; multiple systems atrophy | ||||||||||||||||||
| mystery writer Anthony Grove "Tony" Hillerman author of Skinwalkers (1986) born on 5-27-1925 in Sacred HEart, Oklahoma expired 10-26-2008 in Albuquerque, New Mexico age 83 cause: pulmonary failure; circulatory disease; cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
| baseball Hall-of-Fame sportswriter Jerome Holtzman worked for a bunch of Chicago newspapers: the Times, it's successor the Sun-Times & the Chicago Tribune; came up with the "save" statistic (1959; adopted by major league baseball in 1969) born on 7-12-1926 in Chicago, Illinois expired 7-19-2008 in Evanston, Illinois age 82 cause: stroke | ||||||||||||||||||
| former Chinese Communist Party chairman (1976-81) Hua Kuo-feng succeeded Mao; was Chinese prime minister (1976-80) born on 2-16-1921 in Jiaocheng, Shanxi province, China expired 8-20-2008 in Beijing, China age 87
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| jazz trumpter Frederick Dewayne "Freddie" Hubbard born on 4-7-1938 in Indianapolis, Indiana expired 12-29-2008 in Sherman Oaks, California age 70 cause: complications from heart attack | ||||||||||||||||||
| former New York Herald Tribune Hollywood columnist (1951-64) Joe Hyams wrote biographies on Humphrey Bogart & James Dean; big on the martial arts he wrote Zen and the Martial Arts; at one time had been married to Elke Sommer born on 6-6-1923 in Cambridge, Massachusetts expired 11-8-2008 in Denver, Colorado age 85 cause: coronary artery disease | ||||||||||||||||||
| R&B singer Pervis Jackson sang bass for The Spinners born on 5-17-1938 in New Orleans, Louisiana expired 8-18-2008 in Detroit, Michigan age 70 cause: cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
| former KTVU-tv reporter/anchor/news director Raymond Jacobs as a World War II Marine radio operator appeared in Lou Lowery's photo of the first flag raising on Mt. Suribachi expired 1-29-2008 in Redding, California age 82 | ||||||||||||||||||
| World War II aviator, P.O.W. & escape artist Bertram Arthur "Jimmy" James on the night of March 24, 1944 was part of the "Great Escape" from Luft Stalag III — he was recaptured and sent to a concentration camp (from which he also escaped but was recaptured) expired 1-18-2008 in Shrewsbury, England age 92 | ||||||||||||||||||
former James Industries owner Betty M. James retired and sold the business to POOF in 1998; her husband invented the Slinky toy (1943) - she named it
expired 11-20-2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania age 90 cause: congestive heart failure
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| retired Bell Labs electrical engineer Amos Edward Joel Jr. invented the switching technology that permits cell phones to move tower-to-tower without the call being dropped (1972) born on 3-12-1918 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania expired 10-25-2008 in Maplewood, New Jersey age 90 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Charles Harris Joffe partnered with Jack Rollins; produced Annie Hall born on 7-16-1929 in Brooklyn, New York, New York expired 7-9-2008 in Los Angeles, California age 78 cause: lung disease | ||||||||||||||||||
| retired Disney animator Oliver Martin "Ollie" Johnston Jr. born on the Stanford University campus (his father was a professor); animated Pinnochio, designed the characters Bambi & Thumper + the penguin waiters in Mary Poppins (1964); was also a train enthusiast; received the National Medal of Arts (2005) born on 10-31-1912 in Palo Alto, California expired 4-14-2008 in Sequin, Washington age 95 | ||||||||||||||||||
| doo-wop balladeer George "Wydell" Jones wrote & performed Rama Lama Ding Dong as a member of The Edsels (1961) born on 10-5-1936 in Richmond, Virginia expired 9-27-2008 in Youngstown, Ohio age 71 cause: cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
| Star Trek producer Robert Harris Justman was the assistant director on the Mickey Mouse Club born on 7-13-1926 in Brooklyn, New York, New York expired 5-28-2008 in Los Angeles, California age 81 cause: complications from Parkinson's disease | ||||||||||||||||||
| character actor Stanley Kamel played crackpot warp propulsion "expert" Kosinski on Star Trek: TNG episode Where No One Has Gone Before & Adrian Monk's psychiatrist Dr. Charles Kroger on Monk cable comedy born on 1-1-1943 in New Brunswick, New Jersey expired 4-8-2008 in Hollywood Hills, California age 65 cause: heart attack | ||||||||||||||||||
| Wayne State University cardiac surgeon & teacher Dr. Adrian Kantrowitz performed the first human heart transplant in the U.A. born on 10-4-1918 in New York, New York expired 11-14-2008 in Ann Arbor, michigan age 90 cause: complications from heart failure | ||||||||||||||||||
| burger seller Carl Nicholas Karcher founder of Carl's Jr. restaurant chain (1950) born on 1-16-1917 in Upper Sandusky, Ohio expired 1-11-2008 in Fullerton, California age 90 cause: pneumonia; Parkinson's disease | ||||||||||||||||||
| retired Engelhard Industries chemist Carl Donald Kieth co-inventor of the 3-way catalytic converter used in most of the world's automobiles born on 5-29-1920 in Stewart Creek, West Virginia expired 11-9-2008 in New Bern, North Carolina age 88 | ||||||||||||||||||
| familiar character actor Kim Chan played Mr. Kim in The Fifth Element born on 12-28-1917 in Canton Province, China (now Guangdong Province) expired 10-5-2008 in Brooklyn, New York, New York age 91 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Baker College (Owosso) associate Dean of Education Toni M. Kneiding born on --1973 expired 9-7-2008 in Straits of Mackinac, Michigan age 34 cause: suicide; jumped from Mackinac Bridge | ||||||||||||||||||
| Wham-O co-founder (1948) Richard P. Knerr born on 6-30-1925 in San Gabriel, California expired 1-14-2008 in Arcadia, California age 82 cause: stroke | ||||||||||||||||||
"Classic-era" pro wrassler (1947-77) (Wladek) Walter "Killer" Kowalski
expired 8-29-2008 in Malden, Massachusetts age 81 cause: complications from heart attack | ||||||||||||||||||
| World War I soldier Franz Künstler had been the last surviving member of the Austro-Hungarian army born on 7-24-1900 in Soost, Kingdom of Hungary, Austro-Hungarian Empire expired 5-27-2008 in Niederstetten, Baden-Württemberg, Germany age 107 | ||||||||||||||||||
| one-time audio engineer Donald L. LaFontaine was the famous movie trailer announcer — "In a world where dead pools reign, one announcer's demise passes un-scored-upon." born on 8-26-1940 in Duluth, Minnesota expired 9-1-2008 in Los Angeles, California age 68 cause: complications from pulmonary embolism & collapsed lung | ||||||||||||||||||
| Holocaust survivor & California congressman (1981-2007) Thomas Peter "Tom" Lantos as a teenager escaped from Nazi concentration camps & was sheltered by Raoul Wallenberg born on 2-1-1928 in Budapest, Hungary expired 2-11-2008 in Bethesda, Maryland age 80 cause: cancer of the esophagus | ||||||||||||||||||
| hard-up for work method actor John Larson his rigid perfectionism is said to have enhanced his stiffly wooden performance playing Smilin' Bob, the priapatic herbal supplement shill in the Enzyte commercials (this towering achievement was overshadowed by his being shafted out of his performance residuals when they got busted by the Feds?); if he had been convicted of being part of the conspiracy to defraud he could have served hard time expired 6-12-2009 in Martinique (nearby) age ?? cause: drowned; boating accident | ||||||||||||||||||
| actor John Phillip Law played the deflowered angel Pygar in Barbarella (1968) & had the title role in Diabolik (1968) born on 9-7-1937 in Hollywood, California expired 5-14-2008 in Los Angeles, California age 70 | ||||||||||||||||||
| tv producer Ron Leavitt (with Michael G. Moye) was co-creator of Married, With Children sitcom expired 2-10-2008 in Los Angeles, California age 60 cause: lung cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
| molecular biologist Joshua Lederberg shared the 1958 Nobel prize in medicine born on 5-23-1925 in Montclair, New Jersey expired 2-2-2008 in Manhattan, New York, New York age 82 cause: pnemonia | ||||||||||||||||||
| actor Heath Andrew Ledger appeared in The Patriot, Monster's Ball & Brokeback Mountain born on 4-4-1979 in Perth, Western Australia, Australia expired 1-22-2008 in Manhattan, New York, New York age 28 cause: sleeping pill overdose??; pneumonia | ||||||||||||||||||
"easy-listening" orchestra leader Raymond Lefèvre had 1968 instrumental hit with Ame Câline (Soul Coaxing)
expired 6-27-2008 in Seine-Port, France age 78 | ||||||||||||||||||
| retired Baptist minister Lynn Thomas Lemon was one of the investors in Grave Robbers from Outer Space (1958; title later changed to Plan 9 ...) — in it he played the minister that officiated at the funeral of Inspector Daniel Clay (portrayed by G.D. Spradlin in Tim Burton's 1994 biopic of Ed Wood); reprised role in Invasion of the Bee Girls (1973) born on 4-23-1917 in New York, New York expired 1-15-2008 in Bedford, Texas age 90 | ||||||||||||||||||
| bassist, bandleader, composer Israel "Cachao" López creator of the Mambo (1939; with brother Orestes) born on 9-14-1918 in Havana, Cuba expired 3-22-2008 in Coral Gables, Florida age 89 | ||||||||||||||||||
| character actor Perry Lopez played Lt. Rodriguez in original Star Trek series episode Shore Leave (1966) and Lt./Capt. Escobar in Chinatown & The Two Jakes born on 7-22-1931 in New York, New York expired 2-14-2008 age 78 cause: lung cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
mathematician & former MIT professor of meteorology Dr. Edward Norton Lorenz author of "The Nature and Theory of the General Circulation of the Atmosphere" (1967); recipient of the Crafoord Prize (1983) & the Kyoto Prize (1991); discovered the notion of the strange attractor; did pioneering work in deterministic chaos inthe 1960s — where small effects lead to big changes (the so-called butterfly effect)
expired 4-16-2008 in Cambridge, Massachusetts age 90 cause: cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
| full-body puppet designer Kermit Ernest Hollingshead Love designed/constructed Big Bird for Sesame Street (where he also played Willy the Hot Dog Man) born on 8-7-1916 in Spring Lake, New Jersey expired 6-21-2008 in Poughkeepsie, New York age 91 cause: congestive heart failure | ||||||||||||||||||
civil rights litigant Mildred Delores Loving with husband was convicted of violating Virginia's anti-miscegenation laws (1959); in Loving et ux. v. Virginia the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that such laws were unconstitutional insomuch as they deprived individuals of a basic human right (ruling: June 12, 1967)
expired 5-2-2008 in Milford, Virginia age 68 cause: pneumonia | ||||||||||||||||||
| Shuttle STS-32, 43 & 57 astronaut George David Low born on 2-19-1956 in Cleveland, Ohio expired 3-16-2008 age 52 cause: colon cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
| Robert Lucas one-time front man for the band Canned Heat born on --1962 expired 11-23-2008 in Long Beach, California age 46 cause: drug overdose | ||||||||||||||||||
| jazz musician & broadcast presenter Humphrey Richard Adeane Lyttelton born on 5-23-1921 in Eton, Berkshire, England expired 4-25-2008 in Barnet, Hertfordshire, England age 86 cause: comlications following surgery; aortic aneurysm | ||||||||||||||||||
| former FBI agent Robert Aime Maheu was Howard Hughes' top aide until he was fired (1966-December 1970) born on 10-30-1917 in Waterville, Maine expired 8-4-2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada age 90 cause: congestive heart failure; cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
| folk singer Miriam Zenzi Makeba had been married to Stokely Carmichael & Hugh Masekela; had modest hits with Pata Pata, Malaika & Qongqothwane ("The Click Song") born on 3-4-1932 in Johannesburg, South Africa expired 11-9-2008 in Castel Volturno, Italy age 76 | ||||||||||||||||||
| kid actor Robert "Bobby" Mallon appeared in the Our Gang movie shorts (1926-32) born on 4-7-1919 expired 9-10-2008 in Simi Valley, California age 89 | ||||||||||||||||||
| character actor Peter John Mamakos played El Broho on The Adventures of Kit Carson tv series (1951-54), Jean Lafitte on The Adventures of Jim Bowie tv series & Absorba the Greek on My Mother the Car (1966) born on 12-14-1918 in Somerville, Massachusetts expired 4-27-2008 in Raso Robles, California age 89 | ||||||||||||||||||
screenwriter Abby Mann won Best adapted screnplay oscar for Judgement at Nuremberg (based upon his own 1959 original teleplay for Playhouse 90); also wrote The Marcus-Nelson Murders (1973) which became the basis for the Kojak tv series
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| mathematician Henri Paul Marsac born on 7-8-1904 in Nancy, France expired 8-13-2008 in Paris, Île-de-France, France age 104 | ||||||||||||||||||
Columbian terrorist/guerrilla leader Manuel Marulanda Vélez headed the "Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia" (Farc)
expired 3-26-2008 in Columbia age 79 cause: heart failure | ||||||||||||||||||
| fashion designer Yves Henri Donat Mathieu-Saint-Laurent born on 8-1-1936 in Oran, French Colonial Algeria expired 6-1-2008 in Paris, Île-de-France, France age 71 cause: brain cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
comedian/actor Bernard Jeffery McCullough had his own tv show; has appeared in such movies as Booty Call (1997) & Bad Santa (2003)
expired 8-9-2008 in Chicago, Illinois age 50 cause: pneumonia; sarcoidosis | ||||||||||||||||||
last American Lusitania survivor Barbara Winifred McDermott
expired 4-12-2008 in Wallingford, Connecticut age 95 | ||||||||||||||||||
| crime novelist Gregory Burke Christopher Mcdonald a former Boston Globe reporter & editor; two-time Edgar Award winner for books about his created character Irwin Maurice Fletcher ("Fletch" — no relation to Jessica Fletcher) born on 2-15-1937 in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts expired 9-7-2008 in Pulaski, Tennessee age 71 cause: prostate cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
| kid actor Thomas "Bud" McDonald appeared in the Our Gang movie shorts (1929-31) as Buddy born on 10-1-1922 in Coalinga, California expired 9-25-2008 in Seal Beach, California age 85 cause: congestive heart failure | ||||||||||||||||||
| jazz organist James Harrell "Jimmy" McGriff born on 4-3-1936 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania expired 5-24-2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania age 72 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Monster.com founder (1999) Andrew J. McKelvey got caught backdating stock options - forced out of the company & paid fines born on 10-13-1934 in New York, New York expired 11-27-2008 in Manhattan, New York, New York age 74 cause: pancreatic cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
Dr. Victor Almon McKusick founder of the Johns Hopkins medical genetics department; recipient of the 1997 Lasker Award for Special Achievement in Medical Science; 1st to propose mapping of the human genome
expired 7-22-2008 in Baltimore, Maryland age 86 cause: cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
Texas death row inmate Jose Ernesto Medellin
expired 8-5-2008 in Huntsville, Texas age 33 cause: executed; lethal injection
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| animator José Cuauhtémoc "Bill" Meléndez animated the Peanuts tv cartoons; povided the voice of Snoopy & Woodstock born on 11-15-1916 in Hermosilla, Sonora, Mexico expired 9-2-2008 in Santa Monica, California age 91
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| soccer player & sometime movie actor Breno Mello had the title role in Orfeu Negro (Black Orpheus; 1959) born on 9-7-1931 in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil expired 7-11-2008 in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil age 76 cause: heart attack | ||||||||||||||||||
| character actor Allan Melvin appeared on Broadway in the original cast of Stalag 17 as Reed (1951-2); played Cpl. Henshaw on The Phil Silvers Show as Sgt. Bilko's right-hand man & was Archie Bunker's neighbor & friend Barney on All In The Family born on 2-18-1923 in Kansas City, Missouri expired 1-17-2008 in Brentwood, Los Angeles, California age 84 cause: cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
| actress Gypsy Marpessa Dawn Menor played role of Eurydice in Orfeu Negro (Black Orpheus; 1959) born on 1-3-1934 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (near) expired 8-25-2008 in Paris age 72 cause: heart attack | ||||||||||||||||||
| blues singer & actress Mary Ruth "Mae" Mercer appeared in The Beguiled & Dirty Harry born on 6-12-1932 in Battleboro, North Carolina expired 10-29-2008 in Northridge, California age 76 cause: stroke | ||||||||||||||||||
| former Ohio Senator (1975-95) Howard Morton Metzenbaum co-founded APCOA, the overpriced airport parking company born on 6-4-1917 in Cleveland, Ohio expired 3-12-2008 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida (nearby) age 90
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| drummer George "Buddy" Miles Jr. played with Jimi Hendrix, Ruby & the Romantics, the Delfonics and The Band of Gypsys; did the California Raisins commercials born on 9-5-1947 in North Omaha, Nebraska expired 2-26-2008 in Austin, Texas age 60 | ||||||||||||||||||
| movie director Anthony Minghella directed The English Patient (1996; Best Director oscar) & Cold Mountain (2003) born on 1-6-1954 in Ryde, Isle of Wight, England expired 3-18-2008 in London, England age 54 cause: hemorrhage; complications from tonsil cancer surgery | ||||||||||||||||||
| Jimi Hendrix Experience drummer John "Mitch" Mitchell born on 7-9-1947 in Ealing, Middlesex, England expired 11-12-2008 in Portland, Oregon age 61 | ||||||||||||||||||
| David Mitton a co-creator of the Thomas the Tank Engine kiddie tv series (1984) expired 5-16-2008 in London, England age 69 cause: heart attack | ||||||||||||||||||
| Napa Valley vintner Robert Gerald Mondavi born on 6-18-1913 in Virginia, Minnesota expired 5-16-2008 in Yountville, California age 94 | ||||||||||||||||||
Warith Deen Mohammed son of Elijah Muhammed, succeeding daddy as the head of the "family business"
expired 9-9-2008 in Chicago, Illinois age 74 | ||||||||||||||||||
| professional golfer Orville Moody won the 1969 U.S. Open expired 8-8-2008 in Sulphur Springs, Texas age 74 cause: complications from multiple myeloma | ||||||||||||||||||
| comics artist James Hoel "Jim" Mooney worked on Supergirl, Spider-man, Batman, The Hulk, ...; his sister Julia had been a Ziegfeld Girl born on --1919 expired 3-29-2008 in Port Salerno, Florida age 88 | ||||||||||||||||||
author Robin Moore wrote The Green Berets (1965), The French Connection (1969) & co-wrote The Happy Hooker (1972); also co-wrote lyrics to the song The Ballad of the Green Berets (1966)
expired 2-21-2008 in Hopkinsville, Kentucky age 82 | ||||||||||||||||||
actor Barry Morse played Lt. Philip Gerard on original The Fugitive tv series
expired 2-2-2008 in London, England age 89 cause: stroke | ||||||||||||||||||
| philanthropist Stewart Rawlings Mott son of Charles born on 12-4-1937 in Flint, Michigan expired 6-12-2008 in Mount Kisco, New York age 70 cause: cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
| murderous Hezbollah terrorist Imad Mughniyeh mastermind behind U.S. Embassy bombing in Beirut; hijacked TWA flight 847 in 1985 — murdered U.S. Navy diver Robert Stetham born on 12-7-1967 in Tair Debba, Lebanon expired 2-12-2008 in Damascus, Syria age 40 cause: car bomb | ||||||||||||||||||
| movie director Robert Mulligan directed Fear Strikes Out (1957), To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) & Summer of '42 (1971) born on 8-23-1925 in The Bronx, New York, New York expired 12-20-2008 in Lyme, Connecticut age 83 cause: heart disease | ||||||||||||||||||
| pharmacist Colin Albert Murdoch invented the disposable syringe (1956), the animal tranquilizer gun/dart (10159), the silent burglar alarm (1966) & the childproof medicine bottle (1976) born on 2-6-1929 in Christchurch, New Zealand expired 5-4-2008 age 79 cause: cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
| Zambian president Levy Patrick Mwanawasa born on 9-3-1948 in Muflira, Norther Rhodesia expired 8-19-2008 in Clamart, Île-de-France, France age 59 cause: complications from stroke | ||||||||||||||||||
| original 1960 Video Village emcee Jack Narz was host of the Dotto game show when the game show fixing scandal hit (he knew nothing); also narrated Superman and the Mole Men (1951) & Space Patrol (1950- ); brother of Tom Kennedy; brother- born on 11-13-1922 in Louisville, Kentucky expired 10-15-2008 in Beverly Hills, California age 85 cause: complications from strokes
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| purported scoundrel Ibrahim Nasir Rannabandeyri Kilegefan was the first president of the Maldives (1968-78); resigned and fled to Singapore just ahead of the constabulary born on 9-2-1926 in Fuvammulah, Maldives (British protectorate) expired 11-22-2008 in Singapore age 82 cause: kidney failure | ||||||||||||||||||
| R&B singer/songwriter/musician Earl Lee Nelson co-wrote "Harlem Shuffle" (1963; produced by Barry White); recorded The Duck (1965) & The Chicken (1970) under the pseudonym "Jackie Lee" born on 9-8-1928 in Lake Charles, Louisiana expired 7-12-2008 in Los Angeles, California age 79 cause: Alzheimer's disease | ||||||||||||||||||
| retired Quaker Oats Co. nutritionist Dr. Robert O. Nesheim led teams that created the Capt'n Crunch & Life breakfast cereals born on --1921 in Monroe Center, Illinois expired 7-19-2008 in Monterey, California age 86 cause: cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
| pistol-packin' momma Ellie Nesler shot pedophile Daniel Mark Driver (accused of molesting her son) in Jamestown, California courtroom April 2, 1993 — 6 shots to the head born on --1952 expired 12-26-2008 in Davis, California age 56 cause: breast cancer
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actress Lois Nettleton was Miss Chicago of 1948 and a semi-finalist in the 1948 Miss America pageant
expired 1-18-2008 in Woodland Hills, California age 78 cause: lung cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
| retired basketball coach Peter Francis Newell Sr. coached at USF (1946-49) where he won the NIT, MSU (1950-53), Cal (1954-60) where he won the NCAA Tournament & coached the gold medal-winning 1960 U.S. Olympic basketball team; as a child actor appeared in some early silent Our Gang shorts (1920s) born on 8-3-1915 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada expired 11-17-2008 in Rancho Santa Fe, California age 93
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retired Indiana University professor of Tibetan language & culture Thubten Jigme Norbu eldest brother of the Dali Lama; recognized as the reincarnation of lama Takster Rinpoche; date of birth also described as the 16th day of the eighth month of the Water Dog year
expired 9-5-2008 in Bloomington, Indiana age 86 | ||||||||||||||||||
| adrenoleukodystrophy victim Lorenzo Odone his mom & dad came up with an "oil" that they claimed kept him alive; subject of 1992 movie born on 5-29-1978 expired 5-30-2008 in Fairfax County, Virginia age 30 cause: aspiration pneumonia | ||||||||||||||||||
| George Emil Palade shared the 1974 Nobel prize in medicine born on 11-19-1912 in Iaşi, Moldavia, Roumania, Austria-Hungary expired 10-8-2008 in San Diego, California age 95
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former CBS reporter (1967-87) Icarus Nestor "Ike" Pappas was broadcasting live in the basement of the Dallas Police Department when Jack Ruby pushed passed him and shot Lee Harvey Oswald (Nov. 1963)
expired 8-31-2008 in Arlington, Virginia age 75 cause: heart failure; heart disease | ||||||||||||||||||
| Shuttle STS-35 & 67 astronaut Ronald Anthony "Ron" Parise born on 5-24-1951 in Warren, Ohio expired 5-9-2008 age 56 cause: brain tumor; cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
| convicted pedophile Kenneth Eugene Parnell 1972 kidnapper of Stephen Stayner; busted January 2003 for trying to "buy" a young male born on 9-26-1931 in Amarillo, Texas expired 1-21-2008 in Vacaville, California age 72 cause: cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
character actor Michael Pate
expired 9-1-2008 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia age 88 | ||||||||||||||||||
| film & theater producer Eugene Clair Persson with Arthur Whitelaw was co-creator/producer of You're a Good Man Charlie Brown stage show (1967); as a child actor portrayed several of the offspring of Ma & Pa Kettle in movies born on 1-12-1934 in Long Beach, California expired 6-6-2008 in Manhattan, New York, New York age 74 cause: heart attack | ||||||||||||||||||
| tv character actor Robert House Peters Jr. was the first to portray Mr. Clean in television commercials born on 1-12-1916 in New Rochelle, New York expired 9-24-2008 in Woodland Hills, California age 92 cause: pneumonia | ||||||||||||||||||
| Santa Barbara, CA MacDonald's franchisee Herb Peterson invented the Egg McMuffin breakfast sandwich (1971; introduced in restaurants in 1972) born on --1918 expired 3-25-2008 in Santa Barbara, California age 89 | ||||||||||||||||||
| tv director Joseph Pevney directed some of the most memorable original series Star Trek episodes: Amok Time, The City on the Edge of Forever, Devil in the Dark, Wolf in the Fold & The Trouble With Tribbles born on 9-15-1911 in Manhattan, New York, New York expired 5-18-2008 in Palm Desert, California age 96 | ||||||||||||||||||
actress Kate Phillips appeared in five Charlie Chan movies; co-wrote the screenplay for The Blob (1958); more recently taught acting & screen writing at Keene State College
expired 4-18-2008 in Keene, New Hampshire age 94 | ||||||||||||||||||
| aeronautical engineer Frank Nicholas Piasecki founder of Piasecki Aircraft Corp.; flew the second successful helicopter in the U.S.. the PV-2; holder of the first helicopter pilots license; built the first viable tandem-rotor helicopter (1945) — it led to the development of the Chinook cargo helicopter (or, as we called them in 'nam, the "shit-hook"); created the Holi-Stat, a 343 foot long Frankenstein monstrosity made from a helium blimp and four surplus Sikorsky helicopters; ironically, in 1986 it crashed at Lakehurst Naval Air Station with one fatality (the pilot) born on 10-24-1919 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania expired 2-11-2008 in Havertown, Pennsylvania age 88 cause: complications from strokes | ||||||||||||||||||
| insurance salesman Ralph Summers Plaisted lead a team to the North Pole on snowmobiles — became the first undisputed people to reach the pole over the ice (April 19, 1968) born on --1928 in Bruno, Minnesota expired 9-8-2008 in Wyoming, Minnesota age 80 cause: heart attack | ||||||||||||||||||
| real Killing Fields survivor Dith Pran was an aide to Sydney Schanberg in Cambodia before the Khmer Rouge holocaust; became a New York Times photojournalist; credited with coining the term "killing fields" born on 9-27-1942 in Angkor Wat, Siem Riap Province, Cambodia expired 3-30-2008 in New Brunswick, New Jersey age 65 cause: pancreatic cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
character actor Robert Prosky on Hill Street Blues played desk seargant Stan Jablonski & on Cheers played Rebecca Howe's father
expired 12-8-2008 in Washington, District of Columbia age 77 cause: complications from a heart procedure | ||||||||||||||||||
gospel singer/songwriter Joyce Reba "Dottie" Rambo
expired 5-11-2008 in Mount Vernon, Missouri (nearby) age 74 cause: tour bus accident | ||||||||||||||||||
pop artist Robert Rauschenberg
expired 5-12-2008 in Captiva, Florida age 82 cause: heart failure | ||||||||||||||||||
country singer/actor Jerry Reed played Cledus Snow in the Smokey and the Bandit movies; had musical hits with "Eastbound and Down", "When You're Hot, You're Hot" & "The Bird"
expired 9-1-2008 age 71 cause: emphysema
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| longtime NBC staff announcer (1952-2005) Howard Reig was announcer for the NBC Nightly News (1983-2007) & Meet the Press born on 5-31-1921 in New York, New York expired 11-12-2008 in Venice, Florida age 87 | ||||||||||||||||||
Meathead's mom Estelle Reiner wife of Carl; appeared in a number of movies — her most memorable appearance being in When Harry Met Sally where she delivered the line "I'll have what she's having."; was the model for the Laura Petrie character on the Dick Van Dyke Show (created by her husband)
expired 10-28-2008 in Beverly Hills, California age 94 | ||||||||||||||||||
| former kid actor turned adult junkie Bradley Barron Renfro was into it all: booze, marijuana, cocaine, heroine, methadone, ...; once busted for trying to steal a boat — he was too stupid (or smashed) to remember to untie it before trying to pull away from the dock born on 7-25-1982 in Knoxville, Tennessee expired 1-15-2008 in Los Angeles, California age 25 | ||||||||||||||||||
| cinematographer Gayne Rescher shot Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) & A Bunny's Tale (1985) born on --1925 expired 2-29-2008 in Gig Harbor, Washington age 83 | ||||||||||||||||||
| folk balladeer Nicholas Wells "Nick" Reynolds partnered with Dave Guard & Bob Shane to form the Kingston Trio; left the group in 1967; had a hit with Tom Dooley (1958) born on 7-27-1933 in Coronado, California expired 9-24-2008 in San Diego, California age 75 cause: removed from life support; acute respiratory disease | ||||||||||||||||||
Russian Orthodox Church patriarch (1990-2008) Alexiy Ridiger
expired 12-5-2008 in Peredelkino, Russia age 79 cause: heart failure | ||||||||||||||||||
| advertising executive Hal Patrick Riney created the "It's morning in America" ads for Reagan's 1984 re-election campaign, the Bartles & Jaymes wine cooler ads for Gallo and the Swedish Bikini Team ads for Old Milwaukee beer born on 7-17-1932 in Seattle, Washington expired 3-24-2008 in San Francisco, California age 75 cause: cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
| Baskin-Robbins co-founder (1945) Irvine Robbins born on 12-6-1917 in Winnepeg, Manitoba, Canada expired 5-5-2008 in Rancho Mirage, California age 90 | ||||||||||||||||||
Gene Roddenberry's widow Majel Barrett Roddenberry played lots of characters on the Star Trek tv series & movies; played Lumpy's sister on Leave It To Beaver
expired 12-18-2008 in Bel-Air, California age 76 cause: leukemia
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| recaptured Texas prison escapee Anthony Michael Rodriguez born on 10-29-1962 expired 8-14-2008 in Huntsville, Texas age 45 cause: executed; lethal injection
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| "Boys of Summer" pitcher Elwin Charles "Preacher" Roe was an All-Star pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers; an accomplished spitballer born on 2-26-1916 in Ash Flat, Arkansas expired 11-9-2008 in West Plains, Missouri age 92 cause: complications from colon surgery | ||||||||||||||||||
| film/tv composer Leonard Rosenman won two Best Adapted Score Barry Lyndon (1975) & Bound For Glory (1976); also scored Fantastic Voyage (1966), Cross Creek (1983) & Star Trek IV:
The Voyage Home (1986) born on 9-7-1924 in Brooklyn, New York, New York expired 3-4-2008 in Woodland Hills, California age 83 cause: heart attack | ||||||||||||||||||
| vintage bodybuilder Clarence "Clancy" Ross was the 1945 amateur Mr. America, 1946 professional Mr. America, 1948 Mr. USA & 1953 Mr. World born on 10-26-1923 in Oakland, California expired 4-30-2008 in Concord, California age 84 | ||||||||||||||||||
| former bodybuilder Raymond Routledge was the AAU Mr. America and Amateur Mr. Universe in 1961 born on 10-9-1931 expired 11-12-2008 in San Bernardino, California age 77 | ||||||||||||||||||
| NBC political yakker Timothy John Russert Jr. moderator of Meet the Press (1991-2008) born on 5-7-1950 in Buffalo, New York expired 6-13-2008 in Washington, District of Columbia age 58 cause: heart attack | ||||||||||||||||||
| aeronatical engineer Anthony J. Russo the "shaggy-haired policy wonk" who photocopied the Pentagon Papers with Daniel Ellsberg; the charges againsthim (and Ellsberg) were dropped by Judge William M. Byrne when he learned of government misconduct against them — the burglarization of Ellsberg's psychiatrist's office, the possiblity of illegal FBI wiretaps
(the records were destroyed) and a ham-handed bribe attempt of the judge (How'd ya like to be FBI director if you play ball ...) born on 10-14-1936 in Suffolk, Virginia expired 8-6-2008 in Suffolk, Virginia age 71 | ||||||||||||||||||
| musician-songwriter Charles Ryan wrote Hot Rod Lincoln (1955); in Rockabilly Hall of Fame born on 12-19-1915 in Graceville, Minnesota expired 2-16-2008 in Spokane, Washington age 92 cause: heart disease | ||||||||||||||||||
| Cornell University astrophysicist Edwin Ernest Salpeter co-creator of the Salpeter-Bethe equation that explains how fusion converts Helium into Carbon within stars (1951) born on 12-3-1924 in Vienna, Austria expired 11-25-2008 in Ithaca, New York age 83 cause: leukemia | ||||||||||||||||||
Islamo-facist Imam Samudra convicted of bombing a Bali nightclub (10/12/2002)
expired 11-8-2008 in Nusakambangan Island, Central Java, Indonesia age 38 cause: executed; firing squad
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Grateful Dead keyboardist Merl Saunders Sr. wrote the theme song for the 1980s Twilight Zone revival
expired 10-24-2008 in San Francisco, California age 74 cause: infections; complications from stroke | ||||||||||||||||||
| former SONY America president Harvey Lester Schein championed the Betamax vcr format born on 9-15-1927 in The Bronx, New York, New York expired 5-14-2008 age 80 cause: lymphoma | ||||||||||||||||||
| tv writer Paul Schneider wrote three scripts for Star Trek: Balance of Terror (1966), Squire of Gothos (1967) & The Terratin Incident (1973) born on 8-4-1923 in Passaic, New Jersey expired 10-13-2008 age 85 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ceramicist & industrial designer Viktor Sebring Schreckengost created the art deco "Jazz Bowl" for Eleanor Roosevelt born on 6-26-1906 in Sebring, Ohio expired 1-26-2008 in Tallahassee, Florida age 101 | ||||||||||||||||||
| actor David Paul Scofield played Sir Thomas Moore in A Man for All Seasons (1966) — it earned him a Best Actor oscar born on 1-21-1922 in Hurstpierpoint, Sussex, England expired 3-19-2008 in Haywards Heath, Sussex, England age 86 cause: leukemia | ||||||||||||||||||
| former DuMont Network tv announcer (WABD/WNEW/WNYW) Fred Scott Sr. hosted the Uncle Fred Scott kiddie cartoon show + was communications office Rogers on Captain Video and his Video Rangers tv show (1949-55) born on 6-25-1920 in Dayton, Ohio expired 11-??-2008 in Ridge, New Jersey age 88 cause: "a long illness"; cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
| solid-state physicist Frederick Seitz co-inventor of the Wigner-Seitz unit cell; doesn't believe that chloro-fluoro-carbons are depleting the ozone layer born on 7-4-1911 in San Francisco, California expired 3-2-2008 in Manhattan, New York, New York age 96 | ||||||||||||||||||
| former paratrooper Dan Shomron had been Chief of Staff of the Israeli Defense Force (1987-91); commanded the commando raid to rescue hostages at the Entebbe (Uganda) airport -- July3/4, 1976 born on --1937 in a kibbutz, along the Jordan River, near the Sea of Galilee, British Mandate Palestine expired 2-26-2008 in Raanana, Israel age 70 cause: complications from stroke | ||||||||||||||||||
| comedy impressario Paul M. Sills co-founder of the Second City Comedy Club in Chicago born on 11-18-1927 expired 6-2-2008 in Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin age 80 cause: complications from pneumonia | ||||||||||||||||||
| former Indian prime minister (12/1989-11/1990) Vishwanath Pratap Singh born on 6-25-1931 in Allahabad, India expired 11-27-2008 in New Delhi, India age 77 cause: renal failure; blood cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
| Playboy October 1992 Playmate of Month Tiffany Marie Sloan born on 5-29-1973 in Orange County, California expired 11-1-2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada age 35 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Dave Clark Five lead singer & keyboardist Michael George "Mike" Smith born on 12-12-1943 in Edmonton, North London, England expired 2-28-2008 in London, England age 64 cause: pneumonia; spinal cord injury | ||||||||||||||||||
| Bell Labs physicist Morgan Sparks worked on the development of second generation transistors (1948-51); former president of Sandia National Laboratory (1972-81) born on 7-6-1916 in Pagosa Springs, Colorado expired 5-3-2008 in Fullerton, California age 91 cause: congestive heart failure | ||||||||||||||||||
| retired piano maker Harry Ziegler Steinway great-grandson of company founder Heinrich Engelhard Steinway; last family member to head the firm (sold it to CBS) born on 8-23-1915 in Manhattan, New York, New York expired 9-18-2008 in Manhattan, New York, New York age 93 | ||||||||||||||||||
| graphic artist Dave Stevens created The Rocketeer graphic novel (1982); the Rocketeer's (Cliff Secord) girfriend Jenny Blake was based upon Bettie Page; was briefly married to Brinke Stevens (1980-81) born on 7-29-1955 in Lynwood, California expired 3-10-2008 in Turlock, California age 53 cause: complications from leukemia | ||||||||||||||||||
| singer/songwriter John Stewart performed with the Kingston Trio (1961-67 replacing co-founder Dave Guard); wrote Daydream Believer for the Monkees born on 9-5-1939 in San Diego, California expired 1-19-2008 in San Diego, California age 68 cause: brain aneurysm | ||||||||||||||||||
| pediatrician & epidemiologist Dr. William Huffman Stewart was Lyndon Johnson's Surgeon General (1965-69); put the first health warning on packs of cigarettes (1966) — Warning: Smoking may be hazardous to your health (Duh!) born on 5-19-1921 in Minneapolis, Minnesota expired 4-23-2008 in New Orleans, Louisiana age 86 | ||||||||||||||||||
1939 Oz Munchkin Donna Jean Stewart-Hardaway
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| character actor Kevin Stoney played Thrsyllus, Tiberius' quack astrologer in the I, Claudius mini-series (1976) & Tyron in a number of Dr. Who episodes (most notably "Geisel Hears From Who") born on 7-25-1921 in London, England expired 1-20-2008 in Cheswick, London, England age 86 cause: skin cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
| jazz trumpeter Richard Merrill "Dick" Sudhalter born on 12-28-1938 in Boston, Massachusetts expired 9-19-2008 in Manhattan, New York, New York age 69 cause: pneumonia; multiple systems atrophy; stroke | ||||||||||||||||||
| Richard Towne "Dick" Sutcliffe created the Davey and Goliath animated kiddie religious show expired 5-1-2008 in Dallas, Texas age 90 cause: complications from stroke | ||||||||||||||||||
| actor Horst Tappert played Oberinspektor Stephen Derrick on "Derrick" tv series born on 5-26-1923 in Elberfeld, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany (now Wuppertal) expired 12-13-2008 in München, Bavaria, Germany age 85
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Texas death row inmate Elkie Lee Taylor
expired 11-6-2008 in Huntsville, Texas age 46 cause: executed; lethal injection
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| duo-pianist Louis Milton Teicher formerly partnered with Arthur Ferrante; lived outside Sarasota, Florida (Siesta Key; Ferrante lived nearby) born on 8-24-1924 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania expired 8-3-2008 in Highlands, North Carolina age 83 cause: heart attack | ||||||||||||||||||
| mutual fund investor Sir John Marks Templeton Sr. made a pile of dough, moved to the Bahamas, gave up his U.S. citizenship, gave some of the dough away, got knighted, died; created the Templeton Prize (1st recipient: Mother Teresa) born on 11-29-1912 in Winchester, Tennessee expired 7-8-2008 in Nassau, The Bahamas age 95 cause: pneumonia | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1960s L.A.-based teen dance show host Lloyd Thaxton also started the magazine "Lloyd Thaxton's Tiger Beat" (1965; now shortened to just "Tiger Beat"); produced/directed Fight Back! with David Horowitz (1978-92) born on 5-31-1927 in Memphis, Tennessee expired 10-5-2008 in Studio City, California age 81 cause: multiple myeloma | ||||||||||||||||||
| Advanced Micro Devices co-founder (1969) Edwin James Turney left company in 1974 born on 3-26-1929 in Brooklyn, New York, New York expired 10-15-2008 in Cupertino, California age 79 cause: brain cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
| two-time West Virginia governor Cecil Harland Underwood born on 11-5-1922 in Joseph Mills, West Virginia expired 11-24-2008 in Charleston, West Virginia age 86 | ||||||||||||||||||
| former Oakland Raiders offensive lineman Eugene Thurman Upshaw Jr. after retiring went on to head the NFL players union (1983-2008) born on 8-15-1945 in Robstown, Texas expired 8-20-2008 in Lake Tahoe, California age 63 cause: pancreatic cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
| architect Jø Utzon he designed the Sydney Opera House born on 4-9-1918 in Aalborg, Denmark expired 11-29-2008 in Copenhagen, Denmark age 90 cause: heart failure | ||||||||||||||||||
| former Chicago cop Elmer Aaron Valentine co-founded the Whisky a Go Go bar on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood (1964); its where the Go Go dancer craze started born on 6-16-1923 in Chicago, Illinois expired 12-3-2008 in Studio City, California age 85 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Guinea-Bissau president João Bernardo "Nino" Vieira born on 4-27-1939 in Bissau, Portugese Guinea expired 3-2-2009 in Bissau, Guinea-Bissua age 69 cause: assassinated; shot to death | ||||||||||||||||||
| Playboy July 1974 Playmate of Month Carol Ann Vitale also did February 1997 pictorial born on 11-14-1946 in Elizabeth, New Jersey expired 7-23-2008 in Aventura, Florida age 61 cause: complications from lupus, scleroderma & osteoporosis | ||||||||||||||||||
| screenwriter Malvin Daniel Wald co-wrote The Naked City (1948) born on --1917 in Brooklyn, New York, New York expired 3-6-2008 in Sherman Oaks, California age 90 | ||||||||||||||||||
troubled tv journalist Suzanne Wangler worked here in Lansing as a weekend news anchor for WILX tv in 1990, then went on to anchor/report for a number of Detroit-area stations; after her divorce she found herself with a conviction for shoplifting $600 worth of groceries, a DUI conviction (lost custody of her kids) and charges of embezzlement of an ex-boyfriend/client's money ($149,000 worth; she had been licensed to sell annuities); in Septmber 2007 she was back in Lansing, this time slumming for the low-rent WLAJ tv news department as their weeknight news anchor (at least, until she was charged in the embezzlment — she resigned 2/14/08 "for personal reasons"); WXYZ tv in Detroit aired a story about her arrest on
Friday 2/22, she went to the Royal Oak cop shop on Saturday to blow her required blood alcohol test, then went back to her home and hanged herself in the bathroom (all of the utilities had been turned off & the indoor temperature was 32° & the house was about to be foreclosed)
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| playwright Dale Wasserman wrote novel Man of La Mancha (1965) which was based upon his earlier tv drama I, Don Quixote (1959); also wrote the stage version of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - it bombed when produced born on 11-2-1914 in Rhinelander, Wisconsin expired 12-21-2008 in Paradise Valley, Arizona age 94 cause: congestive heart failure | ||||||||||||||||||
| kid actor-turned-news photographer Delmar Watson appeared in four Our Gang shorts (1930s), as boy with slingshot in You Can't Cheat An Honest Man (1939) & A Christmas Carol (1938; as snowballer in gang) born on 7-1-1926 in Los Angeles, California expired 10-26-2008 in Glendale, California age 82 cause: prostate cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
| mystery writer Hillary Waugh born on 6-22-1920 in New Haven, Connecticut expired 12-8-2008 in Torrington, Connecticut age 88 | ||||||||||||||||||
| IFBB president Benjamin Weider IFBB co-founder born on 2-1-1923 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada expired 10-17-2008 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada age 85 | ||||||||||||||||||
| former MIT professor Joseph Weizenbaum wrote the controversial "Eliza" interactive computer program (1966) born on 1-8-1923 in Berlin, Germany expired 3-5-2008 in Gröben, Germany age 85 cause: complications from cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
| virologist Thomas Huckle Weller shared the 1954 Nobel prize in medicine for his research work on the polio virus born on 6-15-1915 in Ann Arbor, Michigan expired 8-23-2008 in Needham, Massachusetts age 93
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| mystery writer Donald Edwin Edmund Westlake recipient of 3 Edgar Awards: for Best novel — "God Save the Mark" (1968); for Best Short Story — "Too Many Crooks" (1990); and for Best Screenplay — "The Grifters" (1991; also received an Oscar nomination) born on 7-12-1933 in Brooklyn, New York, New York expired 12-31-2008 in Mexico age 75 cause: heart attack | ||||||||||||||||||
| geosynchronous stiff Clay Thomas "Tom" Whitehead earned a B.S. in electrical engineering & PhD. in management (1967) from MIT; worked for the RAND Corporation; became the first head of the White House Office on Telecommunications Policy (1970-73), proposed opening up the parking slots to all competitors (busting the monopoly COMSAT had); became the founding president of the Hughes Communications division of Hughes Aircraft where he spearheaded the "Galaxy" satellite project (Galaxy I launeched in 1983); founder of what became SES Astra in Europe born on 11-13-1938 in Neodesha, Kansas expired 7-23-2008 in Georgetown, Maryland age 69 cause: prostate cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
| Motown songwriter & producer Norman Jesse Whitfield born on 5-12-1940 in Harlem, New York, New York expired 9-16-2008 in Los Angeles, California age 67 cause: complications from diabetes | ||||||||||||||||||
| art dealer & horse racer Alex Nathan Wildenstein dumped plastic surgery-addicted freakish-looking wife after she walked in on him boinking his mistress born on 8-5-1940 in Marseilles, France expired 2-18-2008 in Paris, Île-de-France, France age 67 cause: cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
| singer Al Wilson born on 6-19-1939 in Meridian, Mississippi expired 4-21-2008 in Fontana, California age 68 cause: kidney failure | ||||||||||||||||||
| Star Trek "super fan" Joan Winston an organizer of the first Star Trek Convention, January 1972, at the Statler Hilton hotel in New York City — they expected 500 to show, but got over 3,000; co-authored Star Trek Lives (1975; with Jacqueline Lichtenberg & Sondra Marshak) expired 9-11-2008 in Manhattan, New York, New York age 77 cause: Alzheimer's disease | ||||||||||||||||||
| movie visual effects whiz Stanley Winston won 4 oscars for: Aliens (1986), Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991: Makeup and Visual Effects) & Jurassic Park (1993) born on 4-7-1946 in Arlington, Virginia expired 6-15-2008 in Malibu, California age 62 cause: multiple myeloma | ||||||||||||||||||
| musician Richard William "Rick" Wright was the founding keyboardist of Pink Floyd born on 7-28-1945 in Hatch End, Middlesex, England expired 9-15-2008 in England age 65 cause: cancer | ||||||||||||||||||
| Mr. Fatburger restaurant chain co-founder (1947) Lovie Yancey when partner Charles Simpson was bought out (1952) dropped the "Mr." from the burger palace's name born on 1-3-1912 in Texas expired 1-26-2008 in Los Angeles, California age 96 cause: pneumonia | ||||||||||||||||||
| Classics IV vocalist & drummer Dennis Yost had hits with "Spooky", "Stormy" & "Traces of Love" born on 7-20-1943 in Detroit, Michigan expired 12-7-2008 in Hamilton, Ohio age 65 cause: respiratory failure | ||||||||||||||||||
| Dr. Gernot Zippe while a Soviet Army P.O.W. developed the efficient uranium centrifuges for extracting the U-235 isotope (very popular with despots); it enriches the isotope from 0.7% to upwards of 5% for reactors & 90% for bombs born on 11-??-1917 in Switzerland expired 5-7-2008 in Vienna, Austria age 90
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