Death Anniversary Thread

[The Immortal 634]

Today's driver death of the day featured is Art Cross, who died 17 years ago on this day in 2005. He was best known for being the first Indy 500 "Rookie of the year" back in 1952 having finished 5th that year, he also finished 2nd in the 1953 Indy 500. Cross lived quite a long life compared to a lot of his colleagues, dying at the age of 87.

 

 

 

[time 8,581]

Its 40 years since Arthur Lowe died aged 66, just before he was due to appear on stage. Have a bit of the Dad's Army stage show, this apparently from The Royal Variety performance of 1975, which I hadn't seen before.

I found it while looking for a bit of Kenneth Williams, who died 34 years ago today.

[The Ashes Urn 1,353]

American writer, critic and historian Sam Moskowitz died on this day 25 years ago, aged 76.

 

[Gooseberry Crumble 5,337]

On this day in 1998 british professional  snooker and billiards player Fred Davis  died in Denbighshire  Wales aged 84.

He won the world snooker championships   an impressive  eight times!

[Hell 1,334]

English actress Helen McCrory died on this day a year ago, aged 52.

 

 

American illustrator, comics artist, and film director who was based in Prague from the 1960s until his death Gene Deitch died on this day 2 years ago, aged 95.

 

[arghton 6,684]

Marie-Louise Meilleur, oldest Canadian ever and the sixth-oldest person of all time died on this day in 1998, 24 years ago aged 117 from a blood clot.

 

[time 8,581]

Its 57 years since the death of Syd Chaplin, aged 80. He was the older half-brother of Charlie (and died on Charlie's 76th birthday), who got him into Fred Karno's company setting his career in motion.. 

Syd & Charlie played in some of the same movies together, but Syd left the screen behind to become Charlie's manager.

 

He also formed America's first private airline, The Syd Chaplin Airline Company.

 

[The Ashes Urn 1,353]

American film, television, stage actor and television producer Robert Urich died on this day 20 years ago, aged 55.

 

[Gooseberry Crumble 5,337]

On this day in 1882  british sanitary engineer  George Jennings  died aged 71.

He invented the first public flush toilet and  that was installed in 1851 in The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park as part of that years famous  Great exhibition.  His original public flush toilets were called monkey closets!

[Hell 1,334]

American polymath who was active as a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher, and political philosopher Benjamin Franklin died on this day 232 years ago, aged 84.

 

 

First lady of the United States from 1989 to 1993 as the wife of President George H. W. Bush, and the founder of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy Barbara Bush died on this day 4 years ago, aged 92.

 

 

American actress, author, and philanthropist whose career spanned seven decades of television and film Doris Roberts died on this day 6 years ago, aged 90.

 

 

American photographer, musician, animal rights activist, and entrepreneur Linda McCartney died on this day 24 years ago, aged 56.

 

 

American rock and roll musician Eddie Cochran died on this day 62 years ago, aged 21.

 

 

Peruvian politician who served as President of Peru for two non consecutive terms from 1985 to 1990 and from 2006 to 2011 Alan García died on this day 3 years ago, aged 69.

 

[time 8,581]

Its 78 years since the assassination/execution of Greek resistance leader Colonel Dimitrios Psarros, founder of EKKA; on 17th April 1944, his regiment was attacked by the communist-backed ELAS forces and he was captured and executed.

[The Ashes Urn 1,353]

American country music singer Hank Penny died on this day 30 years ago, aged 73.

 

[Gooseberry Crumble 5,337]

On this day in 1945, John Ambrose Fleming  a british electrical engineer and physicist who invented  the first  thermionic  valve or vacuum tube  , died aged 95.

His invention  is often considered crucial to the birth and beginning of the electronics era.  The vacuum tube was a key component of electronic  circuits in the first half of the 20th century.  Without it Radio, Television,  long distance  telephone networks and basic computers would  not have been possible at the time.

[Hell 1,334]

German-born theoretical physicist, widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest and most influential physicists of all time Albert Einstein died on this day 67 years ago, aged 76.

 

 

American radio and television personality, television producer and film actor, as well as a cultural icon who remains best known for hosting American Bandstand from 1956 to 1989 Dick Clark died on this day 10 years ago, aged 82.

 

 

Italian-born American professional wrestler, best known for his work with the World Wide Wrestling Federation Bruno Sammartino died on this day 4 years ago, aged 82.

 

 

13th vice president of the United States from March 4 until his death William R. King died on this day 169 years ago, aged 67.

 

 

American politician who served as a United States senator from Michigan from 1928 to 1951 Arthur Vandenberg died on this day 71 years ago, aged 67.

 

[arghton 6,684]

Väinö Tanner, Finnish politician, wartime Finance Minister, Prime Minister 1926-1927, acting President 1927, Member of Parliament six times between 1907 and 1962 and President of the International Co-operative Alliance 1927-1945 died on this day 56 years ago, in 1966, aged 85.

[Handrejka 1,903]

Victoria O'Keefe, probably best known for her role in Threads, was killed in a traffic accident a few miles away from where I grew up in this day in 1990. Tragically, the accident also took the life of an 11 month old baby.

[En Passant 3,740]

41 minutes ago, Handrejka said:

Victoria O'Keefe, probably best known for her role in Threads, was killed in a traffic accident a few miles away from where I grew up in this day in 1990. Tragically, the accident also took the life of an 11 month old baby.

 

Something piqued my curiosity about this. Possibly that the only actor I actually recall from Threads was Reece Dinsdale then again possibly something else.

Anyway whatever it was caused me to investigate a little and it turns out somebody has lovingly constructed a site for Victoria that has details of said tragic accident amongst other interesting information.

[The Immortal 634]

Somehow could not find any racing drivers who died on April 16 or 17. Today though, marks 32 years since American  racing driver Bob Drake passed away in 1990.

[time 8,581]

25 minutes ago, TheSpinosaurus said:

Somehow could not find any racing drivers who died on April 16 or 17. Today though, marks 32 years since American  racing driver Bob Drake passed away in 1990.

<edit>

Emmett "Buzz" Barton, 7-10-16 to 17-4-02, sprint car champion.

[Drewsky1211 4,721]

Biologist Erasmus Darwin, grandfather of Charles Darwin, died on this day 220 years ago, aged 70.

Some of his work may have influenced his grandson, particularly from his 1794 thesis Zoonomia:

"...All animals undergo perpetual transformations; which are in part produced by their own exertions in consequence of their desires and aversions, of their pleasures and their pains, or of irritations, or of associations; and many of these acquired forms or propensities are transmitted to their posterity".

[The Ashes Urn 1,353]

American sculptor, art patron and collector Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney died on this day 80 years ago, aged 67.

 

[Hell 1,334]

English actress Elisabeth Sladen died on this day 11 years ago, aged 65.

 

 

English naturalist, geologist and biologist, best known for his contributions to evolutionary biology Charles Darwin died on this day 140 years ago, aged 73.

 

 

American lawyer and politician who served as the 42nd vice president of the United States from 1977 to 1981 under President Jimmy Carter Walter Mondale died on this day a year ago, aged 

[Gooseberry Crumble 5,337]

On this day in 1768  italian painter  Canaletto died aged 70.

He was part of what is referred to as the 'venetian  school' which made him a significant and driving force in italian  renaissance painting.

He had  some success in England and King George III was  a fan of his work and owned a  large collection of his paintings. 

 

[The Immortal 634]

Dick Linder, who raced in both USAC and NASCAR stock cars in the 1950's, died on this day 63 years ago in a racing accident. 

[YoungWillz 21,006]

It's been ten years today that Greg Ham, multi-instrumentalist with the Australian band Men At Work, was found dead down under, aged 58.