Death Anniversary Thread

[The Ashes Urn 1,355]

American radio broadcaster Graham McNamee died on this day 80 years ago, aged 53.

 

[Drewsky1211 4,732]

Shel Silverstein died on this day 23 years ago, aged 68.

Silverstein first illustrated for newspapers. In 1957, he became a cartoonist for Playboy, and became friends with its founder, Hugh Hefner.

Silverstein soon began writing songs, including some for Johnny Cash. These included the novelty song "Boa Constrictor" (a song about the singer being swallowed by a snake, mentioning which body part the snake is up to- which would later appear as a poem in his poetry collection Where the Sidewalk Ends), and the much more well-known (and serious) "A Boy Named Sue":

 

Silverstein is probably best known for his children's books, the most notable of which is 1964's The Giving Tree- a book about a tree giving its fruit, leaves, and wood away to a man over the span of many years. His poetry collections (particularly Where the Sidewalk Ends and A Light in the Attic) are also quite notable.

[Hell 1,334]

American actress Joan Crawford died on this day 45 years ago, aged 69-73

 

 

American silversmith, engraver, early industrialist, sons of liberty member and patriot in the American Revolution Paul Revere died on this day 204 years ago, aged 83.

 

 

American serial killer John Wayne Gacy died on this day 28 years ago, aged 52.

 

[The Immortal 634]

Italian racing driver Lorenzo Bandini died on this day 55 years ago, aged 34, from severe burns he sustained in a crash 3 days earlier at the 1967 Monaco Grand Prix. He spent majority of his career racing for Ferrari. There is an award called the "Trofeo Lorenzo Bandini" which is named after him, it is presented every year to the most promising upcoming racing drivers.

 

[The Ashes Urn 1,355]

American jazz singer and actress Sylvia Syms died on this day 30 years ago, aged 74.

 

[Gooseberry Crumble 5,337]

On this day in 1964 pioneering russian avant garde  painter Mikhail Larionov  died aged 82.

He was behind   the first approach and style of Russian abstract painting.

[Drewsky1211 4,732]

Prime Minister Spencer Perceval was assassinated on this day 210 years ago, aged 49.

Perceval was elected into Parliament in 1796, and quickly rose through the ranks- he became Attorney General in 1802, and the leader of the House of Commons in 1807. He became Prime Minister in 1809.

 

During his administration, King George III's health was in decline- he was blinded by cataracts, and suffered from depression following the death of his daughter Amelia. Initially reluctant to do so due to political reasons, Perceval passed the Regency Act of 1811, in which the Prince of Wales (later King George IV) would step up as prince regent.

 

On the evening of May 11, 1812, Perceval entered the House of Commons as usual- when a man approached him and shot him in the chest. Perceval died within minutes. The assassin, John Bellingham, was a merchant who believed he was wronged by the government, due to the government not offering him financial compensation for being wrongly imprisoned in Russia (Bellingham is also a first cousin many times removed of current MP Henry Bellingham). Bellingham was tried, found guilty, and hanged a week after he killed Perceval.

Perceval is (so far) the only British Prime Minister to have been assassinated.

[Hell 1,334]

Jamaican singer, musician, and songwriter Bob Marley died on this day 41 years ago, aged 36.

 

 

American actor, producer, and director with a career in entertainment spanning nearly a century Norman Lloyd died on this day a year ago, aged 106.

 

 

American actor, author and comedian Jerry Stiller died on this day 2 years ago, aged 92.

 

 

American financier and philanthropist, and the only son of Standard Oil co-founder John D. Rockefeller John D. Rockefeller Jr. died on this day 62 years ago, aged 86.

 

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Italian-American crime boss Joseph Bonanno died on this day 20 years ago, aged 97.

 

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On this day in 1889 , british quaker John Cadbury,  a businessman  who traded in  tea and coffee and most significantly was the founder of the Cadburys chocolate company,  died aged 87.

Probably the most famous chocolatier ever.

[Drewsky1211 4,732]

Pope Sylvester II died on this day 1019 years ago, aged 57.

Sylvester's name at birth was Gerbert, and became a monk in 963. Under the tutelage of Borrell II, Count of Barcelona (who took him from his native France to Spain), Gerbert studied mathematics and astronomy, and reintroduced the abacus and armillary sphere to Europe thanks to his interaction with Moorish scholars. The invention of the first fully mechanical clock is also attributed to him, which he did in 996. Historians consider him to be one of the greatest scientists of the Early Middle Ages.

 

Gerbert was elected into the clergy in 991. Upon the death of Pope Gregory V in 999, Gerbert was elected pope, and took the papal name Sylvester II. His papacy is most noted for a) transcending two millennia (a feat that Pope John Paul II would also accomplish in 2000), and b) a nobles' revolt in Rome in 1001 that forced him to flee to Ravenna.

 

There are several legends regarding Sylvester. One accuses him of being a sorcerer, stealing a book of spells from a Muslim scholar while in Spain. Another legend says that Sylvester built a brazen head (essentially, a robot that is programmed to answer any question) that told him that the Devil would come for him if he held a mass in Jerusalem. Sylvester allegedly cancelled a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, held mass at the "Holy Cross of Jerusalem" church in Rome, and soon became sick and died. Another ending to the story is that the Devil attacked Sylvester while he read the mass and gouged out his eyes. Sylvester repented by cutting off his hand and tongue- these stories are obviously fictitious.

 

 

[Hell 1,334]

American singer, actor and television personality Perry Como died on this day 21 years ago, aged 88.

 

[arghton 6,705]

Mauno Koivisto, the President of Finland 1982-1994 and two-time Prime Minister died on this day 5 years ago, aged 93 in the Helsinki University Central Hospital hospice from alzheimer's and fall complications.

[The Immortal 634]

Indy 500 driver Art Pollard died on this day 49 years ago, aged 46 in a fatal crash in practice for the 1973 Indy 500 in which his car hit the outside wall, before it tumbled and burst into flames. Pollard was an experienced racer who competed in several Indy 500's. He wasn't the only one who would have a fatal accident that weekend, driver Swede Savage and pit crew mechanic Armando Teran would be killed in separate accidents during the race (Savage actually dying months later in hospital).

 

[The Ashes Urn 1,355]

American baseball executive Joe Burke died on this day 30 years ago, aged 68.

 

[Gooseberry Crumble 5,337]

On this day in 1994 the leader of the official opposition party  the Labour Party in the UK  John Smith , died suddenly aged 55.

His unexpected death from a heart attack paved the way for the future Prime minister Tony Blair to be elected leader of the Labour Party . 

There has been much debate, speculation and discussion among commentators, political anoraks and the like about whether  Labour would still have won such a big landslide in 1997 if John Smith hadn't died or if they had of won at all. 

His sad death really changed politics in the UK many would argue. 

[Gooseberry Crumble 5,337]

 

On this day in 2018  Canadian American actress  Margot Kidder committed suicide aged 69.  She had struggled with her mental health for years particularly bipolar. 

She is best known for playing Lois Lane in the Superman movie franchise between  1978 and 1987  alongside  Christopher Reeve as Superman. 

She also starred in many lesser known productions including Brian De Palma cult thriller film Sisters in 1973  and TV shows such as La Femme Nikita,  Barnaby Jones and Brothers and Sisters. 

 

 

On this day in 2019 Doris Day, one of the few remaining iconic big stars from the golden age of Hollywood  died at the grand old age of 97.

 

[Drewsky1211 4,732]

Dutch statesman Johan van Oldenbarnevelt died on this day 403 years ago, aged 71.

In 1586, Oldenbarnevelt became the Land's Advocate of Holland- in layman's terms, the most powerful politician in the country. Oldenbarnevelt was also a diplomat, visiting France and England. In 1602, he founded the Dutch East India Company, a company whose purpose was to monopolize the spice trade in what is now Indonesia.

 

In 1609, Oldenbarnevelt led the negotiations that resulted in the Twelve Years' Truce between Holland and Spain, which declared a period of ceasefire during the Eighty Years' War (in which Holland was trying to gain independence from Habsburg Spain). During this time, two religious factions arose in Holland: the Calvinist majority, and the Remonstrants, who rejected Calvinism- Oldenbarnevelt sided with the Remonstrants. This led to religious persecution and riots, and Oldenbarnevelt suggested that Holland should raise their own militia to keep peace. The States General saw this as the two states that comprised that region as declaring sovereign independence, and Prince Maurice of Orange sent his army to prevent this. Oldenbarnevelt and several other leaders were arrested.

 

In a kangaroo court trial (with a jury comprising of personal and political enemies), Oldenbarnevelt was found guilty of treason and beheaded. Following this, his sons Reinier and Willem conspired to assassinate Maurice, but the plot was uncovered in 1623. Reinier was captured and beheaded as well, while Willem fled to Spanish-occupied Belgium with his son Pieter, began using the surname "van Stoutenberg" to disassociate himself from the family, converted to Catholicism, and lived there until his death in 1638 (Pieter would emigrate to New Amsterdam immediately after).

 

(Interesting side note: Oldenbarnevelt is one of my ancestors- specifically, one of my thousands of 12x-great grandparents.)

[Hell 1,334]

American actor known for his strong, quiet screen persona and understated acting style Gary Cooper died on this day 61 years ago, aged 60.

 

[The Ashes Urn 1,355]

American television actor Dan Blocker died on this day 50 years ago, aged 43.

 

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On this day in 1988 australian actor  Wayne Jarratt  died of a brain tumour aged just 31.  He was best known for playing prison officer  Steve Faulkner  in cult australian  soap Prisoner Cell block H. 

[Gooseberry Crumble 5,337]

On this day in 1987  Hollywood legend  Rita Hayworth,  often referred to as a screen  goddess  , died aged 68 from alzheimers  disease. 

[Drewsky1211 4,732]

That's life for Frank Sinatra on this day 24 years ago, aged 82.

Sinatra needs no introduction- he was one of the most famous singers ever. I'll just skip to his final years.

 

Sinatra suffered from many ailments in the 1990s- ranging from high blood pressure to breathing difficulties to bladder cancer, leading to many hospitalizations. In 1997, a heart attack forced him to retire from making public appearances. Two more heart attacks were what "shot him down" in May 1998.

 

Sinatra was also frequently included on the DeathList. He debuted in 1990 and made six appearances in total. He was the fourth death of 1998- coincidentally, he was fourth place on the list. I'm also going to add that the committee thought he was turning 79 in 1998 (he would've been 83 that December).

[Hell 1,334]

American blues singer songwriter, guitarist, and record producer B.B. King died on this day 7 years ago, aged 89.

 

 

American actor, comedian, writer, and director Tim Conway died on this day 3 years ago, aged 85.

 

[The Ashes Urn 1,355]

American jazz singer and actress Thelma Carpenter died on this day 25 years ago, aged 75.