Death Anniversary Thread

[Hell 1,334]

English musician, best known as the bassist for the punk rock band Sex Pistols Sid Vicious died on this day 44 years ago, aged 21.

 

[Drewsky1211 4,767]

Woodrow Wilson died on this day 99 years ago, aged 67.

Decided that I liked doing fast facts for self-explanatory figures (28th US President), so here's some about Wilson.

- Wilson went by his middle name- his first name was Thomas.

- Only president with a PhD (in political science), and would later become president of Princeton University. These accomplishments earned him the nickname "The Schoolmaster".

- Won in a landslide in the 1912 election due to a split Republican vote between the Taft and (more progressive) Roosevelt wings (leaves me wondering if it will repeat itself with Trump and DeSantis in 2024).

- Was incredibly racist, seeking to decrease the amount of Black people in the federal government, segregated the US Navy (when it wasn't before), and had the first movie screened in the White House be The Birth of a Nation- he openly praised the KKK. This may be due to the fact that his childhood was spent in Confederate Virginia and that the first memory he could remember was news about Lincoln's election leading to war.

- Had a flock of sheep graze on the White House lawn during World War I to save money, and to give their sheared wool to the Red Cross to help make medical supplies.

- Suffered a severe stroke in October of 1919. His wife Edith would be the one to bring him papers regarding state affairs.

- Only president to be interred in Washington, DC (in the National Cathedral).

[Gooseberry Crumble 5,347]

 

On this day 13 years ago in 2010, american actress Frances  Reid died aged 95.

 

She famously played Alice Horton in popular US daytime TV soap Days of our lives for 42 years- from 1965-2007.

 

She also starred in a number of movies including  The Andromeda stain (1971) and  Man Proof, co-starring with leading lady Myrna Loy. 

 

[John "요한" Sulu 423]

On this day 32 years ago, American actress Nancy Kulp, who starred in in TV sitcom "The Beverly Hillbillies", passed away at the age of 69.

[Hell 1,334]

American singer and songwriter who was a central and pioneering figure of mid-1950s rock and roll Buddy Holly died on this day 64 years ago, aged 22.

 

[Vinegar Tits 607]

Forty years ago today - Karen Carpenter 

 

 

 

Also means it's 32 years today that my beloved childhood cat Patch died too, aged 15. RIP to both.

[John "요한" Sulu 423]

On this day 27 years ago, American actress Audrey Meadows, who starred in the TV sitcom "The Honeymooners", passed away at the age of 73.

[Drewsky1211 4,767]

Pope Sisinnius died on this day 1315 years ago, aged 57.

Sisinnius was born in Tyre in modern-day Lebanon in 650- less than 20 years after the Rashidun Caliphate subjugated it. It is unknown when or how he got to Rome.

 

Sisinnius was selected as pope following the death of Pope John VII in October of 707, with the papacy being vacant for three months. However, Sisinnius' reign was extremely short- at three weeks, Sisinnius has the fifth-shortest pontificate, dying from gout because the disease left him unable to feed himself. One of the few things he did was order the restoration of walls erected by the Romans, and consecrating a bishop of Corsica.

 

Sisinnius was succeeded by Pope Constantine, who some believe was his younger brother.

[time 8,641]

Forty years since Karen Carpenter died.

 

[Gooseberry Crumble 5,347]

 

 

On this day three years ago in 2020, the former President of Kenya  Daniel Arab moi, died aged 95.

He served as the countrys second President and to date its longest serving President  having occupied the role from 1978-2002.

He was also a hit for the official  DeathList  in  their record year. 2020. He was the second hit of that year.

[Hell 1,334]

American pianist, singer, and actor Liberace died on this day 36 years ago, aged 67.

 

 

English singer and songwriter Reg Presley died on this day 10 years ago, aged 71.

 

[The Unknown Man 587]

Boxer Kid Gavilan was counted out after this day 20 years ago, aged 77.

[Drewsky1211 4,767]

Kirk Douglas died on this day 3 years ago, aged 103.

Douglas starred in films such as 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Lust for Life, and most notably 1960's Spartacus.

Later in life, he starred in movies that included Saturn 3, Tough Guys, and The Man from Snowy River- and in 1997, guest starred as Chester J. Lampwick, the original creator of Itchy, in The Simpsons' episode "The Day the Violence Died".

 

In 1991, Douglas survived a helicopter crash and began to reembrace his Jewishness- he was the son of Russian Jewish immigrants (his birth name was Issur Danielovitch, AKA Izzy Demsky) who wanted him to become a rabbi when he grew up (which he did not want, instead making his dream of becoming an actor come true). In 1996, he suffered a severe stroke that nearly led to him losing the ability to speak. Despite that, Douglas lived another 24 years, making 18 appearances on the DeathList- the most ever as of now (three times at number 1, from 2017 to 2019).

 

His last words were an endorsement for Mike Bloomberg's 2020 presidential run: "Mike can get it done".

[Summer in Transylvania 2,193]

2 years ago today, Canadian actor Christopher Plummer, well-known for his role as Georg von Trapp in the 1965 musical The Sound of Music, died aged 91.

 

 

He reportedly detested the film, often referring to it as The Sound of Mucus, and admitting to being drunk on set during some of the scenes that made it into the final cut of the film, scenes such as him singing Edelweiss.

 

He is to date the only Canadian to receive "The Triple Crown of Acting" (winning a competitive Academy Award, an Emmy Award, and a Tony Award).

 

In 2009, he appeared in the Pixar film Up, appearing in a main role alongside Ed Asner, who would die of natural causes in August of the same year. 

 

He suffered a fall at his home in Weston, Connecticut, USA in January 2021 and passed away two and a half weeks later.

 

Intriguing fact: His co-star in The Sound of Music, Dame Julie Andrews, had not long previously appeared in another main role alongside current DeathList number one Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins. Coincidentally, Plummer and Van Dyke share a birthday: 13th December.

[Hell 1,334]

Indian yoga guru known for developing and popularizing Transcendental Meditation and for being the leader and guru of a worldwide organization that has been characterized in multiple ways, inclyding as a new religious movement and as non-religious Maharishi Mahesh Yogi died on this day 15 years ago, aged 90.

 

[Gooseberry Crumble 5,347]

 

 

On this day 18 years ago in 2005 British television and film producer and director   Gerard Glaister  died aged 89.

 

He notably collaborated with the BBC for decades, mainly making television drama series.

His work includes  Colditz(1972), Clue of the silver key, Secret Army, Kessler and glossy 1980s soap and   British answer to Dallas and Dynasty- Howards way.

 

 

[Toast 16,162]

My Dad.  Many years ago (I was 10).

[Drewsky1211 4,767]

King George VI died on this day 71 years ago, aged 56.

- George's birth name was Albert, and he was born on the 34th death anniversary of his namesake great-grandfather (Prince Albert- Queen Victoria's husband). Victoria was pleased by the name; his mother Mary did not like it. His nickname was "Bertie".

- In 1917, George was excused from combat in World War I due to an intestinal ulcer.

- George was called "The Industrial Prince" as he often represented his father (King George V) on visits to factories and mines.

- George and the future Queen Mother went big game hunting in Africa in 1925- among the animals they shot were a gazelle and a cape buffalo.

- George was once considered for the role of Governor-General of Canada by the prime minister in 1931- George V rejected this offer.

- World War II and Indian independence were the major events of his 15-year reign. Besides India/Pakistan/Bangladesh, Burma (Myanmar) and Palestine/Israel also achieved independence.

- George was a heavy smoker, and his left lung was removed when a malignant tumor was found. Despite pulmonary disease, George died from a coronary thrombosis.

[Gooseberry Crumble 5,347]

 

 

On this day 25 years ago in 1998, Austrian singer Falco,  who had a number of internationally successfully hits in the music charts, died aged 40 as a result of of injuries he suffered after his car crashed into a bus in the Dominican Republic. 

His hit songs include, Out of the dark, The Sounds of music, Rock me Amadeus, Jeanne and posthumously  Egoist.

 

 

 

 

[Hell 1,334]

South African professional rugby union player who made appearances in test matches for the national team, scoring 38 tries Joost van der Westhuizen died on this day 6 years ago, aged 45.

 

 

American economist, businessman, diplomat and statesman George P. Shultz died on this day 2 years ago, aged 100.

 

[John "요한" Sulu 423]

On this day 1 year ago, Indian playback singer Lata Mangeshkar, who was nicknamed "The Nightingale of India", passed away at the age of 92.

 

Photo Credit: Bollywood Hungama per Creative Commons license

[Drewsky1211 4,767]

Pope Pius IX died on this day 145 years ago, aged 85.

- Pius' non-papal name was Giovanni Maria Mastai Ferretti- his full baptismal name was Giovanni Maria Battista Pietro Pellegrino Isidoro Mastai Ferretti.

- Pius was elected pope after the death of Pope Gregory XVI- with a 31 year and 8 month reign, Pius has the longest verifiable papacy (Peter, the first pope, allegedly ruled for 34-38 years).

- Pius was against the Roman Republic, and undid their religious freedom laws when France defeated them. This included re-institutionalizing Rome's Jewish ghetto (they were free to live elsewhere in the republic's borders).

- Pius was the first pope to be photographed. (This particular one was from 1871)

- Pius initiated the Vatican I ecumenical council in 1868. It defined papal infallibility as that the pope is always correct when teaching morals or lessons of faith.

- Pius ordered the preservation of the Colosseum and Roman Christian catacombs.

- After Italy annexed the Papal States in 1870, Pius refused to recognize the new kingdom, and excommunicated King Victor Emmanuel II. He would recommunicate Victor Emmanuel shortly before his death in January 1878- Pius died a month later.

- Pius consecrated the first American cardinal, John McCloskey, in 1875.

- Pius suffered from seizures throughout his entire life, and one of those is what killed him.

- Pius was made a saint by Pope John Paul II in 2000.

[Sir Creep 7,070]

British ‘gothic romance’ novelist Ann Radcliffe ran out of ink exactly 200 years ago (58).

 

[Hell 1,334]

King of Jordan from 11 August 1952 until his death in 1999 King Hussein of Jordan died on this day 24 years ago, aged 63.

 

[Gooseberry Crumble 5,347]

 

 

On this day 4 years ago in 2019, oscar nominated British actor Albert Finney,  died aged 82.

 

His film credits over a long career include  Erin Brockovich -the film for which Julia Roberts won her best actress Oscar,  Scrooge (1970), Annie (1982), The Dresser, Murder on the Orient express  and Gumshoe.