Death Anniversary Thread

[diego 1,897]

Nino Bravo, Spanish singer died 40 years ago when he suffered an accident during a trip from Madrid to Villarrubio, in the Tarancón region, dying at the age of 28

 

[Hell 1,329]

Czech lawyer and politician who served as the prime minister of the Czech Republic and leader of the the Czech Social Democratic Party from 2004 until 2005 when he resigned as a result of his financial irregularities Stanislav Gross died on this day 8 years ago, aged 45.

 

[Drewsky1211 4,287]

Dick Shawn died on this day 36 years ago, aged 63.

- Shawn's birth name was Richard Schulefand.

- Shawn started his career in entertainment as a stand-up comedian, with a signature entrance showing him rise from a pile of bricks.

- In 1967, Shawn starred in Mel Brooks' The Producers as Lorenzo St. DuBois- also called "LSD", who won the title role for Springtime for Hitler.

- Shawn was also known for his role as the Snow Miser in 1974's The Year Without a Santa Claus- now an annual Christmas classic:

- Late in his career, Shawn made an appearance in Disney's Captain EO as Commander Bog:

(looks a lot like Jambi the Genie... Pee-wee's Playhouse aired its first episode the day after Captain EO opened)

- Shawn died during one of his comedy performances; he had a heart attack, which the audience thought was part of his act.

[diego 1,897]

Turgut Özal died 30 years ago, he was president of Turkey between 89 and 93

Died as a result of a heart attack that many considered suspicious and that led to the hypothesis of murder

[diego 1,897]

Robert Atkins died 20 years ago. He is best known for the Atkins Nutritional Approach (Atkins Diet), a popular but controversial method of dieting that consists of eating protein, fat and only light carbohydrates. On April 18, 2002, Atkins suffered a heart attack. , which according to him and his doctor was caused by cardiomyopathy not related to food. However, studies have already associated cardiomyopathy with ketogenic diets and high levels of fat consumption, both characteristics present in the Atkins diet, on April 8, 2003, Atkins suffered an accident (fell in front of his office) that caused head and which put him in a coma, his medical records indicated that he died at approximately 117 kg which may have been caused by fluid retention after his fall as Atkins had his weight recorded on hospital admission as 88 kg.

[diego 1,897]

Carlos Graça died 10 years ago, he was prime minister of São Tomé and Príncipe, involved in the fight for the independence of his land. He died in Lisbon, after a long illness.

[time 8,239]

It's 19 years since the death of Canadian actor Bruce Boa. He was well known as a 'go to' actor whenever a Canadian/American character was required in British TV programmes.

After a brief career in the CFL with the Calgary Stampeders, he embarked on a trip through Europe, beginning his acting career in the UK in 1956, settling permanently in the 1960s. Amongst his many films are Octopussy, Full Metal Jacket and The Empire Strikes Back. TV roles included appearances in Ace of Wands, Dempsey and Makepeace and The Avengers, but he's best known as the obnoxious American guest demanding a Waldorf salad in Fawlty Towers.

He died from cancer, aged 73.

[Hell 1,329]

American polymath who was active as a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher, forger, and political philosopher Benjamin Franklin died on this day 233 years ago, aged 84.

 

[Drewsky1211 4,287]

Dick Clark died on this day 11 years ago, aged 82.

- Clark began as a radio host. In 1956, he became the host of the radio show Bob Horn's Bandstand after the titular host was arrested for a DUI (and subsequently fired). This was picked up by ABC in 1957 and renamed American Bandstand (which was the inspiration for Top of the Pops, which premiered in 1964).

- He began hosting The Dick Clark Show in 1958. The guests on the first episode included (the late) Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnnie Ray, and the still living Pat Boone and Connie Francis. 20 million people tuned in weekly by December.

- Clark was involved in the payola scandal in 1960 (when music companies paid broadcasters to favor their products). During this time, his press agent left him- that agent was Gene Shalit.

- Clark soon began to host game shows, such as The Object Is, Missing Links, and The $10,000 Pyramid. He would compete as a celebrity guest in its revival series.

- What Clark is best known for is Dick Clark's Rockin' New Years Eve, which aired for the first time from 1972 into 1973- he did this to compete with Guy Lombardo's specials, believing his big band music was too old-fashioned. Clark would host every year until his death except for the 2004-2005 special, due to a stroke he suffered weeks prior (Regis Philbin took his spot).

- Clark was the host for ABC's broadcast of Live Aid.

- Clark made guest appearances on shows such as the Adam West Batman, Perry Mason, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

- He had his own production company. At one point, its logo looked like this:

(emphasis on the first word)

[justonecornetto 855]

Aleah Stanbridge the South African singer songwriter who was based in Sweden and had an incredible voice in the doom metal/dark country/gothic rock genres died at the young age of 39 on this day 7 years ago

[diego 1,897]

1060 ago died Stephen Lekapenos, who was the second son of Byzantine Emperor Romanos I Lekapenos (r. 920–944) and co-emperor from 924 to 945. Along with his younger brother Constantine, he deposed Romanos I in December 944, only to be overthrown and exiled by the rightful Emperor Constantine VII (r. 913–959) a few weeks later. Stephen lived the rest of his life in exile, first in Prote, then in Prochonese, and finally on the island of Lesbos, where he died at Easter 963.

[diego 1,897]

150 years ago the German chemist and inventor Justus von Liebig died, His experiments made it possible to create chemical fertilizers, soap, explosives and dehydrated foods. His contribution to humanity was extraordinary. In addition to numerous formulas and processes for organic chemistry, Liebig institutionalized the didactic use of the chemistry laboratory.

[diego 1,897]

Savina Petrilli died 100 years ago, she founded, in her country, the Congregation of the Sisters of the Poor of Saint Catherine of Siena, Pope John Paul II proclaimed her blessed on April 24, 1988, in Saint Peter's Square

[diego 1,897]

Died 80 years ago Isoroku Yamamoto aged 59, Japanese admiral who created the plans to attack Pearl Harbor, he died when the plane he was traveling in was intercepted by 16 American Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighters commanded by Major Mitchell, commander of the 339. º Fighter Squadron based on Guadalcanal, and was shot down, crashing in the jungles of the island of Bougainville, in the archipelago of the Solomon Islands

[Hell 1,329]

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 68 years ago, aged 76.

 

[Drewsky1211 4,287]

Asahel Porter died on this day 248 years ago, aged 23.

- You're probably wondering why I've chosen a seemingly insignificant person for today (I couldn't even find a portrait of him)- but he wasn't.

- Porter was a clothing seller from Woburn, Massachusetts, following in his father Josiah's footsteps. In 1773, he married a Ms. Abigail Brooks and had a son, Asahel Jr (who was two months old when his father died).

- On the morning of April 19, 1775, Porter and his brother-in-law Josiah Richardson set out on horseback to go to the Boston market. As they entered West Cambridge, the two of them were captured by British officers (possibly believing them to be associated with the Midnight Ride hours before)- despite their pleas of innocence, they were arrested and forced to accompany the troops to Lexington.

- The British let the two go there under condition that they remain peaceful- Porter ran off in a panic (likely once the "shot heard round the world" was fired) and was killed from the ensuing exchange of gunfire between the minutemen and the redcoats.

- In short, Porter's significance in history was that he was the among the first casualties of the American Revolution.

[John "요한" Sulu 390]

On this day 1 year ago, Japanese supercentenarian Kane Tanaka, who was the longest-lived validated Japanese person and barely became the second-oldest validated person ever, passed away at the age of 119.

[John "요한" Sulu 390]

On this day 2 years ago, Walter Mondale, who was the 42nd Vice President of the United States from 1977 to 1981, passes away at the age of 93.

 

I am very lucky that my paternal grandfather not only got to surpass Mondale, but also regular presidents Ford, Reagan, and Bush Sr., despite that my grandfather was born after all of them.

[diego 1,897]

Judith of Bavaria died in 843, 1180 years ago, she was Empress Consort of the Holy Roman Empire and Queen Consort of the Franks, as the second wife of Louis I the Pious.

[diego 1,897]

Benjamin Rush died 210 years ago aged 67, he was one of the signers of the United States Declaration of Independence.

[lilham 697]

12 hours ago, Drewsky1211 said:

Asahel Porter died on this day 248 years ago, aged 23.

- You're probably wondering why I've chosen a seemingly insignificant person for today (I couldn't even find a portrait of him)- but he wasn't.

- Porter was a clothing seller from Woburn, Massachusetts, following in his father Josiah's footsteps. In 1773, he married a Ms. Abigail Brooks and had a son, Asahel Jr (who was two months old when his father died).

- On the morning of April 19, 1775, Porter and his brother-in-law Josiah Richardson set out on horseback to go to the Boston market. As they entered West Cambridge, the two of them were captured by British officers (possibly believing them to be associated with the Midnight Ride hours before)- despite their pleas of innocence, they were arrested and forced to accompany the troops to Lexington.

- The British let the two go there under condition that they remain peaceful- Porter ran off in a panic (likely once the "shot heard round the world" was fired) and was killed from the ensuing exchange of gunfire between the minutemen and the redcoats.

- In short, Porter's significance in history was that he was the among the first casualties of the American Revolution.

 

One of my ancestors was shot and bayoneted on April 19, 1775 - Jason Russell - and his home in Arlington is open for tours and still has the bullet holes.
The wikipedia article kinda disses on him but he died valiantly: Jason Russell was 59 and lame. ... A nearby neighbor, Ammi Cutter, advised him to seek safety, but Russell refused, reportedly saying "An Englishman's house is his castle." ... Russell was outside his house and joined the minute-men as they fled toward it. Being old and slow, he was in the rear and was shot twice as he reached his own doorway and then stabbed eleven times with bayonets. The British rushed into the house, killing everyone they could see. Eight minute-men made it to the basement and survived by pointing their guns up the stairs. When Jason's wife returned, she found her husband and all of the dead laid side by side in the kitchen. The house itself was riddled with bullet holes, many of them still visible.

 

We got April 17th off for Patriot's Day.

It's also 10 years since terrorist Tamerlan Tsarnaev died.

 

[Hell 1,329]

English actress Elisabeth Sladen died on this day 12 years ago, aged 65.

 

 

Chilean politician from the Christian Democratic Party, lawyer, author, professor and former senator Patricio Aylwin died on this day 7 years ago, aged 97.

 

[Sinbabad 952]

14 minutes ago, Hell said:

Chilean politician from the Christian Democratic Party, lawyer, author, professor and former senator Patricio Aylwin died on this day 7 years ago, aged 97

He was indeed senator (and even President of Senate), but he was most notably PRESIDENT of Chile !! The first democraty elected since the Pinochet era !

He succeeded the dictator in 1990

[Drewsky1211 4,287]

Senor Wences died on this day 24 years ago, aged 103.

- Senor Wences' real name was Wenceslao Moreno.

- Wences learned to professionally juggle at the age of 15, and joined a circus troupe that was organized by some of his friends.

- Wences soon became a ventriloquist, and toured Europe in the 1920s. He moved to the US in 1935 and took his act there.

- Among his famous puppets were Johnny (seen in the above picture), whom he demonstrated in the 1947 film Mother Wore Tights, Pedro, which was a head in a box created after the full-sized dummy was destroyed in a train accident and had the catchphrase "s'alright", and Cecilia Chicken, an anthropomorphic hen that wore glasses.

- Wences was a frequent guest on The Ed Sullivan Show, appearing a total of 48 times- below is one of them:

- Wences was also a guest on The Muppet Show in 1980, introducing his talent to a new generation of viewers.

- On his 100th birthday in 1996, Wences was made a lifetime member of the New York Friars' Club.

- Wences died three days after his 103rd birthday. Sadly, his obit became second-page news due to the Columbine mass shooting that day.

[John "요한" Sulu 390]

On this day 1 year ago, American Actor Robert Morse, who starred in the movie "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying", and the American period drama TV series "Mad Men", passed away at the age of 90.

 

Photo Credit: Dominick D per Creative Commons license