Death Anniversary Thread

[John "요한" Sulu 420]

On this day 31 years ago, American Nobel Prize-winning cytogeneticist Barbara McClintock passed away at the age of 90.

[John "요한" Sulu 420]

On this day 26 years ago, Austrian-born English opera director Rudolf Bing passed away at the age of 95.

[Drewsky1211 4,754]

Johnny Marks died on this day 38 years ago, aged 75.

- Marks was a songwriter best known for the Christmas songs he wrote (despite not celebrating the holiday, for he was an observant Jew).

- Among the first songs Marks wrote was 1949's "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"; his brother-in-law Robert May wrote the original story. The song became a number-one hit in January 1950, sung by Gene Autry.

- Other songs Marks was known for writing include Chuck Berry's "Run, Rudolph, Run" (1958- he had no input in the actual songwriting, but was credited as a writer for having trademarked the character of Rudolph), Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" (also in 1958, when Lee was just 13 years old), and the songs for the Rankin-Bass TV special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer in 1964, most notably Burl Ives' "Have a Holly Jolly Christmas".

- Marks would appear on a December 1961 episode of To Tell The Truth, pretending to be a reindeer herder (I've provided the full episode below):

 

[The Ashes Urn 1,357]

Actor Leon Liebgold died on this day 30 years ago, aged 83.

 

[Hell 1,334]

American poet, painter, essayist, author, and playwright E. E. Cummings died on this day 61 years ago, aged 67. He wrote approximately 2,900 poems, two autobiographical novels, four plays, and several essays. He is often regarded as one of the most important American poets of the 20th century. Cummings is associated with modernist free-form poetry. Much of his work has idiosyncratic syntax and uses lower-case spellings for poetic expression.

 

[Drewsky1211 4,754]

Pope Boniface I died on this day 1601 years ago, aged ~60.

- Information about Boniface's life before his papacy is scarce- that being said, it is known that his father's name was Jocundus, and was ordained by Pope Damasus I.

- After the death of Pope Zosimus in 418, Boniface would be elected pope, but he would be contested by Antipope Eulalius, whose supporters occupied the Lateran palace. Emperor Honorius would also recognize Eulalius as pope.

- In February of 419, Honorius would order Boniface and Eulalius to meet with him, and determined that a committee of bishops would select the rightful pope (among these bishops was Augustine of Hippo)- after Eulalius defied one of the emperor's commands, the bishops' favor turned to Boniface, whom Honorius would recognize as pope in April.

- Boniface's papacy would be known for reorganizing the authority of church bishops, and corresponding with the aforementioned Augustine.

- Boniface died after four years as pope, and would be succeeded by Pope Celestine I.

[The Ashes Urn 1,357]

French actor and painter Hervé Villechaize died on this day 30 years ago, aged 50.

 

[Hell 1,334]

Australian zookeeper, conservationist, television personality, wildlife educator, and environmentalist Steve Irwin died on this day 17 years ago, aged 44. Irwin grew up around crocodiles and other reptiles and was educated regarding them by his father Bob. He achieved international fame from the television series The Crocodile Hunter (1996–2007), an internationally broadcast wildlife documentary series that he co-hosted with his wife Terri. The couple also hosted the series Croc Files (1999–2001), The Crocodile Hunter Diaries (2002–2006), and New Breed Vets (2005). They also co-owned and operated Australia Zoo, founded by Irwin's parents in Beerwah. They had two children, Bindi and Robert. In 2006, while filming a documentary in Australia's Great Barrier Reef, Irwin died from an injury caused by a stingray.

 

[John "요한" Sulu 420]

On this day 33 years ago, American actress Irene Dunne, whi starred in the screwball comedy film "The Awful Truth", passed away at the age of 91.

[John "요한" Sulu 420]

On this day 58 years ago, German-born French physician, theologian, and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Albert Schweitzer, passed away at the age of 90.

 

Photo Credit: Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-D0116-0041-019 / Unknown / CC-BY-SA 3.0

[Drewsky1211 4,754]

Crazy Horse died on this day 146 years ago, aged 35.

- Crazy Horse's name comes from the Lakota "Tȟašúŋke Witkó"- the literal English translation means "His Horse is Crazy". Childhood nicknames of his included Pȟehíŋ Yuȟáȟa (Curly) and Žiží (Light Hair), based on his hair.

- Crazy Horse's birth year has been dated between 1840 and 1845, although census records and interviews of his contemporaries explicitly place it in 1842.

- After coming of age, Crazy Horse participated in battles against the encroaching American military, most notably in a December 1866 battle against the forces of general William Fetterman, in which all the soldiers were killed. This is known as the Battle of a Hundred Slain to Native Americans, and the Fetterman Fight to White Americans.

- Crazy Horse would emerge as one of the leaders of the Great Sioux War in 1876, and was a participant in the Battle of Little Big Horn (where general George Armstrong Custer was killed).

- Crazy Horse ended up informally surrendering in January of 1877 due to hunger and hypothermia among his troops, and went to the reservation of Fort Robinson in Nebraska.

- Crazy Horse would end up trying to escape from the reservation when it was revealed he would be arrested for his actions against the military, and he was fatally stabbed by one of the guards' bayonets. He refused to lay in the infirmary cot, and died on the floor. His burial site remains unknown, but his father was the one who interred him.

- The Crazy Horse Memorial, being etched in the Black Hills of South Dakota, has been under construction since 1948. Initially planned to have been completed by 1978, its estimated completion time is now indefinite:

(his face has been completed, but not much else)

[The Ashes Urn 1,357]

American film actor, writer and director Francis Ford died on this day 70 years ago, aged 72.

 

[Hell 1,334]

English singer, model and actress Sarah Harding died on this day 2 years ago, aged 39. Her professional career began in 2002 when she successfully auditioned for the ITV reality series Popstars: The Rivals, during which Harding won a place in the girl group Girls Aloud. The group achieved twenty consecutive top ten singles (including four number ones) in the UK, six albums that were certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), two of which went to number one in the UK, and accumulated a total of five BRIT Award nominations. In 2009, Girls Aloud won "Best Single" with their song "The Promise".

 

[Drewsky1211 4,754]

Robert Mugabe died on this day 4 years ago, aged 95.

- Before entering politics, Mugabe was a teacher. Mugabe would turn against the colonialist Rhodesian regime largely due to learning about the actions of Gandhi.

- Mugabe became a public speaker following the arrest of his friend Leopold Takawira, and became the spokesman of the National Democratic Party- banned by the Rhodesian government in 1961, he soon created the Zimbabwe African People's Union. After getting in legal trouble due to criticizing the government, he fled to Tanganyika (soon to become Tanzania), and would be arrested upon his return home in 1963. Mugabe would be incarcerated for almost two years.

- Eventually Mugabe became the leader of a guerrilla war against the Ian Smith government, seeking support from both Western and communist nations. Zimbabwe gained its independence in 1980.

- Upon the country's independence, Mugabe became its inaugural prime minister- and would become president in 1987. During his 30-year "presidency", Zimbabwe would experience hyperinflation (100 trillion dollar notes were eventually made), he defended the military after it arrested and tortured foreign journalists in 1999, and supported the seizure of land from White farmers (as revenge for colonization).

- Mugabe would be ousted in a coup, though was allowed to stay in Zimbabwe. He would soon end up getting cancer and went to Singapore to receive treatment, remaining there until his death. Among his last photos shows him clad in Adidas clothing:

 

[The Ashes Urn 1,357]

American musical theater actor and voice actor Harry Goz died on this day 20 years ago, aged 71.

 

[Hell 1,334]

American actor Burt Reynolds died on this day 5 years ago, aged 82. Reynolds first rose to prominence when he starred in television series such as Gunsmoke (1962–1965), Hawk (1966) and Dan August (1970–1971). Although Reynolds had leading roles in such films as Navajo Joe (1966) and 100 Rifles (1969), his breakthrough role was as Lewis Medlock in Deliverance (1972). Reynolds played the leading role – often a lovable rogue – in a number of subsequent box office hits, such as White Lightning (1973), The Longest Yard (1974), Smokey and the Bandit (1977) (which started a six-year box office reign), Semi-Tough (1977), The End (1978), Hooper (1978), Starting Over (1979), Smokey and the Bandit II (1980), The Cannonball Run (1981), Sharky's Machine (1981), The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982), and Cannonball Run II (1984), several of which he directed himself. He was nominated twice for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.

 

[John "요한" Sulu 420]

On this day 1 year ago, Venezuelan-born American dancer and choreographer Tina Ramirez, who was the founder of Ballet Hispanico, passed away at the age of 92.

 

Photo Credit: Vbh massistant per Creative Commons license

[Drewsky1211 4,754]

Glenn Shadix died on this day 13 years ago, aged 58.

- Shadix's first film role was an uncredited part in 1979's Skatetown, U.S.A. (which was also Patrick Swayze's first movie).

- Shadix would have his breakout role once he began to collaborate with Tim Burton- Otho, the interior designer who nearly causes the Maitlands to double-die in Beetlejuice:

 

He was also the voice of the (literally, but not figuratively) two-faced mayor of Halloween Town in The Nightmare Before Christmas, who he would also voice in Disney's Kingdom Hearts video games:

His last collaboration with Burton was in the 2001 remake of Planet of the Apes, as an orangutan politician named Nado.

- Shadix would also provide his voice to TV cartoons, often as background characters. His most notable voice acting roles (outside of the aforementioned Mayor of Halloween Town) included Brain in Teen Titans and Nimbar in (the ridiculously-titled Power Rangers ripoff) Tattooed Teenage Alien Fighters from Beverly Hills.

- Shadix's death was caused from a fall where he hit his head.

[justonecornetto 951]

Warren Zevon the singer/songwriter who is a big favourite of mine died 20 years ago at the age of 56.

Best known for songs like Werewolves of London and Poor Poor Pitiful Me his lyrics were always full of dry wit and biting satire and he was a regular guest on the Late Show With David Letterman.

[The Ashes Urn 1,357]

American Chicago blues guitarist and singer Lefty Dizz died on this day 30 years ago, aged 56.

 

[diego 1,990]

Joana de Austria, Princess of Portugal was born in Madrid and died 450 years ago in El Escorial, Spain, aged 38, was a Spanish Infanta, Archduchess of Austria and Princess Consort of Portugal, fourth daughter of the marriage of Emperor Carlos V (Carlos I of Spain) with Isabel of Portugal

 

[Hell 1,334]

Congolese politician and military officer who was the president of Zaire from 1965 to 1997 Mobutu Sese Seko died on this day 26 years ago, aged 66. He also served as Chairman of the Organisation of African Unity from 1967 to 1968. During the Congo Crisis, Mobutu, serving as Chief of Staff of the Army and supported by Belgium and the United States, deposed the democratically elected government of left-wing nationalist Patrice Lumumba in 1960. Mobutu installed a government that arranged for Lumumba's execution in 1961, and continued to lead the country's armed forces until he took power directly in a second coup in 1965.

 

 

English musician Keith Moon died on this day 45 years ago, aged 32. Moon grew up in Wembley and took up the drums during the early 1960s. After playing with a local band, the Beachcombers, he joined the Who in 1964 before they recorded their first single. Moon was recognised for his drumming style, which emphasised tom-toms, cymbal crashes, and drum fills. Throughout his tenure with the Who, his drum kit steadily grew in size, and (along with Ginger Baker) he has been credited as one of the earliest rock drummers to regularly employ double bass drums in his setup. Moon occasionally collaborated with other musicians and later appeared in films, but considered playing in the Who his primary occupation, and remained a member of the band until his death. In addition to his talent as a drummer, Moon developed a reputation for smashing his kit on stage and destroying hotel rooms on tour. He was fascinated with blowing up toilets with cherry bombs or dynamite, and destroying television sets. Moon also enjoyed touring and socialising, and became bored and restless when the Who were inactive. His 21st birthday party in Flint, Michigan, has been cited as a notorious example of decadent behaviour by rock groups.

 

[John "요한" Sulu 420]

On this day 1 year ago, American actress Marsha Hunt, who starred in the 1940 film "Pride and Prejudice", and was also a political and social activist, passed away at the age of 104.

[Summer in Transylvania 2,188]

Elizabeth II, known to the majority simply as "The Queen", the longest-reigning monarch in British history, hit number 7 of the DL 2022, and the third longest-reigning monarch after Sobhuza II of Swaziland and Louis XIV of France, passed away on this day one year ago, aged 96.

 

[Drewsky1211 4,754]

Faisal I of Iraq died on this day 90 years ago, aged 48.

- The son of the Sharif of Mecca, Faisal would spend his early years in Constantinople. (Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey were all part of the Ottoman Empire at the time.)

- In 1913, Faisal would be elected to the Ottoman parliament as a representative for the city of Jeddah.

- In the midst of World War I, Faisal met TE Lawrence (of Arabia), requesting he rebel against the Ottoman government in return that he could guarantee the independence of an Arabian nation after the war. Faisal would agree to this, but he became disillusioned because he wanted his own empire, and disliked the borders of the Sykes-Picot Agreement. Regardless, he would siege Medina until the war's end in 1918.

- Faisal would initially become the king of the short-lived kingdom of Greater Syria in 1920, but would be installed as the king by the British in Iraq- which was ceded to them after the fall of the Ottoman Empire.

- Faisal would be a proponent of pan-Arabism during his reign, albeit he was quite nationalist (he equated being Iraqi with being Arab, and marginalized the Kurdish minority).

- Faisal would also develop Iraq's economy by ordering the construction of roads, and had plans to build an oil pipeline from Mosul westwards to the Mediterranean sea.

- Faisal died from a heart attack after a 12-year reign, and he would be succeeded as king by his son Ghazi.