Death Anniversary Thread

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Indian aerospace scientist who served as the 11th president of India from 2002 to 2007 A. P. J. Abdul Kalam died on this day 7 years ago, aged 83.

 

 

American actor and popular singer Tony Martin died on this day 10 years ago, aged 98.

 

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Otto Hahn died on this day 54 years ago, aged 89.

In 1905, while working at the radiochemistry department of University College London, Hahn believed that he had discovered a new element, which he dubbed "radiothorium"- this was in actuality an isotope of thorium, thorium-228.

 

Hahn would soon return to Germany, where he would begin working with lifelong collaborator Lise Meitner, and they discovered more isotopes together- "mesothorium I" (radium-228), "mesothorium II" (actinium-228), and ionium (thorium-230). In 1913, Kazimierz Fajans and Oswald Gohring claimed to have discovered a new element that was a beta decay product of thorium, which they called "brevium". Hahn and Meitner would later isolate a more stable isotope, and would dub it "protoactinmium"- this would eventually be shortened to protactinium.

 

Hahn would later become a pioneer of the rubidium-stronitum dating method for determining the ages of rocks, and in 1938, was among the group of scientists that discovered nuclear fission- the event when a nucleus of an atom splits into two smaller nuclei.

 

Hahn was sought after by Allied forces during World War II, as they believed he could potentially be a part of Germany's nuclear program. His office was destroyed by a bombing plane in 1944- later that year, Hahn was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, at which point, his location was unknown. Hahn would later be captured by the Allies, and was allowed to return to Germany six months after his capture.

 

After the war, Hahn rallied against the use of nuclear weapons.

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German composer and musician of the late Baroque period Johann Sebastian Bach died on this day 272 years ago, aged 65.

 

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Twenty years since the death of Jack Karnehm, former UK & world billiards champion, better known as a snooker commentator. His was the voice wiching Clff Thorburn "good luck, mate" as he prepared to pot the black for the first World Championship televised 147. His most notable contribution to the game of snooker was the development of Dennis Taylor's "upside-down glasses", worn when Taylor won the World championship (Karnehm was a trained spectacle-maker).

 

 

He died of a heart attack after an afternoon gardening in extreme heat, aged 85.

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American opera and concert singer Helen Traubel died on this day 50 years ago, aged 73.

 

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On this day in 1930  american athlete  John DeWitt , who won a silver medal for hammer throwing at the 1904 Olympic games held in St Louis in the US,  died aged 48.

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On this day in 1983 two actors from the golden age of Hollywood died.

 

 

 

Firstly Canadian American actor Raymond  Massey died aged 86.

Nominated for a best actor Oscar  for his portrayal  of Abraham Lincoln in 1940 film  Abe Lincoln in Illinois.  Massey also starred in films such as The Prisoner of Zenda  (1937) with Mary Astor,  David Niven and Ronald Colman,   Reap the wild wind  (1942) alongside John Wayne,   49th Parallel (1941) a British film with Leslie Howard and Laurence Olivier  and East of Eden  (1955) with the one and only James Dean.

 

 

 

 

Also British born actor  David Niven died on this day in 1983 aged 73 in Switzerland. 

 

He starred in films such as  Dinner at the Ritz(1937),  The Perfect  marriage(1947) alongside  Eddie Albert and Loretta Young,  A kiss in the Dark (1949)  a comedy with Jane Wyman  and most famously   Around the world in 80 days (1956) with Shirley Maclaine.  

He won the best actor Oscar  for playing Major Pollack  in Separate  Tables (1958)  which also starred Deborah Kerr, Rita Hayworth  and Wendy Hiller who won the  best supporting actress Oscar for the same film. 

He died of motor neuron disease. 

 

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Olaf II of Norway died on this day 992 years ago, aged 35.

By the age of 13, Olaf was already participating in battles. In 1014, at the age of 19, Olaf decided it was his mission to unite Norway's petty kingdoms into a single state- but before doing that, he got baptized. Olaf then proclaimed himself king, as the late Sweyn Forkbeard's sons had taken residence in Denmark and England.

 

While Olaf had the support of the former petty kings, his loss at the Battle of Helgeå in 1026 caused a schism between him and the nobility- who in 1028, supported the invasion of English king Cnut the Great (one of Sweyn's aforementioned sons). Olaf was exiled to the Kyivan Rus, but in 1030, returned to reclaim the throne- he was killed in battle.

 

Olaf has been seen as being crucial for the Christianization of Norway, reportedly baptizing many people while exiled. After his death, miracles began to be attributed to him, and his corpse's hair and nails growing was taken as a sign (we now know that it's due to the skin drying out). Olaf was soon given saint status.

 

One legend regarding Olaf was the construction of Avaldsnes Church in 1024: as Olaf was too busy converting people to Christianity to build it, Olaf made an agreement with a troll named Sigge to construct it, paying with the sun, the moon, and his soul. The troll quickly constructed it, and Olaf needed to save his soul. After finding out the troll's name by eavesdropping on his family, Olaf mentioned the troll's name as it placed the final stone on the chuch tower, turning it into stone. This is one origin story for Mary's Needle, the only remaining monumental stone surrounding the church.

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Dutch Post-Impressionist painter who posthumously became one of the most famous and influential figures in Western art history Vincent van Gogh died on this day 132 years ago, aged 37.

 

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American jazz guitarist Chuck Wayne died on this day 25 years ago, aged 74.

 

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On this day ten years ago in 2012  , one of Irelands most popular and best loved novelists  Maeve  Binchy died aged 73.

 Her novels mainly focused on life  in  small town Ireland  were huge  bestsellers,  largely  because of particular style of storytelling which many said had a good balance between  sympathy, humour,  drama and often surprise endings .

 

Her novels include  Echoes,  The Copper Beech, Circle of friends , Evening Class and Silver Wedding .

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Buffalo Bob Smith died on this day 24 years ago, aged 80.

 

Smith created the character of Howdy Doody during his time as a radio host, and voiced the character. The Howdy Doody show debuted in December of 1947, and was among the first children's programs on television. The show was a pioneer in audience participation, and beginning in 1956, began broadcasting in color- to promote the sales of color television (revolutionary for the time).

 

The show was also known for coining the term "cowabunga" (the greeting word of the Chief Thunderthud character), and started the television career of Bob Keeshan (who played Clarabell the Clown), who eventually became Captain Kangaroo after being fired over a salary dispute.

 

In 1954, Smith suffered a heart attack, and guest hosts explained that Bob was "vacationing at Pioneer Village". The show's sponsors were upset by this, wanting Smith himself to advertise their products (this Twinkies ad below is an example).

 

Howdy Doody ended in 1960 with a clip show episode (that featured Clarabell's only line of dialogue as the final line spoken), and its timeslot was taken by The Shari Lewis Show (coincidentally, Lewis would die three days after Smith). Afterwards, Smith would tour college campuses with his comedy routine, and made cameo appearances on episodes of shows such as Happy Days, and among his later roles was as Father Flanagan in the 1991 film Problem Child 2.

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On this day 12 years ago footballer Stanley Milburn died aged 83. He was a cousin to Jackie, and uncle to the Charltons.

Never reaching the level of fame they did, he did achieve something they never did - the only recorded instance of a shared own goal. On 18th December 1954, playing forLeicester City against Chelsea, he and Jack Froggatt simultaneously went to clear a ball, but it ended up in Chelsea's net. Without the benefit of multiple cameras, it was impossible to determine who had the decisive touch, so it was awarded to both.

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On this day in 2016, mainly B list  american actress Gloria  DeHaven died aged 91.

She was a contract player for Metro Goldwyn Mayer and starred in many films during the 1940 and 1950s- her early  career overlapping with much of Hollywoods golden age. 

She started out as a child  star with a small role in Charlie Chaplin  film Modern times in 1936.

Her other film credits include   Two Girls and a sailor (1944) - a black and white musical  starring June Allyson and Van Johnson,  Yes Sir that's my baby (1949) with Donald O'Connor and Charles Coburn,  

Summer Stock (1950) alongside Judy Garland and Gene  Kelly and  The thin man goes home  (1944) with William Powell and Myrna  Loy  as the lead actors. 

 

In later years film roles became  very infrequent  but she did become a regularly in a numerous American television soap operas including  Ryans Hope,  As the world turns and satirical soap  Mary Hartman Mary Hartman!

 

 

 

 

 

She married four times,  her first husband   was actor John Payne by whom she had 2 of her 4 children. 

 Her other two children were by both her third and fourth husband  Richard Fincher who she married and divorced twice. 

 

She died several months after suffering a number of strokes and spending time in hospice care.

 

She was survived by all four of her children. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Canadian-American comic book artist Joe Shuster died on this day 30 years ago, aged 78.

 

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American businessman and Tea Party Movement activist within the Republican Party Herman Cain died on this day 2 years ago, aged 74.

 

 

Swedish film director, screenwriter, producer and playwright Ingmar Bergman died on this day 15 years ago, aged 89.

 

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 Canadian  professional wrestler  Roddy Piper died on this day in 2015 aged 61.

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On this day in 1964 popular American  country  singer  Jim Reeves died in a plane accident, a plane of which he was the pilot,   during a thunderstorm. He was just 40 years old 

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King Baudouin of Belgium died on this day 29 years ago, aged 62.

In 1951, Baudouin's father Leopold III abdicated in favor of him, due to accusations of him being pro-Nazi during World War II. During Baudouin's reign, the Belgian Congo became independent. During its independence ceremony, Baudoin delivered a speech, to which independence leader Patrice Lumumba gave a scathing response to. Baudouin was informed of the assassination plot against Lumumba, yet did nothing to prevent Lumumba's assassination in January of 1961.

 

Baudouin died after a 42-year reign- the 1993 Spa 24 Hours race was being held, and it had to be stopped 15 hours in, when the news broke. Baudouin had no children, so the crown passed onto his younger brother, Albert II.

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Twenty-eight years ago, it was Arrivederci Darling to Anne Shelton.

 

After being heard on a BBC radio show by bandleader Bert Ambrose, Shelton was engaged to sing with him at age 16. She appeared at military bases throughout the war entertaining troops, to lift morale, and was the original British singer of Lili Marlene.

 

Post-war, she had three US hits and five UK hit records (beginning with Arrivederci Darling in 1955) including the number one Lay Down Your Arms (1956), which was initially banned by the BBC, as it was thought it might encourage British troops to lay down their arms during the Cyprus conflict, and post-Suez, but such was public support for it (as identified by the number of requests on Two-way Family Favourites) the ban was soon lifted.

 

She appeared in films and TV shows, including an appearance on the first ever The Benny Hill Show, and she was a supporter of the Not Forgotten Association, for which she received an OBE.

 

She Died of a heart attack, aged 70.

 

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American writer and public intellectual Gore Vidal died on this day 10 years ago, aged 86.

 

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Michael Staniforth became available to rent on this day in 1987.

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On this day in 1884 Kien Phuc,  a child Emperor of Vietnam  who reigned for less than 8 months died, died aged 15.

 

His Uncle  Emperor  Tu Duc and his wife were unable to have children so he adopted a number of his preferred nephews to give them the official status of being in line to the throne.  However  he was killed in an act of regicide  by Hiep Hoa  who has launched a successful murderous coup to take over.

 

Worried and angry about the countrys future,  mandarins,  regents and officials relatively  swiftly deposed of Hiep Hoa  and forced him to commit suicide 

 

It was at this point that young  Kien Phuc, the preferred successor was quickly installed at 5am.

However he too was destined to have only a short reign.  He was apparently always prone to intermittently being a bit of a sickly child but his sudden death did still raise suspicions that he he had be poisoned by his adoptive mother , his late Uncles widow because she was allegedly  having an affair  with royal mandarin and regent  Nguyen Van Tuong- a man who played a key role in depising of at least three successive Emperors  because  he deemed them problematic or a threat for a variety of reasons.  A courtier with real power is how he is best understood. 

Kien was succeeded  by his cousin who also had a very short reign.

 

 

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17th president of the united states Andrew Johnson died on this day 147 years ago, aged 66.

 

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On this day seven years ago in 2015, the one and only showbiz legend , singer and television presenter Cilla Black  died after a fall in her holiday home in Spain aged 72.

ITV shows Surprise Surprise and Blind Date  are what she is most famous for in her later career  .A career that  legend has it started in the Cavern Club , Matthew Street  Liverpool in the early 1960s as a cloak room attendant who mingled with the young Beatles before global fame hit them.