Death Anniversary Thread

[Drewsky1211 4,744]

Frederick Douglass died on this day 128 years ago, aged 77.

- Douglass was born as "Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey". He dropped his middle names and last name after escaping slavery to hide from his former slaveowner, taking "Douglass" from Walter Scott's The Lady of the Lake.

- Douglass' birth date isn't certain. He believed he was born in 1817, but records from the time indicate an 1818 birth year. He celebrated his birthday on February 14, as his mother called him her "Little Valentine".

- Douglass is believed to have been mixed-race, also having Native American (through his mother) and White (through his alleged father) ancestry.

- Douglass toured England and Ireland from 1845 to 1847. He met abolitionist Thomas Clarkson while there (shortly before Clarkson's death), and his supporters managed to buy his freedom, sending the money to his former owner.

- Douglass was the only African-American to attend the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848.

- Douglass was nominated as Victoria Woodhull's VP for the National Equal Rights Party in 1872- without his knowledge. That year, Douglass was one of the presidential electors of New York.

- Douglass reconciled with his former slavemaster, Thomas Auld, when he was dying in 1877. Auld's daughter Amanda was a supporter of Douglass and was the one who arranged the meeting.

- In 1888, Douglass received one vote at the Republican National Convention, becoming the first African-American to receive a nomination from a major party. He, of course, lost to Benjamin Harrison.

- Douglass died at his home in Washington, DC, of a heart attack, immediately after returning from a meeting of the National Council of Women.

- On the topic of Washington, DC, some have considered changing its name from "District of Columbia" to "Douglass Commonwealth" should it attain statehood.

[Hell 1,334]

American actress Sandra Dee died on this day 18 years ago, aged 62.

 

 

American radio, stage, film, and television actor Dick York died on this day 31 years ago, aged 63.

 

[Gooseberry Crumble 5,346]

 

 

 

 

On this day 24 years ago in 1999, British playwright  Sarah Kane committed suicide aged 28 by hanging herself using her shoelaces in a London Hospital.

 

She had a long history of depression and a history of previous suicide attempts. 

 

She was regarded as being part of the genre known as 'in yer face theatre' which was very confrontational with its audience in how it portrayed and explored difficult or controversial ideas or emotions. 

Her plays were said to have a poetic intensity and sometimes known to include extreme and violent action on stage.

Her plays,  which went to stage in the 1990s,  include Phaedras love  about an affair between a Queen and her stepson,  Blasted,  Cleansed  and posthumously 4.48 Psychosis - a play about clinical depression released a year after her death.

 

[Drewsky1211 4,744]

Pope Julius II died on this day 510 years ago, aged 69.

- Julius' birth name was Giuliano della Rovere. He chose his papal name in emulation of Julius Caesar, rather than the fourth century Pope Julius I.

- Julius earned the nicknames "The Warrior Pope" and "The Fearsome Pope" due to participating in European wartime affairs during his time as a cardinal.

- Julius' uncle Francesco became Pope Sixtus IV in 1471. He ordained his nephew as a cardinal the same year (in other words, Julius was a nepo pope).

- Julius became pope upon the death of the short-reigned Pius III.

- Julius stripped the Borgia family of their power early into his reign, exiling them to Spain.

- Julius was a patron of the arts, founding the Vatican Museums and commissioning Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

- Julius ratified the Treaty of Tordesillas, leading to the first archdioceses to be built in the Americas (specifically Santo Domingo in what is now the Dominican Republic).

- Julius rebuilt the Saint Peter's Basilica, using indulgences from churchgoers to fund its construction (the 95 Theses were just a few years away). This version is the one that stands today.

- In 1512, Julius initiated the Lateran V ecumenical council. Among the things it did was require a bishop's permission to publish a book, advocated for a crusade against the Ottoman Empire, and attempt to bring peace between Venice and the Papal States.

- Julius was in failing health for the last nine months of his life, with a fever being his cause of death. He was succeeded as pope by Leo X.

[Gooseberry Crumble 5,346]

 

 

 

On this day 21 years ago in 2002, British actor John Thaw died aged 60.

Best known for playing Inspector  Morse in the long running television Detective series, he also starred in other notable shows including Home to roost, A year in Provence, Kavanagh QC and The Sweeney. 

His widow actress Sheila Hancock is still  alive. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On this day 5 years ago in 2018, american christian evangelist  Billy Graham died aged 99.

Such was his influence as he reach widened as a teleevangelist in the US , that some regard him as one of the most influential Christian leaders of the 20th century. 

 

 

 

 

 

American Film Director  Stanley Donen died on this day 4 years ago in 2019 aged 94.

Most famous for directing the iconic musical  Singin in the rain , he also directed other notable films of Hollywoods golden age such as Seven Brides for Seven brothers,Pajama game , Funny face and Charade.

 

[The Unknown Man 584]

Poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti died on this day two years ago, aged 101.

[Drewsky1211 4,744]

Chuck Jones died on this day 21 years ago, aged 89.

- Jones joined Leon Schlesinger Productions in 1933, becoming a lead animator in 1935, working alongside newly-promoted animation director Tex Avery. Jones himself became an animation director in 1937.

- Jones created or co-created many of the Looney Tunes characters, including Marvin the Martian, Wile E. Coyote, Pepe Le Pew, and of course, Bugs Bunny.

- Despite the success of his 1942 cartoon The Dover Boys, Warner Bros was dissatisfied and planned to fire him. He kept his job due to a worker shortage because everyone was fighting in World War II.

- Jones met Dr. Seuss during World War II, and the two were some of the main writers of Private Snafu. Jones would work with Seuss again in 1966, animating the now-Christmas staple How The Grinch Stole Christmas!

- In 1962, Jones wrote the animated film Gay Purr-ee, starring Judy Garland as the voice of Mewsette the cat. Disney's The Aristocats took several elements from this film (the Paris setting, a white and orange cat couple with the orange one having a variant of "Thomas" in the name) eight years later.

- After the release of Space Jam in 1996, Jones criticized the film, stating that Bugs Bunny would not have enlisted help from others to resolve a conflict.

- Jones debuted on DeathList 2002 and was the year's first hit. After his death, Cartoon Network created this memorial bumper:

 

[time 8,602]

Twenty-two years since the death of British actor Christopher Mitchell.

His biggest role was that of Gunner Parkin in BBC's It Ain't Half Hot Mum. His character was erroneously believed by Sergeant Major Williams to be his son, therefore being kept on the concert party despite his lack of talent and general incompetence.

 

He frequently made guest appearances, in mostly comedy roles, and was twice in Only Fools and Horses as PC Hoskins (Slater's sidekick in May The Force BE With You) and then Det. Sgt. Hoskins (In the first feature length special, To Hull and Back).

 

Despite the success of IAHHM, he was never cast in a major role again, which, it is suggested, lead to an alcohol problem contributing to his early death from cancer aged 52.

[Gooseberry Crumble 5,346]

 

 

On this day 47 years ago in 1976, American singer and original member of The Supremes  Florence Ballard died aged just 32.

Hee death was caused by thrombosis. 

She exited The Supremes aged 24 in 1967 after a long period of being dissatisfied with the bands direction and the increased focus on Diana Ross as the star. However it was Florences turning up to a performance  drunk that is said to be the straw that broke the camels back with Berry Gordy. He ordered her removal from the bands  line up and replaced her with Cindy Birdsong. 

 

Her solo career did not hit the career highs of  her time in The Supremes.

[Hell 1,334]

American visual artist, film director, and producer who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art Andy Warhol died on this day 36 years ago, aged 58.

 

[Drewsky1211 4,744]

Ofra Haza died on this day 23 years ago, aged 42.

- Haza was born in Israel to a family of Yemeni Mizrahi Jews. Haza released an album in 1984 called Shirei Teiman, which consisted of Middle Eastern songs she enjoyed during her childhood.

- Haza came to prominence by representing Israel in Eurovision 1983, performing the song "Hi". She placed second, behind Corinne Hermes of Luxembourg's "Si la vie est cadeau".

- Haza has been nicknamed the "Madonna of the East".

- Haza enjoyed international success during the 1990s, recording songs with artists such as Thomas Dolby, Iggy Pop, and Paula Abdul.

- In 1998, Haza voiced Yocheved (the mother of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam) in The Prince of Egypt, singing part of the opening song "Deliver Us". She sang the song in 19 different languages for foreign-language dubs, including Finnish, Czech, and Portuguese:

- Haza died of AIDS- her diagnosis was kept a secret until her death. While initially thought to have acquired it after having sex with her husband, said husband revealed it was from a botched blood transfusion following a miscarriage.

[Sinbabad 1,124]

On this day 175 years ago, 23 february 1848, US president John Quincy Adams died in the Capitol aged 80

[Gooseberry Crumble 5,346]

 

 

 

On this day 6 years ago in 2017, British athlete and olympian  Derek Ibbotson died of dementia aged 84.

He won a bronze  Olympic medal in the mens  5000m at the  Melbourne Olympics in 1956 and set a new record for running a mile in 1957.

[Hell 1,334]

English footballer who played as an outside right Stanley Matthews died on this day 23 years ago, aged 85.

 

[Drewsky1211 4,744]

Nikolai Ivanovich Lobachevsky died on this day 167 years ago, aged 63.

- Lobachevsky earned a master's degree in physics and mathematics from Kazan University in 1811. During his senior year, one of his teachers accused him of being an atheist.

- In 1827, Lobachevsky became the rector of his alma mater.

- Lobachevsky is best known as one of the developers of hyperbolic geometry, also known as Lobachevskian geometry. It was among the first non-Euclidean studies of geometry, and its main point is that Euclid's fifth postulate is negated. He published his findings in 1829.

- Similar to Newton and Leibniz' development of calculus, another mathematician, Hungarian János Bolyai, independently published his version of non-Euclidian geometry in 1831. Once Hungarians discovered Lobachevsky's work, they labeled him a plagiarist, accusations that he has since been cleared of.

- Despite his work, Lobachevsky died in poverty, having been dismissed from Kazan U in 1846 due to declining health and failing eyesight.

- Nearly a century after Lobachevsky's death (1953), Tom Lehrer made a song joking about the plagiarism accusations- he himself directly parodied Danny Kaye's "Stanislavski", choosing Lobachevsky due to having the same amount of syllables.

- In 1972, a new asteroid was discovered and was named after him- spelt "Lobachevskij".

[The Old Crem 3,606]

Thirty years ago today footballer Bobby Moore died aged 52. 

 

[Gooseberry Crumble 5,346]

 

 

On this day 56 years ago in 1967,  Oscar winning German composer Franz  Waxman died from cancer aged 60.

 

Waxman was was one of the most accomplished and lauded film composers of Hollywoods golden era.

He wrote over 100 film scores for films, many of the films classics ,such as Rear Window To have and have not, Bride of Frankenstein, Suspicion,  One of Joan Crawfords best  films (in my opinion!)Humoresque as well as winning two Oscars for his film scores. One Oscar for Sunset Boulevard and the second for A place in the sun.

 

 

[Hell 1,334]

Swedish politician who was the leader of the Swedish Social Democratic Party (SAP) from 1907 until his death in 1925, and three times Prime Minister of Sweden Hjalmar Branting died on this day 98 years ago, aged 64.

 

[Drewsky1211 4,744]

Glenn T. Seaborg died on this day 24 years ago, aged 86.

- Seaborg participated in the Manhattan Project, and his job was finding out how to extract plutonium-239 from uranium-238.

- Seaborg developed the actinide concept, causing the periodic table to be redrawn (actinides correspond with lanthanides below the main table).

- Seaborg helped discover ten elements: plutonium (1940), americium (1944), curium (1944), berkelium (1949), californium (1950), einsteinium (1952), fermium (1952), mendelevium (1955), nobelium (1957), and seaborgium (1974)- the last of which was named in 1994, and he held the honor of being the only person to have had an element named after them within their lifetime until oganesson was named in 2016 (after Yuri Oganessian).

- Speaking of his discoveries, he put patents on both americium and curium. Curium was not viable as a product, but because americium is commonly used in smoke detectors, he earned royalties.

- In 1961, John F. Kennedy appointed Seaborg the chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission. He would remain in this position until 1971.

- Seaborg's wife was Helen Griggs, the secretary to fellow physicist Ernest Lawrence- who also has an element named after him.

[Hell 1,334]

Australian international cricketer, widely acknowledged as the greatest batsman of all time Don Bradman died on this day 22 years ago, aged 92.

 

[Gooseberry Crumble 5,346]

 

 

 

On this 18 day years ago in 2005, notable British barrister,  human rights activist and founder of the famous Human rights group Amnesty International, Peter Benenson, died aged 83.

[Gooseberry Crumble 5,346]

 

 

On this day 59 years ago in 1964 , american author Grace Metalious died aged 39 from cirrhosis of the liver after years of problems with alcohol .

She authored one of publishings best selling books-Peyton Place.

[Drewsky1211 4,744]

Wendy Richard died on this day 14 years ago, aged 65.

- Richard debuted on TV in 1961 on the variety show Saturday Spectacular, in an episode that also featured Sammy Davis Jr. and Mandy Rice-Davies (the latter was involved with the Profumo affair as a friend of Christine Keeler).

- Richard was a featured vocalist on the song "Come Outside", which topped the UK Singles Chart in 1962.

- Richard had a successful sitcom career, playing roles such as Edith Parish in Dad's Army and Shirley Brahms in Are You Being Served?.

- Richard's most famous role was as Pauline Flower in EastEnders, whom she portrayed from the first episode up until 2006. Her character was killed off in a murder mystery episode.

- Richard starred in an advertisement for Post Office Limited in 2008:

- Richard was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1996, which was surgically removed. It returned in 2002, but went into remission, and she was cancer-free by 2005. The cancer returned yet again in 2008, and had metastasized to her left kidney and spine by October of that year. This led to her debuting on DeathList 2009 (number 19 spot), being the second hit that year.

[Toast 16,140]

Why didn't you call her Wendy?  It sounds friendlier.  Calling her Richard makes it sound as if you're talking about a bloke.

I really dislike this trend of referring to people by their surnames only. It's also confusing when more than one member of a family is mentioned.

 

6 hours ago, Drewsky1211 said:

Wendy Richard died on this day 14 years ago, aged 65.

 

- Wendy debuted on TV in 1961 on the variety show Saturday Spectacular, in an episode that also featured Sammy Davis Jr. and Mandy Rice-Davies (the latter was involved with the Profumo affair as a friend of Christine Keeler).

- Wendy was a featured vocalist on the song "Come Outside", which topped the UK Singles Chart in 1962.

- Wendy had a successful sitcom career, playing roles such as Edith Parish in Dad's Army and Shirley Brahms in Are You Being Served?.

- Wendy's most famous role was as Pauline Flower in EastEnders, whom she portrayed from the first episode up until 2006. Her character was killed off in a murder mystery episode.

- Wendy starred in an advertisement for Post Office Limited in 2008:

 

- Wendy was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1996, which was surgically removed. It returned in 2002, but went into remission, and she was cancer-free by 2005. The cancer returned yet again in 2008, and had metastasized to her left kidney and spine by October of that year. This led to her debuting on DeathList 2009 (number 19 spot), being the second hit that year.

 

[time 8,602]

Its 31 years since the death of Jean Yawkey. A one-time fashion model, she assumed ownership of the Boston Red Sox on the death of her husband Tom Yawkey, in 1976. She was also the first woman board-member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, on her election in 1983. During her ownership, the Sox reached the World Series Final of 1986, losing in seven games to the NY Mets chiefly remembered for the sixth game when a ground ball eluded first-baseman Bill Bucknor, with the Sox within touching distance of victory.

On her death, after a stroke at age 83, control passed to the Yawkey Trust, who sold to New England Sports Ventures, now Fenway Sports Group, in 2002.