Jay J. Armes (1932–2024), famous private investigator

Jay J. Armes was a private investigator from Texas who became famous thanks to his unusual cases, prosthetic hands, offbeat lifestyle, and action figure made in his likeness. 

Justus Rosenberg (1921–2021), Holocaust hero

Justus Rosenberg was a Holocaust survivor who worked with the French Resistance to help refugees escape the Nazi regime.

Five People Whose Obituaries Tell Stories of Making Black History

There are so many people of a certain age who are passing away right now at the end of a long life, having lived through the 20th century, who have made Black history in their local communities.

Mark Sertich (1921–2020), world’s oldest hockey player

Mark Sertich wasthe worldc3a2c280c299s oldest hockey player,verified by Guinness World Records.He played in the2017 Snoopyc3a2c280c299sSenior World Hockey Tournament at the age of 96.

Col. Steve dePyssler (1919–2020), only known American to serve in four wars

Col. Steve dePyssler was a U.S. Air Force veteran who was the only known American to have served in four wars.

Charles Evers (1922–2020), civil rights legend

Charles Evers, the brother of civil rights icon , was the first black elected mayor of a Mississippi city since the Reconstruction era.

John Lewis (1940-2020), civil rights legend & U.S. Rep. from Georgia

John Lewis , the long-serving U.S. representative from Georgia who was one of the most prominent leaders of the American civil rights movement, died Friday, July 17, his family announced in a statement.

Dr. Thomas Freeman (1919–2020), legendary debate coach

Dr. Thomas Freeman was a renowneddebate coach at Texas Southern Universitywho taught Martin Luther King Jr.duringa70-yearcareer.

Wilson Jerman (1929–2020), former White House butler who served 11 presidents

Wilson Jerman was a former White House butler who worked for 11 presidents, from Dwight D. Eisenhower to Barack Obama.

Paul Vasquez (2020), “Double Rainbow” guy

Paul Vasquez became a viral video sensation known as “double rainbow" guy after he posted a video of a double rainbow he witnessed along with his excited reaction at the sight.  

Steve Dalkowski (1939–2020), the inspiration for "Nuke LaLoosh" in the movie Bull Durham

SteveDalkowskiwas one of the fastest pitchers in organized baseballhistorywith a fastball thought to be over100 miles per hours. Known for having trouble controlling the strike zone, he was the inspiration for the character NukeLaLoosh1d in the movie Bull Durham .

Tao Porchon-Lynch (1918–2020), world’s oldest yoga teacher

Tao Porchon-Lynch  was certified by Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest yoga teacher. 101 years old at her death — and still teaching until days before she died — Porchon-Lynch earned the title in 2012, when she was 93. Porchon-Lynch was also a competitive ballroom dancer who appeared on “America’s Got Talent” in 2015. In her younger years, she was a model and actress whose films included “Show Boat” (1951) and “The Last Time I Saw Paris” (1954).

Paul Farnes (1918–2020), last surviving WWII Battle of Britain flying ace

Paul Farnes was a fighter pilot for the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force, the last of the flying aces who fought the Battle of Britain during World War II. The fighter pilots who flew in the Battle of Britain were known as “The Few,” recalling Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s famous speech praising them: “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.” Farnes was a sergeant during the battle, later promoted several times until he was wing commander as the war ended, and his eight kills merited him the title of ace. Two other Battle of Britain fighter pilots survive, neither of them aces. In addition to the Battle of Britain, Farnes fought in the Battle of France as well as in North Africa.

Holocaust Survivors Tell Their Stories

This International Holocaust Memorial Day, January 27, 2020, marks 75 years since those held prisoner in the Auschwitz concentration camp were liberated. The , who emerged from a nightmare and managed to put together the pieces of a new life, have grown to old age in the 21st century. Those with the most vivid memories, who were adults during World War II, are mostly gone, and those few who are left are in the last years of their lives. Many, as they leave this life, take one last chance to tell their stories — via their obituaries.

Don Howison (1921–2020), oldest remaining survivor of WWII USS Indianapolis disaster

Don Howison was a U.S. Navy veteran who was the last living officer of the USS Indianapolis and the oldest remaining survivor of the World War II torpedo attack and subsequent shipwreck that killed 75% of its crewmembers. Howison served as an ensign aboard the Indianapolis, and decades later, he was among the survivors who were interviewed for the bestselling book Indianapolis: The True Story of the Worst Sea Disaster in U.S. Naval History and the Fifty-Year Fight to Exonerate an Innocent Man.

Pete Frates (1984–2019), popularized the ALS ice bucket challenge

He raised millions for ALS research.

Nick Clifford (1921–2019), last surviving Mount Rushmore carver

Nick Clifford was the last surviving worker from the team that carved the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Barbara Hillary (1931–2019), first African American woman to reach the North and South Poles

She never skied until training for her trek to the North Pole.

Patrick Campbell (2019), rock and roller raised money for Thanksgiving dinners

His band raised enough donations to feed thousands in need.

Werner Doehner (1929–2019), last survivor of the Hindenburg disaster

He was 8 years old when the Hindenburg crashed in 1937.

Marie Greenwood (1912–2019), pioneering Denver teacher

Fought segregation as one of the first black teachers hired by Denver Public Schools.

Nine People Whose Lives Were Shaped by JFK’s Assassination

For a few people, Kennedy’s assassination was more than a story to tell — it profoundly impacted their lives.

Remembering Lives Lost to Epilepsy

November is Epilepsy Awareness Month, and we're honoring everyday warriors in the fight against epilepsy.

9/11: The Grief of Ordinary Americans

When terrorists attacked the United States on September 11, 2001 — killing nearly 3,000 people in the World Trade Center and Pentagon, and aboard four passenger jets — Legacy was a young internet company serving families, funeral homes, and newspapers in the online obituary space. By 2001, Legacy recognized that our online Guest Books, because we screen each message before it appears online, were uniquely safe spaces for those dealing with a loss to share and grieve together. In the wake of 9/11, we knew one way we could help was to provide .

Frances Crowe (1919–2019), prominent peace activist

Arrested about 100 times for her activism and protests, she said 100 times was "Not enough."

Jim Leavelle (1920–2019), police officer was escorting Lee Harvey Oswald when he was shot

James R. “Jim” Leavelle was a Dallas Police Department homicide detective who was escorting Lee Harvey Oswald when he was shot by Jack Ruby. Oswald, who had assassinated President John F. Kennedy two days earlier, died shortly after the shooting. In the Pulitzer Prize-winning photo of the moment Ruby shot Oswald, Leavelle is prominent, a tall man wearing a tan suit and Stetson hat, handcuffed to Oswald and reacting with shock. Leavelle later said that he had seen Ruby out of the corner of his eye and had tried to get Oswald behind him, but he was too late. Prior to his service with the Dallas Police Department, Leavelle had served in the U.S. Navy and was stationed at Pearl Harbor when it was attacked in December 7, 1941. Leavelle retired from the police department in 1976 and went on to found a polygraph business.

Baxter Leach (2019), helped organize 1968 Memphis sanitation strike

Leach became the public face of the sanitation workers in later years, sharing their story around the country.

Al Haynes (1931–2019), heroic pilot of United Flight 232

After engine and hydraulic failure, he helped guide his DC-10 to a miraculous emergency landing.

Eva Kor (1934–2019), Holocaust survivor spoke about forgiveness

Eva Kor, holocaust survivor and educator, died Thursday, July 4, 2019, in Krakow, Poland of natural causes, while leading an educational trip to Auschwitz. She was 85.

Russ Ewing (1923–2019), fearless Chicago TV news reporter

Russ Ewing was a longtime fearless Chicago TV news reporter who persuaded more than 100 criminal suspects to surrender. Ewing was a Chicago firefighter who then became a TV reporter, first working with Chicago station WMAQ and later with WLS. He became a trusted figure on the Chicago streets, and many criminals trusted Ewing to bring them in safely to the police. In 1975, Ewing and newspaper publisher Gus Savage talked two men into surrendering after they robbed a currency exchange and held two women hostage. Ewing was also an accomplished jazz pianist who performed on “The Tonight Show.”

Stories of D-Day Veterans We Said Goodbye to This Year

Seventy-five years after the D-Day invasion of World War II, families and nations are honoring the service members who fought in one of the war's most famous battles.

Lorraine Warren (1927–2019), paranormal investigator inspired “Conjuring” movies

Lorraine Warren, famous paranormal investigator who inspired “Conjuring” movies, died Thursday, April 18, 2019, according to multiple news reports. She was 92.

Jerrie Cobb (1931–2019), NASA’s first female astronaut candidate

A lifelong advocate for women flying and traveling to outer space.

Derrick Nelson (1975–2019), high school principal, dies after donating bone marrow

New Jersey high school principaldies after donating bone marrow.

Lives Told Well: The Best Obituaries

The best obituaries find the extraordinary in the lives of ordinary people.

Black History, and All History, Is Really About Regular People

Never mind the celebrities — every real historical moment ultimately comes down to people and their families.

Julius Campbell (2019), key player on “Remember the Titans” team

Led the integrated Titans football team to a Virginia State Championship.

Albert Lexie (1942–2018), shoe-shine man gave his tips to children’s hospital

Donated more than $200,000 to help “my kids” at children’s hospital in Pittsburgh.

Claire Wineland (1997–2018), inspiring speaker lived with cystic fibrosis

Founded a charity to help others suffering from the disease.

Koko the Gorilla (1971–2018), shared her life through sign language

If ever there was a living being who inspired a lot of people to think more of the inner lives of animals, it was Koko, the gorilla who used sign language. She died in her sleep Tuesday, June 19, 2018, at the age of 46, the Gorilla Foundation announced in a press release late Wednesday night.

Children Really Can Change the World (Here Are 9 Who Did)

As Florida teenagers lead the #MarchForOurLives, we look back at heroic children through history.

Remembering Olympians

As the 2018 Olympics get underway, we're taking a moment to remember winter Olympians who have died this year.

RIP to 6 Cancer Fighters

These cancer doctors, nurses, and scientists devoted their lives to helping others.

The First Brave Woman Who Alleged ‘Sexual Harassment’

Before 1975, there was no such thing as “sexual harassment.” And then, on a university campus in upstate New York, one woman had had enough.

Cemetery Sights: Norton, Emperor of the United States

Loren Rhoads is the author of the fascinating new book “ . Loren Rhoads

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Join us in remembering those who battled breast cancer.

Died Doing What They Loved

Somehow, knowing that a person died doing what they loved gives us comfort.

Abe Lincoln's Illinois

Take a mini road trip through important Abe Lincoln history.

Inspired by Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks , born Feb. 4, 1913, was one of the great civil rights pioneers of the 20th century. After a lifetime dealing with Montgomery, Alabama's racist law forcing Black citizens who rode city buses to sit in segregated seats at the back, Parks finally decided one Thursday in 1955 to hold her ground and say "no" to discrimination. For her courage, she was arrested, inspiring civil rights activists to boycott the city's buses for more than a year, until finally the city repealed the law.