Jerry West (1938–2024), three-time NBA Hall of Famer

Jerry West was a three-time NBA Hall of Famer widely considered one of the best to ever play, as well as a successful executive who helped launch the career of iconic pro ballers like . 

Si Spiegel (1924–2024), WWII hero and artificial Xmas tree pioneer 

Si Spiegel was a World War II bomber pilot who flew missions over Berlin and became a pioneer in modernizing artificial Christmas trees after the war.

Rod Holcomb (1943–2024), TV director on ER, Lost 

Rod Holcomb was a TV director and producer who helmed the pilot and series finale of “ER,” along with dozens of other TV episodes.

Dennis Austin (1947–2023), PowerPoint co-creator

Dennis Austin was a software developer who co-created the slideshow software PowerPoint. 

Freddie Roman (1937–2022), Borscht Belt comedy legend

Freddie Roman was a comedian known for his work in the “Borscht Belt” of Catskills Mountains resorts, and for co-creating “Catskills on Broadway.”

Frank Drake (1930–2022), pioneer in the search for extraterrestrial life

Frank Drake was the first scientist to use radio astronomy to search for signs of extraterrestrial intelligence.

James Michael Tyler (1962–2021), played Gunther on “Friends”

James Michael Tyler was an actor best known for playing Gunther, the barista at Central Perk, on “Friends.”

Heidi Ferrer (1970–2021), writer for “Dawson’s Creek”

Heidi Ferrer was a writer known for her work on TV shows including “Dawson’s Creek” and “Wasteland.”

John Karlen (1933–2020), starred as Willie Loomis on cult favorite “Dark Shadows”

John Karlen played Willie Loomis on the cult favorite TV daytime gothic soap opera “Dark Shadows.” Loomis was the James Dean type that breaks into the Collins family mausoleum and unknowingly releases the vampire Barnabas Collins. Collins attacks Loomis and turns him into his servant. In the 1980s, Karlen played the husband of Tyne Daly’s character Mary Beth Lacey on the crime series “Cagney & Lacey.” He won an Emmy for the role in 1986. Later he played Helen Hunt’s father on “Mad About You.” Karlen served in the Korean War and made his Broadway debut in 1960.

Cameron Boyce (1999–2019), star of Disney's "Descendants"

Cameron Boyce was best known for starring as Carlos, son of Cruella de Vil, in the Disney Channel franchise "Descendants."

Sondra Locke (1944–2018), Oscar-nominated actress

Sondra Locke, Oscar-nominated actress and frequent co-star of Clint Eastwood.

Albert "Sonny" Burgess (1929 - 2017), Sun Records rockabilly singer

Rockabilly musician was a Sun Records veteran...

Lou Duva (1922 - 2017), legendary boxing trainer

Lou Duva, the legendary boxing trainer and manager who worked with Evander Holyfield, died Wednesday, March 8, 2017, according to multiple news sources. He was 94.

Beth Howland (1941 - 2015)

Beth Howland, a character actress known best for playing the accident-prone waitress Vera Gorman on the TV sitcom “Alice”

Rob Ford (1969 - 2016), former mayor of Toronto

Rob Ford, the Canadian politician who was re-elected to the Toronto City Council in landslides and later became the city’s mayor for four years, died Tuesday, according to CNN. He was 46. The cause of death was cancer. He was first diagnosed with a rare form of the disease in 2014. Ford served 10 years on the council, from 2000 until 2010, the year when he was elected mayor. He campaigned on behalf of the working class, vowing to reduce the size of city government. "Toronto's government has grown bloated and wasteful," he said in a campaign video. "It's time to stop the gravy train that provides luxuries and perks to politicians and rich contracts to their friends."