Sam Nujoma (1929–2025), first president of Namibia

Sam Nujoma was a leader of Namibia’s decades-long War of Independence, later elected its first president.

Joe Dudley Sr. (1937–2024), Black haircare pioneer 

Joe Dudley Sr. was an entrepreneur who founded Dudley Products, Inc., a prominent Black haircare brand.

Cody Longo (1988–2023), Nickelodeon and Days of Our Lives actor

Cody Longo was an actor and singer best known for his roles in the family drama Hollywood Heights , and the long-running daytime soap opera Days of Our Lives . He was also a singer, releasing several singles that made the iTunes Pop and Top 100 charts.

Burt Bacharach (1928–2023), great 20th-century songwriter

Burt Bacharach was a songwriting giant whose credits include “What the World Needs Now Is Love” and “I Say a Little Prayer.”

Luc Montagnier (1932–2022), Nobel winner who co-discovered HIV

Luc Montagnier was a virologist who shared a Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for co-discovering HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

Marty Schottenheimer (1943–2021), longtime NFL head coach

Marty Schottenheimer was a longtime NFL head coach who was one of only eight coaches in history with 200 wins.

Mary Wilson (1944–2021), founding member of the Supremes

Mary Wilson was an R&B singer who was a founding member of the Supremes.

Robert Conrad (1935–2020), star of TV’s “The Wild Wild West”

Robert Conrad was an actor best known for his starring role as Secret Service agent James West on the 1960s TV show “The Wild Wild West.” The hit show, conceived as “James Bond on horseback,” featured Conrad and his costar, Ross Martin, saving 19th century America from any number of threats using anachronistic gadgets. Conrad also starred as detective Tom Lopaka on “Hawaiian Eye” from 1959 to 1963 and as World War II fighter ace Pappy Boyington on “Baa Baa Black Sheep” – renamed “Black Sheep Squadron” – from 1976 to 1978. His other short-lived series include “The D.A.,” “A Man Called Sloane,” and “High Mountain Rangers.” Conrad starred in a number of TV movies and miniseries, including “Centennial,” “The Duke,” and “Will: G. Gordon Liddy.”

Peter Mansfield (1933 - 2017), MRI inventor

The British scientist was co-winner of the 2003 Nobel Prize for his work in inventing the revolutionary MRI scanner.