Died March 2017

Clay Adler (1989 - 2017), Newport Harbor: The Real Orange County star

Starred on the MTV reality show "Newport Harbor: The Real Orange County."

Mary Anderson (1909 - 2017), REI co-founder

Mary Anderson, an outdoors enthusiast who co-founded the sporting goods and camping equipment company REI, died Monday, March 27, 2017, according to REI. She was 107.

James Rosenquist (1933 - 2017), pop artist

James Rosenquist, an artist most frequently associated with the pop art movement, died Friday, March 31, 2017, at his home in New York City after a long illness, according to multiple news sources. He was 83.

Gilbert Baker (1951 - 2017), rainbow flag creator

Gilbert Baker, a gay rights activist and creator of the iconic rainbow flag, died Friday, March 31, 2017, at his home in New York City, according to multiple news sources. He was 65.

John L. Harrison Jr. (2017), Tuskegee Airman

John L. Harrison Jr., one of the members of the famed all-African-American Tuskegee Airmen, died March 22, 2017, in a Philadelphia hospice. He was 96.

Ruben Amaro Sr. (1936 - 2017), Philadelphia Phillies shortstop

Ruben Amaro Sr., a Gold Glove-winning former shortstop for the Philadelphia Phillies, died Friday, March 31, 2017, in Miami, according to multiple news sources. He was 81.

Wayne Duke (1928 - 2017), Big Ten commissioner

Wayne Duke, the collegiate sports executive who worked to expand the NCAA basketball tournament during his 18-year tenure as commissioner of the Big Ten, died Wednesday, March 29, 2017, according to multiple news sources. He was 88.

Carl Clark (1916–2017), WWII hero

African American World War II hero received medal 60 years later.

Ahmed Kathrada (1929 - 2017), anti-apartheid activist

Ahmed Kathrada, the South African anti-apartheid activist who was imprisoned for many years along with his close friend, former South African President Nelson Mandela, for resisting the apartheid system of white domination, died Tuesday, March 28, 2017, according to his foundation.

Noreen Fraser (1953 - 2017), Stand Up to Cancer co-creator

Noreen Fraser, a television producer and cancer crusader who co-created the network TV special "Stand Up to Cancer," died Monday, March 27, 2017, of metastatic breast cancer, according to multiple news sources. She was 63. Fraser became well-known for raising money to find new cures for cancer after she was diagnosed in 2001 with Stage IV breast cancer. Two years later, cancer had spread to her bones. She launched the Noreen Fraser Foundation in 2006 not only to fight cancer but also to find new ways to prevent the disease. In 2008, Noreen Fraser co-created and co-produced the network television special "Stand Up to Cancer," raising more than $100 million for cancer research.

Christine Kaufmann (1945 - 2017), German-Austrian actress

The German-Austrian actress was Germany's first winner of a Golden Globe Award.

Jean Rouverol (1916 - 2017), blacklisted actress and screenwriter

Jean Rouverol, an actress and screenwriter who was blacklisted in Hollywood during the 1950s, died Friday, March 24, 2017, at the home of a care provider in Wingdale, New York, according to multiple news sources. She was 100.

Lola Albright (1924 - 2017), Peter Gunn actress

Actress and singer Lola Albright earned an Emmy nomination for her work on TV's "Peter Gunn."

John "Sib" Hashian (1949 - 2017), drummer for Boston

John “Sib” Hashian, the former original drummer for the rock band Boston who played on their self-titled debut item, died Wednesday, March 22, 2017, while playing onstage, according to multiple news sources. He was 67. Hashian collapsed onstage while touring as part of the Legends of Rock Cruise. Attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.

Pete Hamilton (1942 - 2017), Daytona 500 winner

Pete Hamilton, the former NASCAR driver who won the Daytona 500 race in 1970, died Wednesday, March 22, 2017. He was 74. NASCAR announced Hamilton's death on its website, issuing a statement: "NASCAR extends its deepest condolences to the friends and family of Pete Hamilton. Hamilton’s career may seem relatively brief at first glance, but a careful study of the gentleman racer makes it abundantly clear that Hamilton achieved excellence during his extraordinary tenure in NASCAR."

Dallas Green (1934–2017), MLB player and manager

Dallas Green, the former MLB manager who led the Philadelphia Phillies to a World Series title in 1980, has died at the age of 82, according to multiple news sources.

Mike Aktari (2017), Jerseylicious reality TV star

Mike Aktari, a television personality known best for appearing on the reality show "Jerseylicious," has reportedly died at age 28, according to multiple news sources.

David Rockefeller (1915 - 2017), Rockefeller family patriarch

David Rockefeller, the patriarch of the Rockefeller family and a former chairman and chief executive of Chase Manhattan Bank, died Monday, March 20, 2017. He was 101. Rockefeller was quietly one of the leading international figures of the 20th century. Both as a member of the wealthy Rockefeller family and as the chairman and chief executive of Chase Manhattan Bank, he wielded tremendous influence on the world stage. In the wake of World War II, he was a key player in the drive to integrate economics and politics into a single worldwide system. Writing in his autobiography, "Memoirs," he addressed his critics and explained his goals as he saw them. "Populists and isolationists ignore the tangible benefits that have resulted from our active international role during the past half-century." He continued, "There have been fundamental improvements in societies around the world, particularly in the United States, as a result of global trade, improved communications, and the heightened interaction of people from different cultures."

Ryan McBride (1989–2017), Irish footballer

Irish footballer's teammates called him Captain Fantastic.

Bernie Wrightson (1948 - 2017), Swamp Thing co-creator

Bernie Wrightson, the acclaimed comic book artist who co-created the horror creature of "Swamp Thing" fame, died Sunday, March 19, 2017, of brain cancer. He was 68. His death was announced by his wife, Liz Wrightson, on his official website.

Jimmy Breslin (1928–2017), NYC newspaper columnist

Legendary New York City newspaper columnist.

Chuck Berry (1926–2017), the Father of Rock and Roll

Chuck Berry, the singer-songwriter and guitarist who was one of the architects of rock 'n' roll, died Saturday, March 18, 2017. He was 90.

James Cotton (1935–2017), blues harmonica player

Grammy Award-winning blues harmonica player James Cotton, aka Mr. Superharp, backed some of the greatest blues artists of his time.

Royal Robbins (1935–2017), rock climbing legend

Royal Robbins, a rock climbing legend and founder of an outdoor clothing company that bears his name.

Tommy LiPuma (1936–2017), Grammy-winning record producer

Grammy-winning record producer worked with Paul McCartney.

Amy Krouse Rosenthal (1965 - 2017), children's author

Author and filmmaker Amy Krouse Rosenthal touched many lives when she wrote a moving essay about her husband, Jason, and her terminal cancer diagnosis.

Joni Sledge (1956–2017), one of sisters behind hit song "We Are Family"

Joni Sledge, a member of the family group Sister Sledge who recorded the dance anthem “We Are Family,” died Friday, March 10, 2017, in Phoenix, according to The Associated Press. She was 60.

Robert James Waller (1939 - 2017), The Bridges of Madison County author

Writer Robert James Waller penned the 1992 best-seller “The Bridges of Madison County.” 

George Olah (1927–2017), Nobel-winning chemist

The Hungarian-born U.S. chemist was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1994 for his research into unstable carbon molecules.

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.

Joe Rogers Sr. (1919 - 2017), Waffle House cofounder

Joe Rogers Sr., the Georgia businessman who co-founded the venerable Waffle House franchise restaurant chain, died Friday, March 3, 2017, according to multiple news sources. He was 97.

Robert Osborne (1932 - 2017), Turner Classic Movies host

Robert Osborne, the former actor known best as the longtime host of Turner Classic Movies, died Monday, March 6, 2017, in New York City. He was 84.

Dr. Thomas Starzl (1926 - 2017), liver transplant pioneer

Dr. Thomas Starzl, a surgeon who was a pioneer of liver transplantation, died early Saturday, March 4, 2017, according to multiple news sources. He was 90. Starzl died at his home in Pittsburgh. His death was announced by officials at the University of Pittsburgh.

Tommy Page (1970 - 2017), I'll Be Your Everything singer

Tommy Page, who sang the No. 1 hit “I’ll Be Your Everything” and later became a music executive, died Friday, March 3, 2017, in New York City, according to multiple news sources. He was 46. Billboard.com reported that Page died of an apparent suicide. He had previously been the publisher of Billboard magazine. “We are all mourning the loss of our friend and colleague Tommy Page,” Billboard Entertainment Group President John Amato said in a statement. “He was a magnetic soul and a true entertainer. Our thoughts are with his family.” Page had a No. 1 hit with the song “I’ll Be Your Everything” in 1990. The song was co-written with Jordan Knight and Danny Wood of the group New Kids on the Block. Fellow New Kid Donnie Wahlberg and Knight also helped produce the track.

Miriam Colon (1936–2017), Scarface actress

Miriam Colon, the Puerto Rican star of stage and screen who was featured in “Scarface,” died of a lung infection Friday, March 3, 2017, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, according to The Associated Press. She was 80.

Paula Fox (1923 - 2017), award-winning children's author

Paula Fox, whose children’s books won numerous awards, died Wednesday, March 1, 2017, in Brooklyn, according to multiple news sources. She was 93. Fox's daughter, Linda Carroll, told The Associated Press that her mother had been in declining health. Fox’s children’s book “The Slave Dancer” won the 1974 Newbery Medal. Based on historical accounts, it tells the tale of a white 13-year-old boy who must play a pipe while slaves are forced to dance upon a slave ship to keep their strength up. She was awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Award, the highest international award for children’s literature, in 1978.