Heart Disease and Stroke

Gus Williams (1953–2025), Seattle SuperSonics All-Star 

Gus Williams was a 12-year NBA veteran and two-time All-Star with the Seattle SuperSonics who helped lead the team to victory in the 1979 NBA Finals.

Wayne Osmond (1951–2025), founding member of The Osmonds

Wayne Osmond was a founding member of The Osmond Brothers, the family singing group that later became The Osmonds.

Rodessa Barrett Porter (1930–2024), gospel music great

Rodessa Barrett Porter was the last surviving member of the beloved gospel trio The Barrett Sisters.

Slim Dunlap (1951–2024), The Replacements guitarist

Slim Dunlap was a rock musician best known as the second guitarist for Minneapolis rock legends The Replacements, replacing founding member Bob Stinson and playing on the band’s final two albums.

A. Cornelius Baker (1961–2024), HIV testing advocate

A. Cornelius Baker was a public health policy expert who advocated for extensive HIV/AIDS testing and care, even in the early days of the disease.

Mary McGee (1936–2024), pioneering motorcycle racer

Mary McGee was one of the first women to race motorcycles, profiled in the recent ESPN documentary, “Motorcycle Mary.” 

Theodore B. Olson (1940–2024), lawyer who fought for gay marriage

Theodore B. Olson was a conservative lawyer who served under former presidents George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan, best known for helping Bush secure the 2000 election and for arguing for gays’ right to marry.0

Elwood Edwards (1949–2024), voice of AOL’s “You’ve got mail” message

Elwood Edwards was a graphics supervisor and production manager for local TV stations who was thrust into distinction when he became the voice of AOL and its iconic “You’ve got mail” greeting.000

Patti McGee (1945–2024), first female skateboarding champion

Patti McGee was the first woman to skateboard professionally and the first winner of the women’s division of the National Skateboard Championships.

Tim Johnson (1946–2024), longtime U.S. senator from South Dakota

Tim Johnson was a longtime U.S. senator from South Dakota who was the last Democrat to win statewide election in the state.

Ethel Kennedy (1928–2024), human rights advocate

Ethel Kennedy was the widow of U.S. Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and an advocate for human rights.

Frank Fritz (1963–2024), American Pickers co-star

Frank Fritz was the co-host of the popular antiques-focused reality TV show, “American Pickers.”

Yvonne Furneaux (1926–2024), star of Fellini’s La Dolce Vita

Yvonne Furneaux was an actress who starred in classic films such as “La Dolce Vita” by Federico Fellini, “The Mummy,” co-starring Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, and Roman Polanski’s “Repulsion.”

Joe “Jellybean” Bryant (1954–2024), WNBA coach & father of Kobe Bryant

Joe “Jellybean” Bryant was a former NBA player with the Philadelphia 76ers, a WBNA coach, and the father of NBA superstar . 

Sen. Jim Inhofe (1934–2024), U.S. senator from Oklahoma

Sen. Jim Inhofe was a U.S. senator from Oklahoma for nearly three decades who served in public office in one form or another for nearly 60 years overall.

Joan Benedict (1927–2024), longtime stage and TV veteran

Joan Benedict was an actress known for her wide-ranging TV roles, including being a regular on “The Steve Allen Show,” in “Candid Camera” skits, and appearances on soap operas like “General Hospital” and “Days of Our Lives.”

Johnny Canales (1942–2024), Tejano singer and TV host

Johnny Canales was a Mexican Tejano singer and popular television show host who helped launch the career of singer Selena.

Gylan Kain (1942–2024), poet who set the stage for rap music 

Gylan Kain was a groundbreaking poet whose work with The Last Poets helped create modern performance poetry and set the stage for rap music.

Mike Leach (1961–2022), Mississippi State head football coach 

Mike Leach was a longtime college football coach who was the current head coach of the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

Barbara Ehrenreich (1941–2022), bestselling author of “Nickel and Dimed”

Barbara Ehrenreich was the author of books including “Nickel and Dimed,” in which she shared her experiences living on minimum wage.

Pete Carril (1930–2022), legendary former Princeton basketball coach 

Pete Carril was the head basketball coach at Princeton University for 30 years, leading them to 11 NCAA tournament appearances.

Sid Jacobson (1929–2022), Richie Rich writer and Frankie Avalon songwriter

Sid Jacobson was a writer and songwriter who wrote titles for Harvey Comics including Richie Rich and Flash Gordon.

Tony Walton (1934–2022), award-winning set designer 

Tony Walton was a legendary British set and costume designer who won an Oscar for his work on “All That Jazz.”

Johnathan Szeles (1958–2022), comedian and magician known as The Amazing Johnathan

Johnathan Szeles was a comedian and stage magician known as The Amazing Johnathan, a longtime headliner in Las Vegas.

Dallas Frazier (1939–2022), legendary country music songwriter

Dallas Frazier was a hit-making country music songwriter known for writing “Elvira,” which was a hit for the Oak Ridge Boys.

Elfrida von Nardroff (1925–2021), discredited winner in 1950s TV quiz show scandal

Elfrida von Nardroff  was a big winner on the fixed 1950s TV quiz show "Twenty-One."

Jerry Pinkney (1939–2021), children’s book illustrator and author

Jerry Pinkney was a children’s book illustrator and author known for books including the Caldecott Medal-winning “The Lion & the Mouse.”

Roberto Roena (1940–2021), legendary salsa percussionist

Roberto Roena was a Puerto Rican salsa percussionist known for his work with legendary bands including El Gran Combo and Fania All Stars.

Richard Trumka (1949–2021), longtime AFL-CIO president

Richard Trumka was a labor leader who was the longtime president of the powerful union, the AFL-CIO.

Johnny Ventura (1940–2021), legendary merengue singer

Johnny Ventura was a superstar of merengue music who later became the mayor of Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic.

John Langley (1943–2021), creator of “Cops”

John Langley was a TV producer best known for creating the hit reality show “Cops.”

René Robert (1948–2021), NHL star with the Buffalo Sabres

Ren é Robert was a Canadian hockey player who was a member of the Buffalo Sabres’ forward line of the 1970s known as “The French Connection.”

John Paragon (1954–2021), played Jambi the Genie on “Pee-wee’s Playhouse”

John Paragon was an actor who played Jambi the Genie on the 1980s cult classic children’s TV show “Pee-wee’s Playhouse.”

Jim Fassel (1949–2021), former New York Giants head coach

Jim Fassel was head coach of the New York Giants from 1997 to 2003, leading them to the 2001 Super Bowl.

Paul Mooney (1941–2021), comedian, actor & writer for Richard Pryor and In Living Color

Paul Mooney was a pioneering comic who was the writer for Richard Pryor, "In Living Color," and "Chappelle's Show."

Rusty Young (1946–2021), guitarist and founding member of Poco

Rusty Young was a guitarist, singer, and songwriter who was a founding member of the country rock band Poco, known for hits including “Crazy Love.”

Shelia Washington (1960–2021), museum founder who helped exonerate the Scottsboro Boys

Shelia Washington was instrumental in the exoneration of the Scottsboro Boys, nine young Black men who were wrongfully convicted of raping two white women in a famous 1935 case.

Andrew Brooks (1969–2021), scientist who developed first COVID-19 spit test

Andrew Brooks was a research professor at Rutgers University and CEO of Infinity Biologix, who developed the first FDA-approved rapid saliva test for COVID-19.

Joseph Sonnabend (1933–2021), pioneering AIDS doctor

Joseph Sonnabend was a physician who was one of the first to notice symptoms in his patients that would later be identified as HIV/AIDS.

Dorothy “Dot” Cole (1913–2021), oldest living U.S. Marine

Dorothy “Dot” Cole was a U.S. Marines veteran of World War II who was the oldest living Marine.

Russell LeeRoy Pickett (2020), one of few soldiers to survive first wave of D-Day

Russell LeeRoy Pickett was in the first wave of U.S. soldiers to storm Normandy Beach on D-Day. He was honored in 2019 at the 75th anniversary event held in Normandy.

Mahlon Reyes (2020), “Deadliest Catch” star

Mahlon Reyes was a star of the Discovery Channel reality series “Deadliest Catch,” working as a deckhand on crabbing boats.

Derek Ho (1964–2020), world champion Hawaiian surfer

Derek Ho was a world champion professional surfer. In 1993, at the age of 29, he became the men’s professional world surfing champion. He was the first Hawaii native to accomplish the feat. He was a four-time Triple Crown of Surfing champion (1984, 1986, 1988, and 1990), and two-time Pipeline Masters champion (1986 and 1993).

Kurt Thomas (1956–2020), first U.S. male gymnast to win gold at World Championships

Kurt Thomas was the first American male gymnast to win gold at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships.

Frank Bielec (1947–2020), "Trading Spaces" designer

Frank Bielec was a designer who appeared on TLC’s reality home improvement show “Trading Spaces.” He participated in every season from 2000 to 2008 and returned for the show’s 2018 revival.

S. David Freeman (1926–2020), ‘green cowboy’ who led the Tennessee Valley Authority

S. David Freeman was a renewable energy champion who led the Tennessee Valley Authority and advised presidents on green power.

Hillard “Sweet Pea” Atkinson (1945–2020), singer for Was (Not Was)

Hillard “Sweet Pea” Atkinson was the co-vocalist for pop funk band Was (Not Was), singing on hits including “Walk the Dinosaur” and “Spy in the House of Love.”

Millie Small (1946–2020), “My Boy Lollipop” singer

Millie Small was a Jamaican singer who had a hit in 1964 with “My Boy Lollipop,” which is considered to be the first international ska hit.

Big Al Carson (1953–2020), legendary New Orleans blues singer

Big Al Carson was a renowned blues singer who was a fixture of the New Orleans music scene.