Carole D’Andrea (1937–2025), West Side Story actress 

Carole D’Andrea was an actress who originated the role of Velma in “West Side Story” on Broadway, then also played her in the 1961 film adaptation.

Dayle Haddon (1948–2024), L'Oréal spokeswoman and actress

Dayle Haddon was a Canadian model-actress best known as the 1973 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue cover model and longtime L'Oréal spokeswoman.

Rocky Colavito (1933–2024), Cleveland’s great MLB slugger

Rocky Colavito was a popular Major League Baseball player with the Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers in the 1950s and ‘60s, a six-time all-star who was one of the great sluggers of his era.

Tony Campolo (1935–2024), Red-Letter Christians co-founder

Tony Campolo was a pastor, sociologist, author, and spiritual advisor who penned dozens of books, was a popular television-show guest, and co-founded the Red-Letter Christian movement.

Judith Jamison (1943–2024), leader of Alvin Ailey dance troupe

Judith Jamison was an acclaimed dancer and choreographer who eventually became artistic director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, the famed modern dance company based in New York City.

Benny Golson (1929–2024), jazz saxophonist and composer

Benny Golson was a tenor saxophonist and composer whose work helped define the sound of hard bop and whose compositions have since become standards in the world of jazz.

Eugene “Mercury” Morris (1947–2024), two-time Super Bowl winner

Eugene “Mercury” Morris was a running back with the Miami Dolphins, winning two Super Bowls with the team in the 1970s and earning three Pro Bowl selections. 

Joe Schmidt (1932–2024), legendary Detroit Lions middle linebacker

Joe Schmidt was an NFL linebacker and coach for the Detroit Lions whose storied career led him to 10 consecutive Pro Bowls and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Bob Weatherwax (1941–2024), Lassie’s dog trainer

Bob Weatherwax was a dog trainer who, like his father, earned acclaim breeding and training the collies that portrayed Lassie.

Frankie Beverly (1946–2024), R&B singer and founder of Maze

Frankie Beverly was the frontman for the soul/funk band Maze, known for hits like “Can’t Get Over You” and “Back in Stride.” 

Don Wert (1938–2024), World Series-winning Detroit Tiger

Don Wert was a third baseman for the Detroit Tigers throughout the 1960s, going to the All-Star Game and winning the World Series in 1968.

Vic Seixas (1923–2024), mid-century tennis champ

Vic Seixas was a champion tennis player who won 15 Grand Slam titles and took victory in men’s singles at Wimbledon in 1953. 

Howard Fineman (1948–2024), noted political journalist and commentator

Howard Fineman was a political journalist and television commentator who became a mainstay at Newsweek and NBC, covering nine presidential elections over the course of his career.

Rev. James M. Lawson Jr. (1928–2024), civil rights leader

Rev. James M. Lawson Jr. was a civil rights leader whose focus on non-violent protest proved highly influential to and helped shape the 1960s civil rights movement.

Samm-Art Williams (1946–2024), playwright known for Home

Samm-Art Williams was an actor, writer, and producer who worked on shows like “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and “Martin” whose Tony Award-nominated 1979 play, “Home,” is returning to Broadway this summer.

Dr. Cyril Wecht (1931–2024), famed forensic pathologist

Dr. Cyril Wecht was a longtime forensic pathologist who became a high-profile public official after working on landmark cases like on the assassination of President , the killing, and death. 

Larry Beightol (1942–2024), longtime NFL coach

Larry Beightol was a lifelong football coach and Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame inductee who had a two-decade career in the NFL, including stints with the Packers, Jets, Dolphins and other teams. 

Albert "Tootie" Heath (1935–2024), giant of jazz percussion 

Albert "Tootie" Heath was a jazz percussionist who played with , , Herbie Hancock, and others, including his own brothers in Heath Brothers.0

Christopher Durang (1949–2024), Tony-winning comedic playwright

Christopher Durang was a Tony Award-winning, Pulitzer-finalist playwright known for “Miss Witherspoon” and “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike.”

Joe Flaherty (1941–2024), actor in Freaks and Geeks, SCTV

Joe Flaherty was an original cast member of “SCTV” who went on to memorable roles in “Happy Gilmore” and “Freaks and Geeks.”

Jim Beard (1960–2024), Steely Dan keyboardist since 2008 

Jim Beard was a musician and keyboardist who had performed with Donald Fagen’s Steely Dan since 2008, and he also recorded with such artists as , , Pat Metheny, and Steve Vai.

Ed Ott (1951–2024), hard-nosed Pirates catcher

Ed Ott was a tough, hard-nosed catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates and part of the squad that won the 1979 World Series.

Wilhelmenia Fernandez (1949–2024), acclaimed operatic soprano

Wilhelmenia Fernandez was an operatic soprano who toured the world and starred in the cult classic 1981 film “Diva.” 

Essra Mohawk (1948–2023), Schoolhouse Rock! singer-songwriter

Essra Mohawk was a singer-songwriter who penned hits for Cyndi Lauper and Tina Turner, worked with Frank Zappa, and sang for “Schoolhouse Rock!” and “Sesame Street.” 

Frank Wycheck (1971–2023), Music City Miracle tight end 

Frank Wycheck was an 11-year veteran of the National Football League (NFL) who threw the pass that led to the Music City Miracle, one of the most iconic moments in modern football history.

Julius Becton Jr. (1926–2023), former FEMA head

Lt. General Julius Becton Jr. was a Korean War and Vietnam War veteran who went on to head the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under President Ronald Reagan.

Larry Fink (1941–2023), social commentary and lifestyle photographer 

Larry Fink was a photographer and educator best known for how his images depicted the stark contrasts between the wealthy and the working classes at social events, often in black and white.

Joe Matt (1963–2023), cartoonist of the autobiographical Peepshow

Joe Matt was a cartoonist and illustrator best known for his autobiographical and deeply personal comic, “Peepshow.”

Dr. Richard Moriarty (1939–2023), Mr. Yuk poison symbol creator

Dr. Richard Moriarty was a pediatrician, a professor at the University of Pittsburgh, and the director of the Pittsburgh Poison Center, arguably best known as the creator of Mr. Yuk, a widely used symbol to alert people – especially kids – that a substance is poisonous.

Maxie Baughan (1938–2023), Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Famer 

Maxie Baughan was an NFL linebacker who made the Pro Bowl nine times and was inducted into the Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame.

Bobby Eli (1946–2023), Philadelphia musician, producer, and songwriter

Bobby Eli was a Philadelphia musician, producer, and songwriter known for his work with the studio band MFSB, as well as with artists like The Jacksons, , Jay-Z, and Elton John.

Peter Nero (1934–2023), Grammy-winning Philly Pops conductor 

Peter Nero was a Grammy Award-winning pianist, well-known as the conductor of Philly Pops for more than three decades and often interpreting popular music through jazz and classical styles.

Michael Norell (1937–2023), actor on Emergency!

Michael Norell was an actor and screenwriter who starred as Captain Henry “Hank” Stanley on the TV drama “Emergency!”

Ed Flanagan (1944–2023), Pro Bowl center for the Detroit Lions 

Ed Flanagan was a center for the Detroit Lions. He was chosen for four Pro Bowls and is a member of the Lions’ all-time team.

Dick Groat (1930–2023), World Series champ with Pirates, Cardinals 

Dick Groat was a baseball and basketball player who won two World Series, with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the St. Louis Cardinals.

Herb Douglas (1922–2023), oldest living U.S. Olympic medalist

Herb Douglas was a track and field star who won a bronze medal in long jump at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London.

Bud Shuster (1932–2023), longtime U.S. Rep. from Pennsylvania

Bud Shuster was a Republican who represented Pennsylvania’s 9th district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1973 to 2001.  

Pennsylvania Candy Factory Explosion (2023)

Seven people died in an explosion at the R.M. Palmer Candy Co. in West Reading, Pennsylvania, on Friday, March 24, 2023. Several others were injured.

Napoleon XIV (1938–2023), sang They’re Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!

Jerry Samuels was a singer and songwriter better known as Napoleon XIV, who had a novelty hit with “They’re Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!”

Ira “Bob” Born (1924–2023), candymaker who was called the Father of Peeps

Ira “Bob” Born was the former president of the candy company Just Born, where he invented Hot Tamales and created the process to mass-produce Peeps.

Jerry Blavat (1940–2023), legendary rock and roll DJ

Jerry Blavat was a Philadelphia DJ who became iconic as a radio and TV fixture for decades.

Keith Beaton (1950–2023), singer with Blue Magic

Keith Beaton was a singer with the Philadelphia soul group Blue Magic, known for hits including “Sideshow.”

Art McNally (1925–2023), NFL’s “father of instant replay”

Art McNally was an NFL official and executive who introduced the instant replay for reviewing plays.

Frances Hesselbein (1915–2022), former Girl Scouts CEO

Frances Hesselbein was the CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA in the 1970s and ‘80s, leading the group through notable changes.

Gerald Stern (1925–2022), award-winning poet

Gerald Stern was a poet who won a National Book Award in 1998 for his collection “This Time: New and Selected Poems.”

Billy Kametz (1987–2022), “Attack on Titan,” “Pokémon Journeys” voice actor

Billy Kametz was a voice actor known for his performances in anime including “Attack on Titan,” “Pokémon Journeys,” and “The Rising of the Shield Hero.”

Trudy Haynes (1926–2022), first Black TV weather reporter in the U.S.

Trudy Haynes was an Emmy Award-winning journalist who became the first Black TV weather reporter in the U.S. and the first Black TV reporter in Philadelphia.

South Street Shooting in Philadelphia (2022)

Three people were killed, and at least 11 others were injured, in a shooting in Philadelphia late Saturday, June 4, 2022.

Bobby Rydell (1942–2022), 1960s teen idol 

Bobby Rydell was a teen idol in the early 1960s known for the hits “Wildwood Days” and “Volare,” and who starred with Ann-Margaret in the film “Bye Bye Birdie.”