Shirley Chisholm, 80. First black woman elected to Congress; first black person to seek a major party’s presidential nomination. Jan. 1.
Will Eisner, 87. Artist who revolutionized comic books (“The Spirit”), helped pioneer the graphic novel. Jan. 3.
Rosemary Kennedy, 86. Mentally disabled sister of President Kennedy; inspiration for the Special Olympics. Jan. 7.
James Forman, 76. A leader of the civil rights organization Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. Jan. 10.
Virginia Mayo, 84. Versatile Hollywood star of 1940s and 50s (“White Heat,” “The Best Years of Our Lives”). Jan. 17.
Walter B. Wriston, 85. Citicorp chairman; oversaw development of ATMs, growth of credit card lending. Jan. 19.
Rose Mary Woods, 87. President Nixon’s secretary, who said she inadvertently erased part of the Watergate tape that had an 181/2-minute gap. Jan. 22.
Johnny Carson, 79. Quick-witted “Tonight Show” host who became a national institution. Jan. 23.
Philip Johnson, 98. Architect who promoted the “glass box” skyscraper, then smashed the mold with daring postmodernist designs. Jan. 25.
February
Max Schmeling, 99. German heavyweight whose bouts against Joe Louis set off a propaganda war. Feb. 2.
Ossie Davis, 87. Actor and civil rights activist; his rich baritone and elegant bearing graced stage and screen. Feb. 4.
George Herman, 85. CBS political reporter; longest-serving moderator of “Face the Nation.” Feb. 8.
Arthur Miller, 89. One of the greatest playwrights of the 20th century, who gave the world “Death of a Salesman” and married Marilyn Monroe. Feb. 10.
Rafik Hariri, 60. Tycoon who led the rebuilding of Lebanon as its prime minister. Feb. 14. Bombing in Beirut.
Sandra Dee, 62. Teen-queen actress (“Gidget”); married Bobby Darin. Feb. 20. Complications of kidney disease.
Hunter S. Thompson, 67. Acerbic counterculture writer (“Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”). Feb. 20. Suicide.
Jef Raskin, 61. Conceived Apple’s Macintosh computer. Feb. 26.
March
Hans Bethe, 98. Won Nobel for figuring out how stars generate energy. March 6.
Teresa Wright, 86. Sweet-faced, Oscar-winning actress (“Mrs. Miniver,” “The Best Years of Our Lives”). March 6.
George F. Kennan, 101. Diplomat, Pulitzer-winning historian; gave the name “containment” to Cold War policy. March 17.
John DeLorean, 80. Automotive innovator. March 19.
Bobby Short, 80. Suave cabaret singer; epitomized Manhattan sophistication. March 21.
Johnnie L. Cochran Jr., 67. Became legal superstar during O.J. Simpson trial. “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit.” March 29.
Howell Heflin, 83. Three-term Alabama senator; influential voice on judicial nominations. March 29.
Fred Korematsu, 86. Challenged World War II internment of Japanese-Americans. March 30.
Frank Perdue, 84. Folksy CEO whose commercials proclaimed “it takes a tough man to make a tender chicken.” March 31.
Terri Schiavo, 41. Brain-damaged woman whose case became a national controversy. March 31.
April
Pope John Paul II, 84. Helped topple communism in Europe and left a deeply conservative stamp on the church he led for 26 years. April 2.
Saul Bellow, 89. Nobel-winning author of “Herzog,” “Humboldt’s Gift.” April 5.
Dale Messick, 98. Created long-running comic strip “Brenda Starr, Reporter.” April 5.
Prince Rainier III, 81. His fairy-tale marriage to Grace Kelly brought Hollywood glamour to Monaco. April 6.
Zhang Chunqiao, 88. One of the Gang of Four that terrorized China during the Cultural Revolution. April 21.
Sir John Mills, 97. Oscar-winner for “Ryan’s Daughter”; Hayley Mill’s father. April 23.
Ezer Weizman, 80. Former Israeli president; helped bring about first peace treaty with an Arab country. April 24.
May
Kenneth B. Clark, 90. Psychologist who influenced Supreme Court decision banning school segregation. May 1.
Peter W. Rodino Jr., 95. Twenty-term New Jersey congressman; led House impeachment investigation of Nixon. May 7.
Ismail Merchant, 68. With partner James Ivory, produced intelligent film dramas (“The Remains of the Day”). May 25.
Eddie Albert, 99. Actor; the befuddled city-slicker-turned-farmer on “Green Acres.” May 26.
Don McGaffin, 78. A gutsy newsman known by friends and colleagues as a fearless “reporter’s reporter” on KING Television in the 1970s and early ’80s. May 29.
Martin J. Durkan Sr., 81. A former state senator and longtime political powerhouse and patriarch of a leading family in Washington state law, politics and influence. May 29.
June
Anne Bancroft, 73. Won 1962 Oscar as Helen Keller’s teacher in “The Miracle Worker”; achieved even greater fame in “The Graduate.” June 6.
Jim Exon, 83. Two-term Nebraska governor, three-term senator; helped shape military policy. June 10.
Malcolm Stamper, 80. Spearheaded development of the Boeing Co.’s 747 jumbo jet. He later served as Boeing’s president and sat on the board of directors from 1972 to 1985. June 14.
Jack Kilby, 81. Nobel laureate whose 1958 invention of the integrated circuit opened the way for microchips, the brains of computers and electronic gadgets. June 20.
Cardinal Jaime Sin, 76. One of Asia’s top religious leaders, aided the “people power” revolts that ousted two Philippine presidents. June 21.
Shelby Foote, 88. Brought Southern storyteller’s touch to his multivolume work on the Civil War and landmark PBS series. June 27.
July
Luther Vandross, 54. Grammy winner with lush voice on hits such as”Here and Now” and the bittersweet “Dance With My Father.” July 1. Stroke.
Gaylord Nelson, 89. Former Wisconsin governor and senator; founded Earth Day. July 3.
Hank Stram, 82. Football coach; took Kansas City Chiefs to two Super Bowls. July 4.
James Stockdale, 81. Ross Perot’s 1992 running mate; retired vice admiral who received Medal of Honor after enduring 71/2 years in a North Vietnamese prison. July 5.
L. Patrick Gray, 88. Acting FBI director during Watergate break-in. July 6.
Sir Edward Heath, 89. Prime minister who led England into the European Union. July 17.
Retired Gen. William Westmoreland, 91. Commanded American troops in Vietnam. July 18.
James Doohan, 85. Played beloved chief engineer “Scotty” on “Star Trek.” July 20.
Sir Richard Doll, 92. British scientist who first established link between smoking, lung cancer. July 24.
John Garang, 60. Longtime Sudanese rebel who had recently been sworn in as the country’s No. 2 leader. July 30. Helicopter crash.
August
Saudi Arabia’s King Fahd, 84. He sought to modernize his kingdom while balancing change against orthodox Islam. Aug. 1.
Peter Jennings, 67. Longtime ABC News anchor, part of a triumvirate that dominated network news for two decades. Aug. 7.
John H. Johnson, 87. Publisher whose Ebony, Jet magazines countered stereotypical coverage of blacks. Aug. 8.
Barbara Bel Geddes, 82. Oscar-nominated actress (“I Remember Mama”); Miss Ellie Ewing in “Dallas.” Aug. 8.
Ted “Double Duty” Radcliffe, 103. Negro Leagues star given nickname by Damon Runyon. Aug. 11.
Vassar Clements, 77. Nashville fiddle virtuoso, A-list studio musician. Aug. 16.
Robert A. Moog, 71. His synthesizers revolutionized music in the 1960s. Aug. 21.
Hendrikje van Andel-Schipper, age 115 years, 2 months and 1 day. Dutchwoman listed as world’s oldest person. Aug. 30.
Joseph Rotblat, 96. Won Nobel Peace Prize for efforts against atomic weapons. Aug. 31.
September
Bob Denver, 70. Bumbling namesake of “Gilligan’s Island” who delighted generations of TV fans. Sept. 2.
Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, 80. In 33 years on the high court, he oversaw the high court’s conservative shift and presided over President Clinton’s impeachment trial. Sept. 3.
Chris Schenkel, 82. Sportscaster whose easygoing baritone won fans during a more than six-decade broadcasting career. Sept. 11.
Robert Wise, 91. Won four Oscars as producer and director of “West Side Story,” “The Sound of Music.” Sept. 14.
Simon Wiesenthal, 96. Holocaust survivor who helped track down Nazi criminals, fought prejudice. Sept. 20.
Molly Yard, 93. Led National Organization for Women during fight over Robert Bork’s Supreme Court nomination. Sept. 21.
Don Adams, 82. The fumbling secret agent Maxwell Smart in TV’s Bond spoof “Get Smart.” Sept. 25.
Constance Baker Motley, 84. Civil rights lawyer who took part in key desegregation cases; later first black woman federal judge. Sept. 28.
October
August Wilson, 60. Playwright whose 10-play cycle on the black experience included landmark dramas such as “Fences,” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” Lived in Seattle. Oct. 2. Liver cancer.
Milton Obote, 80. Two-time president of Uganda; initial term ended with a coup led by Idi Amin, second was best known for its harsh repression. Oct. 10.
Elmer “Len” Dresslar Jr., 80. The booming voice of the Jolly Green Giant. Oct. 16.
Shirley Horn, 71. Jazz pianist and vocalist; revered as master interpreter of American standards. Oct. 20.
Rosa Parks, 92. Her refusal to give up her bus seat to a white man sparked the modern civil rights movement. Oct. 24.
Al Lopez, 97. Hall of Fame catcher; managed pennant-winning teams in 1954 (Indians) and 1959 (White Sox). Oct. 30.
November
Skitch Henderson, 87. Began a television tradition as first bandleader of “The Tonight Show.” Nov. 1.
John Fowles, 79. British author (“The Collector,” “The French Lieutenant’s Woman”). Nov. 5.
Link Wray, 76. Guitar innovator; inspired legends such as Bruce Springsteen, Pete Townshend. Nov. 5.
Peter F. Drucker, 95. His books stressing innovation and entrepreneurship deeply influenced the world of business. Nov. 11.
Ralph Edwards, 92. Broadcasting pioneer who spotlighted stars and ordinary people as host of the popular show “This Is Your Life.” Nov. 16.
Pat Morita, 73. Nominated for Oscar for role as the wise martial-arts teacher in “The Karate Kid.” Nov. 24.
George Best, 59. One of the most dazzling players in soccer history. Nov. 25. Alcohol abuse.
December
Eugene McCarthy, 89. Former Minnesota senator whose antiwar campaign toppled Lyndon Johnson in 1968. Dec. 10.
Richard Pryor, 65. Actor-comedian whose profanely personal insights into race relations made him one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Dec. 10.
William Proxmire, 90. Former Wisconsin senator who fought government waste with “Golden Fleece” awards. Dec. 15.
John Spencer, 58. Played the powerful chief of staff, later vice presidential candidate, on TV’s “The West Wing.” Dec. 16.
Jack Anderson, 83. Muckraking columnist renowned for his tenacity; on Nixon’s “enemies list.” Dec. 17.
Vincent “The Chin” Gigante, 77. Mob boss who avoided jail for years by feigning mental illness. Dec. 19.
From the Associated Press and Herald archives
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