Jerry Kennedy, Who Helped Define Music in Nashville, Dies at 85
Obituaries, Yesterday
A guitarist and record producer, he played a role in creating hits by popular singers like Roger Miller, Roy Orbison, Tom T. Hall and Tammy Wynette.
How The Times Remembered 15 Winter Olympics Greats
Sports, Yesterday
Obituaries have memorialized the lives of a figure-skating trailblazer, a “Miracle on Ice” hockey player, a bobsledder who overcame blindness, and more.
Alfred Blumstein, Who Transformed the Study of Crime, Dies at 95
Science, Yesterday
An engineer by training, he used systems theory and quantitative analysis to examine criminal behavior, revealing the systemic patterns of crime.
King Leatherbury, Trainer and Trader of Horses, Dies at 92
U.S., February 14
He trained mostly lesser-known, cheaper thoroughbreds in Maryland and was the fifth-winningest trainer in North American history.
ElRoy Face, Ace Forkballer and Effective Closer for Pirates, Dies at 97
U.S., February 14
Face was one of the first major-league hurlers to make the closer job a specialty. Not an overpowering pitcher, he finagled outs with a tricky forkball.
Roy Medvedev, Soviet Era Historian and Dissident, Is Dead at 100
World, February 14
His score of books and hundreds of essays documented Stalinist executions, Communist repressions and censorship, and the transition to post-Soviet Russia.
David J. Farber, ‘Grandfather of the Internet,’ Dies at 91
Technology, February 14
A researcher, professor and federal policy adviser, he guided students who went on to do groundbreaking work in connecting the world online.
Ebo Taylor, Musical Innovator of Highlife and Afrobeat, Dies at 90
Arts, February 13
Borrowing from jazz and African rhythms, he forged a singular style that helped define music in his native Ghana — and West Africa — for a generation.
Bob Croft, Who Dived Deep Into the Ocean on a Single Breath, Dies at 91
U.S., February 13
His derring-do and unusual lung capacity led him to make record-breaking dives of more than 200 feet into the Atlantic without wearing a scuba tank or fins.
Vicki Abt, Who Said TV Talk Shows Coarsened Society, Dies at 83
Arts, February 13
A Penn State sociology professor, she warned that hosts like Oprah Winfrey exploited vulnerable guests on television and sensationalized deviancy.
Greg Brown, Guitarist Who Wrote Cake’s Biggest Hit, Dies at 56
Arts, February 12
His song “The Distance,” released in 1996, became an anthem for the disaffected members of Generation X.
Daniel Cathiard Dies at 81; Turned Bordeaux Estate Into Champion Winery
Food, February 12
He came to winemaking late, after a career in retail, and turned the 18th-century Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte into one of France’s most esteemed vineyards.
Helmuth Rilling, Who Recorded Huge Swaths of Bach, Dies at 92
Arts, February 12
He was the first to record all of J.S. Bach’s nearly 200 sacred cantatas, a project that stood out not only for its range but also for its steadfast style.
‘Dawson’s Creek’ Heartthrob James Van Der Beek Dies at 48
Video, February 12
James Van Der Beek, who played the wide-eyed, overly sensitive main character on the popular turn-of-the-millennium TV drama series “Dawson’s Creek,” died on Wednesday at age 48.
Bud Cort, Who Starred in 1971’s ‘Harold and Maude,’ Dies at 77
Movies, February 12
The role, one of his first, made him a household name and a film idol of the anti-establishment 1970s. But it also limited his growth as an actor.
Tamas Vasary, Pianist of Power and Sensitivity, Dies at 92
Arts, February 11
He bought technical brilliance and stylistic authority to Romantic-era music, particularly the works of Chopin and Liszt.
Ken Peplowski, Who Helped Revive the Jazz Clarinet, Dies at 66
Arts, February 11
Also a saxophone standout, he served as stylistic bridge between the Benny Goodman swing era and the genre-blurring present.
LaMonte McLemore, Founding Singer With the 5th Dimension, Dies at 90
Arts, February 11
His group notched smooth hippie-era hits like “Up, Up and Away” and “The Age of Aquarius” in embracing a genre-blurring sound they called “champagne soul.”
James Van Der Beek, actor de ‘Dawson’s Creek’, muere a los 48 años
En español, February 11
La estrella apareció por primera vez en el exitoso drama televisivo como un inocente joven de 15 años, que luego creció a lo largo de seis temporadas. Anunció que tenía cáncer en 2024.
Andrew Ranken, Whose Drumming Powered the Pogues, Dies at 72
Arts, February 11
Known as “The Clobberer,” he pounded out driving rhythms that fueled the band’s boisterous blend of traditional Irish music, rock and punk.
James Van Der Beek, Teenage Heartthrob of ‘Dawson’s Creek,’ Dies at 48
Arts, February 11
He first appeared in a hit TV drama as a wide-eyed 15-year-old who then grew up over six seasons. He announced he had cancer in 2024.
Ray Mouton Dies at 78; Lawyer Warned of Pedophilia in the Catholic Church
U.S., February 11
After defending one of the first priests charged with child sex abuse, he coauthored a 1985 report warning that the problem was endemic and ignoring it could be catastrophic.
Hudson Talbott Dies at 76; Wrote and Illustrated Wide-Ranging Children’s Books
Books, February 10
His book about time-traveling dinosaurs became a movie. He also adapted the Broadway show “Into the Woods” for young readers and wrote about his struggles with dyslexia.
Gabor Boritt, Refugee Who Became Expert on Lincoln, Dies at 86
Books, February 10
He survived the Holocaust and Communist rule in Hungary, arrived penniless in New York and made himself into a pre-eminent Civil War scholar.
Ray Handley, Ill-Fated Giants Coach, Is Dead at 81
Sports, February 9
He took over a champion N.F.L. team, succeeding the popular Bill Parcells, then led it to two disappointing seasons, drawing the ire of players and fans.
Fred Smith, Who Left Blondie for the Band Television, Dies at 77
Obituaries, February 9
In the ’70s, New York’s bohemia was devoted to hostile yet arty rock. Mr. Smith had two qualities rare in the scene: personal and musical understatement.
Mark Marquess, Who Made Stanford a Baseball Powerhouse, Dies at 78
Obituaries, February 8
Over 41 seasons as head coach, he won two national titles and sent more than 200 players to the major leagues, including Mike Mussina and Jack McDowell.
Brad Arnold, Rocker Who Fronted 3 Doors Down, Dies at 47
Arts, February 8
He wrote the band’s breakout hit, “Kryptonite,” in a high school math class, and would go on to be nominated for three Grammy Awards.
Suzannah Lessard Dies at 81; Stanford White Descendant Who Wrote a Haunting Family Memoir
Books, February 7
Growing up in a family of secrets, on a compound designed by her great-grandfather, made her a writer who investigated the built world with a wary eye.
Roland Huntford, Lore-Debunking Historian of Polar Exploration, Dies at 98
World, February 7
He caused an uproar by challenging the heroic status of Robert Falcon Scott, the Briton who led a doomed quest to the South Pole in 1912.
Philippe Morillon, General Who Made Fateful Protection Promise, Dies at 90
World, February 7
“I will never abandon you,” he told residents of Srebrenica amid sectarian armed conflict in Bosnia. The town later suffered the worst massacre in Europe since World War II.
Saalumarada Thimmakka Dies; Planted and Nurtured Thousands of Trees
World, February 6
Believed to be 113, she spent decades building an environmental legacy in India, inspired by her grief at being unable to conceive children.
Sonny Jurgensen, One of N.F.L.’s Greatest Passers, Dies at 91
Sports, February 6
The Hall of Fame quarterback threw 255 touchdown passes with the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins.
Myra MacPherson, Who Wrote Wrenchingly About Vietnam Vets, Dies at 91
U.S., February 5
A political reporter at The Washington Post, she also wrote “Long Time Passing,” about the Vietnam War’s social, political and psychological aftereffects.
Ted Berger, Indefatigable Patron of Artists and Schools, Dies at 85
Arts, February 5
As head of the New York Foundation for the Arts, he oversaw almost $23 million in grants and helped bring arts education to struggling schools.
Blanche Marvin, 100, Dies; Critic Was, Maybe, ‘Streetcar’ Inspiration
Theater, February 4
She was a ubiquitous presence at London theaters and claimed to have inspired the name — and final words — of Tennessee Williams’s Blanche DuBois.
Mickey Lolich, Hero of the 1968 World Series, Dies at 85
Sports, February 4
A Detroit Tigers pitcher, he was famous for his ample waistline — and for his three complete-game wins in defeating the Cardinals, making him the Series’ M.V.P.
Lee H. Hamilton, a Foreign Policy Power in Congress, Dies at 94
U.S., February 4
A moderate Democrat from Indiana for 34 years, he led the House Foreign Affairs and Intelligence committees and helped investigate the Iran-contra scandal and the Sept. 11 attacks.
Virginia Oliver, Maine’s ‘Lobster Lady’ and Folk Hero, Dies at 105
Business, February 3
She fished off the New England coast for more than 80 years, and intended to continue until she died. “It’s not hard work for me,” she said at 101.
Tom Britt, Designer of Larger-Than-Life Interiors, Dies at 89
Arts, February 3
A master of the grand gesture, he was as theatrical as his rooms, which were inspired by French chateaus and Italian palazzos. As he put it, “Why be ordinary?”
Michael Parenti, Unapologetic Marxist Theorist and Author, Dies at 92
U.S., February 3
A prolific writer and lecturer, he viewed U.S. history through the lens of class struggle. But some accused him of defending brutal regimes in the Soviet Union and Serbia.
Chuck Negron, Singer With Three Dog Night, Is Dead at 83
Arts, February 3
His tenor anchored generational hits like “Joy to the World” and “One.”
Woodie King Jr., Impresario of Black Theater, Dies at 88
Theater, February 2
His New Federal Theater in New York provided a rare stage for Black playwrights and emerging actors, among them Denzel Washington, Phylicia Rashad and Chadwick Boseman.
John Forté, Hip-Hop Redemption Tale, Dies at 50
Arts, February 2
He seemed destined for a glittering career, working with the Fugees and solo, then landed in prison. After a presidential pardon, he clawed his way back.
Billy Bass Nelson, Original Bassist for Funkadelic, Dies at 75
Arts, February 2
George Clinton, while working as a barber, recruited him. Mr. Nelson went on to name the group and, with his bandmates, to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
James Sallis, 81, Dies; Novelist Whose ‘Drive’ Became a Hit Movie
Obituaries, February 2
A storyteller of modern America’s underbelly with a literary, ruminative style, he inspired a Ryan Gosling movie and earned critical acclaim.
Robert Pratt, Federal Judge Who Derided Trump Pardons, Dies at 78
Obituaries, February 1
He was chastised for remarks ridiculing the pardons of two congressional campaign aides who had been convicted in a bribery plot.
X.J. Kennedy, a Poet of Wit Who Clung to Rhyme and Meter, Dies at 96
Books, February 1
Spurning the free verse of many of his contemporaries, he held to an older tradition. He also wrote spirited poems for children.
T. Kumar, Rights Activist Who Was Shaped by His Time in Prison, Dies at 76
World, January 31
After being jailed as a resistance organizer for the Tamil minority in his native Sri Lanka, he spoke out against governmental repression worldwide.
Laura Maioglio, Whose Restaurant Was a Theater District Mainstay, Dies at 93
Food, January 31
Since 1962, she had overseen her father’s stately Italian restaurant, Barbetta, and became one of the city’s most enduring female restaurateurs.
Demond Wilson, Long-Suffering Son on ‘Sanford and Son,’ Dies at 79
Arts, January 31
As Lamont, he was a young man in constant battle with his father and business partner, played by Redd Foxx, on the popular 1970s series.
Morris Waxler, F.D.A. Official Who Switched Stance on Lasik, Dies at 88
Obituaries, January 31
While at the federal agency, he approved the laser device for eye surgery but later warned of its potential to cause harm.
Catherine O’Hara, Actress in ‘Home Alone’ and ‘Schitt’s Creek,’ Dies at 71
Video, January 30
The Emmy-winning comedian Catherine O’Hara, best known for her roles in “Home Alone,” “Schitt’s Creek” and “Beetlejuice,” and as a member of the influential Canadian sketch comedy series “SCTV,” died at the age of 71.
Dan McQuade, a Catalyst in Cosby’s Downfall, Dies at 43
U.S., January 30
His viral video of the comedian Hannibal Buress calling Bill Cosby a rapist helped spur broader coverage of sexual-assault accusations against a once-beloved entertainer.
‘Produce Pete’ Napolitano, a Fruit and Vegetable Celebrity, Dies at 80
Business, January 30
For more than 30 years, he drew fans for dispensing weekly produce punditry on a New York television station, building on a sales career that began when he was 5.
Co-Stars and Fans Pay Tribute to Catherine O’Hara
Arts, January 30
Videos and photos filled social media as fans shared their favorite scenes from O’Hara’s acting career and co-stars memorialized her.
Catherine O’Hara, actriz de ‘Mi pobre angelito’ y ‘Beetlejuice’, muere a los 71 años
En español, January 30
La comediante canadiense interpretó a personajes icónicos de madres despistadas y con un humor mordaz.
Roger Allers Dies at 76; Helped Put ‘Lion King’ on Screens and Onstage
Movies, January 30
A Disney fan who once “flew” off his couch as a 4-year-old Peter Pan, he was a co-director of the animated film and a co-writer of the Broadway musical, both of them megahits.
Björn Roth, Steward of an Expansive Family Art Practice, Dies at 64
Arts, January 30
With his father, the artist Dieter Roth, and later his own sons, he created unconventional installations that he described as a “search for beauty in nothing.”
Catherine O’Hara, ‘Home Alone’ and ‘Schitt’s Creek’ Actress, Dies at 71
Arts, January 30
The Emmy-winning comedian was a member of the influential Canadian sketch comedy series “SCTV.”
Michael Beck, 65, Dies; First to Report Symptoms of ‘Havana Syndrome’
U.S., January 29
As an employee with the N.S.A., he claimed he was exposed to a direct-energy device that led to a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease.
John L. Allen Jr., Journalist With Inside Access to the Vatican, Dies at 61
Business, January 29
He seemed to know everyone at the Holy See, and it showed in his reporting for the National Catholic Reporter and his website, Crux, though some said he grew too close to his sources.
Angella Ferguson, a Leader in Sickle Cell Anemia Research, Dies at 100
Health, January 28
A Black female doctor when that was rare, she developed a diagnostic test for the disease that is still a standard tool, as well as treatment guidelines.
Geoff Mason, Sports Producer Thrust Into Covering Terrorism, Dies at 85
Sports, January 28
He played a critical role in ABC Sports’s reporting on the attack by a Palestinian group at the 1972 Summer Games in Munich that left 11 Israeli team members dead.
Sly Dunbar, Whose Drumming Brought Complex Beats to Reggae, Dies at 73
Arts, January 28
As one half of the famed rhythm duo Sly and Robbie, he played with some of the biggest names in music, including Bob Dylan and Mick Jagger.
Johnny Legend, a King of Trash Culture, Dies at 77
Arts, January 27
His forays into rockabilly music, wrestling and erotic films made him a cult hero in a career as confounding as that of his friend Andy Kaufman.
Gladys West, Unsung Figure in Development of GPS, Dies at 95
Science, January 27
As a Navy mathematician in the 1950s and beyond, she played an unheralded but foundational role in making possible the global satellite-based mapping system.
Peter H. Duesberg, 89, Renowned Biologist Turned H.I.V. Denialist, Dies
Science, January 27
His pioneering work on the origins of cancer was later overshadowed by his contrarian views, notably his rejection of the established theory that H.I.V. causes AIDS.
Thomas Fogarty, 91, Who Helped Revolutionize Vascular Surgery, Dies
Science, January 26
Drawing on his love of fly-fishing, he developed a balloon catheter that removes blood clots from patients’ limbs in a minimally invasive way. It has saved millions of lives.
George Cabot Lodge, Last of His Family to Battle a Kennedy, Dies at 98
Obituaries, January 25
The two Massachusetts clans faced off in elections for decades, until a final 1962 Senate race. Despite his loss, Mr. Lodge praised his opponent, Ted Kennedy.
Floyd Vivino, Throwback Comedian Known as Uncle Floyd, Dies at 74
New York, January 25
His silly, vaudeville-style variety show was filled with his piano playing, skits, puppets and guest stars like Cyndi Lauper and Bon Jovi.
Marian Goodman, Eminent New York Art Dealer, Dies at 97
Obituaries, January 25
Although known for promoting German painters, she also sought out artists who shunned painting in favor of newer mediums, like photography and film.
William H. Foege, Key Figure in the Eradication of Smallpox, Dies at 89
U.S., January 25
His containment strategy helped wipe out the disease in the 1970s, one of the world’s greatest public health triumphs. He also led the C.D.C. and promoted childhood vaccination worldwide.
Pat Montandon, Socialite Who Sought Publicity, and Then World Peace, Dies at 96
Style, January 24
She was known for her lavish parties and her marriage to one of the richest men in San Francisco. After he left her, she found a new purpose: visiting world leaders to plead for peace.
Beatriz González, Who Chronicled Colombia’s Turmoil in Paint, Dies at 93
Arts, January 24
Often drawing from reproduced images or newspaper photos, she made work that quietly yet memorably critiqued her country’s social and political order.
Edith Flanigen, Award-Winning Research Chemist, Dies at 96
Science, January 24
She and her staff at Union Carbide created synthetic materials that improved various industrial processes, including purifying water. She also developed a way to make emeralds.
John Brodie, a Star Quarterback for the 49ers, Dies at 90
Obituaries, January 24
He endured years of frustration before emerging as the N.F.L.’s most valuable player.
John H. Beyer, 92, Dies; Architect Championed Historic Preservation
Arts, January 23
The last surviving founder of Beyer Blinder Belle, he helped safeguard New York City’s past even as developers raced to push the city into the future.
Pedro Sanchez, Who Helped Feed the Developing World, Dies at 85
Science, January 23
A soil scientist, he partnered with the United Nations and other organizations to bring productive agricultural practices to uncooperative terrain.
Louis E. Brus, Nobel Laureate Who Illuminated the Nanoworld, Dies at 82
Science, January 23
He accidentally created some of the first quantum dots, tiny semiconductors that now power many electronics.
James Bernard, a Founding Editor of a Hip-Hop ‘Bible,’ Dies at 58
Arts, January 22
One of the most influential voices of the seminal magazine The Source, he chronicled rap’s rise and its explosion into the cultural mainstream.
Alfred McLaren, 93, Dies; Submariner Led Secret Cold War Missions
U.S., January 22
He participated in the first baseball game at the North Pole. Later, he became an expert in the impact of climate change on Arctic ice sheets.
Barbara G. Walker, Guru to the Kniterati, Is Dead at 95
Style, January 22
After teaching herself to knit, she invented and cataloged stitch patterns, publishing seven foundational books that sold hundreds of thousands of copies.
Rifaat al-Assad, Paramilitary Leader and ‘Butcher of Hama,’ Dies at 88
World, January 22
The brother and uncle of Syrian tyrants, he commanded a unit that killed up to 40,000 civilians in a 1982 uprising against his family’s rule.
Barbara Aronstein Black, a First as a Law School Dean, Dies at 92
U.S., January 21
A legal historian, she broke a gender barrier as the first woman to lead an Ivy League law school, serving as dean of Columbia Law from 1986 to 1991.
Stephen Hess, 92, an Eminent, and Quotable, Political Scientist, Dies
U.S., January 21
A Brookings Institution scholar, he advised presidents and wrote books on the media (assessing reporters in one) and government (including a study of beleaguered press officers).
Manolo Villaverde, Tender Father on Bilingual TV Show, Dies at 89
Arts, January 21
He played Pepe Peña on “¿Qué Pasa, U.S.A.?,” a series about a Cuban American family that is believed to be the United States’ first bilingual sitcom.
Georges Borchardt, 97, Dies; Literary Agent Championed Wiesel’s ‘Night’
Obituaries, January 20
Renowned in his field, he counted among his clients five Nobel laureates, including Elie Wiesel, and eight Pulitzer winners as well as the estates of Tennessee Williams and Aldous Huxley.
David Rosen, 95, Dies; Video Game Visionary and Co-Founder of Sega
Business, January 20
He transformed his Japanese photo booth business into a gaming industry game giant that created Mortal Kombat, Sonic the Hedgehog and more.
Valentino Garavani, diseñador de moda italiano, muere a los 93 años
En español, January 19
Valentino, como era conocido, creó una de las marcas más duraderas de la industria de la moda, y se convirtió en un miembro, como sus clientes, de la alta sociedad.
Valentino Garavani, Regal Designer and Fashion’s ‘Last Emperor,’ Dies at 93
Style, January 19
Valentino, as he was called, created one of the most durable and fashionable labels and became an equal of his high society customers.
Ralph Towner, Eclectic Guitarist With the Ensemble Oregon, Dies at 85
Arts, January 18
A composer and pianist as well, he was a prolific recording artist who integrated jazz, classical and world music traditions in a career that spanned seven decades.
Wilbur Wood, Ironman Knuckleballer for the White Sox, Is Dead at 84
Sports, January 18
He threw more innings in a season than any player since 1917. A three-time All-Star, he also had four 20-win seasons.
Joe Montgomery, Who Made Bicycles Lighter, Dies at 86
Obituaries, January 18
A founder of Cannondale, he was among the first in the U.S. to mass-produce bikes frames out of large-diameter aluminum tubes, replacing heavier steel.
Tina Packer, Powerhouse of Shakespeare Performance, Dies at 87
Theater, January 18
She was a founder and the longtime artistic director of Shakespeare & Company, a repertory theater in western Massachusetts, and directed all his plays.
Kristina Gjerde, Advocate for Ocean Biodiversity, Dies at 68
Climate, January 17
She played a key role in negotiating a landmark United Nations treaty to protect the high seas, an agreement that went into effect this weekend.
David Nabarro, U.N. Health Expert During Ebola and Covid, Dies at 75
U.S., July 31
He took on some of the world’s most challenging health crises in troubled areas, skillfully coordinating global efforts to reduce the spread of disease.
In China’s Covid Fog, Deaths of Scholars Offer a Clue
Interactive, February 5
The toll of China’s epidemic is unclear. But dozens of obituaries of the country’s top academics show an enormous loss in just a few weeks.
Sister André, World’s Oldest Known Person, Is Dead at 118
Foreign, January 18
A French nun, she lived through two world wars and the 1918 flu pandemic and, more than a century later, survived Covid-19. She enjoyed a bit of wine and chocolate daily.
Laura Anglin, a Leading New York State and City Official, Dies at 57
Obits, October 18
She was budget director in Albany and “was one of the unsung heroes” in helping to shape the pandemic response as a deputy mayor under Bill de Blasio.
Marc Lewitinn, Covid Patient, Dies at 76 After 850 Days on a Ventilator
Obits, September 9
While no definitive statistics exist, doctors say Mr. Lewitinn, a retired Manhattan store owner, likely remained on the device longer than any other Covid patient.
Joseph Hazelwood, Captain of the Exxon Valdez, Is Dead at 75
Obits, September 9
The tanker spilled millions of gallons of oil when it ran aground, causing one of the nation’s worst environmental disasters. He accepted responsibility but was demonized.
Dmitri Vrubel, Who Planted a Kiss on the Berlin Wall, Dies at 62
Obits, August 19
A Russian-born painter, he created a mural of the Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev smooching the East German leader Erich Honecker — and with it a tourist attraction.
Albert Woodfox, Survivor of 42 Years in Solitary Confinement, Dies at 75
Obits, August 5
His term in solitary was perhaps the longest in American history. He described how he kept his sanity, and dignity, in an acclaimed memoir.
Eli N. Evans, Who Wrote About Jews in American South, Dies at 85
Obits, August 2
His book “The Provincials” mixed memoir, travelogue and history to tell the story of a culture that many people never knew existed.
Vladimir Zelenko, 48, Dies; Promoted an Unfounded Covid Treatment
Obits, July 1
A self-described “simple country doctor,” he won national attention in 2020 when the White House embraced his hydroxychloroquine regimen.
Robert Goolrick Dies at 73; Became a Successful Novelist Late in Life
Obits, May 20
Being fired as an advertising executive freed him to write a blistering memoir about his Southern family and an erotic novel that became a best seller.
Stanislav Shushkevich, First Leader of Post-Soviet Belarus, Dies at 87
Obits, May 5
He helped formalize the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, led his country until 1994, then became a vocal critic of his successor, Aleksandr G. Lukashenko.