Deaths December 8 | History by KabAstro

1744 Marie-Anne de Mailly-Nesle, duchess de Châteauroux, French mistress of King Louis XV of France, dies at 28
1745 Etienne Fourmont, French orientalist notorious for stealing the work of others, dies at 62
1746 Charles Radclyffe, 5th Earl of Derwentwater, British politician, dies at 53
1756 William Stanhope, 1st Earl of Harrington, British statesman and diplomat
1768 Jean Denis Attiret, French Jesuit missionary and painter, dies at 66
1779 Nathan Alcock, English physician (b. 1707)
1785 Antonio Maria Mazzoni, Italian opera composer, dies at 68
1811 Eliza Poe, English-American actress and the mother of the American author Edgar Allan Po, dies of tuberculosis at 23 or 24
1830 H Benjamin Constant, French politician/writer, dies at 63
1831 James Hoban, architect who designed White House, dies
1850 Georg Sverdrup, Norwegian statesman, dies at 80
1854 George Cayley, English inventor who founded science of aerodynamics (built 1st glider to carry a person), dies at 80
1859 Thomas De Quincey, English writer (Confessions of English Opium Eater), dies at 74

George Boole (1815-1864)

English mathematician and logician (Boolean algebra), dies at 49

1870 Thomas Brassey, English civil engineering contractor, dies at 65
1874 Franz Wilhelm Ferling, German oboist and composer (48 études for oboe), dies at 78
1880 Charles Fisher, Canadian politician and jurist (Premier of the Colony of New Brunswick 1854-56, 1857-61), dies at 72 [1]
1885 William Henry Vanderbilt, American businessman, member of the Vanderbilt family, dies at 64
1894 Pafnuty Chebyshev, Russian mathematician (b. 1821)
1894 Willem Jan Frans Nuyens, Dutch physician and Roman Catholic historian, dies at 71
1896 Ernst Engel, German statistician and economist (Law of Engel), dies at 75
1900 Henry Russell, English pianist and composer, dies at 87

Herbert Spencer (1820-1903)

British philosopher (Social Statics) and sociologist, dies at 83

1907 Oscar II Frederick, King of Sweden (1987-1907), King of Norway (1872-1905), dies at 78
1910 George Doherty Johnston, American Brigadier General (Confederate Army), dies at 78
1914 Maximilian von Spee, German naval officer (b. 1861)
1917 Arthur Matthew Weld Downing, British mathematician and astronomer, dies at 67
1917 Mendele Moykher Sforim [Sholem Abramovich], Lithuanian-Jewish writer (Dos Vinshfingeril (The Wishing Ring)), dies at 81
1923 Dom Joseph Pothier, French monk and musicologist, dies at 88
1924 (Franz) Xaver Scharwenka, German pianist, educator, and composer (Mataswintha), dies at 74
1926 Jan Six, Dutch art historian and art collector (Six Collection), dies at 69
1933 Yamamoto Gonnohyōe, Japanese admiral and politician (Prime Minister of Japan 1913-1914, 1923-1924), dies at 81
1934 Bernhard Seklas, German pianist, composer, conductor, and pedagogue thought to be the first jazz instructor, dies at 62
1938 Friedrich Glauser, German-language Swiss writer (Sergeant Studer detective novels), dies of a stroke at 42
1939 Ernest Schelling, American child piano prodigy, conductor, and composer (A Victory Ball), dies of a cerebral embolism at 63
1940 George Exton Lloyd, Anglican Bishop and theologian (b. 1861)
1941 Frank "Pop" Morgenweck, American Basketball HOF contributor (team owner/coach in 18 cities), dies at 66

Albert Kahn (1869-1942)

American architect known as the "architect of Detroit", dies at 73

1945 Alexander Siloti, Russian pianist and composer, dies at 82
1945 Richard M. Jones, American jazz pianist, accompanist, songwriter ("Trouble In Mind"), record producer (Louis Armstrong) and label manager (Okeh; Decca; Mercury), dies at 53
1951 Bobby Lowe, American baseball second baseman (first player to hit 4 HRs in one MLB game, 1894 Boston Beaneaters), dies at 86
1952 Charles Lightoller, British mariner (Second Officer of HMS Titanic), WWI Royal Navy officer, WWII Small Vessels Pool volunteer, dies of heart disease at 78
1954 Gladys George, American actress (Roaring Twenties), dies at 50
1955 Jacques Handschin, Swiss musicologist (Der Toncharakter), dies at 69
1956 Edgar Bainton, British-Australian composer, dies at 76
1957 Reginald Sheffield, British actor (Suspicion; Of Human Bondage; Second Chance), dies at 56

Tris Speaker (1888-1958)

American Baseball HOF outfielder (World Series 1912, 15, 20; AL MVP 1912; career batting average .345 [6th all-time]; Cleveland Indians) and manager (Cleveland Indians 1919-26), dies at 70

1961 William Beatton Moonie, Scottish composer (The Weird of Colbar; Echoes of Perthshire), dies at 71
1963 Field Marshal Sarit Dhanarajata, Prime Minister of Thailand (b. 1908)
1966 Ward Morehouse, American theater critic and newspaper columnist (b. 1899)
1967 John Mills, Sr., American singer (Mills Brothers) (b. 1889)

Robert Henry Lawrence, Jr. (1935-1967)

Jr., 1st African-American astronaut and U.S. Air Force major, dies in a crash of an F-104 Starfighter while training at 32

1969 Vincenzo Davico, composer, dies at 80
1970 Christopher Kelk Ingold, English chemist (Cahn–Ingold–Prelog priority rules), dies at 77
1972 George Collins, (Rep-Ill), dies at 47, in airplane crash
1974 Hugues Panassié, French jazz critic, record producer, and impresario (Hot Club de France), dies at 62
1975 Gary Thain, New Zealand bassist (Uriah Heep, 1972-75), dies of respiratory failure due to a heroin overdose, at 27

Golda Meir (1898-1978)

Israeli teacher, stateswoman and 4th Prime Minister of Israel (1969-74) known as the "Iron Lady" of Israeli politics, dies in of lymphatic cancer at 80

John Lennon (1940-1980)

British musician, pop star and member of The Beatles (Imagine), shot and murdered outside of his home in NYC by Mark David Chapman at 40

1981 "Big" Walter [Horton], American blues harmonica player (Everybody's Fishin'), dies of heart failure at about 60 [year of birth disputed]
1982 André Kamperveen, Suriname footballer, politician, administrator, and pro-democracy advocate murdered by the military at 58
1982 Bram Behr, Surinamese journalist and communist advocate, murdered by the military at 31
1982 Cyrill Daal, Suriname worker's union leader, and pro-democracy advocate murdered by the military
1982 Frank Wijngaarde, Suriname journalist and pro-democracy advocate murdered by the military
1982 Gerard Leckie, Suriname scholar and pro-democracy advocate murdered by the military at 39
1982 Harald Riedewald, Suriname attorney and pro-democracy advocate murdered by the military
1982 John Baboeram, Suriname lawyer and pro-democracy advocate murdered by the military
1982 Jozef Slagveer, Suriname journalist, and pro-democracy advocate murdered by the military
1982 Kenneth Goncalves, Suriname deacon and pro-democracy advocate murdered by the military
1982 Leslie Rahman, Suriname journalist, and pro-democracy advocate murdered by the military
1982 Marty Robbins, American country singer (Devil Woman; I Walk Alone), dies of complications following cardiac surgery at 57
1982 Surendre Rambocus, Suriname army lieutenant, and pro-democracy advocate murdered by the military at 29

Keith Holyoake (1904-1983)

26th Prime Minister of New Zealand (National: 1960-72), dies of a stroke at 79

1983 Slim Pickens [Louis Burton Lindley Jr], American rodeo performer and actor (Dr Strangelove; Blazing Saddles), dies following surgery at 64
1984 Luther Adler, American actor (D.O.A., The Desert Fox), dies at 81
1984 Razzle [Nicholas Dingley], British drummer (Hanoi Rocks), dies at 24
1984 Robert Jay Mathews, White Nationalist (b. 1953)
1987 José Casanova, Peruvian soccer midfielder (10 caps; Alianza Lima), dies in Alianza Lima air disaster at 23
1987 José González, Peruvian soccer goalkeeper (20 caps; Alianza Lima), dies in Alianza Lima air disaster at 33
1987 Marcos Calderón, Peruvian soccer coach (Peru 1975-79; Copa América 1975), dies in Alianza Lima air disaster at 59
1988 Anne Seymour, actress (Misty, Chevy Mystery Show), dies at 79
1988 Herbert "Tubo" Rhoad, American baritone a cappella singer (Persuasions - "Street Corner Symphony"), dies at 44
1989 Hans Hartung, German-French painter, dies at 85
1990 Boris Kochno, Russian ballet dancer (La Chatte) and librettist, dies at 86
1990 Martin Ritt, American actor and director (The Spy Who Came In from the Cold, Slugger's Wife, End of the Game), dies at 76
1990 Pony Sherrell Metcalf, American singer, dies of heart attack at undisclosed age
1991 (Wilbur) "Buck" Clayton, American jazz trumpet player (Count Basie; Billie Holiday; Lester Young), and bandleader, dies at 80
1991 Kimberly Bergalis, got AIDS from health care worker, dies at 23
1992 William Shawn, American magazine editor (New Yorker, 1952-87), dies at 85
1993 Andre Cerf, French actor and filmmaker (Nana), dies at 93
1993 Carlotta Monti, lover of WC Fields, dies at 86
1994 Antônio Carlos Jobim [Tom Jobim], Brazilian singer-songwriter and composer (Getz/Gilberto), dies from pulmonary embolism at 67
1994 Israel Aaron Maisels, South African lawyer and communal leader, dies at 89
1995 Carl Marsden, bodyguard, dies at 36
1995 Ernest L. Boyer, American educator and chancellor (NY's State Universities-SUNY), dies at 67
1995 George J. Lewis, Mexican actor (Don-Zorro), dies at 91
1995 John Gillett, British film critic and researcher, dies at 70
1995 Mikki Doyle, journalist, dies at 79
1996 Howard Rollins, American actor (Bannister-Wildside, Ed Harding-Another World), dies of AIDS related lymphoma complications at 46
1996 Marin Sorescu, Romanian poet, playwright and artist (Iona, House under surveillance), dies of a heart attack at 60
1997 Bob Bell, clown (WGN's 1st Bozo), dies at 75
1997 Léon Poliakov, French historian (The Aryan Myth), dies at 87
1997 Nicholas Polunin, British botanist and environmentalist, dies at 88
1999 Péter Kuczka, Hungarian writer (b. 1923)
2000 Marvin Leath, American politician (Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 11th district), dies at 69
2001 Don Tennant, American advertising executive (b. 1922)
2003 Rubén González, Cuban pianist (Buena Vista Social Club) (b. 1919)
2004 "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, American heavy metal guitarist (Pantera), shot and killed by crazed fan Nathan Gale while performing on stage at 38
2004 Nathan Gale, American murderer (Heavy metal Pantera's concert murder), dies at 25
2005 Donald James Martino, American classical composer (Notturno - Pulitzer Prize, 1974), dies at 74
2005 Georgiy Zhzhonov, Russian actor and writer (The Secret Agent's Blunder), dies at 90
2006 José Uribe, Dominican baseball player (b. 1959)
2006 Martha Tilton, American big band singer (Benny Goodman; Jimmy Dorsey), dies at 91 [1]
2007 Gerardo García Pimentel, Mexican journalist
2008 Oliver Postgate, English animator, puppeteer and writer, dies at 83
2008 Robert Prosky, Polish-American actor and comedian (Christine, Thief), dies at 77
2009 Luis Días, Dominican Composer (b. 1952).
2010 Murray Armstrong, Canadian ice hockey centre and NCAA coach (Detroit Red Wings; coach University of Denver 1956-77, 5 NCAA C'ships), dies at 94
2011 Dick Sims, American Hammond B-3 organist (Bob Seger; Eric Clapton), dies of cancer at 60
2011 Minoru Miky, Japanese composer for traditional Japanese instruments, dies at 84
2011 Zelman Cowen, Australian legal scholar (Governor General of Australia 1977-82), dies at 92
2013 Don Mitchell, American actor, dies at 70
2013 John Cornforth, Australian-British chemist (Nobel Prize 1975), dies at 96
2013 Sándor Szokolay, Hungarian composer and pedagogue, dies at 82
2014 Knut Nystedt, Norwegian organist, choral composer, and conductor, dies at 99
2015 Bonnie Lou [Mary Joan Okum] American rockabilly musician ("Tennessee Mambo"), dies at 91
2015 Mattiwilda Dobbs, American soprano, dies at 90
2016 Florence Finch, Filipino-American war hero who fought against the Japanese occupation of the Philippines during World War II, dies at 101 [1]

John Glenn (1921-2016)

American astronaut who was the 1st American to orbit the earth and politician (Senator D-Ohio), dies at 95

2016 Joseph Mascolo, American actor (Days of Our Lives), dies at 87
2016 Sheila Quinn, British nurse and adviser (British Red Cross), dies at 96
2018 Evelyn Berezin, American computer pioneer, invented first word processor, dies at 93
2018 Lyudmila Alexeyeva, Russian 'Grandmother of Russian Human Rights', dies at 91
2018 Roger the ripped kangaroo, famous for crushing a metal bucket like a paper cup, dies at 12 in Alice Springs of old age
2018 Rosanell Eaton, American voting rights advocate, dies at 97
2019 Caroll Spinney, American puppeteer behind Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on Sesame Street (1969-2018), dies at 85

Juice WRLD (1998-2019)

American rapper and singer-songwriter (All Girls Are the Same, Lucid Dreams), dies at 21 of a seizure at Chicago airport caused by toxic levels of oxycodone and codeine

Paul Volcker (1927-2019)

American economist and Chairman of the US Federal Reserve (1979-87), dies at 92

2019 Rene Auberjonois, American actor and voice artist (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, God of War), dies of lung cancer at 79
2019 Rogério Pipi, Portuguese soccer forward (15 caps; Benfica), dies at 97
2020 Alejandro Sabella, Argentine soccer midfielder (8 caps; River Plate, Sheffield United, Estudiantes) and manager (Argentina 2011-14), dies from heart disease at 66
2020 Harold Budd, American avant-garde ambient pianist and composer (The Pavilion of Dreams), dies of COVID-19 at 84 [1]
2021 Barry Harris, American bebop jazz pianist (Cannonball Adderly; Lee Morgan; "The Bird of Red and Gold"), and educator, dies of COVID-19 complications at 91 [1]
2021 Jacques Zimako, French soccer forward (13 caps; Saint-Étienne, Sochaux, Bastia), dies at 69
2021 Lars Høgh, Danish soccer goalkeeper (8 caps; OB 603 games) and GK coach (Denmark, Brøndby IF), dies from pancreatic cancer at 62
2021 Ralph Tavares, Cape Verdean-American R&B and soul singer (Tavares - "Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel"), dies at 79
2021 Robbie Shakespeare, Jamaican reggae bassist (Sly & Robbie - "DJ Riot"), dies of kidney failure at 68
2022 Jackie McLeod, Canadian ice hockey right wing (World C'ship gold 1961; New York Rangers) and coach (Canada 1966-69, Olympic bronze 1968), dies at 92
2022 Miodrag Ješić, Serbian soccer defender (8 caps Yugoslavia; FK Partizan, Altay) and manager (FK Partizan, CSKA Sofia, FK Sarajevo), dies in a car accident at 64
2022 Tony Allen, English soccer left-back (3 caps; Stoke City 417 games), dies at 83
2023 Clyde Butts, West Indian cricket spin bowler (7 Tests, 10 wickets; Guyana), dies in a motor accident at 66
2023 Joe Solomon, West Indian cricket batsman (27 Tests, 1 x 100, 9 x 50, HS 100no; British Guiana, Berbice), dies at 93
2023 Paul Webb, American college basketball coach (Randolph–Macon College 1956-75, Old Dominion University 1975-85), dies at 94
2023 Ryan O'Neal, American actor (Love Story; Paper Moon; What's Up, Doc?), dies at 82 [1]