Famous Deaths in 2015

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Thursday, February 25, 2016
Gordie Gillespie, the baseball coach at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Ill., looks over Gillespie Field during a team practice
Baseball legend Yogi Berra looks on before a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014, at Yankee Stadium in New York.
Former Harlem Globetrotter Meadowlark Lemon died Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015 in Scottsdale, Arizona. He was 83.
Martin E. Brooks, best known for his role on the 1970s series "The Six Million Dollar Man," died Monday, Dec. 7, 2015 following a brief hospitalization in Los Angeles. He was 90.
Actor/director Robert Loggia died Dec. 4 at age 85.
Actor David Canary (R), known for his dual roles as Adam and Stuart Chandler on ABC's "All My Children," died of natural causes on Monday, Nov. 16, 2015. He was 77.
Scott Weiland and the Wildabouts perform at the Rachael Ray Feedback Party at Stubb's during SXS on March 21, 2015, in Austin, TX. (Photo by Rich Fury/Invision/AP)
Eileen Quinn, the mother of former Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, has died at the age of 98, on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015.
Nathaniel Marston, 40. former ''One Life to Live'' actor
Amos C. Brown III, a longtime Indianapolis radio broadcaster and community activist, has died at age 64.
Former Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn. speaks at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2008. Thompson died Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015, at the age of 73.
In this photo provided by ABC in 1981, Al Molinaro, left, and Henry Winkler pose in character in an episode from 'Happy Days.'
Gus Savage
Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Flip Saunders, left, talks with guard Tyus Jones (1) during an NBA basketball scrimmage in Minneapolis, Wednesday, July 8, 2015.
Maureen O'Hara arrives at the 6th annual Governors Awards at the Hollywood and Highland Center on Nov. 8, 2014 in Los Angeles.
President Ronald Reagan bids farewell to Jerry Parr, the Secret Service agent that he credited with saving his life on March 30, 1981. died in October at the age of 85.
Jackie Collins arrives at the 2015 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015. Collins died of breast cancer in Los Angeles on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015. She was 77.
Moses Malone, a three-time NBA MVP and one of basketball's most ferocious rebounders, died Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015, the Philadelphia 76ers said Sunday. He was 60.
Wes Craven, the legendary horror movie director known for classics like ''Nightmare on Elm Street'' and ''The Hills Have Eyes'' died at age 76.
'Awakenings' author and neurologist Oliver Sacks died Sunday, Aug. 30, 2015 at his home in New York City. He was 82.
Kyle Jean-Baptiste died Friday, Aug. 28, 2015 after falling from a fire escape. He was 21 years old.
Julian Bond, a civil rights activist and longtime board chairman of the NAACP, died Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015.
Pro Football Hall of Famer Frank Gifford died August 9, 2015 at the age of 84.
This 1977 photo provided by the Marotta family shows Vincent Marotta, left, and Joe DiMaggio sitting on a large Mr. Coffee machine in Chicago
Bobbi Kristina Brown, daughter of Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown, died July 26 at age 22.
Alex Rocco, left, and Esai Morales attend the "Magic City" season 2 premiere after party on Monday, June 3, 2013, in Los Angeles.
Wali Muhammad
Abena Joan Brown (FILE)
Joan Sebastian attends the press room at the 3rd Annual Billboard Mexican Awards at The Dolby Theatre on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2013 in Los Angeles.
Nintendo Co. President Satoru Iwata speaks during a news conference in Tokyo. Nintendo said President Iwata died Saturday, July 11, 2015, of a bile duct tumor in a Kyoto hospital.
Roger Rees, artistic director of the Williamstown Theatre Festival in Williamstown, MA, introduces the 2006 season during a news conference
Omar Sharif at Venice Film Festival
Jerry Weintraub, Hollywood film producer known for "The Karate Kid" and the "Ocean's Eleven" film remakes, died Monday, July 6. He was 77.
In this April 7, 2003 file photo, actor Kirk Douglas poses with his ex-wife Diana Douglas, their son Michael Douglas and Michael's son Cameron Douglas in Los Angeles.
In this photo taken on Friday, May 23, 2014, Burt Shavitz pauses during an interview to watch a litter of fox kits. Shavitz, a former beekeeper, is the Burt behind Burt's Bees
Nicholas Winton
Composer James Horner at 20th Century Fox Los Angeles Premiere of 'Avatar' on December 16, 2009 at Mann's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California.
Sarah Streeter, known to Chicago blues fans as "Big Time Sarah" died in June of heart complications in a Chicago-area nursing home.
Actor Christopher Lee is seen in a file photo taken in New York
Tennis great Doris Hart, who won each Grand Slam tournament at least once, and once won three Wimbledon titles in a single day, died Friday, May 29, 2015 at the age of 89.
Betsy Palmer, seen here in this January 1992 file photo with Bryant Gumbel, died of natural causes on Friday, May 29, 2015. The 'Friday the 13th' actress was 88.
Errol Brown, the frontman of the soul and funk band Hot Chocolate and best known for the hit "You Sexy Thing," died May 6, 2015. He was 71.
Jack Ely, co-founder of The Kingsmen and best known for his 1963 rendition of 'Louie, Louie,' died Tuesday, April 28, 2015 after a long battle with an illness. He was 71.
Ellen Albertini Dow, a feisty character actress best known for her salty rendition of 'Rapper's Delight' in 'The Wedding Singer,' died Monday, May 4, 2015. She was 101.
Jim Wright (left), a veteran Texas congressman who was the first House speaker in history to driven out of office in midterm, died Wednesday, May 6, 2015. He was 92.
Joanne Carson, the second wife of 'Tonight Show' host Johnny Carson, died Friday, May 8, 2015 at her Los Angeles home. She was 83.
Beau Biden, son of Vice President Joe Biden, died Saturday after battling brain cancer.
Comedian Anne Meara, shown at the Museum of the Moving Image Salute to son Ben Stiller in 2008, has died at the age of 85.
John Nash, Nobel Prize-winning mathemetician whose life was chronicled in the biography and movie ''A Beautiful Mind,'' died in a car crash along with his wife in New York City
In this file photo taken Aug. 22, 2012, B.B. King performs at the 32nd annual B.B. King Homecoming in Indianola, Miss.
File-This Dec. 18, 1991, file photo shows Grace Lee Whitney, after receiving a star in the Walk of Fame in Hollywood, Calif., with other cast members of Star Trek.
Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, and her husband David Goldberg in Sun Valley, Idaho, Wednesday, July 10, 2013.
Ben E. King, the American soul singer and former member of The Drifters, died Thursday, April 30, 2015. He was 76.
Actress Jayne Meadows, who often teamed with her husband Steve Allen, has died at age 95. Meadows' son, Bill Allen, said she died Sunday, April 26, 2015.
Former Illinois Governor Dan Walker died in April at his home in Chula Vista, California. He was 92 years old.
Jean Nidetch, a New York housewife who tackled her own obesity and went on to start Weight Watchers, died Wednesday, April 29, 2015. She was 91.
Sawyer Sweeten, who played one of Ray Romano's twin sons in the CBS comedy 'Everybody Loves Raymond,' was reported dead Friday, April 24, 2015. He was 19.
Radio host and legendary Chicago Bears linebacker Doug Buffone dies at 70 (Photo: 1977)
In this Oct. 28, 2008 photo, Percy Sledge performs 'When a Man Loves a Woman' at the Musicians Hall of Fame awards show in Nashville, Tenn.
Actor James Best, who played Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane on 'The Dukes of Hazzard,' died Monday, April 6, 2015, from complications of pneumonia. He was 88.
This undated photo provided by TnT Talent Management shows Tom Towles.
Gene Saks, the Tony Award-winning director who brought to life many of Neil Simon's works onstage and on screen, died from pneumonia on Saturday, March 28, 2015. He was 93.
FILE - In this March 20, 2013, file photo, Singapore's first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew attends the Standard Chartered Singapore Forum in Singapore.
File: Jack Haley sits pensively on the bench during NBA action
Terry Pratchett
Bill Badger, who though wounded himself, was credited with saving lives in the shooting that severely wounded U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords, died March 11, 2015, of pneumonia.
'Body of Proof' actor Windell Middlebrooks, also known for playing the no-nonsense beer delivery guy in Miller High Life beer commercials, died Monday, March 9, 2015. He was 36.
Richard Glatzer, who wrote and directed the Alzheimer's drama 'Still Alice' alongside his husband while battling ALS, died Tuesday, March 10, 2015. He was 63.
Sam Simon, co-creator of ''The Simpsons,'' died March 8 after a battle with colon cancer. He was 59.
F. Ray Keyser Jr., the former Republican governor of Vermont, died on March 7, 2015 at the age of 88.
Clark Terry, a legendary jazz trumpeteer who mentored Miles Davis and Quincy Jones, died on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015. He was 94.
The community, Fresno State and the sports world are mourning the loss of Coach Jerry Tarkanian.
Minnie Minoso stands during the national anthem before a game between the Chicago White Sox and the Texas Rangers Saturday, Aug. 24, 2013, in Chicago. Minoso died on March 1, 2015.
Actor Leonard Nimoy poses for a portrait in Beverly Hills, Calif. on Sunday, April 26, 2009.
Harris Wittels, 30, a writer and executive producer for "Parks and Recreation," was found dead in his home of a possible drug overdose
In this May 5, 1964, file photo, singer Lesley Gore hugs a flowered record at her 18th birthday party celebrated at the Delmonico Hotel in New York.
The New York Times media columnist David Carr died at the office on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015. He was 58.
Television journalist Bob Simon attends the New York premiere of "The Railway Man" on Monday, April 7, 2014, in New York.
Ernie "Mr. Cub" Banks speaks to ABC7's Cheryl Burton in November 2013.
King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud of Saudi Arabia, waves to members of the Saudi Shura "consultative" council in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, March 24, 2009. (AP Photo/Hassan
Fitness model George Plitt Jr., better known as Greg Plitt, was struck and killed by a Metrolink train in Burbank Saturday, Jan. 17, 2015.
Actor and stand-up comedian Taylor Negron died Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015 after battling cancer. He was 57.
FILE - In this April 22, 1959, file photo, Samuel Goldwyn, Jr., poses outside the main gate at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles.
Andrae Crouch died Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015, at a hospital in Los Angeles, where he was admitted Saturday after suffering a heart attack.
Sportscaster Stuart Scott accepts the Jimmy V award for perseverance, at the ESPY Awards, July 16, 2014, in Los Angeles. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)
Former Massachusetts U.S. Sen. Edward Brooke, the first black to win popular election to the Senate, died Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015. He was 95.
Donna Douglas, who starred in the television series "The Beverly Hillbillies" poses for a photograph in the photo taken in Baton Rouge, La. Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009.
Little Jimmy Dickens, seen here in this photo from March 1977, died of cardiac arrest on Friday, Jan. 2, 2015. He was 94.
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Famous Deaths in 2015Gordie Gillespie, the baseball coach at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Ill., looks over Gillespie Field during a team practice
AP Photo/Jeff Roberson

Flip through the gallery above to see all the famous deaths from 2015.

Video: Remembering those we lost in 2015

Notable sports deaths in 2015:

Administration:

William Brantley Aycock, 99; Walter Byers, 93; Mike Hanson, 49; Theodore Hesburgh, 97; John Lo Schiavo, 90; Sue Petersen, 61; Steve Snapp, 69; Nelson Townsend, 73; Jim Weaver, 70; Albert Witte, 92.

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Architecture

Fernando Vazquez, 59.

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Australian Rules Football:

Phil Walsh, 55.

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Auto Racing:

Michael Argetsinger, 70; Buddy Baker, 74; Earl Baltes, 93; Duane Barnes, 55; Jean-Pierre Beltoise, 77; Jules Bianchi, 25; James Campbell Jr., 45; Tony Elliott, 54; Joan Feller, 53; Leon Gonyo, 63; Robert Manzon, 97; Denise McCluggage, 88; Dalton Millican, 22; Justin Wilson, 37.

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Baseball:

Joaquin Andujar, 62; Ernie Banks, 83; Dave Bergman, 61; Yogi Berra, 90; Chuck Brayton, 89; Jose Capellan, 34; Kaiser Carlile, 9; Dean Chance, 74; Billy DeLury, 81; Bobby Dews, 76; Nelson Doubleday Jr., 81; Jim Fanning, 87; George Genovese, 93; Gordie Gillespie, 88; Darryl Hamilton, 50; Tommy Hanson, 29; Dave Henderson, 57; Riccardo Ingram, 48; Alex Johnson, 72; Ken Johnson, 82; Wendell Kim, 64; Chuck Koney, 90; Frank Malzone, 85; Lennie Merullo, 98; Jeff McKnight, 52; Stu Miller, 87; Minnie Minoso, 90; Bill Monbouquette, 78; Jim O'Toole, 78; Hank Peters, 90; Billy Pierce, 88; Al Rosen, 91; Victor Sanchez, 20; William Schweitzer, 70; Norm Siebern, 82; James Skeffington, 73; Lou Spry, 78; Charlie Williams, 67.

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Basketball:

Horace Balmer, 76; Bob Boyd, 84; Luther "Ticky" Burden, 62; Gerry Calabrese, 90; Shanice Clark, 21; Darryl Dawkins, 58; Mel Daniels, 71; Norm Drucker, 94; Norm Ellenberger, 83; Clarence "Bevo" Francis, 82; Harry Gallatin, 88; Bill Guthridge, 77; Jack Haley, 51; Marques Haynes, 89; Shannise Heady, 21; Lauren Hill, 19; Hot Rod Hundley, 80; Eboniey Jeter, 21; Jerome Kersey, 52; Meadowlark Lemon, 83; Guy Lewis, 93; Earl Lloyd, 86; Ray Lumpp, 91; Jim Loscutoff, 85; Moses Malone, 60; Roy Marble, 48; Marc Marotta, 52; Anthony Mason, 48; Dave Meyers, 62; Dai-Jon Parker, 22; Jack Parr, 78; Mike Phillips, 59; Harvey Pollack, 93; John Rudometkin, 75; Flip Saunders, 60; Dolph Schayes, 87; Kevin Shaw, 26; Dean Smith, 83; Scotty Stirling, 86; Don Suman, 85; Jerry Tarkanian, 84; Roy Tarpley, 50; Jeremiah Tate, 19; Lou Tsioropoulos, 84; Neal Walk, 67; Christian Welp, 51; Davey Whitney, 85; John "Hot Rod" Williams, 53; Michael Wright, 35; Jim Young, 82.

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Biathlon:

Alina Yakimkina, 21.

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BMX

Scot Breithaupt, 57.

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Boxing:

Hamzah Ajahmi, 19; Tony Ayala Jr., 52; O'Neil Bell, 41; Oscar Diaz, 32; Bob Foster, 76; Gene Fullmer, 83; Cedric Kushner, 66; Braydon Smith, 23; Alexis Vastine, 28.

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Cheerleading

Lawrence Herkimer, 89.

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Climbing:

Dean Potter, 43; Graham Hunt, 29.

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Cricket:

Arthur Morris, 93; Richie Benaud, 84; Brian Close, 84; Jagmohan Dalmiya, 75; Ankit Keshri, 20; Clive Rice, 66; Frank Tyson, 85;

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Cycling:

Claude Criquielion, 58; Scott Ellis, 55.

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Design:

Jerry Dior, 82.

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Diving:

Natalia Molchanova, 53 (missing)

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Equestrian:

Karen Stives, 64.

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Extreme Sports:

Erik Roner, 39.

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Fencing:

Mikhail Burtsev, 59; Frantisek Janda, 48; Maria Cerra Tishman, 96; Sergei Sharikov, 40.

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Figure Skating:

Toller Cranston, 65

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Football:

Sam Adams, 67; Eric Allen, 66; Demitri Allison, 21; Bill Arnsparger, 88; Ray Baillie, 80; Scott Baldwin, 45; Ron Beagle, 81; Chuck Bednarik, 89; Forrest Behm, 95; Jim Bradley, 82; C.O. Brocato, 85; Doug Buffone, 70; Markel Byrd, 20; Robert T. Clark, 79; Charlie Coffey, 81; John David Crow, 79; Harper Davidson, 81; Michael DeGroote, 22; Bill Enyart, 67; Mel Farr, 70; Adrian Fiala, 67; Frank Gifford, 84; Ray Graves, 96; George Guerre, 91; Jimmy Gunn, 66; Wayne Harris, 77; Ryan Hoffman, 41; Marv Hubbard, 68; Tommy Hudspeth, 83; Lindy Infante, 75; Tyler Jangula, 28; Ryan Johanningmeier, 38; Chris Johnson, 22; Keith Joseph Jr., 18; Keith Joseph Sr., 44; Jim LaRue, 89; Eddie LeBaron, 85; Al LoCasale, 82; Don Looney, 98; Ann Mara, 85; Tommy Mason, 75; Fred McNeill, 63; Steve Meilinger, 84; Ed Modzelewski, 86; Frank Mordica, 57; Craig Mullins, 45; Jim Mutscheller, 85; Ray Nagel, 87; Derrick Nash, 20; Nick Pappas, 99; Art Powell, 78; Jethro Pugh, 70; George Pyne III, 74; Phil Ratliff, 44; Lee Remmel, 90; Adrian Robinson, 25; Bob St. Clair, 84; Charlie Sanders, 68; Tyler Sash, 27; John Sawyer, 90; Tom Scott, 84; Allie Sherman, 91; John Siegal, 97; Jim Sochor, 77; Victor Spencer, 90; Ken Stabler, 69; Jack Steadman, 86; Charlie Sumner, 84; Danny Villanueva, 77; James "Froggy" Williams, 87; Richard Williamson, 74; Dick Wood, 79; Garo Yepremian, 70.

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Golf:

Pete Brown, 80; Billy Casper, 83; Rhonda Glenn, 68; Dan Halldorson, 63; Kel Nagle, 94; Calvin Peete, 71; Charlie Sifford, 92; Sandra Spuzich, 78; Louise Suggs, 91.

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Gymnastics:

Natalia Bobrova, 36; Marvin Sharp, 49.

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Hockey:

Al Arbour, 82; Vlastimil Bubnik, 83; Todd Ewen, 49; Bob Fillion, 94; Jaroslav Holik, 72; Vic Howe, 85; Elmer Lach, 97; Chico Maki, 76; Steve Montador, 35; Dickie Moore, 84; Gus Mortson, 90; Camden Nuckols, 25; Bert Olmstead, 89; J.P. Parise, 73; Marcel Pronovost, 84; Mark Reeds, 55; Leo Reise Jr., 93; Jimmy Roberts, 75; Claude Ruel, 76; Dollard St. Laurent, 85; Glen Sonmor, 86.

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Horse Racing:

Bart Cummings, 87; Wally Dollase, 78; Jerry Dutton, 87; Pat Eddery, 63; Allen Jerkens, 85; Bud Johnston, 77; Michal Koehl, 36; Jerry Lambert, 74; Ed Lewi, 81; Mike Mitchell, 66; William Morey Jr., 74; Richard Mulhall, 76; John Nerud, 102. Horses: Kauto Star, 15; Ogygian, 32; Shared Belief, 4; Scat Daddy, 11; Smart Strike, 23; Thunder Rumble, 26; The Tin Man, 17.

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Judo:

Wim Ruska, 74; Hitoshi Saito, 54.

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Law:

S. Arthur Spiegel, 94.

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Media:

Bernie Beglane, 88; Ron Bergman, 80; Steve Byrnes, 56; Ira Combs, 61; John Derr, 97; Jack Disney, 80; Dan Farley, 72; Fran Fisher, 91; Ray Gandolf, 85; Dave Goldberg, 73; Alison Gordon, 72; Milo Hamilton, 88; Stan Hochman, 86; Norman Mac Lean, 84; Van Miller, 87; Phil Pepe, 80; Nick Peters, 75; Jim Richards, 57; Bert Rosenthal, 79; Marv Schneider, 84; Lon Simmons, 91; Stuart Scott, 49; Joe Strauss, 54; Tony Verna, 81; Ed Sabol, 98.

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Motorcycling:

Geoff Duke, 92; Daniel Rivas Fernandez, 27; Bernat Martinez, 35.

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Music:

Rocco Scotti, 95; Jonathan Woods, 76.

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Olympics:

Fidel Mendoza Carrasquilla, 89; Guo Jie, 103; Ashwini Kumar, 94; Peter Tallberg, 77; Mario Vazquez Rana, 82; Leo Wallner, 79; He Zhenliang, 85.

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Rugby:

Jerry Collins, 34; Jonah Lomu, 40.

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Sailing:

Florence Arthaud, 57.

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Skating:

Fred Anton Maier, 76; Bethany Tory, 44.

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Skiing:

Bryce Astle, 19; Ronnie Berlack, 20; Stein Eriksen, 88; Drago Grubelnik, 39; Karen Davey Stewart, 62.

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Soccer:

Slim Aloulou, 73; Cecil Jones Attuquayefio, 70; Stephan Beckenbauer, 46; Frank Borghi, 89; Philip Carter, 87; Dettmar Cramer, 90; Dominique Dropsy, 63; Sergei Filippenkov, 44; Marton Fulop, 32; Alcides Ghiggia, 88; Cristian Gomez, 27; Richard Henyekane, 31; Don Howe, 80; Howard Kendall, 69; Graham Leggat, 81; Dave Mackay, 80; Josef Masopust, 84; Junior Malanda, 20; Joe Marston, 89; Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder, 82; Gregory Mertens, 24; Joe Morrone, 79; John Moshoeu, 49; Dick Nanninga, 66; Tim Nicot, 23; Harald Nielsen, 73; Emanuel Ortega, 21; Alfredo Alberto Pacheco, 33; Arnold Peralta, 26; Ron Springett, 80; Pavel Srnicek, 47; Zito, 82; Ignacio Zoco, 76.

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Special Olympics:

Marty Sheets, 62.

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Surfing:

Ricardo dos Santos, 24; Dave Sweet, 86.

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Swimming:

Randy Bennett, 51; Betty Brey, 83; Camille Muffat, 25; Tate Ramsden, 21.

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Tennis:

Howard Brody, 83; Mike Davies, 79; Jimmy Evert, 91; Doris Hart, 89; Thelma Coyne Long, 96; Patricia Canning Todd, 93.

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Track & Field:

Daundre Barnaby, 24; Ron Clarke, 78; Annarita Sidoti, 44; Bob Timmons, 91; Mal Whitfield, 91.

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Triathlon:

Laurent Vidal, 31.

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Water Polo:

Vladislav Timakov, 22.

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Weightlifting:

Vardan Militosyan, 64.

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Wrestling (Pro):

Verne Gagne, 89; "Nature Boy" Buddy Landel, 53; "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, 61; Pedro Aguayo Ramirez, 35; Virgil Runnels (Dusty Rhodes), 69.

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Yachting:

Alan Bond, 77; Laurent Bourgnon, 49 (missing).