Famous Deaths on May 17

Johann Michael Bach (1648-1694)

German composer (In Dulci Jubilo), dies at 46

1695 Cornelis de Heem, Dutch painter, dies
1727 Catherine I, Empress of Russia (1725-27), dies at 43
1729 Samuel Clarke, English philosopher and theologian, dies at 53
1737 Claude Buffier, French philosopher and historian, dies at 75
1740 Jean Cavalier, French Huguenot chief of the Camisards, dies at 58
1765 Alexis Clairaut, French mathematician (Clairaut's theorem), dies at 52
1796 Jacob Wilhelm Lustig, German composer, dies at 89
1797 Michel-Jean Sedaine, French dramatist (Le Philosophe sans le savoir), dies at 77
1801 William Heberden, English physician (b. 1710)
1807 John Gunby, Maryland Soldier in the American Revolutionary War (b. 1745)
1809 Leopold Auenbrugger, Austrian physician (invented percussion as a diagnostic technique), dies at 86
1822 Armand-Emmanuel, Duc de Richelieu, Prime Minister of France (1815-18, 1820-21), dies at 55

John Jay (1745-1829)

US statesman and 1st US Chief Justice, dies at 83

Talleyrand (1754-1838)

French statesman, dies at 84

1838 René Caillié, French explorer and the first European to return alive from the town of Timbuktu, dies of tuberculosis at 38
1839 Archibald Alison, Scottish author (b. 1757)
1851 Adriaan van Bevervoorde, Dutch journalist (Treason), dies at 31
1866 Adolf Bernhard Marx [Samuel Moses Marx], German music theorist and pedagogue, dies at 71
1866 Adolf Bernhard Marx, German composer, dies at 70
1868 Isami Kondo, Shinsengumi Commander (b. 1834)
1872 Eduard Sobolewski, Polish-American violinist and composer, dies at 63
1875 John C. Breckinridge, American politician (14th US VP (1857-61 at just 36) and Confederate general, dies at 54
1879 Asa Packer, railroad magnate and founder of Lehigh Valley Railroad (b. 1805)
1883 Lydia Estes Pinklham, patent-medicine manufacturer, dies
1884 Louis Brassin, Belgian pianist, composer and music educator, dies at 43

John Deere (1804-1886)

American blacksmith and manufacturer (founded Deere & Company), dies at 82

1888 Giacomo Zanella, Italian poet (b. 1820)
1889 Marie of Prussia, Queen consort of Bavaria (1848-64), dies at 63
1889 William Roxby Beverly, artist, dies
1892 Gyorgy Klapka, Hungarian general/parliament leader, dies at 72
1896 Sophus Tromholt, Norwegian astrophysicist and photographer (photographed Sami people), dies at 45 [1]
1913 Dwijendralal Ray, Bengali poet, playwright and lyricist (Dwijendrageeti), dies of epilepsy at 49
1914 Peter Leyten, Bishop of Breda (1885-1914), dies at 79
1916 Boris Borisovich Galitzine, Russian physicist (b. 1862)
1916 Gervais Salvayre, French composer (Calypso; La Résurrection), and music critic dies at 68
1917 Belva Ann Lockwood, American attorney (1st lady to argue in Supreme Court), dies at 86

Charles Brooke (1829-1917)

2nd White Rajah of Sarawak (1868-1917), dies at 87

1919 Bohumil Pazdírek, Czech composer, dies at 80
1919 Guido von List, Austrian-German occultist and novelist (Jung Diethers Heimkehr), dies at 70
1919 José Santos Zelaya, President of Nicaragua (1893-1910), dies at 65
1920 Maitland Hathorn, South African cricketer (325 runs in 12 Tests South African 1901-11), dies at 42
1927 Harold Geiger, U.S. Army aviation pioneer (b. 1884)
1930 Herbert David Croly, US founder (New Republic), dies at 61
1931 Johan [Eliza J] de Master, art critic/writer, dies
1931 Timothy Cole, American wood engraver, dies at about 71
1935 Paul Dukas, French composer (The Sorcerer's Apprentice), dies at 69
1936 Panagis Tsaldaris, twice Greek prime minister (b. 1868)
1938 Jakob Ehrlich, Austrian politician and Zionist, dies at 60
1941 José Leite de Vasconcelos, Portuguese archeologist, ethnologist, and writer (Etnografia Portuguesa), dies at 82
1942 Alfred Hollins, British composer, dies at 76
1943 Montagu Love, actor (Wind), dies at 65
1944 Félix Éboué, French colonial administrator, dies at 60
1945 Jan van Geenen, resistance fighter, dies
1945 Sasaki Shigetsu Sokei-an, founder 1st Zen Institute of America, dies
1947 George William Forbes, Prime Minister of New Zealand (b. 1869)
1950 Eduardo Fabini, composer, dies at 67
1951 Karl Heinrich David, composer, dies at 66
1953 Eric De Lamarter, American organist, composer and conductor (Chicago Symphony), dies at 73
1955 Alan Fairfax, Australian cricket all-rounder (10 Tests, 4 x 50, 21 wickets, BB 4/31; NSWCA), dies of war wounds at 48
1955 Camilla Wedgwood, English anthropologist (Malekula: A Vanishing People in the New Hebrides), dies of cancer at 54
1955 Francesco Balilla Pratella, Italian composer, dies at 75
1955 Leslie Hylton, Jamaican cricketer and West Indies fast bowler, executed and hanged for murder at 50
1957 Shalva Azmayparashvili, composer, dies at 54
1960 Ioannis Georgiadis, Greek fencer (Olympic gold sabre 1896), dies at 84
1961 Frans van Cauwelaert, Flemish minister/mayor of Antwerp, dies at 81
1961 Henri Gagnon, Canadian organist (Notre-Dame Basilica (Quebec), 1915-1961), composer (Rondel de Thibaut de Champagne), and music educator, dies at 74
1963 John Wilce, physician and former head football coach at the Ohio State University (b. 1888)
1964 Otto V. Kuusinen, Finnish politician (founder of the Finnish Communist Party), dies at 82
1964 Steve Owen, American Pro Football Hall of Fame tackle (NY Giants) and coach (NFL C'ship 1927, 34, 38; NY Giants), dies at 66
1967 John Wesley Work III, African-American composer, musicologist and scholar of African-American folklore and music, dies at 65
1969 Clarence "Pants" Rowland, American baseball manager (World Series 1917; Chicago White Sox 1915-18) and MLB umpire (American League 1923-27), dies at 91
1969 Joseph Beran, Czech archbishop of Prague/cardinal, dies at 80
1970 Nigel Balchin, English author (My Executioner), dies at 61
1972 Sir Gordon Lowe, British tennis player, Member of Parliament (Australasian C'ship 1915), dies at 87
1973 Alexander J. Kropholler, Dutch architect and writer, dies at 91
1974 Charles Braswell, American actor (Only Game in Town), dies at 49
1974 Ernest Nash, German-American photographer and archaeologist, dies at 75
1975 Arthur Trappier, American jazz drummer (Blanche Calloway: Fats Waller), dies at 64
1976 Charles Stepney, American pianist, arranger, and record producer (Chess Records; Minnie Riperton; Ramsey Lewis; Earth, Wind & Fire), dies of a heart attack at 45
1978 Armin T. Wegner, German medic, photographer, writer, and civil rights activist (documented the Armenian Genocide), dies at 92 [1]
1978 Selwyn Lloyd, British politician (Foreign Secretary, 1955-60; Exchequers, 1960-62; Leader of the House of Commons, 1963–64; Speaker of the House of Commons, 1971-76), dies of a brain tumor at 73
1979 Donyale Luna [Peggy Ann Freeman], American model and actress "the first Black supermodel", dies of a heroin overdose at 33 [1]
1981 Hugo Friedhofer, American cellist and film and television composer, dies at 80
1981 Jeannette Ridlon Piccard, 1st US woman free balloon pilot, dies
1985 Abe Burrows [Borowitz], American Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning songwriter, composer and writer (Guys and Dolls), dies from Alzheimer's disease at 74
1985 Bobby Ewing (Patrick Duffy) killed off on television soap opera "Dallas"
1985 Hugh Burden, actor (Night of Laughing Dead), dies at 72
1986 Jack Waldman, American jazz and rock keyboardist and avant garde composer dies of HIV related illness at 33
1986 Lyudmila Pakhomova, Russian ice dancer (World C'ship gold x 6; Olympic gold USSR 1976; with Alexandr Gorshkov), dies from leukemia at 39
1987 Gunnar Myrdal, Swedish economist and economist (Nobel 1974), dies at 88
1989 Dan Alderson, American scientist (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) and sci-fi fandom figure, dies of diabetes at 47
1990 Frank Wright, American free jazz saxophonist, dies at 54
1992 George Hurrell, Hollywood photographer, dies of cancer at 87
1992 Lawrence Welk, American accordionist and orchestra leader (Lawrence Welk Show), dies of pneumonia at 89
1992 Leonardo del Ferro [Keyser], American operatic tenor, dies at 71
1992 Warren Neal Boxer, dies of AIDS at 34
1994 Andrew Brown, film Producer, dies at 55
1994 Keith Falkner, British bass-baritone singer (Director of the Royal College of Music), dies at 94
1994 Willian Noel Moffet, Irish architect, dies at 82
1995 Nathan "Dambuza" Mdledle, South African singer (Manhattan Brothers) and actor, dies at 72
1995 Paul D. Stoop, American vice-admiral (WW II-Coral Sea), dies at 90
1995 Toe Blake, Canadian Hockey HOF left wing (Stanley Cup 1935 Montreal Maroons; 1944, 46 Montreal Canadiens) and coach (Stanley Cup 1956-60, 1965-66, 68 Montreal Canadiens), dies at 82
1996 Johnny "Guitar" Watson, American R&B and funk singer and guitarist ("A Real Mother for Ya"), dies from an on-stage heart attack in Japan at 61
1996 Rusi Modi, Indian cricketer (736 runs 10 post-war Tests for India), dies at 71
1996 Scott Brayton, American auto racer (4 x top 10 finishes Indianapolis 500; 2 x pole), dies in a practice accident at 37
1996 Willi Daume, German olympic organiser, dies at 82
1996 Willis Conover, American broadcaster (Voice of America), dies at 75
1999 Bruce Fairbairn, Canadian musician and record producer (Loverboy; Bon Jovi; Aerosmith), dies at 49
1999 Henry Jones, American actor (Vertigo, Phyllis, Falcon Crest, Gun Shy), dies from complications from a fall at 86
2000 Donald Coggan, 101st Archbishop of Canterbury (1974-80), dies at 90
2001 Frank G. Slaughter [C.V. Terry], American novelist and physician (Sangaree), dies at 93
2001 Ikuma Dan, Japanese composer (Yūzuru), dies at 77
2002 Dave Berg, American cartoonist (The Lighter Side of...), dies at 81

James Chichester-Clark (1923-2002)

Irish politician, Prime Minister of Northern Ireland (1969-71), dies at 79

2002 Joe Black, American Negro League and MLB player, dies at 78
2002 László Kubala, Hungarian soccer striker (3 caps Hungary, 6 Czechoslovakia, 19 Spain, 4 Catalonia; FC Barcelona 186 games) and manager (Spain 1969–80), dies at 74
2002 Sharon Sheeley, American songwriter (Somethin' Else), dies of complications following a cerebral hemorrhage at 62
2003 Frank "Pop" Ivy, American and Canadian football coach (b. 1916)
2004 Edgardo Martín, Cuban classical pianist, composer, and educator, dies at 88
2004 Ezzedine Salim, leader of Iraqi Governing Council (b. 1943)
2004 Jørgen Nash, Danish artist (b. 1920)
2005 Frank Gorshin, American comedian and impersonator (Riddler-Batman), dies at 72
2006 Captain Nichola Goddard, Canadian soldier (b. 1980)
2006 Cy Feuer, American playwright (b. 1911)
2006 Eric Forth, British Member of Parliament (b. 1944)
2006 John Marsden, Australian lawyer, and gay rights activist, dies of stomach cancer at 64
2006 Laurence Shurtliff [Ram Rod], American music executive and roadie (the Grateful Dead), dies at 61
2007 Lloyd Alexander, author (b. 1924)
2009 Jung Seung-hye, South Korean film producer (b. 1965)
2009 Mario Benedetti, Uruguayan journalist, novelist, and poet, dies from respiratory and intestinal problems at 88
2010 Walasse Ting, Chinese-American painter (b. 1929)
2010 Yvonne Loriod, French pianist, composer (Mélopées africaines), and teacher, dies at 86

Harmon Killebrew (1936-2011)

American Baseball HOF utility (13 × MLB All-Star; AL MVP 1969; 6 × AL HR leader; Washington Senators, Minnesota Twins), dies from esophageal cancer at 74

Donna Summer (1948-2012)

American disco and pop singer-songwriter ("Love to Love You, Baby"; "On The Radio"; "Last Dance"), dies from lung cancer at 63

2013 Alan O'Day, American singer and songwriter ("Undercover Angel"; over 100 songs for the Muppet Babies), dies of brain cancer at 72
2013 Harold Shapero, American composer (9 Minute Opera), dies at 93

Jorge Rafael Videla (1925-2013)

Argentine military officer and dictator (1976-81), dies from complications from a fall at 87

2013 Ken Venturi, American golfer, broadcaster (US Open 1964), dies from multiple infections at 82
2014 Gerald Edelman, American biochemist (Nobel 1972), dies from natural causes at 84
2015 Chinx [Lionel Pickens], American rapper (Coke Boys), dies in a drive-by shooting at 31
2016 Guy Clark, American folk and country singer-songwriter (Heartbroke), dies of lymphoma at 74
2019 Herman Wouk, American novelist (The Caine Mutiny, The Winds of War), dies at 103
2020 (Judge) "Lucky" Peterson, American contemporary blues, soul, and R&B musician ("The Son of A Bluesman"), dies from ahead injury after a fall at 55
2020 Shad Gaspard, American professional wrestler (WWE), bodyguard, and actor, drowns at 39
2021 Buddy Roemer, American politician (Governor-D+R-Louisiana 1988-1992, Rep-D-LA, 1981-88), dies at 77
2021 Héctor Silva, Argentine rugby union number 8 (24 caps; Los Tilos) and coach (Argentina 1985-87), dies from COVID-19 at 76
2021 Joe Mercer, English thoroughbred race horse jockey (British flat racing Champion Jockey 1979), dies at 86
2022 Larry Lacewell, American college football coach (Arkansas State Uni 1979-89) and administrator (AD Arkansas State; Dallas Cowboys Dir college & pro scouting 1992-2004), dies at 85
2022 Rick Price, British rock bassist (The Move, 1969-71; Wizzard, 1972-75), and pedal steel guitar player, dies at 77
2022 Rodri, Spanish soccer defender (4 caps; FC Barcelona) and manager (CD Condal), dies at 88
2022 Shiv Kumar Sharma, Indian santoor (100-string dulcimer-like instrument) master, and composer, dies of cardiac arrest at 84
2022 Vangelis [Evángelos Odysséas Papathanassíou], Greek composer, keyboardist, and Academy Award winner (Chariots of Fire), dies at 79 [1]
2023 "Superstar" Billy Graham [Eldridge Coleman], American pro wrestler (WWWF Heavyweight Champion 1977-78), dies of kidney, heart, and lung problems at 79