Departures

Jimmy Buffett

Buffett, a singer-songwriter whose songs about pirates, sailors, and beach bums helped launch a cultural movement he leveraged into a business empire, died Sept. 1. He was 76. Buffett moved to Key West, Fla.—future headquarters of his island escapism lifestyle brand—in 1972 and within two years penned the hit “Come Monday.” By the end of the decade, Buffett would record “Margaritaville” and “Cheeseburger in Paradise.” In the 1980s, Buffett’s hardcore fan base, known as Parrotheads for their bright hats and shirts, gave him an opening to monetize his fame. He operated or lent his name to restaurants, casinos, a beer brand, and even retirement homes in a business empire worth an estimated $1 billion at the time of his death.

Bill Richardson

A political executive and former congressman from New Mexico who ­managed to become a key member of the Democratic Party establishment, Richardson died Sept. 1 at age 75. Richardson worked as a congressional staffer in the 1970s before winning his own seat in the U.S. House in 1982. After rising to leadership in the Democratic caucus, Richardson accepted a post as ambassador to the UN and secretary of energy during the Clinton administration. Afterward, Richardson successfully ran for governor of New Mexico, serving two terms. He also briefly ran for president in 2008 and became known for his diplomacy to free international political prisoners.