OBITS (July to December)

Obituaries for January to June are here. JULY

Ely Callaway (July 5), 82, golf fan whose passion for developing clubs for the average player made his company, Callaway Golf, the world's largest manufacturer of golf clubs. Derek Freeman (July 6), 84, Australian anthropologist who exposed Margaret Mead's research about teenagers and sex in Samoa as flawed and deliberately misleading. Ted Berman (July 15), 81, who spent 45 years as a Disney animator and screenwriter (1940-85), working on such classics as Bambi and Fantasia. Katharine Graham (July 17), 84, newspaper and magazine publisher who transformed The Washington Post into one of the most influential newspapers in the country. Elmer Henderson (July 17), 88, government lawyer and civil-rights activist who wrote the government's brief opposing the separate-but-equal principle in the Brown vs. Board of Education case. Gunther Gebel-Williams (July 19), 66, flamboyant animal trainer who delighted millions for three decades as a top attraction of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Erik Barnouw (July 19), 93, radio and TV drama writer who also built a reputation as dean of media historians with his definitive three-volume The History of Broadcasting in the United States. Milton Gabler (July 20), 90, who founded the first independent jazz record label, Commodore Records, and became the first to reissue out-of-print jazz recordings. Joan Bove (July 21), 99, who discovered Clairol hair coloring in the early 1930s. Frances Horwich (July 22), 94, whose award-winning Ding Dong School helped change children's television and led the way for shows like Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood. Eudora Welty (July 23), 92, wise, meticulous writer whose loving depictions of small-town Mississippi brought her world acclaim and a Pulitzer Prize; the e-mail software Eudora was named after her. Hart Reid Armstrong (July 29), 89, a Pentecostal evangelist, missionary, and author who studied under Aimee Semple McPherson, directed crusades for Oral Roberts, did direct mail for faith healer Kathryn Kuhlman, and edited The Defender, a monthly. Edward Gierek (July 29), 88, Western-oriented communist leader of Poland (1970-80) who was toppled by food protests and strikes that led to the creation of Solidarity, the Soviet bloc's first independent and politically important trade union. Adolf Schoepe (July 30), 97, inventor whose Kwikset Lock Co. and Fluidmaster Inc. sold tens of millions of locks and toilet parts. Poul Anderson (July 31), 74, physicist and prolific science-fiction writer known for well-crafted, scientifically accurate stories and fantasies based on Nordic myths.

AUGUST

James A. Corbett (Aug. 2), 67, co-founder of the controversial Sanctuary Movement that brought hundreds of thousands of Central American refugees to the United States in the early '80s. Lorenzo Music (Aug. 4), 64, throaty support actor who provided the distinctive voice of Garfield the cartoon cat and worked on such television series as Rhoda, The Bob Newhart Show, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Roy D. Chapin Jr. (Aug. 5), 85, former chief executive officer and chairman of American Motors Corp. (1967-77) who spearheaded the acquisition of the Jeep Corp. in 1970 and produced the original SUVs. Maureen Reagan (Aug. 8), 60, daughter of former President Ronald Reagan and his first wife, actress Jane Wyman, and an outspoken supporter of abortion. E.T. Hall (Aug. 11), 77, Oxford University archeology professor who in 1953 exposed as a hoax the Piltdown Man, a supposedly missing evolutionary link found in southern England in 1912. Elizabeth Cavanna Harrison (Aug. 13), 92, who penned more than 80 romances, mysteries, and children's books. Earl Anthony (Aug. 14), 63, the Professional Bowlers Association's six-time bowler of the year and its greatest winner with 41 professional titles. Floyd Spence (Aug. 16), 73, South Carolina Republican congressman for 30 years who was a staunch critic of big government but equally strong advocate of increased military spending. Amram Cohen (Aug. 16), 47, pediatric heart surgeon with U.S.-Israeli citizenship who helped transport 700 children from Third World nations with congenital heart diseases for lifesaving operations in Israel; he died of complications from altitude sickness while climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. Fred Hoyle (Aug. 20), 86, British pop science-fiction writer and astronomer who coined the term Big Bang in the 1950s but never accepted that theory for the origin of the universe; instead he proposed a steady-state theory that argued the universe developed in a process of continuous growth. Peter Maas (Aug. 23), 72, bestselling author who chronicled the Mafia in a prolific 50-year writing career; his books include The Valachi Papers (1969) and Serpico. Hank Sauer (Aug. 24), 84, "the mayor of Wrigley Field" who pounded out 198 home runs as a Chicago Cubs outfielder (1949-55), starring as the National League's 1952 MVP and a two-time All-Star outfielder. Aaliyah (Aug. 25), 22, R&B star who had two Grammy nominations, a platinum album, and a rising movie career; born Aaliyah Haughton; killed in a plane crash in the Bahamas. James D. Ford (Aug. 30), 70, a Lutheran minister who served as chaplain at West Point and the House of Representatives for two decades; an apparent suicide. Jon H. Myer (Aug. 30), 78, the man who developed price scanners used at supermarkets.

SEPTEMBER

Troy Donahue (Sept. 2), 65, teen heartthrob who starred in A Summer Place (1959) and television's Hawaiian Eye (1960-62) and Surfside Six (1962-63). Robert McAfee Brown (Sept. 4), 81, a Presbyterian theologian, ecumenist, author, anti-war activist, and one of the best-known advocates of liberation theology, which launched many wars in Latin America. Justin Wilson (Sept. 5), 87, the Cajun chef whose down-home humor, gumbo-thick accent, and "ga-ron-tee" of authentic bayou cuisine delighted public television audiences. Cawood Ledford (Sept. 5), 75, longtime radio voice of the Kentucky Wildcats and renowned horse racing broadcaster who called the Kentucky Derby more than 15 times for CBS Radio. Fred de Cordova (Sept. 15), 90, producer of NBC's The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson for 22 years, until 1992. Ernie Coombs (Sept. 18), 73, a fixture on Canadian TV for more than 30 years as "Mr. Dressup." Marcos Perez Jimenez (Sept. 20), 87, Venezuela's last military dictator (1952-58); the bloodless coup that ousted him established the longest still-standing democracy in Latin America. Isaac Stern (Sept. 22), 81, violinist and prolific classical recording artist whose brilliant career spanned six decades and took him to every continent; led efforts to save Carnegie Hall in 1960. Nguyen Van Thieu (Sept. 29), 78, former president of South Vietnam (1965-75) who led his nation in a war that tore apart his homeland and bitterly divided America.

OCTOBER

Paul J. Fitzgerald (Oct. 2), 64, the lead defense attorney in the 1970 trial of cult leader Charles Manson and three of his female followers. Herbert S. Kirk (Oct. 3), 106, oldest surviving Navy pilot from World War I, during which he flew reconnaissance flights over the English Channel to watch for German subs; at 97, he graduated from Montana State University with a degree in art. Robert Matthew Berne (Oct. 4), 83, a heart specialist and educator at the University of Virginia whose textbooks were used by generations of doctors. Mike Mansfield (Oct. 5), 98, Montana Democrat who was the longest-serving Senate majority leader; after leaving the Senate in 1977, he was named U.S. ambassador to Japan and wielded significant influence in Tokyo for more than 11 years. Emilie Schindler (Oct. 5), 93, who helped her industrialist husband, Oskar, save 1,200 Jews from Nazi death camps, a story chronicled by a book and the 1993 Oscar-winning film, Schindler's List. Herbert L. Block (Oct. 7), 91, Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist for The Washington Post since 1946 who, under the name Herblock, skewered every president since Herbert Hoover. Dagmar (Oct. 9), 79, the voluptuous actress who became an overnight sensation playing a dumb blond on NBC's late-night show Broadway Open House (1950-51); she was born Virginia Ruth Egnor. Jay Livingston (Oct. 17), 86, Oscar-winning composer and lyricist whose 64-year collaboration with Ray Evans led to such hits as "Silver Bells," "Que Sera, Sera," and "Mona Lisa." Frank Craighead (Oct. 21), 85, a renowned grizzly bear researcher credited with inspiring a generation of biologists and conservationists. Howard Finster (Oct. 22), 84, backwoods Baptist preacher whose eccentric paintings teeming with childlike, colorful images, and religious messages (like "Hell is a hell of a place") appeared on the covers of rock albums and in galleries around the world. Abdul Haq (Oct. 26), 43, one-time mujahedeen leader whose reputation made him a revered legend among Afghan fighters; his leadership, in spite of serious war wounds, was key to the defeat of Soviet occupation forces in the late 1980s; ambushed in an Afghan mountain canyon and executed by Taliban forces. Eugene "Pineapple" Jackson (Oct. 26), 84, actor who starred in Our Gang comedies in the 1920s. Paul Warnke (Oct. 31), 81, U.S. arms-control negotiator and one-time assistant defense secretary who was the highest Pentagon official in the Johnson administration to question openly the conduct of the Vietnam War.

NOVEMBER

Tom Cheney (Nov. 1), 67, pitcher who set the major league record with 21 strikeouts for the Washington Senators in a 16-inning game against Baltimore in 1962. Warren Leruth (Nov. 7), 72, who created Green Goddess and other salad dressings for Seven Seas, Popeyes red beans, and the original recipes for Cookie Time. Melvin Burkhart (Nov. 8), 94, carnival magician who logged 900,000 miles to entertain millions in 100,000 sideshows over 60 years and whose silver tongue made him the touter of his carny colleagues. Eunice Simpson (Nov. 9), 80, O.J. Simpson's mother who stood by her son at his murder trial and told the jury of her hard life as a divorced mother of four. Ken Kesey (Nov. 10), 66, author who railed against authority in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1962) and wrote Sometimes a Great Notion (1964). Cornelius Warmerdam (Nov. 13), 86, track and field's greatest pole vaulter in the era before fiberglass poles catapulted athletes to undreamed-of heights. Nathan M. Pusey (Nov. 14), 94, Harvard's 24th president (1953-71) who led the school through tremendous growth and liberalization only to be swept away in a storm over his handling of Vietnam-era campus protests. George D. Younger (Nov. 21), 75, a Baptist and ecumenical leader known for his liberal religious and urban activism. Mary Kay Ash (Nov. 22), 83, one of America's most famous businesswomen; she founded her Mary Kay Inc. cosmetics firm in 1963 with $5,000 and a sales force of 11, and grew it into an empire with 850,000 associates in 37 countries with a wholesale revenue of $1.3 billion. Bo Belinsky (Nov. 23), 64, a former major league pitcher known as much for his celebrity lifestyle as for his baseball career; as a Los Angeles Angels rookie in 1962, he pitched the majors' first West Coast no-hitter. Mary Whitehouse (Nov. 23), 91, former schoolteacher whose dogged 30-year campaign against TV violence and sexual exploitation made her a household name in Britain. W. Glenn Campbell (Nov. 24), 77, economist and friend of Ronald Reagan who built the Hoover Institution at Stanford University into one of the world's most influential conservative research groups. Paul Hume (Nov. 26), 85, music critic for The Washington Post (1947-82) who drew the ire of President Harry Truman after panning a 1950 voice recital by Truman's daughter, Margaret; the president wrote back, saying that "it seems to me that you are a frustrated old man" and that, if they ever met, "you'll need a new nose." John Mitchum (Nov. 27), 82, character actor in some 50 movies and TV shows, author of patriotic poems, and brother of the late film star Robert Mitchum. George Harrison (Nov. 29), 58, the Beatles' quiet lead guitarist and spiritual explorer, who helped popularize everything from new hairstyles to Eastern religion; died after a long bout with cancer. Fei-Ping Hsu (Nov. 29), 51, a Chinese-born American concert pianist who built an acclaimed international career after spending part of the 1960s banished to a rural rice farm; killed in a car crash in China. John Knowles (Nov. 29), 75, author whose A Separate Peace is considered an American literary classic.

DECEMBER

John Collins (Dec. 2), 89, tutor over nearly 70 years to America's top chess players, including Bobby Fischer, William Lombardy, and Robert Byrne. Lois Crouch Matheny Addy (Dec. 3), 109, who babysat for Sen. Strom Thurmond when he was a boy and always voted for him. Peter Blake (Dec. 5), 53, environmentalist who once headed the Cousteau Society and yachtsman who led the New Zealand crew that won the America's Cup in 1995 and 2000; shot and killed by river pirates on the Amazon River in Brazil. Sidney H. "Buster" Kelley (Dec. 5), 92, auto dealer who helped develop the Kelley Blue Book, used to determine the value of used cars. Pauline Moore (Dec. 7), 87, movie actress best known as Charlie Chan's sidekick and Roy Rogers's leading lady. Frances Elizabeth Holberton (Dec. 8), 84, a pioneer computer programmer who was one of six women to help program the government's Eniac, the first digital computer. Don Tennant (Dec. 8), 79, ad genius who created Tony the Tiger and the Marlboro Man and coined the phrases "Nothin' says lovin' like something from the oven" for Pillsbury and "Fly the friendly skies of United." Dave Graue (Dec. 10), 75, writer of the "Alley Oop" caveman comic strip for 51 years. Ulysses Grant Sharp Jr. (Dec. 12), 95, descendant of President Grant and former commander of U.S. Pacific forces who criticized American weakness in the Vietnam War.