Here are the most recent deaths in the national news, as reported at Legacy.com, the first
week of October 2023. Legacy.com is where you can find any obituary,
or publish an obituary in any newspaper in America, and beyond.
Football player Russ Francis died October 1, 2023, in Lake Placid, New York. He died
in an aircraft accident at the age of 70. He was a tight end for the San Francisco 49ers
who helped them to victory at Super Bowl XIX. Francis is also being remembered for his years
with the New England Patriots, and for his professional wrestling career after he retired
from football. Musician Russell Batiste Jr. died September
30, 2023, in LaPlace, Louisiana. He died of a heart attack at the age of 57.
He was a renowned New Orleans drummer who played with such bands as the Funky Meters,
Nuclear Rhythms, and Papa Grows Funk. Batiste is also being remembered as a member
of the supergroup Vida Blue alongside musicians from Phish and the Allman Brothers.
Sports commentator Bob Sheridan died September 27, 2023, at the age of 79.
He was a boxing play-by-play announcer who reported on iconic fights like the Rumble
in the Jungle, the Thrilla in Manila, and the infamous “ear bite” fight between
Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield. Sheridan is being remembered as the “Voice
of Boxing,” whose high energy commentary made fans feel like they were there.
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Hockey executive Chris Snow died September 30, 2023, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He
died of complications from ALS at the age of 42.
He was the assistant general manager for the Calgary Flames after having worked as a sports
journalist and in the front office for the Minnesota Wild.
Snow is being remembered for his inspirational advocacy for ALS awareness, including helping
raise more than half a million dollars for ALS research.
Author Echo Brown died September 16, 2023, at a hospital in Cleveland. She died after
fighting lupus and kidney failure at the age of 39.
She wrote acclaimed books for young adults, such as “Black Girl Unlimited” and “The
Chosen One.” Brown is also being remembered for her one-woman
play, “Black Virgins Are Not for Hipsters.” Radio host Alamo Jones died September 27,
2023, after a long fight with multiple health issues at the age of 77.
He was the host of “The Alamo Jones Show” on SiriusXM’s Outlaw Country channel.
Jones is also being remembered as a singer and songwriter, and as “The Voice in Black”
– the nickname given to him by his longtime friend, Johnny Cash.
Architect Beverly Willis died October 1, 2023, in Branford, Connecticut. She died of Parkinson’s
disease at the age of 95. Her designs included the San Francisco Ballet
building and the Shell Bar at the Royal Hawaiian Hilton.
Willis is also being remembered as a mentor to other women architects and as a champion
of their work. Musician Dom Famularo died September 27, 2023,
of pancreatic cancer at the age of 70. He was a drummer and a renowned drumming instructor
who taught clinics and masterclasses all over the world.
Famularo is being remembered as “Drumming’s Global Ambassador” for sharing his love
of music across the world. Filmmaker Horace Ové died September 16, 2023,
in London. He died after suffering from Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 86.
His 1976 film “Pressure” was the first feature-length film directed by a Black British
filmmaker. Ové is also being remembered for movies like
“Reggae” and “Playing Away.” Lt. General Claudius “Bud” Watts III died
October 1, 2023, in Charleston, South Carolina. He died at the age of 87.
He was best known as the 17th president of The Citadel, a prestigious military academy
in South Carolina where he himself had been a student 30 years earlier.
Lt. General Watts previously served the U.S. Air Force in such positions as budget director
of Air Force Headquarters and Comptroller of the Air Force.
His military service spanned three decades, including a stint in the Vietnam War. He was
also a Fulbright Scholar at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Baseball player Tim Wakefield died October 1, 2023, in Satellite Beach, Florida. He died
of brain cancer at the age of 57. He was a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox for
17 seasons, helping them break the “curse of the Bambino” with their 2004 World Series
victory. Wakefield is remembered as a record-setting
player – he was the oldest Red Sox player ever to win a game, and he started more games
at Fenway Park than any other pitcher. All-time NFL football great Dick Butkus died
this week at his home in Malibu, California, at the age of 80. The Chicago Bears announced
the news on October 5, 2023. A linebacker for the Bears in the 1960s and
‘70s, Butkus was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979, and in 2019, the NFL
honored him as one of the greatest players of the league's first 100 years.
Butkus is also remembered for his acting career. He appeared in such movies as Necessary Roughness
and Any Given Sunday. In addition to featuring current deaths in
the news, Legacy.com also honors the lives and legacies of notable people who died in
the past. Here are some of this week’s anniversaries. One year ago this week, singer and songwriter
Loretta Lynn died at the age of 90. She was a country music legend whose songs included
“Coal Miner’s Daughter” and “Fist City.”
Three years ago this week, musician Eddie Van Halen died at the age of 65. He was the
longtime guitarist for the band Van Halen, known for rock hits like “Jump” and “Why
Can’t This Be Love.” Four years ago this week, actress and singer
Diahann Carroll died at the age of 84. She was a TV star on “Julia” and was Oscar-nominated
for her performance in “Claudine.” Six years ago this week, musician Tom Petty
died at the age of 66. His many hit songs included “You Got Lucky,” “Free Fallin’,”
and “Mary Jane’s Last Dance.” Eighteen years ago this week, playwright August
Wilson died at the age of 60. His award-winning plays include “Fences” and “The Piano
Lesson.” Twenty-five years ago this week, actor and
singer Gene Autry died at the age of 91. Known as the Singing Cowboy, he had a classic with
his signature song, “Back in the Saddle Again.”
Twenty-five years ago this week, actor Roddy McDowall died at the age of 70. He was a child
star in “Lassie Come Home,” and he grew up to star in the “Planet of the Apes”
movies. Thirty-four years ago this week, actress Bette
Davis died at the age of 81. Her classic movies include “All About Eve” and “What Ever
Happened to Baby Jane?” Fifty-three years ago this week, singer Janis
Joplin died at the age of 27. She was known for her powerful vocals on songs like “Me
and Bobby McGee” and “Piece of My Heart.” Actor Charlton Heston was born 100 years ago
this week. He died in 2008 at the age of 84. He won an Oscar for “Ben-Hur” and starred
in such movies as “The Ten Commandments” and “Soylent Green.”
Every week in the United States, flags are lowered to half-staff to honor the lives of
Americans whose communities are mourning their loss. Here are the most recent half-staff
memorial flag honors. Flags across the United States, as well as
state flags in Maryland, have been lowered to honor the memory of Senator Dianne Feinstein.
Flags in Maryland have also been lowered to honor the memory of Baltimore Orioles legend
Brooks Robinson. Flags in Indiana have been lowered to honor
the memory of State Senator Jack E. Sandlin. Flags in South Carolina have been lowered
to honor the memory of state Representative David J. Mack, III and Deputy Jacob Eric Salrin
of the Richland County Sheriff’s Office, who died in the line of duty.
Flags in Kentucky have been lowered to honor the memory of U.S. Army Pfc. Thomas Franklin
“Frank” Brooks, who died in World War II. His remains were recently identified and
returned home for burial. Flags in Rhode Island have been lowered to
honor the memory of former Johnston Police Chief Joseph Razza and active-duty Marine
Gunnery Sergeant Andrew Clermont. Flags in Tennessee have been lowered to honor
the memory of Knox County Sheriff’s Office deputy Tucker Blakely, who died in the line
of duty. You can read more about the lives of the people
featured in this video on Legacy.com. At Legacy.com, ANY family can publish an obituary
in honor of a loved one’s memory, online and in local newspapers everywhere. Just visit
Legacy.com and select your local community. You can also follow Legacy.com on Facebook
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