Here are the most recent deaths in the national news,
plus people's reactions to those deaths, as seen at Legacy.com in the third week of November 2021.
John Artis died November 7, 2021, at his home in Hampton, Virginia. He died
of an abdominal aneurysm at the age of 75. He was imprisoned along with the boxer Ruben
“Hurricane” Carter in a 1967 murder case, but the men maintained their innocence. Bob Dylan wrote
the song “Hurricane” protesting the case, and years later, both men were finally exonerated.
Artis is being remembered for working later in life to counsel inmates
and help overturn wrongful convictions.
Musician Don Maddox died September 12, 2021, at an adult care facility in Medford, Oregon,
at the age of 98. His death was widely reported this week.
He was a fiddle player and singer with the early country band, The Maddox Brothers and Rose.
They influenced the development of rockabilly and rock and roll.
Maddox is being remembered as the band’s comedian,
who performed under the persona “Don Juan” and joked with their audiences.
Maddox was a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, who served during World War II.
Businessman Glen de Vries died November 11, 2021, in Sussex County, New Jersey.
He died in a small plane crash at the age of 49. Just last month, he flew to outer space on Jeff
Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket, traveling alongside Star Trek actor William Shatner.
De Vries is being remembered for advocating for making space tourism accessible for more people.
Actor Gavan O’Herlihy died September 15, 2021, in Bath, England, at the age of 70.
His death was publicly announced this week. He played Chuck Cunningham, Richie and
Joanie’s older brother, on the first season of “Happy Days.”
O’Herlihy is also being remembered for his roles in movies including
“Willow,” “Death Wish 3,” “Never Say Never Again,” and “Superman III.”
Racing driver and instructor Bob Bondurant died November 12, 2021,
in Paradise Valley, Arizona at the age of 88. He had a successful racing career in the 1960s,
including a spot on Carroll Shelby’s Ford Cobra team. He won the GT class at the 1964 Le Mans.
Bondurant is also being remembered for his high- performance driving school,
where he taught celebrities including Paul Newman, Tom Cruise, and Nicolas Cage.
Actor Heath Freeman died in November 2021, at his home in Austin, Texas, at the age of 41.
He was known for playing serial killer Howard Epps on “Bones,” as well as roles on other TV shows
such as “NCIS,” “ER,” and “Raising the Bar.” Freeman is also being remembered for co-writing,
producing, and starring in the indie film “Skateland.”
Entrepreneur Chris-Tia Donaldson died November 13, 2021, after fighting
breast cancer at the age of 42. She was the founder and CEO of TGIN
Thank God it’s Natural, a national haircare brand. Donaldson is being remembered for establishing
the TGIN Foundation to support uninsured women with breast cancer.
Baseball player Julio Lugo died November 15, 2021, of a heart attack at the age of 45.
He played shortstop for Major League teams including the Boston Red Sox,
with whom he won the 2007 World Series. Lugo is also being remembered for his time
with the Houston Astros, Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, and other teams.
Actor Henry Woolf died November 11, 2021, at the age of 91.
He had a dual role in the cult film “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” playing the
wedding photographer and a Transylvanian. Woolf is also being remembered for roles
on British TV in Doctor Who, Rutland Weekend Television, and Steptoe and Son.
Journalist Maureen Cleave died November 6, 2021, at her home
in Aldeburgh, England at the age of 87. She wrote a pioneering column on pop music
for a London newspaper, where she was one of the first journalists to cover the Beatles. She
became a close confidante of the band. Cleave is being remembered for doing
the interview with John Lennon in which he called the Beatles “more popular than Jesus.”
Rapper Young Dolph died November 17, 2021, in Memphis. He died in a shooting at the age of 36.
He was known for albums including “King of Memphis” and “Rich Slave,” which debuted
at number 4 on the Billboard chart. Young Dolph is being remembered for
working with notable artists including Megan Thee Stallion and Gucci Mane.
Baseball player Pedro Feliciano died November 8, 2021, at his home in Puerto Rico at the age of 45.
He was a pitcher for the New York Mets off and on between 2002 and 2013.
Feliciano led the major leagues in appearances for three consecutive seasons,
earning the nickname “Perpetual Pedro.”
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 in Arizona have been lowered to honor the memory of Tucson sector U.S. Border
Patrol Agent Anibal A. "Tony" Perez, who died in the line of duty.
Flags in Arizona have also been lowered to honor the memory of retired Mesa
Fire and Medical Department Captain Trevor Madrid, who died in the line of duty after a
battle with occupational-related cancer. Flags in Michigan have been lowered
to honor the memory of former U.S. Representative Barbara-Rose Collins.
Flags in Georgia have been lowered to honor the memory of Jackson County Sheriff's Deputy
Lena Nicole Marshall, who died after being shot in the line of duty.
Flags in Wisconsin have been lowered to honor the memory of Lt. Col. John
A. Palese Jr. of West Bend, who lost his life in the line of duty after contracting COVID-19.
Flags in Ohio have been lowered to honor the memory of Greene County Sheriff Gene Fischer.
Flags in Virginia have been lowered to honor the memory of Big Stone Gap
Police Officer Michael Chandler. Flags in South Carolina have
been lowered to honor the memory of state Senator Hugh K. Leatherman, Sr.
This week also marks several notable anniversaries.
Five years ago this week, musician Leon Russell died of a heart attack at the age of 74.
Five years ago this week, broadcast journalist Gwen Ifill
died of breast and endometrial cancer at the age of 61.
Musician Jeff Buckley was born 55 years ago this week. He died in 1997 in an
accidental drowning at the age of 30. And baseball player Roy Campanella
was born 100 years ago this week. He died in 1993, of heart failure at the age of 71.
You can read more about the lives of the people featured in this video on Legacy.com.
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