Here are the most recent deaths in the national news, plus people's reactions to those deaths,
as seen at Legacy.com at the end of July and in the first week of August 2021.
Former U.S. Senator Carl Levin died July 29, 2021, at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, at
the age of 87. He was a Democrat from Michigan who served
for 36 years. Levin is being remembered as an advocate for
civil rights who chaired the Armed Services Committee.
Actor Jay Pickett died July 30, 2021, while filming on location in Idaho. He died suddenly
at the age of 60. He was best known for soap opera roles as
Frank Scanlon Jr. on “Port Charles” and Detective David Harper on “General Hospital.”
Pickett is also being remembered for roles on TV shows like “Dexter” and “Desperate
Housewives,” and in movies like “Bundy: An American Icon.”
Actor Saginaw Grant died July 28, 2021, at a care facility in Hollywood, California.
He died of natural causes at the age of 85. He was a prolific character actor known for
roles in movies like “The Lone Ranger” and TV shows like “Breaking Bad.”
He is also being remembered as a hereditary chief of the Sac & Fox Nation of Oklahoma,
and he was a dancer at pow wows. Grant was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps.
He served in the Korean War.
Bass player Al Rappa died July 25, 2021, at his home in Florida at the age of 94.
He was a bassist with the pioneering rock and roll band, Bill Haley & His Comets. One
mourner on Legacy.com remembered him: “Rock Around the Clock: the beginning of
Rock & Roll. Been rocking ever since. Thank you soooo much. Rest in Peace.”
Registered nurse Celia Baez Sotomayor died July 25, 2021, at the Cleveland Clinic in
Weston, Florida. She died of complications of cancer at the age of 94.
She was the mother of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
She is being remembered for raising her two accomplished children as a single mother after
being widowed. Sotomayor served in the Women’s Army Corps
during World War II.
Track star Angela Bailey died July 31, 2021, in Toronto. She died of cancer at the age
of 59. She won a silver medal at the 1984 Los Angeles
Olympics, competing in the 100 meter relay. She is also being remembered as the Canadian
record holder in women’s 100 meter dash, a record she set in 1987.
Musician Paul Cotton died unexpectedly August 1, 2021, at the age of 78.
He was the longtime guitarist for the country rock band Poco.
Cotton is being remembered as one of Poco’s songwriters – he wrote songs including their
hit single “Heart of the Night,” on which he also sang lead vocals.
Physician and runner Joan Ullyot died June 19, 2021, in Palo Alto, California. She died
of cardiac arrest at the age of 80. Her death was publicly announced in August.
She helped convince the International Olympic Committee to add the women’s marathon to
the Summer Olympics. She is also being remembered for her research
disproving the theory that women couldn’t or shouldn’t run long distances.
Singer Willie Winfield died July 27, 2021, at a hospital in Brooklyn, New York. He died
of cardiac arrest at the age of 91. He was the lead vocalist for the doo-wop group
the Harptones, known for songs like “Life Is But a Dream” and “A Sunday Kind of
Love.” Winfield is being remembered for his beautiful
voice, and for singing with the Harptones for decades before retiring at age 89.
Actor Alvin Ing died July 31, 2021, at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California.
He died of complications of COVID-19 at the age of 89.
He was known for Broadway performances in “Flower Drum Song” and “Pacific Overture.”
He is also being remembered for TV roles, including recurring roles on “Falcon Crest”
and “The Doctors,” and for appearances in movies like “The Gambler.”
Ing was a U.S. Army veteran.
Author Patricia Kennealy-Morrison died July 23, 2021, at the age of 75.
She was a music journalist in the 1960s when she became romantically involved with rock
star Jim Morrison of the Doors. She was also an author known for her “Keltiad”
series of fantasy novels and for her rock and roll themed mystery novels.
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 Pennsylvania have been lowered to
honor the memory of firefighter Thomas E. Royds.
Flags in Kentucky have been lowered to honor the memory of Navy Seaman 2nd Class Floyd
D. Helton.
Flags in Minnesota have been lowered to honor the memory of Red Lake Nation Police Officer
Ryan Bialke.
Flags in Texas have been lowered to honor the memory of the victims of the Walmart shooting
in 2019. Flags in Washington have been lowered to honor
the memory of Clark County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeremy Brown.
Flags in Massachusetts have been lowered to honor the memory of Massachusetts Army National
Guard Private First Class Carlos Soto-Mendez. Flags in Arizona have been lowered to honor
the memory of Tucson Emergency Medical Technician Jacob Dindinger and U.S. Border Patrol Agent
Daniel P. Cox. Flags in Ohio have been lowered to honor the
memory of Ohio State Highway Patrol Sergeant Jared M. Ulinski and Nelsonville Police Officer
Scott Dawley. Flags in West Virginia have been lowered to
honor the memory of Navy Patternmaker 1st Class Stanislaw F. dr-VALL.
Flags in Alabama have been lowered to honor the memory of Selma Police Officer Marquis
Dewon Moorer. This week also marks several notable anniversaries.
10 years ago this week, actor and NFL star Bubba Smith died at the age of 66.
Civil rights leader Whitney Young was born 100 years ago this week. He died in 1971 at
the age of 49. Actress and comedian Lucille Ball was born
110 years ago this week. She died in 1989 at the age of 77.
And jazz trumpeter and singer Louis Armstrong was born 120 years ago this week. He died
in 1971 at the age of 69. You can read more about the lives of the people
featured in this video on Legacy.com. You can also follow Legacy.com on Facebook
and subscribe to our channel on YouTube to stay up to date on national news deaths and
reactions.