Here are the most recent deaths in the national news, as reported at Legacy.com the second
week of April 2024. Legacy.com is where you can find any obituary,
or publish an obituary in any newspaper in America, and beyond.
Musician C.J. Snare died April 5, 2024, of cardiac arrest after fighting colon cancer
at the age of 64. He was the lead singer and keyboardist for
FireHouse, the 1990s glam metal band known for songs like “Don’t Treat Me Bad”
and “I Live My Life for You.” Snare is being remembered for writing “Love
of a Lifetime,” the band’s biggest hit. Author Lynne Reid Banks died April 4, 2024,
of breast cancer at the age of 94. She wrote the best selling children’s novel
“The Indian in the Cupboard” and its four sequels.
Banks is also being remembered for her novels for adults, including “The L-Shaped Room.”
Actor Cole Brings Plenty died this week at the age of 27, after having been reported
missing on March 31, 2024. He was best known for his work on the “Yellowstone”
prequel series, “1923,” playing sheepherder Pete Plenty Clouds.
Brings Plenty is also being remembered for his work to advocate for Native Americans,
including speaking before Congress last year. A note to remember: Sometimes, personal information
– such as someone's cause of death – is not announced immediately by their family
or the authorities. When a cause of death has not been officially confirmed, we do not
report on rumors. Every family has a right to their privacy.
Actor Adrian Schiller died April 3, 2024, at the age of 60.
He was a British actor known for roles in “Victoria,” “The Last Kingdom,” and
Disney’s live action “Beauty and the Beast.” Schiller is also being remembered for appearing
in “Doctor Who,” as well as for stage acting and voice roles in video games.
Musician Albert “Tootie” Heath died April 3, 2024, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He died
of leukemia at the age of 88. He was a giant of jazz percussion who played
with his brothers, Jimmy and Percy Heath, in the Heath Brothers for decades.
Heath is also being remembered for his work with jazz greats like John Coltrane, Nina
Simone and Herbie Hancock. The Reverend Cecil “Chip” Murray Sr. died
April 5, 2024, in Los Angeles. He died of natural causes at the age of 94.
He was the longtime pastor of First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles,
where he did extensive work to support the city’s low-income neighborhoods.
He is being remembered as an influential voice for peace during the 1992 Los Angeles riots.
Murray was a U.S. Air Force veteran, who served for 10 years.
Baseball player Pat Zachry died April 4, 2024, in Austin, Texas. He died after a long illness
at the age of 71. He was a pitcher who won a World Series with
the Cincinnati Reds in 1976, the same year he was named the National League’s Rookie
of the Year. Zachry is also being remembered for his seasons
with the New York Mets after being part of a notorious trade of four players for future
Hall of Famer Tom Seaver. Politician Joseph Brennan died April 6, 2024,
in Munjoy Hill, Maine. He died of natural causes at the age of 89.
He was the governor of Maine from 1979 to 1987, and he served as the state’s attorney
general and in its legislature. Brennan is also being remembered for representing
Maine in the U.S. Congress for two terms. Baseball player Jerry Grote died April 7,
2024, in Austin, Texas. He died of respiratory failure at the age of 81.
He was a catcher for such teams as the New York Mets, Houston Astros and Los Angeles
Dodgers. Grote is being remembered for helping the
Mets win the World Series in 1969, the year they were nicknamed the “Miracle Mets.”
Musician Clarence “Frogman” Henry died April 7, 2024, in New Orleans. He died of
complications from surgery at the age of 87. He sang the 1956 novelty hit “Ain’t Got
No Home;” it was famous for his quirky vocals, intended to sound first like a woman and then
like a frog. Henry is being remembered as a legend of Louisiana
music, who played packed shows on New Orleans’ Bourbon Street for two decades.
Football coach Larry Beightol died April 4, 2024, in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He died of
heart failure, dementia and complications from diabetes at the age of 81.
He was an offensive line coach in the NFL for more than 20 years, most notably with
the Green Bay Packers in the 1990s and 2000s. Beightol is also being remembered for his
years coaching college football at schools like the University of Arkansas and North
Carolina State. U.S. Army veteran Ralph Puckett Jr. died April
8, 2024, at his home in Columbus, Georgia. He died of complications from Parkinson’s
disease at the age of 97. He was a U.S. Army veteran who served in the
Army Rangers for more than 20 years, fighting in the Korean War and Vietnam War.
In 2021, he was honored for his valor at the Battle of Chongchon River in the Korean War,
receiving the Medal of Honor more than 70 years after bravely leading his squad despite
his own severe injuries. Puckett is being remembered as one of the
most decorated soldiers in U.S. military history and as the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient
from the Korean War. Dramatist Trevor Griffiths died March 29,
2024, at his home in Yorkshire, England. He died of heart failure at the age of 88.
He wrote the play “Comedians,” which ran on Broadway in the 1970s after debuting in
England. Griffiths is also being remembered for co-writing
the screenplay for the movie “Reds,” as well as several shows for British TV.
Theoretical physicist Peter Higgs died April 8, 2024, at his home in Edinburgh, Scotland.
He died of a blood disorder at the age of 94.
He won the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physics for proposing the existence of the Higgs boson,
or “God particle,” almost 50 years earlier. Higgs is being remembered for his profound
contribution to our understanding of our universe. Musician Keith LeBlanc died April 4, 2024,
after an illness at the age of 69. He played drums and programmed drum machines
on records by hip-hop pioneers like the Sugarhill Gang and Grandmaster Flash and the Furious
Five, and his solo single “No Sell Out” was influential on the genre.
LeBlanc is also being remembered for his work with such artists as Nine Inch Nails, Tina
Turner, Annie Lennox and many others. DJ Mister Cee died April 10, 2024, at the
age of 57. Born Calvin LeBrun, he was a radio DJ on New
York City’s Hot 97 for more than two decades. Mister Cee is being remembered for helping
launch the career of hip-hop legend the Notorious B.I.G.
Comic book creator Trina Robbins died April 10, 2024, in San Francisco. She died after
suffering a stroke at the age of 84. She was a pioneer of underground comix who
produced the first all-woman comic book, 1970’s “It Ain’t Me Babe Comix.”
Robbins is being remembered as the first woman to draw Wonder Woman, and as a historian of
women’s contributions to the comics world. Sumo wrestler Akebono Tarō died in April
2024, at a hospital in Tokyo. He died of heart failure at the age of 54.
Born Chad Rowan in Hawaii, but best known simply as Akebono, he was the first foreign-born
sumo wrestler to become Japan’s Yokozuna, or grand champion of the sport.
Akebono is also being remembered for his appearances at WrestleMania and other Western pro wrestling
events. O.J. Simpson, the football superstar and actor
whose legacy changed forever when he stood trial for the murder of his ex-wife, died
April 10, 2024, of prostate cancer at the age of 76.
After a standout college football career at USC, he was a major NFL star of the 1970s,
a legendary running back for the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers.
Later, he became an actor and pitchman, starring in such movies as the “The Naked Gun”
series and doing popular commercials for Hertz. In 1994, Simpson was accused of killing his
former wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman, and the resulting trial
was one of the biggest media phenomena of the ‘90s. He was acquitted, but later found
liable for wrongful death and battery in a civil trial.
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.
Five years ago this week, actress Georgia Engel died at the age of 70. She was a TV
sitcom star in “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “Everybody Loves Raymond” and “Hot in
Cleveland.” Eleven years ago this week, actor and comedian
Jonathan Winters died at the age of 87. He was a pioneer of improvisational stand-up
who starred in movies and TV shows like “Mork & Mindy” and “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad,
Mad World.” Eleven years ago this week, actress and singer
Annette Funicello died at the age of 70. She was one of Disney’s original Mouseketeers,
who grew up to star in beach party movies and record hit singles like “Tall Paul.”
Fourteen years ago this week, actress Dixie Carter died at the age of 70. She starred
on TV in shows including “Designing Women” and “Desperate Housewives.”
Twenty-five years ago this week, singer and songwriter Lecil Martin, better known as Boxcar
Willie, died at the age of 67. He was a TV regular on “Hee Haw” who had country music
hits like “Train Medley.” Twenty-six years ago this week, singer Tammy
Wynette died at the age of 55. She was a star of country music for decades, singing such
iconic songs as “Stand By Your Man” and “D-I-V-O-R-C-E.”
Thirty-five years ago this week, boxer Sugar Ray Robinson died at the age of 67. He was
a world champion who is considered one of the greatest boxers of all time.
Sixty-five years ago this week, architect Frank Lloyd Wright died at the age of 91.
He was a giant of American architecture, known for such buildings as Fallingwater and Taliesin.
Actor and musician David Cassidy was born 74 years ago this week. He died in November
2017 at the age of 67. He was a teen idol of the 1970s who starred in “The Partridge
Family” and sang songs like “I Think I Love You.”
Musician and songwriter Merle Haggard was born 87 years ago this week. He died in April
2016, eight years ago this week, on his 79th birthday. His country music classics include
“Okie from Muskogee” and “The Fightin’ Side of Me.”
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 Iowa have been lowered to honor the memory of U.S. Army Private First Class Raymond
Schlamp, who was killed in action during World War II. His remains were recently identified
and returned home for burial. Flags in Kentucky have been lowered to honor
the memory of Somerset-Pulaski County EMT Chastian Tyler McWhorter, who died in the
line of duty. Flags in Virginia have been lowered to honor
the memory of Department of Forestry part-time Firefighter James C. Ward, who died in the
line of duty. Flags in Ohio have been lowered to honor the
memory of Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Lieutenant Rodney Osborne.
Flags in Pennsylvania have been lowered to honor the memory of Rostraver Central Fire
Department firefighter John Bunardzya. 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
and subscribe to our channel here on YouTube to stay up to date on national news deaths.