Here are the most recent deaths in the national news, as reported at Legacy.com, the fourth
week of September 2022. Legacy.com is where you can find any obituary,
or publish an obituary in any newspaper in America, and beyond.
Musician John Hartman was announced this week to have recently died at the age of 72.
He was the founding drummer for the Doobie Brothers and played with them for more than
10 years. Hartman is being remembered for playing on
hits including “Black Water,” “Listen to the Music,” and “Takin’ it to the
Streets.” Actress Louise Fletcher died September 23,
2022, at her home in Montdurausse, France at the age of 88.
She won an Academy Award for her performance as the tyrannical Nurse Ratched in “One
Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” Fletcher is also being remembered for her
recurring role on “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” as Kai Winn.
Musician Pharoah Sanders died September 23, 2022, at his home in Los Angeles at the age
of 81. He was a saxophonist who helped develop the
genres of free jazz and spiritual jazz. Sanders is being remembered for his collaborations
with musicians including John Coltrane and Sun Ra.
Author Hilary Mantel died September 22, 2022, at a hospital in Exeter, England. She died
after a stroke at the age of 70. She won the prestigious Booker Prize twice,
for her historical novels “Wolf Hall” and “Bring Up the Bodies.”
Mantel is being remembered for her short stories, novels, and memoirs.
TV personality George Ward died September 18, 2022, at the age of 28.
Ward performed as the drag queen Cherry Valentine, costarring on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and
appearing in the BBC documentary “Gypsy Queen and Proud.”
Fans are remembering Cherry Valentine for speaking out about growing up gay in England’s
Romani Traveller community. YouTube star Andy Detwiler died September
21, 2022, at Mercy Health-Urbana Hospital in Urbana, Ohio. He died of complications
from pneumonia after fighting cancer at the age of 52.
Known on YouTube as Harmless Farmer, he shared the ups and downs of his life as a farmer
after losing both of his arms in a childhood accident.
Detwiler is being remembered for inspiring his audience with his resilience and his sense
of humor. Musician Jim Post died September 14, 2022,
in Dubuque, Iowa. He died of congestive heart failure at the age of 82.
He was half of the duo Friend and Lover, whose hit “Reach out of the Darkness” included
the catchy hook, “I think it’s so groovy now that people are finally getting together.”
Post is also being remembered for his one-man show about Mark Twain.
World War II veteran Dean Caswell died September 21, 2022, at his home in Austin, Texas at
the age of 100. He was a U.S. Marine Corps aviator who served
in three wars during his 24 years of service from 1942 until his retirement in 1968.
In World War II, he was a flying ace who shot down at least 10 enemy planes – and his
own plane was never hit during more than 100 missions.
Caswell is being remembered as the last living Marine Corps flying ace from World War II.
Actress Venetia Stevenson died September 26, 2022, in Atlanta. She died of complications
from Parkinson’s disease at the age of 84. She starred in movies including “Darby’s
Rangers” and “Horror Hotel.” Stevenson is being remembered as “the most
photogenic girl in the world,” a title she won in a 1950s contest.
Actor Robert Cormier died September 23, 2022, at a hospital in Etobicoke, Ontario. He died
of injuries sustained in a fall at the age of 33.
He played Finn Cotter in the long-running Canadian TV series “Heartland.”
Cormier is also being remembered for roles in TV shows including “Slasher” and “American
Gods.” Actress Rita Gardner died September 24, 2022,
in New York City. She died of leukemia at the age of 87.
She originated the role of Luisa in the original off-Broadway cast of “The Fantasticks.”
Gardner is also being remembered for performances in Broadway shows including “The Wedding
Singer” and “A Family Affair.” Rapper Coolio died September 28, 2022, in
Los Angeles. He died of a heart attack at the age of 59.
His 1995 song “Gangsta’s Paradise” was a massive Number One hit, one of the most
popular hip hop songs of all time. Coolio, born Artis Leon Ivey Jr., is also
being remembered for the theme song from TV’s “Kenan & Kel” and other singles including
“Fantastic Voyage.” 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. 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 Michigan have been lowered to honor the memory of Detroit Firefighter Shayne Raxter,
who died in the line of duty. Flags in Indiana have been lowered to honor
the memory of Richmond Police Officer Seara Burton.
Flags in Minnesota have been lowered to honor the memory of firefighters who have been killed
or injured in the line of duty in honor of Minnesota Fallen Firefighters Memorial Day.
Flags in Ohio have been lowered to honor the memory of Carroll County Sheriff Dale Williams.
Flags in New Jersey have been lowered to honor the memory of Former Governor Jim Florio.
Flags in Maryland have been lowered to honor the memory of former State Senator David Harrington.
This week also marks several notable anniversaries. Actor Christopher Reeve was born 70 years
ago this week. He died in 2004 at the age of 52. He became a movie icon when he starred
as Superman in the 1978 hit movie. Singer and actor Meat Loaf was born 75 years
ago this week. He died in January 2022 at the age of 74. His top-selling album “Bat
out of Hell” included the classic song “Paradise by the Dashboard Light.”
Singer Lynn Anderson was born 75 years ago this week. She died in 2015 at the age of
67. She was known for country music hits including “Rose Garden.”
Musician Marc Bolan was born 75 years ago this week. He died in 1977 at the age of 29.
He and his band T Rex were pioneers of glam rock with songs including “Bang a Gong.”
Singer Frankie Lymon was born 80 years ago this week. He died in 1968 at the age of 25.
As lead singer for the Teenagers, he sang doo-wop classics like “Why Do Fools Fall
in Love?” Actress Madeline Kahn was born 80 years ago
this week. She died in 1999 at the age of 57. She was Oscar-nominated for her performances
in “Paper Moon” and “Blazing Saddles.” Actor and singer Gene Autry was born 115 years
ago this week. He died in 1998 at the age of 91. Nicknamed “The Singing Cowboy,”
his signature song was “Back in the Saddle Again.”
You can read more about the lives of the people featured in this video on Legacy.com.
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