Here are the most recent deaths in the national news, as reported at Legacy.com, the third
week of April 2023. Legacy.com is where you can find any obituary,
or publish an obituary in any newspaper in America, and beyond.
Musician Mark Sheehan died April 14, 2023, after a short illness at the age of 46.
He was a guitarist who co-founded the Irish rock band The Script.
Sheehan is being remembered for hit songs including “Breakeven” and “Hall of Fame.”
Football player Chris Smith died April 17, 2023, at the age of 31. His cause of death
has not been officially announced as of this recording.
He was a defensive end for NFL teams including the Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland Browns,
and Cincinnati Bengals. Smith is also being remembered for his college
football career at the University of Arkansas. Scientist Theodor O. Diener died March 28,
2023, at his home in Beltsville, Maryland at the age of 102. His cause of death has
not been officially announced as of this recording. He discovered a tiny infectious disease agent,
which he named the viroid. The importance of his achievement was compared to the discoveries
of bacteria and viruses. Diener is being remembered as a pioneer who
was honored with the National Medal of Science. Musician Ahmad Jamal died April 16, 2023,
at his home in Ashley Falls, Massachusetts. He died of complications from prostate cancer
at the age of 92. He was an innovative jazz pianist and bandleader
whose unforgettable songs included “Poinciana” and “Ahmad’s Blues.”
Jamal is being remembered for his minimalist playing style, which influenced musicians
including Miles Davis. Actor Murray Melvin died April 14, 2023, in
London. He died of complications from a fall at the age of 90.
He was known for movies including “A Taste of Honey,” “Barry Lyndon,” and “The
Phantom of the Opera.” Melvin is also being remembered for his role
in the “Doctor Who” spinoff series “Torchwood.” Musician Cliff Fish died April 14, 2023, of
cancer at the age of 73. He was the bassist for Paper Lace, who had
a number one hit in 1974 with “The Night Chicago Died.”
Fish is also being remembered for songs including “Billy Don’t Be a Hero” and “The Black-Eyed
Boys.” Actress Carol Locatell died April 11, 2023,
after fighting cancer at the age of 82. She stole the show in “Friday the 13th:
A New Beginning” in her role as Ethel Hubbard. Locatell is also being remembered for roles
in TV shows including “M*A*S*H” and “Scandal.” Reverend Charles Stanley died April 18, 2023,
at his home in Atlanta at the age of 90. His cause of death has not been officially announced
as of this recording. He hosted the radio and TV program “In Touch
with Dr. Charles Stanley,” which was heard around the world for decades.
Stanley is being remembered as the influential senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Atlanta.
Reality TV star Keith Nale died April 18, 2023, at his home in Louisiana. He died after
fighting cancer at the age of 62. He competed on “Survivor: San Juan del Sur,”
and fans voted for him to return for the second chance season, “Survivor: Cambodia.”
Nale is being remembered as a fan favorite for his folksy humor.
Musician Otis Redding III died April 18, 2023, at a hospital in Macon, Georgia. He died after
fighting cancer at the age of 59. He was the son of the late soul legend Otis
Redding, and he followed in his father’s footsteps by making music alongside his brother
Dexter as the funk band, The Reddings. Redding is being remembered for 1980s singles
including “Remote Control” and “The Awakening,” as well as for his work with
charitable causes. Former U.S. Representative Bud Shuster died
April 19, 2023, at his home in Everett, Pennsylvania. He died of complications from a broken hip
at the age of 91. A Republican, he represented Pennsylvania’s
9th district in the House for more than 25 years.
Shuster is being remembered as the King of Asphalt for his dedication to transportation
and infrastructure projects, including building Interstate 99.
Football player Dave Wilcox died April 19, 2023, at the age of 80. His cause of death
has not been officially announced as of this recording.
He was a linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers in the 1960s and ‘70s, playing in
seven Pro Bowls. Wilcox is being remembered as a Pro Football
Hall of Famer who was called “The Intimidator” for his aggressive style of play.
Author and musician Blair Tindall died April 12, 2023, in Los Angeles. She died of heart
disease at the age of 63. She wrote the memoir “Mozart in the Jungle,”
shocking some readers with her descriptions of sex and drugs in the classical music world.
Her book was adapted into a TV series for Amazon Prime.
Tindall is also being remembered as an oboist who played for orchestras including the New
York Philharmonic and the San Francisco Symphony. Singer and actor Moonbin died April 19, 2023,
at his home in Seoul, South Korea at the age of 25. His cause of death has not been officially
announced as of this recording. He was part of the K-pop group Astro, who
had international hits including “All Night” and “Crazy Sexy Cool.”
Moonbin is also being remembered for his work with the Astro offshoot band, Moonbin & Sanha.
Singer April Stevens died April 17, 2023, in Phoenix at the age of 93. Her cause of
death has not been officially announced as of this recording.
Alongside her brother, Nino Tempo, she had a Grammy-winning number one hit in 1963 with
“Deep Purple.” Stevens is also being remembered for solo
singles including “Teach Me Tiger” and “I’m in Love Again.”
This week also marks several notable anniversaries. Five years ago, actor and comedian Harry Anderson
died at the age of 65. He was best known for playing Judge Harry T. Stone on the sitcom
“Night Court.” Five years ago, actor Verne Troyer died at
the age of 49. He was hilarious when he played Mini Me in the Austin Powers movie series.
Seven years ago, musician Prince died at the age of 57. We remember him for epic songs
like “1999” and “Purple Rain.” Seven years ago, actress Doris Roberts died
at the age of 90. She was best known for her role as Marie Barone on “Everybody Loves
Raymond.” Ten years ago, actress and singer Annette
Funicello died at the age of 70. She went from childhood fame as a Mouseketeer to an
acting career in beach party films, later starring in commercials for Skippy peanut
butter. Eleven years ago, television host Dick Clark
died at the age of 82. He was the longtime host of “American Bandstand” and “Dick
Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve.” Fifty years ago, artist Pablo Picasso died
at the age of 91. He was one of the most influential artists of the 20th century and one of the
founders of Cubism. Actor Don Adams was born 100 years ago. He
died in 2005 at the age of 82. He starred in the sitcom “Get Smart” and was the
voice of cartoon favorites including Tennessee Tuxedo and Inspector Gadget.
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 Wisconsin have been lowered to honor
the memory of Chetek Police Officer Emily Breidenbach and Cameron Police Officer Hunter
Scheel, who died in the line of duty. Flags in South Carolina have been lowered
to honor the memory of former U.S. Representative John W. Jenrette, Jr., former state representative
Archibald Hardy III, and former state senator John C. Hayes III.
Flags in Missouri have been lowered to honor the memory of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Rusten
Radford Smith and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Zachary G. Esparza of the U.S. Army.
Flags in Kentucky have been lowered to honor the memory of U.S. Army Warrant Officer 1
Jeffery A. Barnes, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Zachary G. Esparza, Corporal Emilie Marie
Eve Bolanos, and Staff Sergeant Taylor J. Mitchell, who died in the Blackhawk helicopter
crash near Fort Campbell. Flags in Maryland have been lowered to honor
the memory of former State Delegate Marilyn Rubin Goldwater.
Flags in Virginia have been lowered in memory and respect of the 16th Anniversary of the
Virginia Tech shooting, which took the lives of 32 people.
Flags in Oregon have been lowered to honor the memory of Nyssa Police Department Reserve
Officer Joseph Johnson, who died in the line of duty.
Flags in West Virginia have been lowered to honor the memory of State Forester Cody John
Mullens. Flags in Oklahoma have been lowered to honor
the anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing. Flags in Indiana have been lowered to honor
the memory of Michael Keel of Valparaiso, an employee of the Indiana State Prison.
Flags in New York have been lowered to honor the memory of Retired Investigator Patrick
J. Hogan, who died from an illness stemming from his assignment in and around the World
Trade Center site following the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001.
You can read more about the lives of the people featured in this video on Legacy.com.
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