Here are the most recent deaths in the national news, as reported at Legacy.com, the second
week of June 2023. Legacy.com is where you can find any obituary,
or publish an obituary in any newspaper in America, and beyond.
Actor and comedian Mike Batayeh died June 1, 2023, in Ypsilanti, Michigan. He died of
a heart attack at the age of 52. He had a recurring role on “Breaking Bad”
as the manager of the laundromat that provided a front for a meth lab.
Batayeh is also being remembered for his stand-up comedy and for appearances on TV shows like
“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” and “Everybody Loves Raymond.”
Track and field star Harvey Glance died June 12, 2023, at a hospital in Mesa, Arizona.
He died of cardiac arrest at the age of 66. He won Olympic gold in 1976 in the 4x100-meter
relay. Glance is also being remembered as the head
track and field coach at Auburn University and the University of Alabama.
Author Cormac McCarthy died June 13, 2023, at his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He died
of natural causes at the age of 89. He wrote award-winning novels, many of which
were adapted into popular movies: “No Country for Old Men,” “The Road,” “All the
Pretty Horses,” and more. He is being remembered as one of the greatest
writers of his time. McCarthy was a U.S. Air Force veteran.
Author Ama Ata Aidoo died May 31, 2023, after a short illness at the age of 81.
Born in Ghana, she was known for novels like “Changes: A Love Story” and “Our Sister
Killjoy.” Aidoo is being remembered as the first female
published playwright from Africa with her 1964 play, “The Dilemma of a Ghost.”
Politician James G. Watt died May 27, 2023, in Arizona at the age of 85.
He was secretary of the interior under President Ronald Reagan, advocating for drilling and
mining in public lands. Watt is being remembered for controversies
including his attempt to cancel rock concerts on the National Mall following a Beach Boys
concert. A note to remember: Sometimes, personal information
such as someone's cause of death is not announced immediately, or publicly at all, by their
family or the authorities. Every family has a right to their privacy.
Politician Silvio Berlusconi died June 12, 2023, at a hospital in Milan. He died after
fighting chronic leukemia at the age of 86. He was prime minister of Italy in the 1990s,
2000s, and 2010s. Berlusconi is being remembered for his profound
influence on Italy as well as for several scandals.
Football player Jim Turner died June 10, 2023, of heart failure at the age of 82.
He was a placekicker who helped the New York Jets to victory in Super Bowl III by kicking
three field goals and an extra point. Turner is also being remembered for his years
with the Denver Broncos, who inducted him into their Ring of Fame.
Comic book artist Ian McGinty died June 8, 2023, at his home in Annapolis, Maryland.
He died of natural causes at the age of 38. He worked on comics including “Adventure
Time,” “Invader Zim,” and “Bee and PuppyCat.”
McGinty is also being remembered for his own creator-owned comic, “Welcome to Showside.”
Comic book artist John Romita Sr. died June 12, 2023, in New York City. He died of natural
causes at the age of 93. He was a legend of Marvel Comics, whose extensive
work on Spider-Man defined the character’s style and established him as the mascot for
Marvel’s superhero comics. He is also being remembered for co-creating
characters like Wolverine, Mary Jane Watson, and the Punisher.
Romita was a U.S. Army veteran. Skier Patrick Gasienica died June 12, 2023,
in Bull Valley, Illinois. He died of injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident at the
age of 24. He competed in ski jumping at the 2022 Winter
Olympics in Beijing. Gasienica is being remembered as a rising
star who is gone too soon. Scientist Roger Payne died June 10, 2023,
at his home in South Woodstock, Vermont. He died of metastatic squamous cell carcinoma
at the age of 88. He discovered that whales sing, using underwater
microphones to record their vocalizations and analyzing them to discover their distinct
patterns. Payne is being remembered for releasing the
album “Songs of the Humpback Whale” from his recordings, galvanizing the “Save the
Whales” movement to secure a ban on commercial whaling.
Actress and politician Glenda Jackson died June 15, 2023, at her home in London. She
died after a short illness at the age of 87. She won Oscars for her starring performances
in “Women in Love” and “A Touch of Class,” as well as winning several Emmys and a Tony
over the course of her distinguished career. Jackson is also being remembered for her political
career – she left acting to serve in the United Kingdom’s Parliament for more than
20 years. Football player Homer Jones died June 14,
2023, in Pittsburg, Texas. He died of lung cancer at the age of 82.
He was a wide receiver for the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns in the 1960s and ‘70s.
Jones is being remembered as the first player to spike the ball in the end zone after a
touchdown. Musician John Rowan, better known as Blackie
Onassis, died June 13, 2023, in Los Angeles at the age of 57.
He was the drummer for the alternative rock band Urge Overkill, known for their hit cover
of “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon.” Onassis is being remembered as a strong influence
on the band’s retro sound and style. Actor Treat Williams died June 12, 2023, in
Dorset, Vermont. He died of injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident at the age of 71.
He became a star when he played a lead role in the movie “Hair,” and he went on to
star in movies like “Prince of the City,” “Once Upon a Time in America,” and “Deep
Rising.” Williams is also being remembered for starring
on TV in shows such as “Everwood” and “Chesapeake Shores.”
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, musician Matt “Guitar” Murphy died at the age of 88. He was a blues
guitarist who played with Howlin’ Wolf and Chuck Berry, and he was a member of The Blues
Brothers band who appeared in their two movies. Fifteen years ago this week, journalist Tim
Russert died at the age of 58. He was the longtime host of the political talk show “Meet
the Press.” Nineteen years ago this week, musician Ray
Charles died at the age of 73. As a singer and pianist, he was beloved and influential,
and he had hits like “Georgia on My Mind” and “Hit the Road Jack.”
Twenty years ago this week, actor Gregory Peck died at the age of 87. He was one of
the great stars of classic Hollywood, who won an Academy Award for his legendary performance
in “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Forty-four years ago this week, actor John
Wayne died at the age of 72. He was an icon of Westerns and war movies who won an Academy
Award for his work in “True Grit.” Rapper and actor Tupac Shakur was born 52
years ago this week. He died in 1996 at the age of 25. His highly influential music earned
him places in the Hip-Hop and Rock and Roll Halls of Fame.
Actor Gene Wilder was born 90 years ago this week. He died in 2016 at the age of 83. His
many beloved movies included “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” “Young Frankenstein,”
and “Blazing Saddles.” Holocaust victim Anne Frank was born 94 years
ago this week. She died in 1945 at the age of 15. Her posthumously published diary told
her story of hiding from the Nazi regime for two years, and it has helped generations understand
the horrors of the Holocaust. Actress and singer Judy Garland was born 101
years ago this week. She died in 1969 at the age of 47. Her iconic films include “The
Wizard of Oz,” “Easter Parade,” and “A Star Is Born.”
Actress Hattie McDaniel was born 130 years ago this week. She died in 1952 at the age
of 59. She was the first Black person ever to win an Academy Award, for her performance
in “Gone with the Wind.” 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 Kentucky have been lowered to honor the memory of U.S. Army Sgt. David M. Solinas
Jr., who died in the helicopter accident near Fort Campbell in March.
Flags in Florida have been lowered as a mark of respect for the victims, their families,
and the many affected by the shooting at the Pulse nightclub seven years ago.
Flags in Missouri have been lowered to honor the memory of Ron Richard, the only person
in Missouri history to have served as both Speaker of the Missouri House and President
Pro Tempore of the Missouri Senate. Flags in South Carolina have been lowered
to honor the memory of Specialist Jayson Reed Haven of the South Carolina National Guard.
Flags in New York have been lowered to honor the memory of State Police Captain Christopher
J. Garrow, who died of an illness stemming from his assignment in and around the World
Trade Center site following the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001.
Flags in Massachusetts have been lowered to honor the memory of former Representative
David Bartley. 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 on YouTube to stay up to date on national news deaths.