Here are the most recent deaths in the national news, plus people's reactions to those deaths,
as seen at Legacy.com in the fourth week of August 2021.
Baseball player Bill Freehan died August 19th, 2021, of Alzheimer’s disease, at the age
of 79. He was a catcher for the Detroit Tigers for
15 years in the 1960s and ‘70s, helping lead them to a World Series victory in 1968.
Freehan is also being remembered as a University of Michigan alum who coached there after retiring
from his playing career.
Artist Chuck Close died August 19th, 2021, at a hospital in Oceanside, New York. He died
of congestive heart failure at the age of 81.
He is known for his large-scale portraits of friends, fellow artists, and celebrities.
Close is remembered for his photorealistic paintings, some of which were composed of
many tiny paintings used as pixels.
Rock & roll legend Don Everly, of the Everly Brothers, died August 21st, 2021, at his home
in Nashville, Tennessee, at the age of 84. Don and his late brother Phil harmonized their
way to the top of the 1950s radio charts, with ballads like “Bye Bye Love,” “Wake
Up Little Suzie,” and “All I Have to Do Is Dream.”
Don Everly is being remembered for influencing an entire generation of pop vocalists, including
the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and Simon & Garfunkel.
Country music songwriter Tom T. Hall died August 20th, 2021, at the age of 85.
He wrote a stunning number of classic country songs, including “Harper Valley PTA,”
“I Like Beer,” and “That’s How I Got to Memphis.”
Hall is being remembered as one of America's greatest musical storytellers.
Civil rights activist Lucille Times died August 16th, 2021, in Montgomery, Alabama, from complications
of Covid-19 at the age of 100. In 1955, six months before Rosa Parks refused
to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus, Lucille Times got into a fistfight with that same
bus driver. She is being remembered as one of the inspirations
for the Montgomery bus boycott, and for hosting civil rights leaders at her local establishment,
the Times Café.
Hockey Hall of Famer Rod Gilbert died August 22nd, 2021, at the age of 80.
He played for the New York Rangers for 18 years throughout the 1960s and 70s, and he
captured the team records for most goals and points in an entire career.
Gilbert is being remembered as “Mr. Ranger,” for embodying team spirit both on the ice
and in his humanitarian work with children’s charities.
Hockey player Jimmy Hayes died August 23rd, 2021, at his home in Milton, Massachussetts,
at the age of 31. He played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, the
Chicago Blackhawks, the Boston Bruins, and the New Jersey Devils.
Hayes is being remembered as a terrific athlete and a joyful human being.
The Rolling Stones’ drummer Charlie Watts died August 24th, 2021, at a hospital in London
at the age of 80. In his almost 60 years with one of the greatest
rock bands of the century, Watts was known as a virtuoso drummer, who drove the Stones’
hit songs with crisp, tight dance beats, and also led his own jazz ensemble.
Watts is being remembered in loving tributes from friends and admirers everywhere, not
just for his legendary career but for his grace, elegance, and dignity.
Musician Brian Travers of the band UB40 died August 22nd, 2021. He died of cancer at the
age of 62. Travers was one of UB40’s founding members,
cowriting songs and playing saxophone on their biggest hits including covers of Red Red Wine
and I Can’t Help Falling in Love With You. He is being remembered for UB40’s musical
legacy as one of the most enduring feel-good pop groups of the 1980s and beyond.
Soap opera star Michael Nader died August 23rd, 2021, in Northern California. He died
of cancer at the age of 76. He was known for playing the husband of two
of the soap opera world’s leading ladies: Dynasty’s Joan Collins, and All My Children’s
Susan Lucci. Nader is being remembered by fans and colleagues
alike as a shining star of 1980s and ‘90s television.
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 the United States have been lowered
to honor U.S. service members and other victims killed in the terrorist attack on August 26th,
2021, in Kabul, Afghanistan In middle Tennessee, at least 19 people are
confirmed dead after catastrophic flash flooding during a rain storm on August 21st. Officials
have not yet released the names of the deceased. Flags have been lowered to honor their memories.
Flags in Kansas have been lowered to honor the memory of Morton County firefighter Josh
Schwindt. Flags in West Virginia have been lowered to
honor the memory of Navy Fire Controlman First Class Bernard Ramon Wimmer.
Flags in Oregon have been lowered to honor the memories of Representative Gary Leif and
Oregon State Police Sergeant John Burright. Flags in Michigan have been lowered to honor
the memory of Corporal Dale W. Wright and Kalamazoo County Sergeant Ryan Proxmire.
Flags in Alabama have been lowered to honor the memories of state Representative Thad
McClammy and Anniston Fire Lieutenant Justin Roberts.
Flags in North Carolina have been lowered to honor the memory of U.S. Marine Private
First Class Henry E. Ellis. Flags in Florida have been lowered to honor
the memory of Officer Jason Raynor. Flags in New York have been lowered to honor
the memory of New York State Police Trooper James J. Monda.
Flags in Pennsylvania have been lowered to honor the memory of Washington County District
Attorney Eugene Vittone. Flags in New Jersey have been lowered to honor
the memory of lifeguard Norman V. Inferra III.
This week also marks several notable anniversaries. 20 years ago this week, superstar R&B singer
and actress Aaliyah died in a tragic accident at the age of 22. She is remembered for redefining
the musical genres of R&B, pop, and hip-hop in the 1990s.
Keith Moon, the drummer for the rock band The Who, was born 75 years ago this week.
He died in 1978 at the age of 32. Superstar basketball champion Wilt Chamberlain
was born 85 years ago this week. He died in 1999 at the age of 63.
Television host Regis Philbin was born 90 years ago this week. He died in 2020 at the
age of 88. And game show host Monty Hall was born 100
years ago this week. He died in 2017 at the age of 96.
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.