Here are the most recent deaths in the national news, as reported at Legacy.com, the fourth
week of March 2023. Legacy.com is where you can find any obituary,
or publish an obituary in any newspaper in America, and beyond.
Actor and comedian Chabelo died March 25, 2023, in Mexico City. He died of abdominal
complications at the age of 88. Born Xavier López Rodríguez, a native of
Chicago, he was a celebrity in Mexico who starred on the TV show “En Familia con Chabelo”
for 48 years. He is being remembered for his childlike TV
persona, and for entertaining generations of families.
Chabelo was a U.S. Army veteran who served in the Korean War.
Actress Rebecca Jones died March 22, 2023, after fighting ovarian cancer at the age of
65. She was a star in her native Mexico and well-known
for her roles in telenovelas, or soap operas. Jones is being remembered for her most recent
telenovela, “Cabo,” which aired just before her death.
Musician Wayne Swinny died March 22, 2023, while on tour. He died of a spontaneous brain
hemorrhage at the age of 59. He was a founding member and guitarist for
the hard rock band Saliva. Swinny is being remembered for his powerful
guitar riffs, which drove the band’s mix of heavy metal with other genres of music.
Politician Ben Shelly died March 22, 2023, in New Mexico. He died after a long illness
at the age of 75. He was the president of the Navajo Nation
from 2011 to 2015. Shelly is being remembered as an advocate
for infrastructure projects and public health. Radio DJ Jeffrey “JV” Vandergrift died
at the age of 55 after being reported missing on February 23, 2023.
He hosted radio shows including the “Dog House” and “The JV Show.”
Vandergrift is being remembered for speaking about the effects of Lyme disease, which he
suffered from. TV host Marisol Malaret died March 19, 2023,
at a hospital in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She died of complications from a pulmonary condition
at the age of 73. She was crowned Miss Universe in 1970, and
was the first woman from Puerto Rico, or any Caribbean island, to win the title.
Malaret is being remembered for transforming her pageant fame into a career as a TV host
and entrepreneur. Tech giant Gordon Moore died March 24, 2023,
in Waimea, Hawaii at the age of 94. He co-founded Intel and served as the computer
company’s CEO for several years. Moore is being remembered for Moore’s Law,
in which he correctly predicted that the complexity of computer chips would double every two years.
Drag queen Walter Cole, better known as Darcelle Fifteen, died March 23, 2023, in Portland,
Oregon. He died of natural causes at the age of 92.
In 2016, Guinness World Records certified him as the world’s oldest drag performer.
His nightclub, Darcelle Fifteen Showplace, is listed on the National Register of Historic
Places. He is being remembered as a Portland icon
who helped the homeless and people living with HIV/AIDS, and created a welcoming nightlife
destination for generations of people. Cole was a U.S. Army veteran who served during
the Korean War. TV host Connie Martinson died March 9, 2023,
in Beverly Hills, California. She died of natural causes at the age of 90.
Her TV show, “Connie Martinson Talks Books,” ran for more than 35 years and highlighted
stories from all genres. Martinson is being remembered for interviewing
thousands of authors, including Maya Angelou, Ray Bradbury… and a young Barack Obama,
more than a decade before his presidency. Inventor Morris Tanenbaum died February 26,
2023, in New Providence, New Jersey at the age of 94. His death was not widely reported
at the time. While working for Bell Labs, he developed
the first silicon transistor, a technology used in most of today’s electronic devices.
Tanenbaum is being remembered for helping usher in the digital age.
Musician Tom Leadon died March 22, 2023, at the age of 70.
He was a co-founder of Tom Petty’s first band, Mudcrutch, in the 1970s.
Leadon is also being remembered as a member of Silver, who recorded the hit “Wham Bang,”
and for playing bass in Linda Ronstadt’s band.
Activist and author Randall Robinson died March 24, 2023, at a hospital in St. Kitts.
He died of aspiration pneumonia at the age of 81.
He co-founded TransAfrica and campaigned for U.S. economic sanctions on South Africa in
the 1980s. This was a major factor in the end of apartheid.
He is also being remembered for his work on behalf of Haitian refugees and his advocacy
for reparations for Black Americans. Robinson was a U.S. Army veteran.
Comedian and TV host Paul O’Grady died March 28, 2023, at the age of 67.
He was a star of British TV who hosted shows including “The Paul O’Grady Show” and
“Blankety Blank.” O’Grady is being remembered for his trailblazing
drag queen persona, Lily Savage. Songwriter Keith Reid died March 23, 2023,
at a hospital in London. He died of colon cancer at the age of 76.
He was a founding member of the band Procol Harum, though his role was unusual. Reid didn’t
play an instrument or sing, but he wrote the lyrics to almost all of their songs for decades.
Reid is being remembered for his song lyrics, including the enduring classic, “A Whiter
Shade of Pale.” Animator Leo D. Sullivan died March 25, 2023,
at a hospital in Los Angeles. He died of heart failure at the age of 83.
He animated the iconic intro to the TV show “Soul Train,” as well as working on classic
cartoons including “Fat Albert,” “Super Friends,” and “Animaniacs.”
Sullivan is being remembered for co-founding Afrokids, bringing educational and cultural
animation to Black children and families. Author Julie Anne Peters died March 21, 2023,
at her home in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. She died after a long illness at the age of 71.
She wrote award-winning books for teens including “Luna,” one of the first young adult books
featuring a transgender main character. Peters is being remembered for helping young
readers understand difficult topics including domestic abuse, sexual identity, and suicide.
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.
On Monday, March 27, 2023, three children and three adults were killed in a shooting
at the Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee. Their names are:
Evelyn Dieckhaus Mike Hill
William Kinney Katherine Koonce
Cynthia Peak Hallie Scruggs
Nine people died on Wednesday, March 29, 2023, when two U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopters crashed
during training exercises near Kentucky’s Fort Campbell. As of this recording, the names
of the deceased have not yet been released to the public.
Seven people died on Friday, March 24, 2023, in an explosion at the R.M. Palmer Candy Company
in West Reading, Pennsylvania. Their names are:
Michael Breedy Diana Cedeno
Domingo Cruz Susan Halvonik
Judith Lopez-Moran Xiorky Nunez
Amy Sandoe At least 22 people died in Mississippi and
Alabama on Friday, March 24, 2023, as a powerful tornado affected the area. As of this recording,
not all the names of the deceased have been released to the public.
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 across the United States, as well as
state flags in Tennessee, have been lowered to honor the memory of the victims of the
tragic shooting at the Covenant Presbyterian School.
Flags in Pennsylvania have been lowered to honor the memory of the victims of the explosion
that took place on Friday, March 24 at the RM Palmer Company in West Reading.
Flags in Mississippi have been lowered to honor the memory of 21 Mississippians who
tragically lost their lives due to the devastating tornadoes.
Flags on the Navajo Nation have been lowered to honor the memory of Ben Shelly, former
President and Council Delegate of the Navajo Nation.
Flags in West Virginia have been lowered to honor the memory of state Delegate William
P. "Bill" Stafford. Flags in Oklahoma have been lowered to honor
the memory of Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeremy David McCain.
Flags in New Jersey have been lowered to honor the memory of former Senator Ron Rice.
Flags in Alaska have been lowered in remembrance of the Great Alaska Good Friday Earthquake.
Flags in Maryland have been lowered to honor the memory of Maryland highway construction
workers Rolando Ruiz, Carlos Orlando Villatoro Escobar, Jose Armando Escobar, Mahlon Simmons
the second, Mahlon Simmons the third, and Sybil Lee Dimaggio, who lost their lives during
the tragic accident on Interstate 695. Flags in Iowa have been lowered to honor the
memory of fallen U.S. Navy Seaman 1st Class Donald Stott, who was killed at Pearl Harbor
during World War II. His remains were recently identified and will be returned home for burial.
Flags in Wisconsin have been lowered to honor the memory of U.S. Army Private First Class
William LaVerne “Sonny” Simon, who was reported missing in action during the World
War II Battle of the Hürtgen Forest in Germany. His remains were recently identified and will
be returned home for burial. Flags in Massachusetts have been lowered to
honor the memory of U.S. Navy Chief Special Warfare Operator Michael T. Ernst and former
Representative Melvin Herbert King. Flags in Alabama have been lowered to honor
the memory of Officer Garrett Crumby of the Huntsville Police Department.
This week also marks several notable anniversaries. Thirty years ago this week, actor Brandon
Lee died at the age of 28. The son of actor and martial arts legend Bruce Lee, he is known
for his starring performance in the movie “The Crow.”
Seventy years ago this week, athlete Jim Thorpe died at the age of 65. The decathlete was
the first Native American to win Olympic Gold for the U.S., and also played professional
football and baseball. Actress Conchata Ferrell was born 80 years
ago this week. She died in 2020 at the age of 77. She was best known for her starring
role as Berta on the sitcom “Two and a Half Men.”
Actress and singer Pearl Bailey was born 105 years ago this week. She died in 1990 at the
age of 72. She won a Tony Award for her performance in “Hello Dolly” and had hits including
“Two to Tango.” Singer and actor Frankie Laine was born 110
years ago this week. He died in 2007 at the age of 93. He was known for popular songs
like “That’s My Desire” and “Rawhide.” There are many more celebrity anniversaries
this week, and we pay tribute to them in our new Tuesday video series, “Death Anniversaries
and Birthdays.” 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.