As a long-distance, open-water swimmer, she braved waves, sharks and darkness to break 18 world records and become the first American to swim across the English Channel.
Category: Deaths (Obituaries)
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Wayne Shorter, Innovator During an Era of Change in Jazz, Dies at 89
His career as an influential tenor saxophonist and composer reached across more than half a century, tracking jazz’s complex evolution during that span.
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Richard Anobile, Chronicler of the Marx Brothers, Dies at 76
He produced many books about film. But Groucho Marx tried to stop distribution of one they worked on together because he didn’t like seeing his salty and insulting remarks in print.
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Just Fontaine, Record-Setting French Soccer Star, Dies at 89
His stellar career was cut short by injury, but he made his mark by scoring 13 goals at the 1958 World Cup.
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Walter Mirisch, Pioneering Producer of Canonical Films, Dies at 101
Admired for his creative instincts, he oversaw films that won 28 Oscars, including “West Side Story,” “The Apartment” and “In the Heat of the Night.”
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Bob Richards, Pole-Vaulting Hero of the Cold War Era, Dies at 97
An ordained minister known as the Vaulting Vicar, he was an Olympic gold medal winner and the first athlete to appear on the front of Wheaties boxes.
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Tom Luddy, a Behind-the-Scenes Force in Cinema, Dies at 79
Known for his association with Francis Ford Coppola, Werner Herzog and many others, he was also a founder of the Telluride Film Festival.
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Spencer, the Dog for Whom Boston Marathoners Happily Stopped, Dies at 13
The golden retriever drew hugs and selfies as the official dog of the Boston Marathon, and was “too good not to share,” his owner, Rich Powers, said.
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Tom Whitlock, Writer of ‘Top Gun’ Anthem ‘Danger Zone,’ Dies at 68
Mr. Whitlock’s songs, including the chart-topping “Take My Breath Away,” were central to the 1986 movie.
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John Motson, BBC’s Voice of Soccer for Five Decades, Dies at 77
The broadcaster announced English soccer’s biggest moments, including 10 World Cups.
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Red McCombs, Car Salesman Turned Media Mogul, Dies at 95
A Texas entrepreneur, he co-founded the media giant Clear Channel, owned pro sports teams and created more than 400 businesses in a variety of industries.
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Roger C. Schank, Theorist of Artificial Intelligence, Dies at 76
He combined linguistics, cognitive science and computing with the goal of “trying to understand the nature of the human mind.”