Obituaries of Influential Figures

Dolly Parton, the renowned country music singer and cultural icon, passed away at the age of 80. Known for her rhinestones and distinctive blond bouffant, Dolly Parton left a unique imprint on American life as a musician, movie star, philanthropist, and feminist figure.

Barney Frank, an influential congressman and advocate for gay rights, died at 86. As a Massachusetts Democrat, he spearheaded a significant overhaul of the financial industry and was among the first openly gay members of Congress.

Alexander Butterfield, a pivotal figure in the Watergate scandal, died at 99. His testimony unveiled the existence of secret tape recordings in the Nixon White House.

Viola Fletcher, the oldest survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre, died at 111. Her life was marked by resilience as she later became a plaintiff in a lawsuit seeking reparations for the destruction of her prosperous Black community in 1921.

Bobby Sherman, a teen idol of the 1960s and ’70s, passed away at 81. He captured the hearts of fans with his TV appearances and hit songs, becoming a prominent figure of bubblegum pop.

Patricia Broderick, former D.C. Superior Court judge, passed away at 75. Despite being paralyzed in a college car accident, she became a lawyer for the Justice Department and served over two decades on the bench.

George Annas, an ethicist known for advocating patients’ rights, died at 79. He spent his career at the intersection of medicine, ethics, and law, playing a key role in establishing patients’ rights.

Alice Notley, a celebrated American poet, passed away at 79. Recognized as one of the finest poets, her work included being a finalist for the 1999 Pulitzer Prize.

Enzo Staiola, child actor from the film ‘Bicycle Thieves,’ died at 85. He was cast at age 8 with no experience, gaining recognition in the film that embodied Italian neorealism.

Leslie Epstein, novelist who explored Holocaust history, passed away at 87. His works, including ‘King of the Jews,’ tackled complex moral issues of Nazi ghettos.

Mara Corday, Hollywood starlet of the 1950s, died at 95. Initially known for her roles in sci-fi thrillers, she later reemerged in films alongside Clint Eastwood.

Presley Chweneyagae, acclaimed actor of ‘Tsotsi,’ died at 40. The film ‘Tsotsi’ received South Africa’s first Academy Award for best foreign language film.

Ed Smylie, an engineer instrumental in saving the Apollo 13 crew, passed away at 95. His contributions included developing a carbon dioxide filter that helped astronauts safely return to Earth.

Joe Don Baker, actor known for ‘Walking Tall,’ died at 89. He starred in numerous films and TV shows, famously portraying the crime-busting sheriff Buford Pusser.

Robert Shapiro, a former executive at NutraSweet and Monsanto, died at 86. He popularized NutraSweet as a sugar substitute and promoted genetically modified crops.

Margot Friedländer, a Holocaust memory keeper in Germany, passed away at 103. After living in the U.S. for half a century, she returned to Berlin to become a prominent Holocaust survivor.

Eve Kugler, who escaped Nazi Europe as a young refugee, died at 94. At 10, she was rescued and taken to the United States.

Warren I. Cohen, a leading scholar of U.S.-China relations, passed away at 90. He was a preeminent expert in diplomatic history, elucidating America’s evolving relationship with Asia.

Bob Filner, former San Diego mayor and congressman, died at 82. He resigned in 2013 amid multiple allegations of sexual misconduct.

Walter Frankenstein, who evaded capture during the Holocaust by hiding in Berlin, passed away at 100. He lived in fear, underground, avoiding identification as a Jew.