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Deaths around the world

By POLLY ANDERSON

Associated Press Writer

From the summit of Everest, the top of the world, to the intricate workings of the human heart. From outer galaxies to the dungeons of Stalin's gulag.

Sir Edmund Hillary was the first man to stand atop the world's highest mountain. Dr. Michael DeBakey developed treatments for heart disease that prolonged the lives of millions.

Arthur C. Clarke carried readers and moviegoers light years into space and centuries into the future. Alexander Solzhenitsyn bravely revealed the horrors of the Soviet prison system.

They are some of the remarkable people who died in 2008.

Mildred Loving changed history in 1967 when the U.S. Supreme Court upheld her right, as a black woman, to marry a white man. Madelyn Payne Dunham helped raise her grandson Barack Obama and died just two days before he was elected president.

Charleton Heston brought a larger-than-life quality to screen roles as Ben-Hur and Michelangelo. Paul Newman combined rebellion and blue-eyed charm in films that reflected changing social attitudes.

William F. Buckley and Tim Russert informed their journalism with a love of politics and respect for the issues. Anne Armstrong opened doors for women in government service, while Jesse Helms, Howard Metzenbaum and Tom Lantos were powerful voices in Congress.

The world of science lost Dr. Judah Folkman, cancer researcher; Edward Lorenz, father of chaos theory; and Albert Hofmann, discoverer of LSD.

We said goodbye to Watergate's "Deep Throat," chess master Bobby Fischer and the people who helped bring you the Slinky, Hula Hoop, transcendental meditation, Dungeons and Dragons, the Egg McMuffin, Precious Moments figurines and Baskin-Robbins ice cream. To the men who coined "rhythm and blues" and "sci fi," and to entertainers named Cyd and Bo.

Here, a roll call of some of the notable people who died in 2008. (Cause of death cited for younger people if available.)

JANUARY:

Erich Kaestner, 107. Believed to be Germany's last World War I veteran. Jan. 1.

Dr. Pramod Karan Sethi, 80. Inventor of low-cost artificial foot that helped millions in developing nations. Jan. 6.

Philip Agee, 72. Renegade CIA agent whose naming of operatives led to law against exposing spies. Jan. 7.

Sir Edmund Hillary, 88. He conquered Mount Everest; one of 20th century's greatest adventurers. Jan. 11.

Carl N. Karcher, 90. He parlayed $325 investment into Carl's Jr. hamburger chain. Jan. 11.

Johnny Podres, 75. He pitched Brooklyn Dodgers to their only World Series title in 1955. Jan. 13.

Richard Knerr, 82. Co-founded Wham-O toy company that popularized Hula Hoop, Frisbee. Jan. 14.

Dr. Judah Folkman, 74. Researcher who worked to cut off cancer from its blood supply, giving hope for a cure. Jan. 14.

Bobby Fischer, 64. Reclusive chess genius who dethroned Soviet champion in 1972. Jan. 17.

Eugene Sawyer, 73. Chicago mayor for 16 months in late 1980s. Jan. 19.

Suzanne Pleshette, 70. Beautiful, husky-voiced actress; sardonic wife on "The Bob Newhart Show." Jan. 19.

James L. Sorenson, 86. Utah billionaire; built fortune in medical devices, real estate. Jan. 20.

Kenneth Eugene Parnell, 76. Notorious California child molester; held young Steven Stayner for years. Jan. 20.

Heath Ledger, 28. Actor nominated for Oscar for "Brokeback Mountain"; the Joker in "The Dark Knight." Jan. 22. Drug overdose.

Miles Lerman, 88. Helped found U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Jan. 22.

Richard Darman, 64. White House budget director; helped persuade first President Bush to compromise on new taxes. Jan. 25.

George Habash, 81. His PLO faction gained notoriety for 1970 hijackings of four Western airliners. Jan. 26.

Viktor Schreckengost, 101. Artist, industrial designer. Jan. 26.

Lovie Yancey, 96. She founded Fatburger restaurant chain. Jan. 26.

Suharto, 86. Indonesian president, a Cold War U.S. ally whose brutal regime killed hundreds of thousands. Jan. 27.

Gordon B. Hinckley, 97. Led Mormon church during major period of expansion. Jan. 27.

Archbishop Christodoulos, 69. Greece's Orthodox Church leader, eased centuries of tension with Vatican. Jan. 28.

Margaret Truman Daniel, 83. Harry Truman's only child; a concert singer, TV personality, mystery writer. Jan. 29.

Robert M. Ball, 93. Social Security commissioner; considered father of Medicare. Jan. 29.

FEBRUARY:

Earl L. Butz, 98. U.S. agriculture secretary; forced out in 1976 over racist joke. Feb. 2.

Harry Richard Landis, 108. One of two surviving U.S. veterans of World War I. Feb. 4.

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, around 91. Beatles' guru; introduced transcendental meditation to West. Feb. 5.

Ruth Stafford Peale, 101. Founded Guideposts magazine with her husband, clergyman Norman Vincent Peale. Feb. 6.

Phyllis A. Whitney, 104. Novelist whose suspense tales ("Feather on the Moon") sold millions. Feb. 8.

Ray Wu, 79. Genetic engineer; worked to make stronger crops. Feb. 10.

Roy Scheider, 75. Two-time Oscar nominee ("The French Connection," ''All That Jazz"); police chief in "Jaws." Feb. 10.

Rep. Tom Lantos, 80. 14-term California congressman; forceful voice for human rights. Feb. 11.

Imad Mughniyeh, 45. One of world's most wanted terrorists; suspected in 1980s attacks on Americans in Lebanon. Feb. 12. Car bombing.

Alain Robbe-Grillet, 85. Author in France's "new novel" movement. Feb. 18.

Eugene Freedman, 82. Founded Enesco, maker of Precious Moments figurines. Feb. 19.

Max Raab, 81. His clothing company, Villager, epitomized 1960s preppy style. Feb. 21.

Robin Moore, 82. Wrote "The French Connection," ''The Green Berets," both made into movies. Feb. 21.

Evan Mecham, 83. Firebrand Arizona governor; removed in 1988 impeachment trial. Feb. 21.

Douglas A. Fraser, 91. Led United Auto Workers through dark hours. Feb. 23.

Myron Cope, 79. Colorful Pittsburgh Steelers announcer. Feb. 27.

William F. Buckley Jr., 82. Erudite author, editor; helped revive conservative movement. Feb. 27.

Boyd Coddington, 63. California car builder; on TV's "American Hot Rod." Feb. 27.

Mike Smith, 64. Lead singer for British band Dave Clark Five ("Glad All Over.") Feb. 28.

Paulos Faraj Rahho, 65. Chaldean Catholic archbishop, leader in Iraq's Christian community. Kidnapped Feb. 29, later found dead.

MARCH:

Paul Raymond, 82. His adult entertainment empire made him one of Britain's wealthiest men. March 3.

Giuseppe di Stefano, 86. Leading Italian tenor; partnered with Maria Callas. March 3.

Gary Gygax, 69. Co-created Dungeons & Dragons; father of role-playing games. March 4.

Joseph Weizenbaum, 85. Computer programmer; helped advance artificial intelligence. March 5.

Former Sen. Howard Metzenbaum, 90. Liberal Ohio Democrat who challenged big business. March 12.

Lazare Ponticelli, 110. France's last World War I veteran. March 12.

Ivan Dixon, 76. Actor; Kinchloe on "Hogan's Heroes." March 16.

Roland Arnall, 68. Ameriquest Mortgage founder, helped create now-devastated subprime lending industry. March 17.

Anthony Minghella, 54. Oscar-winning director, turned literary works ("The English Patient") into acclaimed movies. March 18. Hemorrhage.

Paul Scofield, 86. British actor; won Oscar for "A Man for All Seasons." March 19.

Arthur C. Clarke, 90. Visionary science fiction writer ("2001: A Space Odyssey,") March 19.

Al Copeland, 64. Founded Popeyes Famous Fried Chicken chain. March 23.

Richard Widmark, 93. Hollywood leading man; made sensational debut as a giggling killer ("Kiss of Death.") March 24.

Abby Mann, 80. Socially conscious screenwriter, won Oscar ("Judgment at Nuremberg.") March 25.

Art Aragon, 80. Boxing's celebrity "Golden Boy." March 25.

Herb Peterson, 89. Invented Egg McMuffin, McDonald's breakfast mainstay. March 25.

Dith Pran, 65. Cambodian journalist whose harrowing story inspired "The Killing Fields." March 30.

Bill Dickinson, 82. 14-term Alabama congressman; championed strong defense. March 31.

Robert F. Goheen, 88. He led Princeton University in time of rapid change. March 31.

Jules Dassin, 96. Director who starred wife Melina Mercouri in "Never on Sunday." March 31.

APRIL:

Charlton Heston, 84. Oscar winner ("Ben-Hur"); later headed National Rifle Association. April 5.

Bishop S.C. Madison, 86. Led 1.5 million-member United House of Prayer for All People. April 5.

Ruth Greenglass, 84. Her testimony helped send sister-in-law Ethel Rosenberg to electric chair. April 7.

Burt Glinn, 82. Magnum photographer; Cold War images included Khrushchev's 1959 U.S. visit. April 9.

Robert W. Greene, 78. Investigative journalist; helped Newsday win two Pulitzers. April 10.

Sgt. Merlin German, 22. Marine severely injured in Iraq; became symbol of resilience. April 11.

John A. Wheeler, 96. Physicist; coined "black holes." April 13.

Ollie Johnston, 95. Last of Disney animators called "Nine Old Men" ("Fantasia.") April 14.

Edward Lorenz, 90. Father of chaos theory, "butterfly effect" concept. April 16.

Aime Cesaire, 94. Martinique poet honored throughout French-speaking world. April 17.

Yossi Harel, 90. His 1947 attempt to bring Holocaust survivors to Palestine inspired "Exodus." April 26.

Henry Brant, 94. Avant-garde composer. April 26.

Albert Hofmann, 102. Discoverer of LSD, which inspired — and arguably corrupted — millions in 1960s. April 29.

MAY:

Philipp Freiherr von Boeselager, 90. Believed to be last of plotters who tried to kill Hitler in 1944. May 1.

Deborah Jeane Palfrey, 52. "D.C. Madam" convicted of running elite prostitution ring. May 1. Suicide.

Mildred Loving, 68. Black woman whose challenge to Virginia's interracial marriage ban led to landmark ruling. May 2.

Morgan Sparks, 91. Helped develop a practical transistor, key building block of modern electronics. May 3.

Irvine Robbins, 90. Co-founded Baskin-Robbins, brought exotic ice cream to every corner of America. May 5.

Eddy Arnold, 89. Country singer known for his mellow baritone ("Make the World Go Away.") May 8.

Robert Rauschenberg, 82. His use of odd and everyday articles made him an art world giant. May 12.

Irena Sendler, 98. Polish social worker; saved 2,500 Jewish children from Holocaust. May 12.

Warren Cowan, 87. One of last Hollywood superpublicists. May 14.

Willis E. Lamb Jr., 94. Nobel prize-winning physicist. May 15.

Robert Mondavi, 94. Vintner who helped Napa Valley become a wine-lovers' mecca. May 16.

Lionel Van Deerlin, 93. Nine-term California congressman. May 17.

Huntington Hartford, 97. A&P grocery heir; burned through most of $100 million fortune. May 19.

Walter R. Davis, 88. Texas oil tycoon, philanthropist. May 19.

Zelma Henderson, 88. Last surviving plaintiff in Topeka's Brown v. Board of Education case. May 20.

Hamilton Jordan, 63. Political strategist; helped Jimmy Carter win presidency. May 20.

Cornell Capa, 90. Photojournalist; founded International Center of Photography. May 23.

Dick Martin, 86. Zany co-host of "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In," which took television by storm in 1960s. May 24.

J.R. Simplot, 99. Idaho's billionaire potato king. May 25.

Ernst Stuhlinger, 94. One of last surviving German rocket scientists who helped U.S. win space race. May 25.

Sydney Pollack, 73. Oscar-winning director, a Hollywood mainstay ("Tootsie," ''Out of Africa.") May 26.

Harvey Korman, 81. Emmy winner for "The Carol Burnett Show"; conniving politician in "Blazing Saddles." May 29.

Boris Shaklin, 76. Soviet gymnast; won four gold medals at 1960 Olympics. May 30.

Charles Moskos, 74. Sociologist; helped formulate military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. May 31.

JUNE:

Yves Saint Laurent, 71. One of most influential fashion designers of the 20th century. June 1.

Bo Diddley, 79. Founding father of rock 'n' roll, known for "shave and a haircut, two bits" rhythm. June 2.

Jack Lucas, 80. At 17, became youngest Marine to receive Medal of Honor. June 5.

Jim McKay, 86. "Wide World of Sports" host; told Americans about killings at 1972 Olympics. June 7.

Mustafa Khalil, 88. Former Egyptian prime minister, an architect of Camp David peace treaty with Israel. June 7.

Vo Van Kiet, 85. Former Vietnamese prime minister, led Communist nation away from isolation. June 11.

Gunther Stent, 84. One of first scientists to confirm DNA structure. June 12.

Stewart Mott, 70. GM heir; helped bankroll campaigns of Gene McCarthy, George McGovern. June 12.

Tim Russert, 58. Host of "Meet the Press" whose personality and passion made him beloved in Washington. June 13.

Stan Winston, 62. Oscar-winning special-effects maestro ("Jurassic Park.") June 15.

Tony Schwartz, 84. Helped create "daisy ad" during 1964 presidential race. June 15.

Cyd Charisse, 86. Dancer turned actress; starred in musicals with Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly. June 17.

The Rev. Henry Chadwick, 87. Renowned scholar of early Christianity. June 17.

Tasha Tudor, 92. Illustrator famed for whimsical drawings of rural New England. June 18.

George Carlin, 71. The dean of counterculture comedians who taught us "Seven Words You Can Never Say On TV." June 22.

Leonid Hurwicz, 90. Won Nobel in economics in 2007. June 24.

JULY:

Clay Felker, 82. Revolutionized city magazines as New York magazine's founding editor. July 1.

Larry Harmon, 83. He turned Bozo the Clown into a show business staple. July 3.

Former Sen. Jesse Helms, 86. A champion of conservatism who spent three decades in Congress. July 4.

Evelyn Keyes, 91. She played middle O'Hara sister in "Gone With the Wind." July 4.

Dorian Leigh, 91. 1950s supermodel. July 7.

Sir John Templeton, 95. Mutual fund pioneer; created Templeton Prize for advancement in spiritual matters. July 8.

Rocky Aoki, 69. His Benihana Japanese restaurants let patrons watch nimble cooks at work. July 10.

Dr. Michael E. DeBakey, 99. Heart surgeon who pioneered now-common procedures such as bypass surgery. July 11.

Tony Snow, 53. White House press secretary who cheerfully sparred with reporters. July 12. Colon cancer.

Bronislaw Geremek, 76. Key figure in Solidarity movement that toppled communism in Poland. July 13.

Jo Stafford, 90. Singer; topped charts in early 1950s ("You Belong to Me.") July 16.

Jerome Holtzman, 82. Hall of Fame Chicago baseball writer, historian. July 19.

Paul Bentley, 87. Detective who helped arrest Lee Harvey Oswald. July 21.

Eric "Digger" Dowling, 92. Had major role in planning the "Great Escape" from German prison camp. July 21.

Dr. Victor A. McKusick, 86. Key architect of Human Genome Project. July 22.

Estelle Getty, 84. Actress; the sarcastic Sophia on "The Golden Girls." July 22.

"Jimmy" Chagra, 63. Drug kingpin accused of plotting 1979 assassination of Texas judge. July 25.

Michael J. Daly, 83. Awarded Medal of Honor for heroism in World War II. July 25.

Randy Pausch, 47. His "last lecture" about facing death became Internet sensation, best-selling book. July 25.

Eileen Slocum, 92. Newport, R.I., grande dame who lived in Gilded Age mansion. July 27.

Otto Fuerbringer, 97. Time managing editor when magazine asked: "Is God Dead?" July 28.

Bruce E. Ivins, 62. Army scientist named as top suspect in 2001 anthrax attacks. July 29. Suicide.

Anne Armstrong, 80. Advanced women's role in GOP, was ambassador to Britain. July 30.

AUGUST:

John F. Seiberling, 89. Ohio congressman; on judiciary committee during Nixon impeachment hearings. Aug. 2.

Geoff Ballard, 76. Fuel cell industry pioneer. Aug. 2.

Alexander Solzhenitsyn, 89. Nobel-winning Russian author who chronicled Stalin's slave labor camps. Aug. 3.

Robert A. Maheu, 90. Key aide to reclusive Howard Hughes. Aug. 4.

Anthony J. Russo, 71. Researcher who helped leak Pentagon Papers in 1971. Aug. 6.

Bernie Brillstein, 77. Agent, studio head; guided "Saturday Night Live" stars. Aug. 7.

Mahmoud Darwish, 67. Palestinian poet who eloquently told of his people's experiences. Aug. 9.

Bernie Mac, 50. One of "Original Kings of Comedy" who connected with audiences across a wide spectrum ("Ocean's Eleven.") Aug. 9. Pneumonia.

Isaac Hayes, 65. Soul crooner who laid groundwork for disco; won Oscar, Grammy for "Theme From Shaft." Aug. 10.

Bill Gwatney, 48. Arkansas Democratic chairman. Aug. 13. Shot by intruder.

Sandy Allen, 53. At 7 feet, 7, world's tallest woman. Aug. 13. Multiple ailments.

Dr. Charles F. Whitten, 86. Physician who fought sickle cell disease. Aug. 14.

Jerry Wexler, 91. Record producer; coined "rhythm and blues," worked with Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles. Aug. 15.

Dave Freeman, 47. Co-author of "100 Things to Do Before You Die." Aug. 17. Injured in fall.

Levy Mwanawasa, 59. Zambian president who broke tradition of silence to denounce Zimbabwe's economic ruin. Aug. 19. Stroke.

Edward Freeman, 80. Army helicopter pilot in Vietnam awarded Medal of Honor. Aug. 20.

Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, 58. First black congresswoman from Ohio. Aug. 20. Brain hemorrhage.

Hua Guofeng, 87. He briefly ruled China as Mao Zedong's successor. Aug. 20.

Gene Upshaw, 63. Football star; leader of NFL players union. Aug. 20.

Dr. Thomas H. Weller, 93. Shared 1954 Nobel Prize for polio research. Aug. 23.

Yuri Ivanovich Nosenko, 81. KGB spy who defected, became valuable source for the CIA. Aug. 23.

Del Martin, 87. Longtime lesbian rights activist. Aug. 27.

Ralph M. Kovel, 88. Co-wrote Kovels' antiques price guides. Aug. 28.

Walter "Killer" Kowalski, 81. Pro wrestling pioneer. Aug. 30.

Ike Pappas, 75. CBS newsman who reported the killing of Lee Harvey Oswald on live TV. Aug. 31.

Edwin O. Guthman, 89. Pulitzer-winning journalist, RFK's press secretary. Aug. 31.

SEPTEMBER:

Jerry Reed, 71. Witty country singer ("When You're Hot, You're Hot") and actor ("Smokey and the Bandit.") Sept. 1.

Robert Giroux, 94. Giant of publishing; guided dozens of writers at Farrar, Straus & Giroux. Sept. 5.

Don Haskins, 78. Hall of Fame basketball coach; broke color barrier in 1966 by using five black starters. Sept. 7.

Ralph S. Plaisted, 80. Led 1968 expedition to North Pole. Sept. 8.

Nathan Green Gordon, 92. Awarded Medal of Honor for rescue of 15 downed airmen. Sept. 8.

W.D. Mohammed, 74. Succeeded his father as Nation of Islam leader. Sept. 9.

The Rev. Simmie Lee Harvey, 90. A co-founder of Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Sept. 10.

David Foster Wallace, 46. Author famed for complex, darkly witty works ("Infinite Jest.") Sept. 12. Suicide.

Peter Camejo, 68. Ralph Nader's 2004 running mate. Sept. 13.

Norman Whitfield, 67. Motown songwriter, producer ("I Heard It Through the Grapevine.") Sept. 16.

Philip E. Clapp, 54. Environmentalist, helped get major legislation passed. Sept. 17.

Don Ultang, 91. Photographer; won Pulitzer for images of notorious racial beating during 1951 football game. Sept. 18.

Mary Garber, 92. Sportswriter; won Red Smith Award. Sept. 21.

Thomas Doerflein, 44. Berlin zookeeper; reared Knut, famed orphan polar bear. Sept. 22. Heart attack.

Paul Newman, 83. Oscar-winning actor/philanthropist who never lost the heartthrob cool of his anti-hero performances. Sept. 26.

Osborn Elliott, 83. Editor credited with making Newsweek competitive with Time. Sept. 28.

J.L. Chestnut Jr., 77. Selma, Ala., civil rights leader. Sept. 30.

OCTOBER:

Boris Yefimov, 108. Celebrated Soviet political cartoonist. Oct. 1.

Dr. George Palade, 95. Won Nobel in 1974 for work identifying cell structure. Oct. 7.

Kazuyoshi Miura, 61. Japanese businessman accused of murdering wife in 1981. Oct. 10. Suicide.

Joerg Haider, 58. Made his rightist party into powerful force in Austria. Oct. 11. Car accident.

Roy K. Moore, 94. FBI agent; led investigations into civil rights-era killings. Oct. 12.

Paul G. Rogers, 87. 12-term Florida congressman; championed health care. Oct. 13.

Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal, 79. Vegas gambling executive; inspired film "Casino." Oct. 13.

Robert R. Furman, 93. Army officer; supervised secret roundup of uranium stocks during World War II. Oct. 14.

Edie Adams, 81. Singer-actress; partnered with husband Ernie Kovacs. Oct. 15.

Levi Stubbs, 72. Dynamic Four Tops frontman ("Baby I Need Your Loving.") Oct. 17.

George Keller, 84. Oversaw 1984 formation of energy giant Chevron. Oct. 17.

Ben Weider, 85. Helped make bodybuilding worldwide sport. Oct. 17.

Robert B. Nett, 86. Received Medal of Honor for heroism during World War II. Oct. 19.

Mr. Blackwell, 86. Designer whose worst-dressed list skewered fashion felonies. Oct. 19.

Sister Emmanuelle, 99. Nun who fought for rights of Cairo's slum-dwellers. Oct. 20.

Gerard Damiano, 80. Directed "Deep Throat," 1972 porn film that became unlikely hit. Oct. 25.

Betty Wagner Spandikow, 85. Co-founder of La Leche League, advocating breast-feeding. Oct. 26.

Tony Hillerman, 83. Author of acclaimed Navajo mystery novels. Oct. 26.

Studs Terkel, 96. Broadcaster, Pulitzer-winning author; celebrated the common people. Oct. 31.

NOVEMBER:

Jacques Piccard, 86. Underwater explorer. Nov. 1.

Yma Sumac, 86. Peruvian soprano whose stunning range wowed audiences in 1950s. Nov. 1.

Madelyn Payne Dunham, 86. Barack Obama's grandmother, who helped raise him. Nov. 2.

Steve Fossett, 63. Millionaire adventurer who vanished during 2007 flight. Death confirmed Nov. 3.

Cecil Stoughton, 88. Took famed image of Lyndon Johnson's swearing-in after Kennedy assassination. Nov. 3.

Michael Crichton, 66. Author whose books became blockbuster films ("Jurassic Park.") Nov. 4.

John Leonard, 69. Literary critic; championed future Nobel winners Toni Morrison, Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Nov. 5.

Florence Wald, 91. Launched first U.S. hospice program in 1974. Nov. 8.

Preacher Roe, 92. All-Star Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher; one of "The Boys of Summer." Nov. 9.

Miriam Makeba, 76. South African singer who wooed the world with her sultry voice. Nov. 10.

Dr. Adrian Kantrowitz, 90. Surgeon; performed first U.S. heart transplant. Nov. 14.

Pete Newell, 93. Hall of Fame University of California basketball coach. Nov. 17.

Betty James, 90. Co-founded company that made the Slinky. Nov. 20.

Jim Mattox, 65. Outspoken Texas attorney general. Nov. 20.

Tom Gish, 82. Kentucky editor honored for tackling corruption. Nov. 21.

Ibrahim Nasir, 82. He led Maldives' independence movement; island nation's first president. Nov. 22.

Cecil Underwood, 86. Elected West Virginia governor in 1956 — and again in 1996. Nov. 24.

Gerald Schoenfeld, 84. Headed theater's powerful Shubert Organization. Nov. 25.

Edwin E. Salpeter, 83. Astrophysicist; helped explain life cycle of stars. Nov. 25.

William Gibson, 94. Playwright; dramatized Helen Keller's story in "The Miracle Worker." Nov. 25.

Edna Parker, 115. World's oldest person. Nov. 26.

The Rev. George M. Docherty, 97. His 1954 sermon got "under God" into Pledge of Allegiance. Nov. 27.

DECEMBER:

Ted Rogers, 75. Cable, phone magnate, owned Toronto Blue Jays. Dec. 2.

Odetta, 77. Folk singer with powerful voice who inspired civil rights marchers. Dec. 2.

Henry Molaison, 82. Stricken with amnesia, "H.M." helped scientists gain insights into brain. Dec. 2.

Forrest J Ackerman, 92. Editor, literary agent; credited with coining term "sci-fi." Dec. 4.

Patriarch Alexy II. 79. Russian Orthodox Church head; oversaw post-Soviet era's religious revival. Dec. 5.

Martha "Sunny" von Bulow, 76. Comatose heiress; husband was acquitted of attempted murder. Dec. 6.

Bettie Page, 85. Beauty who daringly bared it all in the straitlaced '50s. Dec. 11.

Ron Carey, 72. Former Teamsters president; forced out in financial scandal. Dec. 11.

Van Johnson, 92. Boy-next-door Hollywood star ("30 Seconds Over Tokyo.") Dec. 12.

Cardinal Avery Dulles, 90. First U.S. theologian to become a Roman Catholic cardinal. Dec. 12.

Dr. D. Carleton Gajdusek, 85. Won Nobel for research into "slow viruses." Dec. 12.

Leon Febres Cordero, 77. Ex-Ecuadoran president who dominated politics for years despite bitter opposition. Dec. 15.

Sammy Baugh, 94. Hall of Fame Washington Redskins quarterback; revolutionized use of forward pass. Dec. 17.

Paul Weyrich, 66. Activist who helped turn social conservatives into powerful force in the GOP. Dec. 18.

Conor Cruise O'Brien, 91. Irish diplomat, author and editor. Dec. 18.

W. Mark Felt, 95. FBI second-in-command who revealed himself as "Deep Throat" 30 years after Watergate. Dec. 18.

Robert Mulligan, 83. Academy Award-nominated director of "To Kill a Mockingbird"; later helped launch Reese Witherspoon's career. Dec. 20.

Lansana Conte, in his 70s. Guinea president, who ruled the African nation with an iron hand since a 1984 coup. Dec. 21.