Honoring the Lives We Lost in 2016
Muhammad Ali
January 17, 1942 - June 3, 2016
• Olympic Gold medalist, philanthropist, and humanitarian
• Ali remains the ONLY three-time unified heavyweight champion
• Ranked #2 on the list of Greatest Boxers of All Time
• A leader in and out of the ring with the courage to stand by his convictions regardless of the outcome
Pat Summitt
June 14, 1952 - June 28, 2016
• College women’s basketball coach, Patricia Sue Summit won two Olympic Gold medals
• Total Wins: 1,098
• NCAA Final Four Appearances: 18
• NCAA Championships: 8
• Ranked #2 on the list of Greatest College Coaches of all Time
Antonin Scalia
March 11, 1936 - February 13, 2016
• Supreme Court Justice appointed by President Reagan
• Conservative starling, Scalia defended Republican ideology from the bench and was known for his scathing rebukes of deviations from conservative ideals
Craig Sager
• Long-time reporter, most notable for his on-court interviews of NBA games
• The colorful Sager, known for his unique wardrobehe is revered because his look was matched with integrity and a warmth that players and coaches grew to love
• He is revered because his look was matched with integrity and a warmth that players and coaches appreciated
Prince
June 7, 1958- April 21, 2016
• Elite musical talent who could play any instrument he touched
• Prince revolutionized music
• Rock Hall of Fame inductee (2004)
• His personality transcended music
Alan Thicke
March 1, 1947- December 13, 2016
• Actor
• Songwriter, father of singer/songwriter Robin Thicke
• Best known for his character Jason Seaver on ABC’s Growing Pains
John Glenn
July 18, 1921 - December 8, 2016
• John Herschel Glenn Jr. was an aviator, engineer, and astronaut
• Served in the U.S. Senate representing the state of Ohio
• The first American to orbit the Earth
Florence Henderson
February 14, 1934 - November 24, 2016
• Singer and actress
• Most known for her leading role as Carol Brady in the hit television series, The Brady Bunch
Gene Wilder
June 11, 1933 - August 29, 2016
• Actor, screenwriter, film director, and author
• Wilder was also known for his leading role as Willy Wonka in the famed 1971 film, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
Gwen Ifill
September 29, 1955 - November 14, 2016
• Award winning journalist
• Television newscaster and author
• Ifill’s poise and preparation boosted her to national prominence
• Presidential debate moderator
Carrie Fisher
October 21, 1956 - December 27, 2016
• Actress, writer, and producer
• Fisher is best known for playing Princess Leia in the Star Wars film series
• Her role as a stoic hero broke the mold in Hollywood, allowing women to visualize female heroes for generations
•She was an effective feminist before her tim
David Bowie
January 8, 1947 - January 10, 2016
• Singer/songwriter
• Masterful musician, eccentric performer
• Beloved by fans of music (not any particular genre) for his willingness to promote othernes
Harper Lee
April 28, 1926 - February 19, 2016
• Nelle Harper Lee, known by her pen name Harper Lee, was a novelist
• Most known for her book, To Kill a Mockingbird
Phife Dawg
November 20, 1970 – March 22, 2016
• Rapper, Phife Dawg was born Malik Izaak Taylor
• Founding member of the iconic group A Tribe called Quest
• Phife inspired a new generation of hip hop artists to define the culture of their time
Patty Duke
December 14, 1946 - March 29, 2016
• Actress, Duke had prominent roles both on stage in theatre and television
• Youngest Academy Award winner at the time (1963 age 16) for a role portraying Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker
Gordie Howe
March 31, 1928 - June 10, 2016
• Canadian professional Ice hockey player
• Played in the NHL for twenty-six seasons.
Leonard Cohen
September 21,1934 - November 7, 2016
• Canadian Poet, singer, songwriter, painter, novelist
• Brilliant mind, could turn any aspect of his physical surrounding into beautiful written prose
Tony Burton
March 23, 1937 - February 25, 2016
• Actor, comedian, boxer, and football player
• Burton is best known for his role as the trainer of “Apollo Creed” in the film series Rocky
Zsa Zsa Gabor
February 6, 1917 - December 18, 2016
• Actress and socialite
• Emigrated from Hungary in 1941
• Her natural beauty and personality were often cast as a seductress in film and televisio
• No matter her role, Gabor charmed audiences far and wide
Janet Reno
July 21, 1938- November 7, 2016
• Attorney
• First women State Attorney for the state of Florida
• First woman to serve as Attorney General of the United States (Nominated by President Bill Clinton)
• Reno oversaw the convictions of Timothy McVeigh, Terry Nichols, Ted Kaczynski, and countless other high profile cases
Arnold Palmer
September 10, 1929 - September 25, 2016
• Professional golfer, author
• Veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard
• First to win the Master’s Tournament four times
Debbie Reynolds
April 1, 1932 - December 28, 2016
• Actress, singer, mother of Carrie Fisher (see above)
• Academy Award nominee
• Most popular performance was 'Singin in the Rain' (1952)