Deaths in 2009

The following is a list of notable deaths in 2009. Names are listed under the date of death and not the date it was announced. Names under each date are listed in alphabetical order by family name.

Deaths of notable animals (that is, those with their own Wikipedia articles) are also reported here.

A typical entry lists information in the following sequence:

• Name, age, country of citizenship and reason for notability, established cause of death, reference.

November 2009

27

• György Melis, 86, Hungarian opera singer. [1]

26

• Pia Beck, 84, Dutch jazz pianist and singer, heart attack. [2]
• Nikola Kovachev, 75, Bulgarian football player and manager. [3] (Bulgarian)
• Geoffrey Moorhouse, 78, British journalist and author, stroke. [4]

25

• Giorgio Carbone, 73, Italian self-proclaimed head of state of the Principality of Seborga micronation. [5]

24

• Amy Black, 36, British mezzo-soprano opera singer. [6]
• Chan Hung Lit, 66, Hong Kong actor, heart failure. [7]
• Francis French, 7th Baron de Freyne, 82, Irish aristocrat. [8]
• Mike LeBell, 79, American professional wrestling promoter, older brother of Gene LeBell, respiratory failure. [9]
• Abe Pollin, 85, American businessman, owner of Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals, corticobasal degeneration. [10]
• Samak Sundaravej, 74, Thai politician, Prime Minister (2008), liver cancer. [11]

23

• Víctor Brizuela, 77, Argentinian sports commentator, complications following kidney transplant. [12] (Spanish)
• Pim Koopman, 56, Dutch progressive rock drummer (Kayak). [13]
• Richard Meale, 77, Australian composer. [14]
• Lennart Olsson, 67, Swedish eccentric football fan, cancer. [15] (Swedish)
• Joe Papa, American musician (Controlled Bleeding), heart attack. [16]
• Tony Parry, 64, British footballer (Hartlepool United), pneumonia. [17]
• Yang Xianyi, 94, Chinese translator. [18]

22

• Billy Joe Daugherty, 57, American Christian minister, lymphoma. [19]
• Sir John Grugeon, 81, British politician. [20]
• Jeong Nam-kyu, 40, South Korean serial killer, suicide by hanging. [21]
• Ali Kordan, 51, Iranian politician, Minister of the Interior (2008), multiple myeloma. [22]
• Art Lake, 85, American news presenter and weatherman (WJAR-TV). [23]
• Juan Carlos Muñoz, 90, Argentinian footballer, heart attack. [24] (Spanish)
• Haydain Neale, 39, Canadian singer–songwriter (jacksoul), lung cancer. [25]
• Iraklis Papasideris, 80, Greek lyricist. [26] (Greek)
• Francisco Rodriguez, 25, American Golden Gloves boxer, brain injury sustained during match. [27]

21

• Bernard Bonnin, 70, Filipino actor, diabetes. [28]
• Konstantin Feoktistov, 83, Russian cosmonaut and aerospace engineer. [29] (Russian)
• Ira Hanford, 91, American jockey, winner of the 1936 Kentucky Derby, after long illness. [30]
• Rena Kanokogi, 74, American judoka, multiple myeloma. [31]
• Ken Krueger, 83, American co-founder of San Diego Comic-Con International, heart attack. [32]
• Paige Palmer, 93, American fitness trainer. [33]
• Celso Pitta, 63, Brazilian politician, Mayor of São Paulo (1997–2000), colorectal cancer. [34]
• Jaan-Mati Punning, 69, Estonian ecologist. [35] (Estonian)
• Allen Shelton, 73, American banjo player, leukemia. [36]
• Panos Tzanetis, 69, Greek singer, cancer. [37] (Greek)

20

• Martino Gomiero, 85, Italian Roman Catholic Bishop of Adria-Rovigo. [38]
• Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi, 78, Pakistani politician, Chief Minister of Sindh (1973–1977); Prime Minister (1990), after long illness. [39]
• Lino Lacedelli, 83, Italian mountaineer, first man to reach the summit of K2. [40]
• H. C. Robbins Landon, 83, American musicologist. [41]
• Herbert Richers, 86, Brazilian filmmaker and voice artist, kidney failure. [42] (Portuguese)
• Max Robertson, 94, British radio broadcaster. [43]
• Alejandro R. Ruiz, 85, American World War II Medal of Honor recipient. [44]
• Elisabeth Söderström, 82, Swedish soprano, complications from a stroke. [45]
• Daniil Sysoev, 35, Russian Orthodox priest, shot. [46]
• Roman Trakhtenberg, 41, Russian actor, television and radio presenter, heart attack. [47]
• Charis Wilson, 95, American model and writer. [48]

19

• Frank Beattie, 76, Scottish footballer (Kilmarnock F.C.), after long illness. [49]
• Johnny Delgado, 61, Filipino actor, lymphoma. [50]
• Erika Haggi, 87, Estonian sculptor. [51] (Estonian)
• Daul Kim, 20, South Korean fashion model, suicide by hanging. [52]
• Pat Mackie, 95, New Zealand-born Australian trade unionist. [53]
• Sir Noel Power, 79, Australian acting Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Hong Kong (1996–1997), heart attack. [54]
• Chiyo Shiraishi, 114, Japanese supercentenarian, fourth-oldest person in the world. [55] (Japanese)
• Nao Takasugi, 87, American politician, member of the California State Assembly (1993–1999), stroke. [56]
• Uga VII, 4, American English bulldog mascot (University of Georgia), heart attack. [57]

18

• Johnny Almond, 63, British jazz and rock musician (Mark-Almond), cancer. [58]
• Abrar Alvi, 82, Indian film director and screenwriter (Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam), stomach complications. [59].
• Jeanne-Claude, 74, French environmental artist (The Gates), complications from a ruptured brain aneurysm. [60]
• Ömer Lütfi Mete, 59, Turkish journalist, heart attack. [61] (Turkish)
• Red Robbins, 65, American basketball player, cancer. [62]
• Salem Saad, 31, Emirati footballer (Al-Nasr SC), heart attack. [63]

17

• John Craxton, 87, British painter. [64]
• Niku Kheradmand, 77, Iranian actress, complications of a heart attack. [65]
• Nikolay Olyalin, 68, Russian actor. [66] (Russian)
• Sy Syms, 83, American entrepreneur, founder and chairman of off-price clothier SYMS, heart failure. [67]
• Josine van Dalsum, 61, Dutch actress, brain tumor. [68] (Dutch)

16

• Eddie Bell, 78, American football player (Philadelphia Eagles, New York Titans), heart failure. [69]
• Jeff Clyne, 72, British jazz bassist, heart attack. [70]
• Robert J. Frankel, 68, American thoroughbred horse trainer, leukemia. [71]
• Ken Kirk, 71, American football player, after short illness. [72]
• Kevin Knox, 53, American comedian, melanoma. [73]
• Michael Scott, 60, American Chicago Board of Education president, suicide by gunshot. [74]
• Jack Wong Sue, 84, Australian Z Special Unit member and businessman. [75]
• Olivia Patricia Thomas, 114, American supercentenarian, third-oldest person in the world. [76]
• Bucky Williams, 102, American baseball player, second-oldest Negro League Baseball player. [77]
• Edward Woodward, 79, British film and television actor, natural causes. [78]

15

• Derek B, 44, British rapper, heart attack. [79]
• Tia Barrett, 62, New Zealand ambassador and diplomat, High Commissioner to the Cook Islands (2009), after short illness. [80]
• Ray Charnley, 74, English footballer (Blackpool, Morecambe), after long illness. [81]
• Dennis Cole, 69, American actor. [82]
• Andriy Fedchuk, 29, Ukrainian Olympic bronze medal-winning boxer (2000), traffic collision. [83] (Russian)
• Pierre Harmel, 98, Belgian politician, Prime Minister (1965–1966). [84] (Flemish)
• Natalicio Lima, 91, Brazilian guitarist (Los Indios Tabajaras), stomach cancer. [85]
• Ambrose Mathalaimuthu, 84, Indian Bishop of Coimbatore. [86]
• Hans Matthöfer, 84, German politician, Minister of Finance (1978–1982). [87] (German)
• Allan Murdmaa, 75, Estonian architect. [88] (Estonian)
• Antonio de Nigris, 31, Mexican footballer, heart attack. [89]
• Ken Ober, 52, American comedian and game show host (Remote Control). [90]
• Patriarch Pavle, 95, Serbian 44th Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church, cardiac arrest. [91]
• Jocelyn Quivrin, 30, French actor, car accident. [92] (French)

14

• Nikolay Anikin, 77, Russian-born American Olympic gold medal skiing champion (1956 Olympics), cancer. [93]
• Moshe Gidron, 84, Israeli Major General. [94]
• John David McWilliam, 68, British politician, Member of Parliament for Blaydon (1979–2005). [95]
• Lewis Millett, 88, American Medal of Honor recipient. [96]
• Indrek Martinson, 77, Estonian physicist. [97] (Swedish)
• David A. Olsen, 71, American businessman, after short illness. [98]
• Mizuki Ōura, 53, Japanese actress, lung cancer. [99] (Japanese)
• Ladislav Sitenský, 90, Czech photographer. [100]
• Klaus Steilmann, 80, German entrepreneur. [101] (German)

13

• Woodie Assaf, 92, American television weatherman, heart failure. [102]
• Michał Gajownik, 27, Polish Olympic sprint canoer, traffic collision. [103] (Polish)
• Ueli Gegenschatz, 38, Swiss BASE jumper, jumping accident. [104] (German)
• Dell Hymes, 82, American anthropologist, linguist and folklorist, complications of Alzheimer's disease. [105]
• Bruce King, 85, American politician, three-term Governor of New Mexico, complications from heart procedure. [106]
• Ron Klimkowski, 65, American baseball player, heart failure. [107]
• Mara Manzan, 57, Brazilian actress, lung cancer. [108] (Portuguese)
• Tamaz Ninua, 67, Georgian former Minister for State Security, shot. [109]
• John J. O'Connor, 76, American television critic (The New York Times), lung cancer. [110]

12

• Mohamed Abdi Aware, Somali judge, Chief Justice of Puntland, shot. [111]
• Vagrich Bakhchanyan, 71, Ukrainian-born American painter, apparent suicide. [112] (Russian)
• Dámaso Ruiz-Jarabo Colomer, 60, Spanish judge, Advocate-General of the European Court of Justice. [113]
• Howard Jacobs, 45, American HIV/AIDS activist, liver cancer. [114]
• Willy Kernen, 80, Swiss footballer, participated in World Cup (1950, 1954, 1962). [115]
• Bernard Kolélas, 76, Congolese politician, Mayor of Brazzaville, Prime Minister (1997). [116]
• James R. Lilley, 81, American diplomat, ambassador to South Korea and China, complications linked to prostate cancer. [117]
• Iakovos Protolatis, 78, Greek journalist. [118] (Greek)
• Henri Sérandour, 72, French IOC member, former head of the French National Olympic Committee. [119]
• Josef Singer, 86, Israeli professor emeritus of aeronautics, president of Technion (1982–1986). [120]
• Eliahu Speiser, 79, Israeli politician and former Member of Knesset. [121]
• Giorgos Thimis, 84, Greek pianist and composer. [122] (Greek)
• Paul Wendkos, 87, American television and film director (Gidget), complications of a stroke. [123]
• Orig Williams, 78, British wrestler (El Bandito), footballer (Oldham Athletic), television personality and newspaper columnist. [124]
• Emanuel Zisman, 74, Israeli politician, Member of Knesset (1988–1999). [125]

11

• Tony Anselmo, 91, Canadian football executive (Calgary Stampeders). [126]
• Bernd Dittrich, 21, Austrian Canadian football player (Simon Fraser Clan). [127]
• Ehsan Fatahian, 28, Iranian Kurdish activist, executed by hanging. [128]
• Naftali Feder, 89, Polish-born Israeli politician and Member of Knesset. [129]
• Savvas Hatziioannou, 67, Greek footballer (PAOK F.C.), cancer. [130] (Greek)
• Irving Kriesberg, 90, American expressionist artist, complications from Parkinson's disease. [131]
• Tom Merriman, 85, American jingle composer, complications from a fall. [132]
• John Jay O'Connor, 79, American lawyer, husband of Sandra Day O'Connor, Alzheimer's disease. [133]
• Leo Osgood, 63, American basketball player (Northeastern University), basketball coach and dean of MIT, after long illness. [134]
• Helge Reiss, 81, Norwegian actor. [135] (Norwegian)
• Alexandros Tambouras, 97, Greek insurer and businessman. [136] (Greek)

10

• Gheorghe Dinică, 75, Romanian actor, cardiac arrest. [137] (Romanian)
• Robert Enke, 32, German footballer, suicide by train impact. [138]
• William Ganz, 90, Slovakian-born American cardiologist, co-inventor of the pulmonary artery catheter, natural causes. [139]
• Tomaž Humar, 40, Slovenian mountaineer, mountaineering accident. [140]
• Simple Kapadia, 51, Indian actress and costume designer, cancer. [141]
• Dick Katz, 85, American jazz pianist and arranger, lung cancer. [142]
• David Lloyd, 75, American comedy writer ("Chuckles Bites the Dust"), prostate cancer. [143]
• Uolevi Manninen, 72, Finnish Olympic basketball player. [144] (Finnish)
• Hisaya Morishige, 96, Japanese actor, natural causes. [145]
• John Allen Muhammad, 48, American spree killer (Beltway Sniper), execution by lethal injection. [146]
• José Afonso Ribeiro, 80, Brazilian Roman Catholic Bishop of Borba. [147] (Portuguese)
• Stratos Stasinos, 65, Greek animation director. [148] (Greek)
• Ken Wlaschin, 75, American film historian, after short illness. [149]

9

• Al Cervi, 92, American basketball player and coach (Rochester Royals, Syracuse Nationals). [150]
• Earl Cooley, 98, American smokejumper. [151]
• Clen Denning, 98, Australian footballer, oldest surviving VFL player. [152]
• Henry L. Kimelman, 88, American Ambassador to Haiti (1980–1981), heart failure. [153]
• Earsell Mackbee, 68, American football player (Minnesota Vikings), complications following a stroke. [154]
• Notis Pergialis, 89, Greek actor, author and lyricist. [155] (Greek)
• Nelson Javier Portillo, Honduran mayor, shot. [156] (Spanish)
• Mehdi Sahabi, 66, Iranian writer and translator, heart attack. [157]
• Charles Proctor Sifton, 74, American federal judge, sarcoidosis. [158]
• Stephen Edmund Verney, 90, British Anglican prelate, Bishop of Repton (1977–1985). [159]
• Nick Waterlow, 69, British-born Australian artistic director and curator, stabbed. [160]

8

• Jerry Fuchs, 34, American drummer (Maserati, !!!), fall. [161]
• Armin Gessert, 46, German video game developer, heart attack. [162]
• Vitaly Ginzburg, 93, Russian physicist, Nobel Prize laureate. [163]
• Burleigh Hines, 77, American journalist. [164]
• Karl Kroeber, 83, American literary scholar of Native American literature, cancer. [165]
• Malcolm Laycock, 71, British radio DJ. [166]
• Arda Mandikian, 85, Greek soprano, after long illness. [167] (Greek)
• Amir Qavidel, 62, Iranian film director, liver failure. [168]
• Igor Starygin, 63, Russian actor, complications of a stroke. [169] (Russian)
• Peter Storer, 81, American broadcasting executive (Storer Communications) and philanthropist, cardiovascular disease. [170]

7

• Alyona Bondarchuk, 47, Russian actress, cancer. [171] (Russian)
• Vic Davies, 55, Australian radio presenter, lung cancer. [172]
• Bob Dillinger, 91, American baseball player. [173]
• Anselmo Duarte, 89, Brazilian actor, screenwriter and film director, complications of a stroke. [174] (Portuguese)
• Bernardo Garza Sada, 79, Mexican businessman, founder of ALFA. [175]
• Donald Harington, 73, American author, cancer. [176]
• Chris Harman, 66, British socialist journalist and activist. [177]
• Billy Ingham, 57, British footballer (Burnley), after long illness. [178]
• Joe Maross, 86, American actor, cardiac arrest. [179]
• Allan Mulder, 81, Australian politician, MP (1972–1975). [180]
• May Nilsson, 88, Swedish Olympic alpine skier. [181] (Swedish)
• Humberto Luis Rivas, 72, Argentinian photographer. [182]

6

• Manuel Arvizu, 90, Mexican Roman Catholic Bishop of Jesús María del Nayar. [183]
• István Belovai, 71, Hungarian double agent. [184] (German)
• Bachir Boumaza, 82, Algerian politician. [185] (French)
• Marion Coles, 94, American dancer. [186]
• Nick Counter, 69, American film executive and lawyer. [187]
• Dimitri De Fauw, 28, Belgian track cyclist, suicide. [188]
• Abraham Escudero Montoya, 69, Colombian Roman Catholic Bishop of Palmira. [189] (Spanish)
• Jacno, 52, French musician, cancer. [190] (French)
• Otomar Krejča, 87, Czech theatre director. [191] (Czech)
• Hans Lund, 59, American poker player, cancer. [192]
• Antonio Rosario Mennonna, 103, Italian Prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. [193] (German)
• Thomas O'Malley, 94, American aerospace engineer. [194]
• Günter Naumann, 83, German actor. [195] (German)
• Tommy Reis, 95, American baseball player. [196]
• Manuel Solís, 91, Panamanian President (1988–1989), pulmonary edema. [197] (Spanish)
• Ron Sproat, 77, American television writer (Dark Shadows), heart attack. [198]

5

• Evan Chandler, 65, American father of Michael Jackson molestation accuser, suicide by gunshot. [199]
• Peter Chen Bolu, 96, Chinese Roman Catholic Bishop of Daming. [200]
• Adam Firestorm, 32, New Zealand-born Canadian professional wrestler, suicide. [201]
• Robert Gutman, 67, Estonian actor. [202], (Estonian)
• Khuda Bakhsh Khaskhail, 32, Pakistani boxer, cardiac arrest. [203]
• Félix Luna, 84, Argentinian historian, after long illness. [204]
• Stella Májová, 86, Czech actress. [205] (Czech)
• Barrie Rickards, 71, British palaeontologist and angler, cancer. [206]

4

• Win Aung, 65, Burmese politician and military officer, Minister of Foreign Affairs (1998–2004). [207]
• William H. Avery, 98, American politician, Representative for Kansas (1955–1965), Governor of Kansas (1965–1967). [208]
• Don Beaven, 85, New Zealand scientist and diabetes researcher, house fire. [209]
• Ivan Biakov, 65, Russian Olympic gold medal-winning biathlete (1972, 1976). [210] (Ukrainian)
• Hubertus Brandenburg, 85, German-born Roman Catholic Bishop of Stockholm (1977–1998). [211] (Swedish).
• Stefano Chiodi, 52, Italian footballer. [212] (Italian)
• Art D'Lugoff, 85, American jazz nightclub owner (The Village Gate), heart attack. [213]
• Kabun Mutō, 82, Japanese politician, Minister for Foreign Affairs (1993), pancreatic cancer. [214]
• Thomas P. O'Malley, 79, American Jesuit and academic, President of Loyola Marymount University (1991–1999), heart attack. [215]
• Antonio Pelle, 77, Italian 'Ndrangheta boss, heart attack. [216]
• Douglas Shook, 63, American basketball player, bladder cancer. [217]

3

• Charles August, 90, American businessman, founder of Monro Muffler and Brake. [218]
• Francisco Ayala, 103, Spanish novelist, natural causes. [219] (Spanish)
• Archie Baird, 90, Scottish footballer (Aberdeen). [220]
• Carl Ballantine, 92, American actor (McHale's Navy), natural causes. [221]
• Kari Bashir, 35, Afghan Taliban commander. [222] (German)
• Brother Blue, 88, American storyteller, performance artist, after short illness. [223]
• Dodo Chichinadze, 84, Georgian actress. [224]
• Shel Dorf, 76, American founder of the San Diego Comic-Con, diabetes-related complications. [225]
• Parry Gordon, 64, English rugby league player. [226]
• Vashram Khorani, 49, Indian politician, MLA in the Vidhan Sabha of Gujarat, heart attack. [227]
• Jyrki Kovaleff, 55, Finnish actor, prostate cancer. [228] (Finnish)
• Tamás Lossonczy, 105, Hungarian abstract painter. [229] (Hungarian)
• John Mashek, 77, American political reporter, heart attack. [230]
• Toshiyuki Mimura, 61, Japanese baseball player and manager (Hiroshima Toyo Carp). [231]
• Ron Moeller, 71, American baseball player. [232]
• Erik Sædén, 85, Swedish bass-baritone and hovsångare. [233] (Swedish)
• Sotiris Sgouros, 80, Greek folk musician, clarinetist and singer. [234] (Greek)

2

• Princess Haya bint Abdulaziz, 80, Saudi royal, sister of King Abdullah. [235]
• Nien Cheng, 94, Chinese author and political prisoner. [236]
• Lou Filippo, 83, American boxing referee and judge, member of the World Boxing Hall of Fame, stroke. [237]
• Ida Frabboni, 113, Italian supercentenarian. [238] (Italian)
• Evelyn Hofer, 87, German-born photographer. [239]
• Shabattai Kalmanovich, 61, Russian former KGB spy, President of WBC Spartak Moscow Region, shot. [240]
• Keith Kettleborough, 74, British footballer (Sheffield United) [241]
• José Luis López Vázquez, 87, Spanish actor, after long illness. [242] (Spanish)
• Fyodor Loshchenkov, 94, Russian First Secretary of the Yaroslavl Obkom (1961–1986). [243] (Russian)
• Phil Lumpkin, 57, American NBA player and high school basketball coach, pneumonia. [244]
• Roman Moravec, 59, Slovak Olympic high jumper. [245]
• Beverley O'Sullivan, 28, Irish singer, car crash. [246]
• Amir Pnueli, 68, Israeli computer scientist and Turing Award winner. [247]
• Glenn Remick, 58, American founder of American Darters Association, member of National Darts Hall of Fame, amyloidosis. [248]
• Mark Smith, 49, British bassist (The Waterboys) and record producer. [249]
• Leonard Steinberg, Baron Steinberg, 73, British businessman and life peer. [250]
• Jorge Vargas, 68, Mexican actor, complications of colon cancer surgery. [251] (Spanish)

1

• Ghalia Hassan Fayyad, 110, Palestinian supercentenarian, age-related causes. [252]
• Sakher Habash, 69, Palestinian party official (Fatah), stroke. [253]
• Seán Mac Fionnghaile, 57, Irish actor, cancer. [254]
• Endel Laas, 94, Estonian forest scientist. [255] (Estonian)
• Arturo Salazar Mejía, 88, Colombian Roman Catholic Bishop of Pasto. [256] (Spanish)
• Alda Merini, 78, Italian poet. [257] (Italian)
• Gopal Mishra, 77, Indian journalist, after short illness. [258]
• Gus Mitges, 90, Canadian politician, MP for Grey—Simcoe (1972–1988) and Bruce—Grey (1988–1993). [259]
• Alan Ogg, 42, American basketball player (Miami Heat), complications from staphylococcal infection. [260]
• Robert H. Rines, 87, American scientist, inventor, composer and Loch Ness Monster expert, heart failure. [261]
• Antonio Sergio, 59, Portuguese radio personality, heart attack. [262] (Portuguese)
• Achim Stocker, 74, German football official, Chairman of SC Freiburg, heart attack. [263] (German)
• George Zoritch, 92, Russian-born American dancer. [264]

October 2009

See Deaths in October 2009.

September 2009

See Deaths in September 2009.

August 2009

See Deaths in August 2009.

July 2009

See Deaths in July 2009.

June 2009

See Deaths in June 2009.

May 2009

See Deaths in May 2009.

April 2009

See Deaths in April 2009.

March 2009

See Deaths in March 2009.

February 2009

See Deaths in February 2009.

January 2009

See Deaths in January 2009.

For earlier deaths, see Deaths in 2008, Deaths in 2007, Deaths in 2006, Deaths in 2005, Deaths in 2004, Deaths in 2003, Deaths in 2002, Deaths in 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992, 1991, 1990, 1989, 1988, ...