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Cowan George (b. 1920-02-15 / d. 2012-04-20)
He was an American physical chemist, a businessman and philanthropist. Cowan received a B.S. from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1941. He did graduate studies at Princeton, where he worked under future Nobel laureate Eugene Wigner, whose investigation of uranium confirmed the feasibility of the Fermi pile. He continued his nuclear research with the Manhattan Project at the University of Chicago, Oak Ridge, Columbia University, and Los Alamos. Because he was transferred to various locations as a technological troubleshooter for the effort, he was among the very few people with knowledge of the separate components of the bomb, kept apart for security reasons. He joined the Carnegie Institute of Technology in 1946. He earned a Ph.D. from the Mellon College of Science in 1950. Weeks after his arrival at Los Alamos National Laboratory in 1949, he directed the detection of radioactive fallout from samples collected near the Russian border indicating the Soviets were in possession of a nuclear bomb. He later served on the Bethe Panel that convinced government decision makers the radiochemistry detected represented weapons uses rather than peaceful pursuits.
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70
Born 1950-08-21. Domain:Music. Cause of death:Unknown
Patrick Juvet was a model turned singer-songwriter, who had a string of hit records in France. While his early career was focused on making pop records, he found international success as a disco music performer in the latter half of the 1970s. Born in Montreux, Switzerland, Juvet grew up in nearby La Tour-de-Peilz, with his parents, Robert and Janine, his brother Daniel, and his sister Nancy. Juvet's father sold radios and televisions, which sparked an early interest in music for the young Juvet. Juvet began studying piano at age 7; later he developed an interest in the music of The Beatles. In 2005, Juvet released his autobiography Les bleus au cœur: Souvenirs ("Bruises on My Heart: Memories"), in which he talks about his career and his bisexuality. Patrick Juvet was found dead in an apartment in Barcelona, Spain.
86
Born 1932-05-01. Domain:Writing. Cause of death:Age
Andrew Coburn was an American writer from Exeter, New Hampshire. A New York Times best-selling novelist, short-story author, essayist and newspaper reporter and columnist, Coburn was the author of 13 novels which have been translated into over 14 languages throughout the world. He was married to Bernadine Casey Coburn, a former journalist and publicist now teaching writing at a women's jail, with whom he has one son and four daughters. They lived in Andover, Massachusetts. Three of his novels have been adapted into films. Off Duty (1980) was adapted into the French film Un dimanche de flic by director Michel Vianey. Sweetheart (1985) was adapted into the French film, Toutes peines confondues (1992). The film was distributed worldwide including Germany under the title Sweetheart, and in Italy under the title Marbel. Although first released over two decades ago, Sweetheart remains a popular cult film to this day. Widow's Walk (1994) was adapted into the French classic, Noyade interdite (1997), starring Guy Marchand, for which he was nominated France's national film award, the César Award.
73
Born 1945-04-07. Domain:Society. Cause of death:cancer (pancreas)
Joël Robuchon was a French chef and restaurateur. He was named "Chef of the Century" by the guide Gault Millau in 1989, and awarded the Meilleur Ouvrier de France (France's best worker) in cuisine in 1976. He published several cookbooks, two of which have been translated into English, chaired the committee for the Larousse Gastronomique, and hosted culinary television shows in France. He operated more than a dozen restaurants in Bangkok, Bordeaux, Hong Kong, Las Vegas, London, Macau, Monaco, Montreal, Paris, Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei, Tokyo, and New York City, with the highest record of a total of 32 Michelin Guide stars among them (31 at the time of his death), the most of any chef in the world.
85
Born 1924-11-20. Domain:Science (Math style). Cause of death:Age
He was a Franco-American mathematician. Born in Poland, he moved to France with his family when he was a child. Mandelbrot spent much of his life living and working in the United States, acquiring dual French and American citizenship.
Mandelbrot died in a hospice in Cambridge, Massachusetts from pancreatic cancer, at the age of 85. Reacting to news of his death, mathematician Heinz-Otto Peitgen said "if we talk about impact inside mathematics, and applications in the sciences, he is one of the most important figures of the last 50 years." Chris Anderson described Mandelbrot as "an icon who changed how we see the world." French President Nicolas Sarkozy said very not interesting things about Mandelbrot, as usual.
45
Born 1964-12-11. Domain:Sport. Cause of death:Accident
He was an Italian road racing cyclist. Born in Florence, his greatest exploits as a rider came with his two victories in the cycling classic Paris–Roubaix, riding for the Mapei cycling team. In 1993 he was beaten on the line by Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle in an exciting Paris–Roubaix finale. Also on his palmarès or list of accomplishments there are other one-day races such as Omloop Het Volk and Paris–Brussels. Ballerini, a rallying fan, was seriously injured during a race in Larciano where he was participating as co-driver/navigator for professional driver Alessandro Ciardi. He later died of his injuries at the Pistoia city hospital. One year later, Robert Kubica was severely injured while driving his skoda on the same track. He nearly lost his right hand.
33
Born 1975-00-00. Domain:Performing. Cause of death:alcohol, other drugs
Stunning Natasha, 32, and the BBC children’s show presenter are said to have stayed up until nearly dawn snorting the Class A drug.
After snatching a few hours’ sleep they woke at lunchtime on Thursday, when Natasha said she felt unwell and went for a bath.
Speight became worried a few minutes later when the bathroom fell silent. He went in and discovered Natasha’s lifeless body in the still warm water.
The CBBC SMart show star pulled her out of the bath and tried desperately to revive her with mouth-to-mouth. He then dialled 999 and paramedics fought in vain to save her.
Police were also called to the couple’s £625,000 penthouse in St John’s Wood, North London, and Speight, 42, was arrested on suspicion of Natasha’s murder.
He was later also arrested for supplying her with a Class A drug after reportedly telling cops how they had snorted cocaine together the night before.
Distraught Speight was taken to Marylebone police station, where he repeatedly broke down sobbing during his interview.
A police source said: “He did everything he could to save her. He was absolutely distraught afterwards and fully cooperative. He gave a full and frank account of what happened.”
She is said to have suffered regular fits after being injured in a car accident several years ago and lapsing into a coma. Neighbours also reported she had recently become painfully thin.
Natasha’s mum Carmen later issued a statement saying: “We are all absolutely distraught over the death of Natasha. She was our loving, caring daughter who was always full of life.”
Natasha met Speight in 1998 when they worked together on kids’ TV show See It Saw It. She played See, a court jester to a king played by Speight. Speight, who first found fame on ITV’s Saturday morning kids’ show Scratchy & Co, has worked on CBBC’s SMart since 1995.
OTHER kids' TV stars caught in scandal include ex-Blue Peter host John Leslie, filmed in a cocaine-fuelled orgy with Abi Titmuss in 2003, and Jamie Theakston, who had sex with a hooker in a Mayfair bondage den. In 1998 Blue Peter axed Richard Bacon over a 12-hour booze and cocaine bender.
74
Born 1926-01-21. Domain:Performing. Cause of death:Cancer
During the filming of The Last Days of Pompeii, Reeves dislocated his shoulder when his chariot crashed into a tree. Reeves pulled the joint back into its socket by himself and chose to continue filming and performing his own stunts. Swimming in a subsequent underwater escape scene he reinjured his shoulder. The injury would be aggravated by his stunt work in each successive film, ultimately leading him to retire early.
Later in his life, Reeves promoted drug-free bodybuilding and bred horses. The last two decades of his life were spent in Valley Center (Escondido), California. He bought a ranch with his savings and lived there with his second wife Aline until her death in 1989. Reeves died from complications of lymphoma.
43
Born 1950-00-00. Domain:Society. Cause of death:Murder
A few hours before his killing “HB” wrote: " Prisonnier de mes rêves les plus fous : je suis mal assis sur une petite chaise de bambin… Alors, revenons à cette mort dont je sens à peine, mais sûrement, la faux s’affûter sur ma nuque. Mort je le suis, il fallait l’être, je m’y suis préparé…"
He was shot dead of three bullets in the head, by the RAID.
Nicolas Sarkozy tried to participate to the negociation. He was evicted from the spot by Ch. Pasqua, because HB was getting nervous and declarerd he would no longer talk with such a joker.
71
Born 1914-05-24. Domain:Performing. Cause of death:Cancer
56
Born 1897-10-08. Domain:Performing. Cause of death:Cancer
Marcel Herrand was a French stage and film actor best remembered for his roles in swashbuckling or historical films. He appeared in over 25 films between 1932 and 1952, but Herrand's best remembered role is as Lacenaire (based on Pierre François Lacenaire) in Marcel Carné's Children of Paradise (Les Enfants du Paradis, 1945). Other films in which Herrand appeared include The Last Days of Pompeii (1950) and Fanfan la Tulipe (1952), which also featured Gérard Philipe and Gina Lollobrigida, in which Herrand played the role of Louis XV of France.
17
Born 1924-04-26. Domain:Society. Cause of death:Murder
Ma petite maman chérie,
mon tout petit frère adoré,
mon petit papa aimé,
Je vais mourir ! Ce que je vous demande, toi, en particulier ma petite maman, c’est d’être courageuse. Je le suis et je veux l’être autant que ceux qui sont passés avant moi.
Certes, j’aurai voulu vivre. Mais ce que je souhaite de tout mon coeur, c’est que ma mort serve à quelque chose. Je n’ai pas eu le temps d’embrasser Jean. J’ai embrassé mes deux frères Roger et Rino. Quant au véritable je ne peux le faire hélas !
J’espère que toutes mes affaires te seront renvoyées, elles pourront servir à Serge, qui je l’escompte sera fier de les porter un jour.
A toi, petit Papa, si je t’ai fait, ainsi qu’à petite Maman, bien des peines, je te salue une dernière fois. Sache que j’ai fait de mon mieux pour suivre la voie que tu m’as tracée. Un dernier adieu à tous mes amis et à mon frère que j’aime beaucoup. Qu’il étudie bien pour être plus tard un homme.
17 ans et demi ! Ma vie a été courte !
Je n’ai aucun regret, si ce n’est de vous quitter tous.
Je vais mourir avec Tintin, Michels.
Maman, ce que je te demande, ce que je veux que tu me promettes, c’est d’être courageuse et de surmonter ta peine. Je ne peux pas en mettre davantage. Je vous quitte tous, toutes, toi Maman, Serge, Papa, je vous embrasse de tout mon cœur d’enfant.
Courage !
Votre Guy qui vous aime
Dernières pensées : "Vous tous qui restez, soyez dignes de nous, les 27 qui allons mourir !"
65
Born 1860-04-19. Domain:Art. Cause of death:Pneumonia
Francis Thibaudeau was a French typographer and creator of the first well-established system for classifying typefaces, the Thibaudeau classification. He devised his system while developing the catalogues for the Renault & Marcou and G. Peignot & Fils foundries in the early 20th century. He worked at G. Peignot & Fils (1898–1919), Peignot & Cie (1919–1923), and Deberny & Peignot (1923–1925). His book, La lettre d'imprimerie (The Letter of the Printing Office), is printed in Auriol, a typeface designed by its namesake, George Auriol and reflecting typical Art Nouveau design. In this text, he states clearly his patriotic purpose: "May this work of popularization [...] inspire interest in the nature of the printed letter and then in the art of its use and applications, [...] for the greatest profit of the national industry and the triumph of French art."
43
Born 1872-06-24. Domain:Art. Cause of death:Murder
Georges Louis Jean Baptiste Peignot was a French type designer, type founder, and manager of the G. Peignot & Fils foundry until his death in the World War I. Father of four children (including poet Colette Peignot called Laure), he hoisted the G. Peignot & Fils foundry among the most striking French typography companies of the twentieth century (an « elite house », according to a former French Prime Minister): in 17 years of practice, he created or launched prestigious fonts, including Grasset, Cochin, and Garamont.
56
Born 1857-11-26. Domain:Other. Cause of death:Age
Ferdinand de Saussure was a Swiss linguist, semiotician and philosopher. His ideas laid a foundation for many significant developments in both linguistics and semiotics in the 20th century. He is widely considered one of the founders of 20th-century linguistics and one of two major founders (together with Charles Sanders Peirce) of semiotics, or semiology, as Saussure called it.