Notable Deaths on December 16
780+ people died on this day throughout history
Colonel Harland Sanders
1890–1980 (age 90)
Cave Hill Cemetery
Founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), one of the most recognizable figures in American business.
Edwin Coppoc
1835–1859 (age 24)
Salem
Edwin Coppoc was an abolitionist executed for his role in John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry.
David Ruggles
1810–1849 (age 39)
Yantic Cemetery
David Ruggles (1810-1849) was a notable abolitionist and reformer from Norwich, Connecticut.
Jean-Pierre Chambon
1952–2025 (age 73)
cimetière de Ronchamp
Jean-Pierre Chambon inspired generations with patient mentorship and scholarly curiosity.
Dimitris Imellos
1967–2024 (age 57)
First Cemetery of Athens
A Greek actor whose performances contributed to the cultural life of Greece.
Claude Villers
1944–2023 (age 79)
Pessac-sur-Dordogne
French actor of stage and screen.
Bogdan Łysak
1936–2022 (age 86)
Wilanów Cemetery
Bogdan Stanisław Łysak (12 May 1936 – 16 December 2022) was a Polish engineer and politician.
Siniša Mihajlović
1969–2022 (age 53)
Campo Verano
Siniša Mihajlović (Serbian Cyrillic: Синиша Михајловић, pronounced [sǐniʃa mixǎːjloʋitɕ]; 20 Feb...
Nándor Sári
1957–2021 (age 64)
Agárd
Nándor Sári was a beloved coach whose dedication shaped the lives and careers of countless athletes.
Manfred Beetz
1941–2021 (age 80)
St. Laurentius church
Manfred Beetz was a university teacher whose career was marked by dedication to academic excellence.
Lotte Brainin
1920–2020 (age 100)
Vienna Central Cemetery
Lotte Brainin is remembered for her steady compassion and quiet commitment to others.
Kálmán Sóvári
1940–2020 (age 80)
New Public Cemetery, Budapest
Kálmán Sóvári was a footballer celebrated for his defensive resolve and sportsmanship.
Gottfried Korff
1942–2020 (age 78)
Grunewald Cemetery
Gottfried Korff was an accomplished ethnologist whose research advanced the study of cultural traditions and human socie...
Jean Costil
1942–2020 (age 78)
Aimargues Cemetery
Jean Costil devoted decades to shepherding his parish as pastor in Aimargues.
Shlomo Suriano
1919–2019 (age 100)
Yarkon Cemetery
Shlomo Suriano (1919-2019) was a centenarian born in Romania who immigrated to Israel and was buried at Yarkon Cemetery.
Yuri Shikov
1966–2019 (age 53)
Southern Cemetery
Yuri Shikov was a dedicated military personnel whose service reflected commitment to duty.
Warren F. Buxton
1929–2018 (age 89)
National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona
Warren F. Buxton (1929–2018) was an American veteran buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona.
Keely Smith
1928–2017 (age 89)
Forest Lawn Memorial Park
Keely Smith (1928–2017) was a singer whose career began under the identifier Q49231 and who is buried at Forest Lawn M...
Carla Thonsgaard
1922–2017 (age 95)
Søndre Kirkegård
Carla Thonsgaard was a Danish painter who lived from 1922 to 2017.
Jaroslav Menšík
1926–2017 (age 91)
Olšany Cemetery
Jaroslav Menšík was a Czech actor and performer.
František Grassl
1939–2017 (age 78)
Ludvíkov pod Smrkem
František Grassl (1939–2017) was a respected jockey whose career spanned decades.
John Bates
1938–2015 (age 77)
Saint Johns Cemetery of Howard County
John Bates (1938–2015) of Union was laid to rest at Saint Johns Cemetery of Howard County.
Linda Rummo
1921–2015 (age 94)
Metsakalmistu
Linda Rummo was an actor celebrated for authentic performances and a generous artistic spirit.
Cornelia Wilhelmina Kwakkelstein-van der Does
1931–2015 (age 84)
grave monument of the Kwakkelstein family
Cornelia Wilhelmina Kwakkelstein-van der Does (1931-2015) was a Dutch individual from Rotterdam who was buried in the Kw...
Alan Coriolan
1948–2015 (age 67)
Père Lachaise Cemetery
Alan Coriolan was a French bodyguard whose career focused on personal security and protection.
Don Wallace Driggs
1924–2014 (age 90)
Phoenix
Don Wallace Driggs (1924-2014) spent his life in Phoenix, Arizona, and was also laid to rest there.
Ernie Terrell
1939–2014 (age 75)
Mount Hope Cemetery
Ernie Terrell (1939-2014) was born in Belzoni and is buried at Mount Hope Cemetery.
František Nakládal
1937–2014 (age 77)
Kvasice cemetery
František Nakládal (1937–2014) was a Czech resident remembered by his community.
Giorgos Kyriakidis
1938–2014 (age 76)
Third Cemetery of Athens
Giorgos Kyriakidis was a respected actor whose performances contributed significantly to Greek theater and cinema.
Nurdan Ayçelik Tunç
1960–2014 (age 54)
Çengelköy Cemetery
Turkish volleyball player who represented her nation in international competition.
Ray Price
1926–2013 (age 87)
Restland Memorial Park
Ray Price (1926–2013) was an American country singer-songwriter whose smooth baritone and sophisticated arrangements h...
James Isbell Armstrong
1919–2013 (age 94)
Princeton Cemetery
James Isbell Armstrong (1919–2013) was president of Princeton University from 1972 to 1988 and is buried at Princeton ...
Jean-Louis Mory
1949–2013 (age 64)
Dardagny Cemetery
Jean-Louis Mory was a politician whose public service demonstrated commitment to community welfare.
Milena Pavlincová
1915–2013 (age 98)
Brno Central Cemetery
Milena Pavlincová was a long-lived Brno resident who lived from 1915 to 2013.
Wojciech Deneka
1946–2013 (age 67)
Pobitno Cemetery in Rzeszów
Polish actor whose performances enriched Polish theater and cinema.
Robert W. Bazley
1925–2012 (age 87)
Arlington National Cemetery
Robert W. Bazley was a U.S. Air Force general who commanded major logistics and systems organizations during the Cold Wa...
Angela Clarke
1909–2010 (age 101)
Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery
Angela Clarke (1909–2010) of New York City is laid to rest at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery.
Voldemar Ilja
1922–2010 (age 88)
Hiiu-Rahu Cemetery
Historian Voldemar Ilja illuminated Estonia's past through rigorous research and heartfelt teaching.
Milan Handl
1956–2010 (age 54)
Waldfriedhof Zlín
Milan Handl was a Czech sculptor whose works contributed to the country's artistic tradition.
Tomasz Dziubiński
1961–2010 (age 49)
Cemetery at Francuska Street in Katowice
Polish record producer whose technical expertise and creative vision shaped the sound of Polish music.
Bob Waldmire
1945–2009 (age 64)
Mottarville Cemetery
Bob Waldmire (1945-2009) of St. Louis rests at Mottarville Cemetery.
Cavit Yenicioğlu
1910–2009 (age 99)
Sahrayıcedid Cemetery
Cavit Yenicioğlu was a Turkish military officer who served from the early twentieth century until his death in 2009.
Ali Taygun
1943–2009 (age 66)
Eyüpsultan Cemetery
Ali Taygun was a Turkish actor who made notable contributions to Turkish cinema and theater.
Esther Caspi
1916–2008 (age 92)
Har HaMenuchot
Esther Caspi was a writer celebrated for capturing the everyday dreams and challenges of her time.
Olof Rosenqvist
1924–2008 (age 84)
Östra kyrkogården
Olof Rosenqvist (1924–2008) was a Swedish association football player.
Лаврова, Галина Даниловна
1936–2008 (age 72)
Nizhny Tagil
Anatoly Alexandrovich Zagot was a Russian individual born in Taganrog in 1936 who lived until 2008 and was buried at Kho...
Pamela Joan Woolworth
1930–2007 (age 77)
Woodlawn Cemetery
Pamela Joan Woolworth (1930-2007) was a New York City resident who was laid to rest at Woodlawn Cemetery.
Wsiewołod Kołomijcew-Majdański
1927–2007 (age 80)
Saint Andrew Cemetery
Wsiewołod Kołomijcew-Majdański (1927–2007) was a Kalisz-born émigré remembered by the Saint Andrew Cemetery commu...
Sune Sundahl
1921–2007 (age 86)
Skogskyrkogården
Swedish photographer whose work documented 20th century Swedish life and culture.
John Spencer
1946–2005 (age 59)
Laurel Grove Memorial Park
John Spencer (1946–2005) was an American stage and screen actor best known for his Emmy-winning portrayal of Leo McGar...