Notable Deaths on December 17
780+ people died on this day throughout history
John T. Johnson
1788–1856 (age 68)
Lexington Cemetery
John T. Johnson was a Kentucky politician and military officer who represented Scott County.
Rosa von Praunheim
1942–2025 (age 83)
Alter St.-Matthäus-Kirchhof Berlin
Holger Bernhard Bruno Mischwitzky (born Holger Radtke; 25 November 1942 – 17 December 2025), known professionally as R...
Kostas Chardavelas
1945–2024 (age 79)
Palaio Faliro Cemetery
Greek journalist whose career was dedicated to news reporting and public information.
Marisa Paredes
1946–2024 (age 78)
San Isidro Cemetery
María Luisa Paredes Bartolomé (3 April 1946 – 17 December 2024), known professionally as Marisa Paredes, was a Spani...
Marek Boczar
d. 2024
Batowice Cemetery
Marek Boczar (died 2024) was a Polish individual buried at Batowice Cemetery.
Igor Kirillov
1970–2024 (age 54)
Federal Military Memorial Cemetery
Igor Anatolyevich Kirillov (Russian: Игорь Анатольевич Кириллов; 13 July 1970 – 17 December 20...
Michel del Castillo
1933–2024 (age 91)
Père Lachaise Cemetery
Writer Michel del Castillo used his literary voice to illuminate exile and memory, leaving a compassionate legacy in Fre...
Christian Grobet
1941–2023 (age 82)
Cemetery of Kings
Christian Grobet (26 July 1941, New York City – 17 December 2023, Geneva) (Place of origin Vallorbe), was a Swiss pol...
Evangelie Lelekou - Manthopoulou
1925–2023 (age 98)
Paiania Cemetery
Evangelie Lelekou-Manthopoulou was a dedicated physician whose medical career served her community.
Kuntoro Mangkusubroto
1947–2023 (age 76)
Kalibata Heroes Cemetery
Kuntoro Mangkusubroto (14 March 1947 – 17 December 2023) was an Indonesian administrator and politician who was Direct...
Andrzej Wiśniewski
1942–2022 (age 80)
Cmentarz parafialny w Pruszkowie
Andrzej Wiśniewski (1942–2022) was a Polish resident remembered by his community.
Mimis Stefanakos
1936–2021 (age 85)
Schisto cemetary
Dimitrios "Mimis" Stefanakos (Greek: Δημήτριος "Μίμης" Στεφανάκος; 19 October 1936 – 17 Decemb...
José Pablo Feinmann
1943–2021 (age 78)
Mausoleum of the Argentine Association of Actors
José Pablo Feinmann (29 March 1943 – 17 December 2021) was an Argentine philosopher, writer, playwright, and televisi...
Marek Kudasiewicz
1934–2021 (age 87)
Rakowicki Cemetery
Polish professional whose life spanned nearly nine decades of service and dedication.
Tuncay Mataracı
1935–2020 (age 85)
Zincirlikuyu Cemetery
Tuncay Mataracı (2 February 1935 – 17 December 2020) was a Turkish politician and government minister.
Maciej Grubski
1968–2020 (age 52)
Konstantynów Łódzki
Maciej Tomasz Grubski (20 August 1968 – 17 December 2020) was a Polish politician from the Civic Platform.
Franck Balandier
1952–2020 (age 68)
Père Lachaise Cemetery
Franck Balandier (11 July 1952 – 17 December 2020) was a French writer and author.
Jeremy Bulloch
1945–2020 (age 75)
Golders Green Crematorium
Jeremy Andrew Bulloch (16 February 1945 – 17 December 2020) was an English actor.
László Heltay
1930–2019 (age 89)
Farkasréti Cemetery
László Istvan Heltay (5 January 1930 – 17 December 2019) was a Hungarian-born British conductor and choral director...
Thea Sofie Kleven
2000–2018 (age 18)
Frogner Church
Ski jumper Thea Sofie Kleven inspired others with her fearless ambitions on the slopes.
Louisa Jespersen
1994–2018 (age 24)
Bording
Louisa Jespersen is remembered by her family and community.
Zbigniew Pohl
1929–2018 (age 89)
Saint Lawrence Cemetery, Wrocław
Zbigniew Pohl was a Polish resident who lived from 1929 to 2018.
Edith Eis
1921–2017 (age 96)
Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery
Edith Eis (1921–2017) lived in Munich and was laid to rest at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery after a life spanning n...
Jiří Stehlík
1934–2017 (age 83)
Former cemetery in Litvínov
Jiří Stehlík (1934–2017) was a Litvínov community member whose life extended through most of the 20th century.
Irena Findeisen-Bellert
1919–2017 (age 98)
Powązki Cemetery
Irena Findeisen-Bellert (1919-2017) was a Polish centenarian from Smolice who was interred at Powązki Cemetery.
Hans Georg Zachau
1930–2017 (age 87)
Munich Forest Cemetery
German university teacher and academic educator based in Munich.
Claude Pierre-Brossolette
1928–2017 (age 89)
Recloses
Claude Pierre-Brossolette was an official who guided Recloses with dignity and care.
Henry Heimlich
1920–2016 (age 96)
Spring Grove Cemetery
Henry Heimlich (1920-2016) was an American thoracic surgeon best known for creating the Heimlich maneuver to dislodge ch...
Benjamin A. Gilman
1922–2016 (age 94)
West Point Cemetery
Benjamin A. Gilman (1922-2016) of Poughkeepsie was a long-serving U.S. Representative from New York noted for his leader...
Zaevion Dobson
2000–2015 (age 15)
Knoxville
Zaevion Dobson (2000–2015) was a Knoxville high school football player who died shielding friends from gunfire and is ...
Emellia Prokopik
1920–2015 (age 95)
Saint Basil the Great Convent Cemetery
Emellia Prokopik (1920-2015) was an American Ukrainian Greek Catholic sister who served at Saint Basil the Great Convent...
Gyula Szekér
1925–2015 (age 90)
Fiume Road Graveyard
Remembered for principled leadership during transformative times.
Patrick T. Caffery
1932–2013 (age 81)
Beau Pre Cemetery
Patrick T. Caffery (1932–2013), the St. Mary Parish native who served in Congress, lies at Beau Pre Cemetery.
Grigory Dashevsky
1964–2013 (age 49)
Troyekurovskoye cemetery
Grigory Dashevsky was a Russian writer whose literary works contributed to contemporary Russian literature.
Daniel Inouye
1924–2012 (age 88)
National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific
Daniel Inouye (1924–2012) was a Honolulu-born Medal of Honor recipient and the longest-serving U.S. senator from Hawai...
Dina Manfredini
1897–2012 (age 115)
Glendale Cemetery
Dina Manfredini (1897–2012) of Pievepelago became recognized as a supercentenarian and briefly the world’s oldest li...
Jesse Hill
1926–2012 (age 86)
South-View Cemetery
Jesse Hill (1926–2012) was a lifelong St. Louis resident remembered at South-View Cemetery.
Franz Andre
1934–2012 (age 78)
Mödlinger Friedhof
Franz Andre was a committed Austrian teacher whose career was dedicated to educating and inspiring his students.
Karel Klokočník
1937–2011 (age 74)
Olšany Cemetery
Karel Klokočník (1937–2011) lived through transformative decades of Czech history.
Betty Lou Raskin
1924–2010 (age 86)
Bonaventure Cemetery
Devoted family member and friend remembered for quiet generosity.
Walt Dropo
1923–2010 (age 87)
Evergreen Cemetery
Walt Dropo (1923–2010) was a Major League Baseball first baseman and outfielder from Moosup who is buried in Evergreen...
Meir Hovav
1928–2010 (age 82)
Mount of Olives Jewish Cemetery
Meir Hovav chronicled lives with empathy and rigor, preserving powerful stories for generations to come.
Kåre Gilhus
1918–2010 (age 92)
Vestre gravlund
Jurist Kåre Gilhus dedicated decades to upholding fairness in Norwegian courts.
Jacques Lohmüller
1921–2010 (age 89)
Lignières
Jacques Lohmüller was a journalist admired for his clear, compassionate reporting and his commitment to truthful storyt...
Jennifer Jones
1919–2009 (age 90)
Forest Lawn Memorial Park
Jennifer Jones was an American actress who won the Academy Award for Best Actress for The Song of Bernadette.
William Rothuizen
1937–2009 (age 72)
Zorgvlied
William Rothuizen was an insightful writer whose thoughtful prose enlightened many readers.
Yıldız Sertel
1922–2009 (age 87)
Büyükada Cemetery
Yıldız Sertel was a Turkish figure whose life and work contributed to Turkish cultural heritage.
Emin Göksan
1927–2007 (age 80)
Zincirlikuyu Cemetery
Emin Göksan was a Turkish individual from Edremit who lived from 1927 to 2007 and was buried at Zincirlikuyu Cemetery.
Reginald J. Brown
1940–2005 (age 65)
West Point Cemetery
Reginald J. Brown (1940–2005) of New Orleans was a U.S. Army officer and public servant buried at West Point Cemetery.
Edward Mung-Yok Tsoi
1916–2005 (age 89)
Metairie Cemetery
Edward Mung-Yok Tsoi (1916–2005) spent his life before being interred at Metairie Cemetery.