Notable Deaths on May 17
710+ people died on this day throughout history
Persifor Frazer Smith
1798–1858 (age 60)
Laurel Hill Cemetery
Persifor Frazer Smith was an American military officer who served as a general during the Mexican-American War.
John Jay
1745–1829 (age 84)
John Jay Cemetery
John Jay was a prominent New York City figure from 1745 to 1829 who played a significant role in early American history.
Bożena Klimczak
1942–2025 (age 83)
Osobowice Cemetery
Bożena Klimczak was a Polish economist whose career contributed to economic scholarship and policy in Poland.
Werenoi
1994–2025 (age 31)
cimetière nouveau de Montreuil (Seine-Saint-Denis)
Jérémy Bana Owona (French pronunciation: [ʒeʁemi bana owɔna]; 30 January 1994 – 17 May 2025), known professionall...
Jean-Philippe Allard
1957–2024 (age 67)
Sarcé
Jean-Philippe Allard was a French music executive from Sarcé who lived from 1957 to 2024.
Superstar Billy Graham
1943–2023 (age 80)
Green Acres Memorial Park
Superstar Billy Graham was an iconic professional wrestler whose charismatic style influenced generations of performers.
Dvora Kedar
1924–2023 (age 99)
Menucha Nechona Cemetery
Devora Halter Keidar (Hebrew: דבורה הלטר קידר; 8 June 1924 – 17 May 2023) was an Israeli actress.
György Haraszti
1947–2023 (age 76)
Farkasréti Cemetery
György Haraszti was a devoted historian who enriched understanding of Hungary’s heritage through meticulous scholarsh...
Jean Madelain
1924–2023 (age 99)
cemetery Saint-Clair
Jean Madelain (9 January 1924 – 17 May 2023) was a French politician of the Centre of Social Democrats (CDS).
Vangelis
1943–2022 (age 79)
Père Lachaise Cemetery
Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou (Greek: Ευάγγελος Οδυσσέας Παπαθανασίου, pronounced [eˈv...
André Roux
1946–2022 (age 76)
Aimargues Cemetery
André Roux was a community member whose life was enriched by local and family connections.
Ilse Bechthold
1927–2021 (age 94)
Frankfurt Main Cemetery
Ilse Bechthold was an athletics competitor whose sporting achievements reflected her dedication and determination.
Nicolas Ker
1970–2021 (age 51)
Père Lachaise Cemetery
French screenwriter whose scripts enriched French and international cinema.
Vonda Butler
1958–2020 (age 62)
Greenwood Memorial Park
Vonda Butler (1958–2020) of San Diego is interred at Greenwood Memorial Park.
Ernest W. Gibson III
1927–2020 (age 93)
Morningside Cemetery
Ernest W. Gibson III (1927-2020) was associated with Brattleboro and rests in Morningside Cemetery.
Tatjana Lematschko
1948–2020 (age 72)
Zurich
Tatjana Lematschko (March 16, 1948 – May 17, 2020) was a Soviet-born Swiss chess player, She was born in Moscow, but l...
Marek Grad
1951–2020 (age 69)
Cmentarz Bródnowski
Marek Andrzej Grad (November 19, 1951 – May 17, 2020) was a Polish geophysicist and seismologist, and a professor of E...
Herman Wouk
1915–2019 (age 104)
Beth David Cemetery
Herman Wouk (1915–2019) was a Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist and playwright from The Bronx now interred at Beth David...
Paulius Baltakis
1925–2019 (age 94)
Kretinga old cemetery
Paulius Antanas Baltakis, O.F.M.
Ivan Tomov
1984–2019 (age 35)
Ruse
Mountaineer whose courage inspired young climbers.
Николь Фонтен
1942–2018 (age 76)
Neuilly-sur-Seine New Communal Cemetery
Nicole Fontaine (French pronunciation: [nikɔl fɔ̃tɛn]; 16 January 1942 – 17 May 2018) was a French politician who ...
Hele-Mai Räni
1931–2017 (age 86)
Rahumäe Cemetery
Hele-Mai Räni devoted herself to steady technological advancement and mentoring the next generation of Estonian enginee...
Lewis P. Fickett Jr.
1926–2016 (age 90)
Evergreen Cemetery
Lewis P. Fickett Jr. (1926–2016) of Winthrop was buried at Evergreen Cemetery.
Walter B. Russell Jr.
1929–2016 (age 87)
Russell Memorial Park Cemetery
Walter B. Russell Jr. (1929-2016) of Greensboro is buried at Russell Memorial Park Cemetery.
Vladimír Brouček
1923–2015 (age 92)
Zámrsk cemetery
Vladimír Brouček (1923–2015) was a beloved resident of Zámrsk.
Édouard Courcy
1916–2015 (age 99)
Rimouski
Édouard Courcy was a dedicated teacher in Rimouski whose career spanned decades of educational service.
Sonja Mathisen
1924–2014 (age 90)
Randers Eastern Cemetery
Sonja Mathisen was a businessperson known for her integrity, clear leadership, and compassionate care for colleagues.
Lajos Pándy
1922–2014 (age 92)
Farkasréti Cemetery
Lajos Pándy offered steady professionalism and heartfelt depth throughout his acting career.
Anatolij Grigor'evič Poperečnyj
1934–2014 (age 80)
Troyekurovskoye cemetery
Russian writer and literary figure.
Ken Venturi
1931–2013 (age 82)
Forest Lawn Cemetery
Ken Venturi was a San Francisco-born professional golfer and broadcaster who won the 1964 U.S. Open.
Donna Summer
1948–2012 (age 64)
Harpeth Hills Memory Gardens
Donna Summer (1948–2012) was a Boston-born singer and songwriter dubbed the "Queen of Disco" who was laid to rest at H...
Marcy Tigner
1921–2012 (age 91)
Sunset Hills Cemetery
Marcy Tigner (1921–2012) was an American Christian children’s entertainer best known for performing as the puppeteer...
Алтан Караманоглы
1935–2012 (age 77)
Karşıyaka Cemetery
Leonid Gerasimovich Fadeev (1935-2012) was a Russian from Ugransky District who lived through the Soviet and early post-...
Tibor Sebes
1929–2011 (age 82)
Farkasréti Cemetery
Respected for principled journalism and mentorship.
Eugeniusz Garbacik
1913–2011 (age 98)
Bronowice Cemetery
Eugeniusz Garbacik was a Polish jurist whose legal scholarship influenced Polish law.
Rudolf Ziecina
1930–2011 (age 81)
Stoke Poges Memorial Gardens
Rudolf Ziecina (1930–2011) was a skilled mechanical engineer remembered at Stoke Poges.
George Terlep
1923–2010 (age 87)
Florida National Cemetery
George Terlep (1923–2010) was an American football quarterback and coach whose career spanned the professional and col...
David Herbert Donald
1920–2009 (age 89)
Lincoln Cemetery
David Herbert Donald (1920-2009) was a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian of Abraham Lincoln whose papers live on after hi...
Rolf H. Dittmeyer
1921–2009 (age 88)
Nienstedten Cemetery
Rolf H. Dittmeyer was a German entrepreneur whose career extended from 1921 to 2009.
Mikhail Poselsky
1918–2008 (age 90)
Troyekurovskoye cemetery
Mikhail Poselsky was a Russian individual born in Moscow in 1918 who lived until 2008 and was buried at Troyekurovskoye ...
Ed Yowell
1918–2007 (age 89)
Minden
Ed Yowell (1918–2007), who died in Nashville, was buried in Minden.
Lloyd Alexander
1924–2007 (age 83)
Arlington Cemetery
Lloyd Alexander (1924-2007) was an American author best known for the Prydain Chronicles.
Lee Edward Eshleman
1963–2007 (age 44)
Eastlawn Memorial Gardens
Lee Edward Eshleman was a Richmond resident whose life ended in 2007 at age 44.
Zdeněk Čižinský
1930–2006 (age 76)
Vinohrady Cemetery
Zdeněk Čižinský was a Czech professional who lived from 1930 to 2006.
Eva Maria Bauer
1923–2006 (age 83)
Ohlsdorf Cemetery
Eva Maria Bauer was a stage actor who lived from 1923 to 2006.
Frank Gorshin
1933–2005 (age 72)
Calvary Catholic Cemetery
Frank Gorshin (1933–2005) was an American actor and impressionist best known for portraying The Riddler on the 1960s B...
Ellis Batten Page
1924–2005 (age 81)
Elmwood Cemetery
Ellis Batten Page (1924-2005) was an influential psychologist and educator whose final resting place is Elmwood Cemetery...
Kasra Vafadari
1946–2005 (age 59)
Père Lachaise Cemetery
Kasra Vafadari (1946-2005) was an Iranian-born individual who lived in Tehran before being buried in France.
Noche Crist
1909–2004 (age 95)
Arlington National Cemetery
Noche Crist (1909-2004) concluded his life with burial at Arlington National Cemetery.
Edwin L. Heller
1918–2004 (age 86)
Arlington National Cemetery
Edwin L. Heller (1918–2004) of Philadelphia is interred at Arlington National Cemetery.