Retired General Norman Schwarzkopf, died Thursday, Dec. 27 at the age of 78. Gen. Schwarzkopf commanded coalition forces during the Gulf War and on Jan. 17, 1991 began an almost 6-week air assault of Iraqi forces that was followed by a swift ground campaign that forced Hussein’s forces out of Kuwait.

Gerry Anderson, the British puppetry pioneer passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 26 at the age of 83 after suffering from Alzheimer’s for nearly 3 years.  Gerry created the classic television series Thunderbirds and Stingray, among others.

Charles Durning, a two-time Oscar nominee and an extraordinary character actor who played everything from a Nazi colonel to a pope, died Monday, Dec. 24 at his home in New York City. He was 89.

Jack Klugman

Jack Klugman, who played Quincy in Quincy, ME and the messy one in TVs Odd Couple died at the age of 90 on Monday, Dec. 24 in Northridge, CA. His wife, Peggy Crosby (2008) was at his side. The cause of his death at this time is unknown.

Rick Majerus was only 64 when he died on Saturday, Dec. 1. He coached at Marquette University, Ball State University, the University of Utah, and Saint Louis University.

Leroy Neiman died at 91 in New York on June 20. He was a painter and sketch artist and was best known for his impressionistic works of some of the world’s biggest sporting events.

Ryan Freel, a former Cincinnati Reds player died on Saturday, Dec. 22 from a self-inflicted gun shot wound. He was 36.