Deaths in December 2021

Wikimedia list article

The following is a list of deaths that should be noted in December 2021. For deaths that should be noted before the month that the world is in, please see "Months". Names under each date are noted in the order of the alphabet by last name or pseudonym. Deaths of non-humans are noted here also if it is worth noting.

Each listing of death, must have a source. If no reference is included, the death notice will be removed. The following are the requirements of adding a name to the list in its order: name, age, where they came from, what the person is known for, cause of death (if known) and a source.

December

Alvin Lucier
1931 – 2021
Miroslav Zikmund
1919 – 2021
Aldo Giordano
1954 – 2021
Darlene Hard
1936 – 2021
Lamine Diack
1933 – 2021
Horst Eckel
1932 – 2021
Bob Dole
1923 – 2021
Aurelio Galfetti
1936 – 2021
Stevan Jelovac
1989 – 2021
John Miles
1949 – 2021
Jacques Tits
1930 – 2021
Emma Gapchenko
1938 – 2021
Kåre Willoch
1928 – 2021
Mustafa Ben Halim
1921 – 2021
Barry Harris
1929 – 2021
Blackjack Lanza
1935 – 2021
Alfredo Moreno
1980 – 2021
Bipin Rawat
1958 – 2021
Robbie Shakespeare
1943 – 2021
Jacques Zimako
1951 – 2021
Carmen Salinas
1939 – 2021
Al Unser
1939 – 2021
Cara Williams
1925 – 2021
Maryse Wolinski
1943 – 2021
Michael Nesmith
1942 – 2021
Anne Rice
1941 – 2021
Manuel Santana
1938 – 2021
Vicente Fernández
1940 – 2021
Sir Paulias Matane
1931 – 2021
Verónica Forqué
1955 – 2021
Sergei Solovyov
1944 – 2021
bell hooks
1952 – 2021
Marilee Stepan
1935 – 2021
Fayez Tarawneh
1949 – 2021
Lucía Hiriart
1922 – 2021
Richard Rogers
1933 – 2021
Boško Abramović
1951 – 2021
Carie Graves
1953 – 2021
Robert H. Grubbs
1942 – 2021
Sally Ann Howes
1931 – 2021
Johnny Isakson
1944 – 2021
Carlos Marín
1968 – 2021
Norberto Boggio
1931 – 2021
Jiří Čadek
1935 – 2021
Sir Carlyle Glean
1932 – 2021
Joan Didion
1934 – 2021
Karolos Papoulias
1929 – 2021
Desmond Tutu
1931 – 2021
Jean-Marc Vallée
1963 – 2021
E. O. Wilson
1929 – 2021
April Ashley
1935 – 2021
Andrew Vachss
1942 – 2021
Michael R. Clifford
1952 – 2021
John Madden
1936 – 2021
Harry Reid
1939 – 2021
Sabine Weiss
1924 – 2021
Antoine Bonifaci
1931 – 2021
Sam Jones
1933 – 2021
Karel Loprais
1949 – 2021
Betty White
1922 – 2021

1

  • Jacqueline Avant, 81, American philanthropist, shot.[1]
  • Rudolf Bernhardt, 96, German lawyer, President of the European Court of Human Rights (1998).[2]
  • Ben Boo, 96, American politician, Mayor of Duluth (1967–1975) and member of the Minnesota House of Representatives (1984–1993).[3]
  • Bertram Bowyer, 2nd Baron Denham, 94, British politician, member of the House of Lords (1949–2021) and Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (1979–1991).[4]
  • John Cunningham, 83, Scottish Roman Catholic prelate, Bishop of Galloway (2004–2014).[5]
  • Jean Demannez, 72, Belgian politician, Mayor of Saint-Josse-ten-Noode (1999–2012).[6]
  • Abla Farhoud, 76, Canadian writer.[7]
  • Grand Jojo, 85, Belgian singer.[8]
  • Anna-Liisa Hyvönen, 95, Finnish politician, MP (1972–1980).[9]
  • Enrique Jackson, 75, Mexican politician, member (1997–2006) and President of the Senate (2000–2001, 2002–2004, 2005–2006) and Deputy (2015–2018), heart attack.[10]
  • Alvin Lucier, 90, American composer (I Am Sitting in a Room, Music on a Long Thin Wire).[11]
  • Almerindo Marques, 81, Portuguese businessman, banker and politician, Deputy (1983–1985) and President of Rádio e Televisão de Portugal (2002–2008).[12]
  • Keiko Nobumoto, 57, Japanese screenwriter (Cowboy Bebop, Wolf's Rain, Tokyo Godfathers), esophageal cancer.[13]
  • Nikolai Paltsev, 72, Russian politician, Mayor of Stavropol (2008–2011).[14]
  • Rudolf Pohl, 97, German Roman Catholic prelate.[15]
  • Alan Clive Roberts, 87, British materials scientist and engineer.[16]
  • Razi Shirazi, 94, Iranian jurist and philosopher.[17]
  • Petr Uhl, 80, Czech journalist, activist and politician, member of the Federal Assembly (1990–1992).[18]
  • Miroslav Zikmund, 102, Czech writer and explorer.[19]

2

  • Giuseppe Chiaretti, 88, Italian Roman Catholic prelate, Archbishop of Perugia–Città della Pieve (1995–2009).[20]
  • Richard Cole, 75, English music manager (Led Zeppelin).[21]
  • Jos Dupré, 93, Belgian politician, Mayor of Westerlo (1977–1982, 1989–1996).[22]
  • Aldo Giordano, 67, Italian Roman Catholic prelate, Apostolic Nuncio to Venezuela (2013–2021) and the European Union (since 2021), COVID-19.[23]
  • Gérard Grandval, 91, French architect.[24]
  • Darlene Hard, 85, American Hall of Fame tennis player.[25]
  • Hong Sung-woo, 81, South Korean politician, MP (1979–1988).[26]
  • Joaquín Jiménez Hidalgo, 85, Spanish politician, Senator (1982–1986).[27]
  • Richard Lerner, 83, American chemist.[28]
  • Bill McKenzie, Baron McKenzie of Luton, 75, British politician and life peer, member of the House of Lords (since 2004).[29]
  • Poedjono Pranyoto, 85, Indonesian military officer and politician, Regent of Cilacap (1979–1987), Governor of Lampung (1988–1997) and Deputy Speaker of the MPR-R (1997–1999).[30]
  • Sir Antony Sher, 72, South African-born British actor (Stanley, Shakespeare in Love, The Wolfman), cancer.[31]
  • Lovro Šturm, 83, Slovenian lawyer and politician, President of the Constitutional Court (1997–1998) and Minister of Justice (2004–2008).[32]
  • Lawrence Weiner, 79, American conceptual artist.[33]

3

4

  • John Barton, 77, British businessman, Chairman of Next plc and EasyJet.[48]
  • Hans Blohm, 94, German-Canadian photographer and author.[49]
  • Sabbaruddin Chik, 79, Malaysian politician, MP (1982–1999) and Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture (1987–1996), COVID-19.[50]
  • Martha De Laurentiis, 67, American movie producer (Breakdown, Hannibal, U-571), cancer.[51]
  • Vinod Dua, 67, Indian journalist (Doordarshan, NDTV India), problems caused by COVID-19.[52]
  • Mahmoud Hammoud, 57, Lebanese football player (Nejmeh, national team) and manager (Shabab Sahel), COVID-19.[53]
  • Stonewall Jackson, 89, American country singer ("Waterloo", "B.J. the D.J.", "I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water"), vascular dementia.[54]
  • Gertraud Jesserer, 77, Austrian actress (Eva, My Daughter and I, I Learned It from Father), house fire.[55]
  • Paul Lannoye, 82, Belgian politician, MEP (1989–2004).[56]
  • Boris Misnik, 83, Russian politician, Deputy (1995–2000).[57]
  • Pierre Rabhi, 83, Algerian-born French environmentalist.[58]
  • Konijeti Rosaiah, 88, Indian politician, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (2009–2010), Governor of Tamil Nadu (2011–2016) and Karnataka (2014).[59]

5

  • Peter Cundall, 94, English-born Australian horticulturalist and television host (Gardening Australia).[60]
  • Jean-Paul Didierlaurent, 59, French writer, cancer.[61]
  • Bob Dole, 98, American politician, member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1961–1969) and U.S. Senator from Kansas (1969–1996), 1996 presidential candidate, lung cancer.[62]
  • Aurelio Galfetti, 85, Swiss architect.[63]
  • Christine Haidegger, 79, Austrian writer.[64]
  • Stevan Jelovac, 32, Serbian basketball player (JuveCaserta, Brose Bamberg, CAI Zaragoza), problems caused by a cerebral hemorrhage.[65]
  • M. Sarada Menon, 98, Indian psychiatrist.[66]
  • Buddy Merrill, 85, American steel guitarist (The Lawrence Welk Show).[67]
  • John Miles, 72, British singer-songwriter and musician ("Music").[68]
  • Bunu Sheriff Musa, 74, Nigerian administrator and engineer.[69]
  • Mark Rudinstein, 75, Russian movie producer, actor and television presenter, founder of Kinotavr.[70]
  • Bill Staines, 74, American folk musician, prostate cancer.[71]
  • Jacques Tits, 91, Belgian-born French mathematician (Tits alternative, Tits group, Tits metric).[72]
  • Renato Turano, 79, Italian politician, Senator (2006–2008, 2013–2018).[73]
  • Demetrio Volcic, 90, Italian journalist (La Repubblica, TG1) and politician, MEP (1999–2004).[74]
  • Osamu Yatabe, 89, Japanese lawyer and politician, member of the House of Councillors (1974–1998).[75]

6

7

  • Carol Jenkins Barnett, 65, American businesswoman (Publix), problems caused by Alzheimer's disease.[93]
  • Mustafa Ben Halim, 100, Libyan politician, Prime Minister (1954–1957) and Minister of Foreign Affairs (1954–1956).[94]
  • Catherine Fournier, 66, French politician, Senator (since 2017).[95]
  • Pavel Hůla, 69, Czech classical violinist (Kocian Quartet, Pražák Quartet) and music educator.[96]
  • Yury Karabasov, 82, Russian academic and politician, member of the State Duma (2007–2011).[97]
  • Philippe Stevens, 84, Belgian Roman Catholic prelate, Bishop of Maroua-Makolo (1994–2014).[98]
  • Greg Tate, 64, American music critic (The Village Voice) and musician (Burnt Sugar), co-founder of the Black Rock Coalition.[99]

8

9

10

11

12

  • Eduardo Cavieres, 76, Chilean historian and academic.[150]
  • James P. Dugan, 92, American politician, member of the New Jersey Senate (1969–1977).[151]
  • Margareta Ekström, 91, Swedish writer and translator.[152]
  • Vicente Fernández, 81, Mexican singer-songwriter ("La Derrota", "Estos Celos", "El Último Beso") and actor, multiple Grammy Award winner, problems caused by a fall.[153]
  • Bernie Fowler, 97, American politician, member of the Maryland Senate (1983–1994).[154]
  • Roland Hemond, 92, American baseball executive (Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Arizona Diamondbacks).[155]
  • Maʻafu Tukuiʻaulahi, 65–66, Tongan noble and politician, MP (since 2008).[156]
  • Sir Paulias Matane, 90, Papua New Guinean politician, Governor-General (2004–2010).[157]
  • Daniel Nlandu Mayi, 68, Congolese Roman Catholic prelate, Auxiliary Bishop of Kinshasa (1999–2008) and Bishop of Matadi (2010–2021).[158]
  • Stanisław Nowak, 86, Polish Roman Catholic prelate, Archbishop of Częstochowa (1984–2011).[159]
  • Toddy O'Sullivan, 87, Irish politician, Lord Mayor of Cork (1980–1981) and TD (1981–1997).[160]
  • Jimmy Rave, 39, American professional wrestler (NWA Wildside, TNA, ROH).[161]
  • Silvia Sayago, 66, Argentine politician, Deputy (since 2021), multiple organ failure.[162]
  • Yury Sharov, 82, Russian fencer, Olympic champion (1964).[163]

13

  • Falco Accame, 96, Italian politician, Deputy (1976–1983).[164]
  • Kevin Billington, 87, British movie director (The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer, The Light at the Edge of the World, Interlude).[165]
  • Blackberri, 76, American singer-songwriter and community activist.[166]
  • Verónica Forqué, 66, Spanish actress (Bajarse al moro, Kika, What Have I Done to Deserve This?), suicide.[167]
  • Viktor Gnezdilov, 78, Russian politician, Mayor of Nakhodka (1987–2004).[168]
  • Harbans Kapoor, 75, Indian politician, member (since 1989) and Speaker (2007–2012) of the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly.[169]
  • Liam Kavanagh, 86, Irish politician, TD (1969–1997), MEP (1973–1981) and Minister for Labour (1981–1983).[170]
  • Charles R. Morris, 82, American writer (Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal) and banker, problems caused by dementia.[171]
  • Leszek Murzyn, 61, Polish politician, Deputy (2005–2007).[172]
  • Joe Simon, 85, American soul and R&B singer ("The Chokin' Kind", "Get Down, Get Down (Get on the Floor)", "Power of Love").[173]
  • Sergei Solovyov, 77, Russian movie director (Wild Pigeon, Assa, Black Rose Is an Emblem of Sorrow, Red Rose Is an Emblem of Love), screenwriter and producer.[174]
  • Józef Tejchma, 94, Polish politician, Deputy Prime Minister (1972–1976).[175]

14

  • Muamer Abdulrab, 39, Qatari footballer (Al-Sailiya, Al Kharaitiyat, national team).[176]
  • Giannalberto Bendazzi, 75, Italian animation historian, writer and academic.[177]
  • Božidar Bojović, 83, Montenegrin physician, endocrinologist, and politician, MP (1990–2005).[178]
  • Phil Chen, 80, Jamaican bassist (Manzarek–Krieger, Butts Band, Rod Stewart), cancer.[179]
  • Ken Kragen, 85, American music manager and producer ("We Are the World").[180]
  • Abraham Lunggana, 62, Indonesian businessman and politician, member of the Jakarta Regional People's Representative Council (2009–2018) and the DPR (2019–2021), heart attack.[181]
  • Tadeusz Ross, 83, Polish politician, MP (2007–2011) and MEP (2013–2014).[182]
  • Sonny Rhodes, 81, American blues singer and guitarist.[183]
  • Abd Al-Baqi Abd Karim Al-Sadun, 74, Iraqi military officer and politician.[184]
  • Rosita Sokou, 98, Greek journalist and playwright, COVID-19.[185]
  • Sandra Meira Starling, 77, Brazilian politician, Deputy (1991–1999).[186]

15

  • Nelly Commergnat, 78, French politician, Deputy (1981–1986).[187]
  • Ernst Fivian, 90, Swiss gymnast, Olympic silver medalist (1952).[188]
  • Bridget Hanley, 80, American actress (Here Come the Brides, Harper Valley PTA), problems caused by Alzheimer's disease.[189]
  • bell hooks, 69, American feminist writer (Ain't I a Woman?, Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center, All About Love: New Visions), kidney failure.[190]
  • Hub, 62, American bass guitarist (The Roots), multiple myeloma.[191]
  • Kim Yong-ju, 101, North Korean politician, Head of the Organization and Guidance Department (1959–1974), Vice Premier (1974–1975) and Vice President (1993–1997).[192] (death announced on this date)
  • Hans Küppers, 82, German footballer (TSV 1860 Munich, 1. FC Nürnberg, national team).[193]
  • Günter Lach, 67, German politician, member of the Bundestag (2009–2017).[194]
  • Adam Łomnicki, 86, Polish evolutionary biologist.[195]
  • Marcel Meys, 112, French supercentenarian, nation's oldest male living person, COVID-19.[196] (death announced on this date)
  • Fernando Ospina Hernández, 92, Colombian engineer and politician, Deputy (1982–1986).[197]
  • Rogério Samora, 63, Portuguese actor (Solidão, Uma Linda História de Amor, April Captains, Eccentricities of a Blonde-Haired Girl), problems caused by cardiac arrest.[198]
  • Varun Singh, 39, Indian Air Force group captain, cardiac arrest caused by an air crash.[199]
  • Marilee Stepan, 86, American swimmer, Olympic bronze medalist (1952).[200]
  • Fayez Tarawneh, 72, Jordanian politician, Prime Minister (1998–1999, 2012).[201]

16

  • Valentino Bellucci, 46, Italian philosopher, sociologist, and writer.[202]
  • Pavle Dešpalj, 87, Croatian composer and conductor.[203]
  • George Gekas, 91, American politician and lawyer, member of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 17th congressional district (1983–2003).[204]
  • Lucía Hiriart, 99, Chilean socialite, First Lady (1974–1990), cardiopulmonary arrest caused by heart disease.[205]
  • Hiroshi Kuwashima, 89, Japanese politician, Mayor of Morioka (1995–2003).[206]
  • Taniela Moa, 36, Tongan rugby union player (Auckland, Section Paloise, national team).[207]
  • Duma Nkosi, 64, South African politician, MP (1994–2001) and Mayor of Ekurhuleni (2001–2008).[208]
  • Trevor Pinch, 69, British sociologist, cancer.[209]
  • Edith Prague, 96, American politician, member of the Connecticut House of Representatives (1982–1990) and State Senate (1994–2012).[210]
  • Bob Speller, 65, Canadian politician, MP (1988–2004) and Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food (2003–2004).[211]
  • Ben Tollefson, 94, American politician, member of the North Dakota House of Representatives (1985–2000) and State Senate (2000–2008).[212]
  • Terry Uttley, 70, British rock bass guitarist (Smokie).[213]
  • Wanda Young, 78, American pop singer (The Marvelettes) and dancer.[214] (death announced on this date)

17

  • Doug Ericksen, 52, American politician, member of the Washington House of Representatives (1999–2011) and State Senate (since 2011), COVID-19.[215]
  • José Pablo Feinmann, 78, Argentine philosopher, writer (Últimos días de la víctima) and playwright (Eva Perón: The True Story, Ay Juancito), problems caused by a stroke.[216]
  • José Fernández Arteaga, 88, Mexican Roman Catholic prelate, Bishop of Apatzingán (1974–1980) and Colima (1980–1988) and Archbishop of Chihuahua (1991–2009).[217]
  • Dah Sagbadjou Glele, Beninese religious leader.[218]
  • Herb Guenther, 80, American politician, member of the Arizona House of Representatives (1987–1993) and State Senate (1999–2003).[219]
  • R. L. Jalappa, 96, Indian politician, Minister of Textiles (1996–1998) and MP (1996–2009).[220]
  • John Morgan, 80, English drummer (The Wurzels), COVID-19.[221]
  • Árpád Pusztai, 91, Hungarian-born British biochemist and nutritionist (Pusztai affair).[222]
  • Yurii Reshetnyak, 92, Russian mathematician and academician.[223]
  • Dimitrios Stefanakos, 85, Greek footballer (Asteras Exarchion, Olympiacos, national team).[224]

18

19

20

21

  • Kurt Edler, 71, German politician, member of the Hamburg Parliament (1985–1986, 1993–1997).[260] (death announced on this date)
  • Sir Carlyle Glean, 89, Grenadian politician, Governor-General (2008–2013).[261]
  • Ian Matos, 32, Brazilian Olympic diver (2016), lung infection.[262]
  • George Sheltz, 75, American Roman Catholic prelate, Auxiliary Bishop of Galveston-Houston (2012–2021).[263]

22

  • Richard Conway, 79, English visual effects artist (The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Brazil, Sunshine).[264]
  • Antonio Falconio, 83, Italian politician, Deputy (1979–1983), President of Abruzzo (1995–2000).[265]
  • Lester E. Fisher, 100, American zoologist, Director of Lincoln Park Zoo (1962–1992).[266]
  • Egill Skúli Ingibergsson, 95, Icelandic politician, Mayor of Reykjavík (1978–1982).[267]
  • George Keiser, 75, American politician, member of the North Dakota House of Representatives (since 1992), problems caused by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.[268]
  • Bob Keselowski, 70, American stock car racing driver (NASCAR), cancer.[269]
  • Frédéric Manns, 79, French biblist.[270]
  • Poh Lip Meng, 52, Singaporean sport shooter.[271]
  • Barbara Shaw, 79, American politician, member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives (since 2010), problems caused by surgery.[272]
  • Franklin A. Thomas, 87, American community developer and philanthropist, President and CEO of the Ford Foundation (1979–1996).[273]
  • P. T. Thomas, 71, Indian politician, MP (2009–2014), stomach cancer.[274]
  • Gilberto Valbuena Sánchez, 92, Mexican Roman Catholic prelate, Bishop of Colima (1989–2005).[275]
  • Dmitry Zimin, 88, Russian radio scientist and businessman, founder of VimpelCom.[276]

23

  • Ted Byfield, 93, Canadian journalist and publisher, founder of Alberta Report and BC Report.[277]
  • Chris Dickerson, 82, American bodybuilder, Mr. Olympia winner (1982).[278]
  • Joan Didion, 87, American writer (Run, River, Slouching Towards Bethlehem, The Year of Magical Thinking), problems caused by Parkinson's disease.[279]
  • Roberto Gerlein Echeverría, 83, Colombian politician, Deputy (1968–1974), Senator (1976–2018) and Minister of Economic Development (1982–1983), problems caused by a urinary tract infection.[280]
  • Grace Mirabella, 91, American magazine editor, editor-in-chief of Vogue (1971–1988) and founder of Mirabella.[281]
  • Bartolomeo Pepe, 59, Italian politician, Senator (2013–2018), COVID-19.[282]
  • Omar Saavedra Santis, 77, Chilean writer.[283]
  • Stanley M. Truhlsen, 101, American ophtalmologist.[284]
  • Louie L. Wainwright, 98, American politician, respondent of Gideon v. Wainwright case, Secretary of the Florida Division of Corrections (1962–1987).[285]

24

25

26

27

  • April Ashley, 86, English model, actress (The Road to Hong Kong), and writer, one of the first people to have sex reassignment surgery.[313]
  • Andreas Behm, 59, German weightlifter, Olympic bronze medalist (1992), heart attack.[314]
  • Keri Hulme, 74, New Zealand novelist (The Bone People) and poet, Booker Prize winner (1985), problems caused by dementia.[315]
  • Peter Pike, 84, British politician, MP (1983–2005).[316]
  • Robert Preston, 92, American politician, member of the New Hampshire Senate (1964–1966, 1972–1990).[317]
  • Andrew Vachss, 79, American crime fiction writer (Strega, Batman: The Ultimate Evil) and lawyer.[318]
  • Chaim Walder, 52, Israeli rabbi and author, suicide.[319]
  • Myrna Williams, 92, American politician, member of the Nevada Assembly (1985–1993) and Clark County commissioner (1995–2007).[320]

28

29

30

31

  • Gaber Asfour, 77, Egyptian academic and politician, Minister of Culture (2011, 2014–2015).[355]
  • Fred Cone, 95, American football player (Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys), problems caused by hip surgery.[356]
  • Stephen Hartgen, 77, American politician and news editor (Times-News), member of the Idaho House of Representatives (2008–2018).[357]
  • Hteik Su Phaya Gyi, 98, Burmese royal.[358]
  • Gábor Kállai, 62, Hungarian chess grandmaster.[359]
  • Luigi Negri, 80, Italian Roman Catholic prelate, theologian and academic, Bishop of San Marino-Montefeltro (2005–2012) and Archbishop of Ferrara-Comacchio (2012–2017).[360]
  • Billy Turner, 81, American horse trainer (Seattle Slew), Triple Crown winner (1977), cancer.[361]
  • Betty White, 99, American actress (The Golden Girls, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Hot in Cleveland), five-time Emmy winner, problems caused by a stroke.[362]

Months

Related pages

References

Other websites

Preceded by
Deaths in 2020
Deaths by yearSucceeded by
Deaths in 2022