Ventriglia, Franco
Music
Age 90
October 20, 1922 - November 28, 2012
Oak Lawn Cemetery / Fairfield / Connecticut / USA / North America
Franco Ventriglia was an opera singer who sang bass in every major European opera house during the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Serving in the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in the South Pacific during World War II upon return stateside Fra...
Wilde, Oscar
Writers and Poets
Age 46
October 16, 1854 - November 30, 1900
Cimetière du Père Lachaise / Paris / France / Europe
Oscar Wilde was an Irish poet and playwright known for his biting wit, flamboyant dress and glittering conversational skill. Wilde became one of the best-known personalities of his day. Undeniably brilliant, the author, playwright...
Ashe, Arthur
Sports
Age 49
July 10, 1943 - February 6, 1993
Woodland Cemetery / Richmond / Virginia / USA / North America
Arthur Ashe was an American professional tennis player. He won three Grand Slam titles in singles and two in doubles and was the first Black player selected to the United States Davis Cup team, and the only Black man ever to win t...
Kennedy, Rosemary
Historical Figure
Age 86
September 13, 1918 - January 7, 2005
Holyhood Cemetery / Chestnut Hill / Massachusetts / USA / North America
Rosemary Kennedy was the third child and eldest daughter of Joseph and Rose Kennedy and her brothers included future president John F. Kennedy. She was slower to crawl, slower to walk and to speak than her brothers and she reporte...
Monk, Thelonious
Music
Age 64
October 10, 1917 - February 17, 1982
Ferncliff Cemetery / Hartsdale / New York / USA / North America
Thelonious Monk was American jazz pianist and composer. He had a unique improvisational style and was greatly influential in the genre of jazz. Some of his best known work includes "'Round Midnight", "Blue Monk", "Straight, No Cha...
Shelley, Mary
Writers and Poets
Age 53
August 30, 1797 - February 1, 1851
St Peter's Church, Bournemouth / Bournemouth / Dorset / United Kingdom / North America
Mary Shelley was an English novelist who wrote the Gothic novel Frankenstein (also called The Modern Prometheus 1818), which is considered an early example of science fiction. She also edited and promoted the works of her husband,...
Mason, James
Show Business
Age 75
May 15, 1909 - July 27, 1984
Cimetière de Corsier-sur-Vevey / Corsier-sur-Vevey, Vaud / Switzerland / Europe
James Mason was one of the greatest actors of his generation. The British-born actor noted for portraying suave and cerebral aristocrats and scoundrels in more than 100 films over nearly half a century. He achieved considerable s...
Lewis, C.S.
Writers and Poets
Age 64
November 29, 1898 - November 22, 1963
Holy Trinity Church, Headington Quarry / Headington, Oxford / United Kingdom / Europe
C.S. Lewis is best known for his beloved fiction novels, notably The Chronicles of Narnia, The Screwtape Letters, and The Space Trilogy. He is also known for his popular works of non-fiction Christian apologetics, including Mere C...
Ray, Johnnie
Music
Age 63
January 10, 1927 - February 24, 1990
Hopewell Cemetery / Dayton / Oregon / USA / North America
In the early 1950s, Johnnie Ray was arguably the biggest musical star in the world. His emotional singing and sexually suggestive performances earned him the titles "The Prince of Wails," "The Cry Guy," and "The Million Dollar Tea...
Genna, Tony
Crime and their Victims
Age 34
July 12, 1890 - July 8, 1925
Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery / Hillside / Illinois / USA / North America
Before becoming a gangster, Tony Genna was an excellent building contractor and architect. But the lure of working with his family, The Terrible Genna Brothers, in the lucrative bootlegging business during Prohibition was too much...
Winchester, Sarah
Business and Finance
Age 83
September 1, 1839 - September 5, 1922
Evergreen Cemetery / New Haven / Connecticut / USA / North America
Sarah Winchester was an American heiress who amassed great wealth after the death of her husband, William Wirt Winchester (son of Winchester Repeating Arms Company founder Oliver Winchester). Her inheritance included $20 million (...
Blackwell, Richard
Show Business
Age 86
August 29, 1922 - October 19, 2008
Hollywood Forever Cemetery / Los Angeles / California / USA / North America
Mr. Blackwell, whose first name was Richard, was a little-known dress designer when he issued his first tongue-in-cheek criticism of Hollywood fashion disasters for 1960 – long before Joan Rivers and others turned such ridicule ...
Prima, Louis
Music
Age 67
December 7, 1910 - August 24, 1978
Metairie Cemetery / New Orleans / Louisiana / USA / North America
Proud son of Italian immigrants and a talented band leader, trumpter, composer and singer Louis Prima developed his talent earning the title "King of the Vegas Lounges" and "The Wildest Act in Las Vegas." With poker-faced Keely Sm...
Valvano, Jim
Sports
Age 47
March 10, 1946 - April 28, 1993
Oakwood Cemetery / Raleigh / North Carolina / USA / North America
Nicknamed Jimmy V, Jim Valvano was a successful college basketball player, coach, and sports broadcaster. Valvano had a successful coaching career with multiple schools, culminating at North Carolina State University. While the he...
Arlen, Harold
Music
Age 81
February 15, 1905 - April 23, 1986
Ferncliff Cemetery / Hartsdale / New York / USA / North America
Harold Arlen was an American composer writing over 500 songs, several known worldwide. Arlen is a highly regarded contributor to the Great American Songbook. Some of his best known work includes "Over the Rainbow", "Stormy Weather...