People We Said Goodbye To In 2012…

As with each passing year, there are people we all know or at least feel as if we know them…celebrities and others of notoriety in the spotlight for either their fame or infamy…are lost to us. The last year saw many notables pass on.

Following is a partial list of those we lost in 2012, in no specific order.

From the military/government:

General Norman Schwarzkopf, a name that became a household word during the Gulf War in the early 1990s, died at age 78.

Two of our NASA astronauts—Neil Armstrong, first man on the moon died at age 82…and Sally Ride, first American woman in space died at age 61.

From the publishing world:

Ray Bradbury, science fiction author died at age 91.

Helen Gurley Brown, head of Cosmopolitan magazine died at age 90.

From the music world:

Robin Gibb, one of the three Gibb brothers who were the BeeGees died at the age of 62.

Donna Summer, dubbed the Queen Of Disco died at the age of 63.

Davy Jones, one of the musical group the Monkees whose career goes back to the London stage where he was the original Artful Dodger in the musical Oliver died at the age of 66.

Whitney Houston, her powerful voice produced hit songs (my personal favorite being the Dolly Parton written song I Will Always Love You that Whitney sang in her movie The Bodyguard) and also provided her with several movie roles died at the age of 48.

Andy Williams, the iconic performer whose career spanned many decades died at the age of 84.

Marvin Hamlisch, composer of such hit songs as Barbra Streisand's recording of The Way We Were and the colossal long-running Broadway musical hit of A Chorus Line died at the age of 68.

Dave Brubeck, a giant in jazz field died at the age of 91.

Dick Clark, definitely known for his many innovations with popular music and his unofficial title for decades as the World's Oldest Teenager as well as his New Year's Eve show every year from Time's Square in New York City died at the age of 82.

From that world that spans news and television:

Mike Wallace, long time correspondent for 60 Minutes died at the age of 93.

And finally from the world of television and movies:

Michael Clark Duncan, actor whose riveting performance opposite Tom Hanks electrified The Green Mile died at the age of 54.

Phyllis Diller, comedienne and actress whose recent appearances included the voice of Peter's mother on Family Guy died at the age of 95.

William Windom, Emmy award winning actor for My World And Welcome To It and probably best remembered for his portrayal of Dr. Seth Hazlett on Angela Lansbury's series Murder, She Wrote died at the age of 88.

Sherman Hemsley, best known for his role as George Jefferson on All In The Family and the spin off to his own series of The Jeffersons died at the age of 74.

Ernest Borgnine, academy award best actor winner for his role in Marty, but probably better known today for his starring role in television's McHale's Navy died at age 95.

Charles Durning, immediately recognizable long time character actor in movies and television died at the age of 89.

Jack Klugman, actor known for both his television roles of Oscar on The Odd Couple and his role as the doctor on the pioneering forensics television series Quincy died at the age of 90.

Ron Palillo and Robert Hegyes were both sweathogs on Welcome Back, Kotter, Ron who portrayed Horshack died at 63 and Robert who portrayed Epstein died at the age of 60.

Richard Dawson, British comedian and actor best known for his role as Newkirk on Hogan's Heroes and as host of the game show Family Feud died at age 79.

Larry Hagman, noted for his starring role in I Dream Of Jeanie but best remembered as J.R. Ewing in Dallas and also his reprise of the role in the current remake of Dallas died at the age of 81.

Andy Griffith, well-known as Sheriff Andy Taylor of Mayberry in The Andy Griffith Show and later as the crafty southern lawyer on Matlock died at the age of 86.

As I said, this is only a partial list, a cross-section of those we lost in 2012.