2017 Obituaries Thread

[Mr. Weatherman]

As far as I'm concerned, no celebrity deaths have occurred to this point in 2017. Let's hope it's a better year for the famous among us than 2016 was.

While it is not a hard and fast rule, please try to keep the OBITs mentioned to people at least somewhat related to the forum at large and the topics discussed therein. Thanks!

This.

[PatrickRox80]

Let's hope it's a better year for the famous among us than 2016 was.

This is just me but I don't think it's fair to give one entire year a bad rap just because some famous people died. There's way too much unneeded negativity for 2016 because of it.

[thepriceis_J]

This is just me but I don't think it's fair to give one entire year a bad rap just because some famous people died. There's way too much unneeded negativity for 2016 because of it.

It's not fair, but it isn't unjustified either, and I don't think anyone should crap all over 2016 because of the deaths. But I've looked back on recent years and when it comes to celebrity deaths this was certainly one of the worst. Every year has big notable deaths, but 2016 was marked by more than a few legends losing their life and rather unexpectedly. It was also marked by a steady consistency, especially in the 2nd half of the year. Even comparing Decembers, it's not even close. So yeah, in recent memory, 2016 was one of the deadliest years (not "the" deadliest) for celebrities. Does that mean the year was bad? No. It just means that it'll stick in memory for those we lost.

Also, unrelated to Patrick's comment, people will continue to die. Death isn't beholden to a year. I know this and plenty know this. We don't need to be told like children that people will keep dying. No one is truly blaming the deaths on the year. The number of deaths during 2016 was nothing more than coincidence and most understand this. That's doesn't mean, however, that people can't take note of the coincidence.

[Mr. Weatherman]

This is just me but I don't think it's fair to give one entire year a bad rap just because some famous people died. There's way too much unneeded negativity for 2016 because of it.

I...wasn't giving 2016 a bad rap. I just simply noted, if vaguely, that there was a seemingly large number of celebrity deaths than usual and that it's a trend I hope doesn't continue into this year.

At least for me personally, 2016 was a phenomenal year.

[Ccook]

Was for me as well. My niece gave birth to a boy in February and I had surgery to correct mitral valve prolapse that my heart specialist said virtually saved me from congestive heart failure.

[Torgo]

I see we've turned the obituaries thread into an off-topic mess.

Don't do it again.

[Briguy]

I have the first obit of someone whose name you might not be familiar with, but whose work millions of people do, and continue to do through reruns on CMT and the RFD Network, among others.

Sam Louvillo, the creator of the country music-centric comedy series "Hee Haw," which brought country music into our homes from 1969-1992 in first-run episodes and since then in reruns, passed away Jan. 5, at the age of 88.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/hee-haw-co-creator-and-producer-sam-lovullo-passes-away/articleshow/56369125.cms?from=mdr

According to the Associated Press, Louvillo had worked on "The Jonathan Winters Show" with two other writers, and noted how much better the show's ratings did when country music artists were guests. They came up with an idea, it debuted on CBS in 1969, landed in syndication two years later ... and the rest, as they say, is history.

Brian

[Plinkoman]

Sad day in the world of rodeo. A 25 year old bull rider from Canada, Ty Pozzobon, passed away suddenly. He was one of the PBR's top bull riders for several years. I have had the privilege of meeting him on several occasions. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

http://cfjctoday.com/article/554945/merritt-bullrider-ty-pozzobon-dies-age-25

[CheckGameMeBob]

William Peter Blatty, the author of The Exorcist (one of the greatest stories of horror fiction ever written) has passed away at the age of 89.

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-38613928

[plinko2000]

Dick Gautier has died

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/dick-gautier-dead-get-smart-actor-was-85-964369

[wpghi5]

Dick Gautier has died

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/dick-gautier-dead-get-smart-actor-was-85-964369

RIP Dick Gautier. 

[Briguy]

Legendary WWE wrestler Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka has died at age 73. He was one of the first of the legendary high-flyers, known for his daring leaps off the top rope ... and more often than not off the top of a 15-foot high steel cage. His most famous moments came within a six-month timeframe: The second of those two 15-foot leaps off a steel cage onto a prone wrestler (this one being the Magnificent Muraco, shortly after Snuka lost the match (he dragged Muraco back into the cage to beat him up some more before his famous leap); and the famous "Piper's Pit" segment where "Rowdy" Roddy Piper insulted Snuka before smashing a coconut in his face.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2017/01/15/wwe-hall-of-famer-jimmy-superfly-snuka-dead-cancer/96617202/

Brian

[Superballer]

And so the Superfly leaves with the cloud over his then girlfriend's death likely never to dissipate.  Although to live like that, partially stuck out of reality, could well be considered punishment in itself (and let it be said he paid the price in the ring too, given he was essentially buried as cannon fodder during his second WWF run in the late 80s-early 90s, most notably as the Undertaker's very first WrestleMania victim).  Still, there's no denying that at his peak in the early 80s, Snuka was a thrill to watch, notably as mention above the mega-splash of Muraco off the top of the cage, which was a direct inspiration for Mick Foley to enter the sport. 

[Hag]

He had great entrance music as well. RIP.

[Superballer]

Gene Cernan, commander of Apollo 17, and thus the last man to date to set foot on the moon, passed on at age 82: 

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/eugene-cernan-last-man-to-walk-on-the-moon-dead-at-82/ar-AAlVhOv?li=BBmkt5R&ocid=spartandhp