obituaries

Alex Salmond, former Scottish first minister who nearly got Scotland’s independence from UK, dies at 69

By Pan Pylas, Associated Press

Salmond, who was one of the most divisive figure in British politics at the turn of the century and who as the then-leader of the Scottish National Party took Scotland to the brink of independence in the 2014 referendum, died…

Ethel Kennedy, social activist and Kennedy matriarch, dies at 96

By Michael Casey, Steve LeBlanc, Associated Press

The wife of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy who raised their 11 children after he was assassinated and remained dedicated to social causes and the family’s legacy for decades thereafter, died on Thursday, her family said.

Business titan Ratan Tata, former leader of Indian conglomerate Tata Group, dies at age 86

By Ashok Sharma, Associated Press

Tata Group is a sprawling collection of nearly 100 companies, including the country’s largest automaker, the largest private steel company and a leading outsourcing firm.

John Amos, iconic screen actor from ‘Good Times’ to ‘Roots’ to ‘The West Wing,’ dies at 84

By Beth Harris, Associated Press

“Many fans consider him their TV father,” his son Kelly Christopher Amos said in a statement.

Pete Rose, baseball phenom who was banned for gambling, dies at 83

By Hillel Italie, Associated Press

Rose was baseball’s career hits leader and fallen idol who undermined his historic achievements and Hall of Fame dreams by gambling on the game he loved and once embodied.

Tony winner Gavin Creel dies of rare cancer at 48

By Mark Kennedy, Associated Press

Creel, a Broadway musical theater veteran who won a Tony Award for “Hello, Dolly!” opposite Bette Midler and earned nominations for “Hair” and “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” died Monday.

How Barbra Streisand, Dolly Parton and Martin Scorsese are paying tribute to Kris Kristofferson

By Associated Press

The singer-songwriter and actor died Saturday at his home in Hawaii surrounded by family at age 88.

Dikembe Mutombo, Hall of Fame NBA player and ambassador for the sport, dies at 58 from brain cancer

By Tim Reynolds, Associated Press

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid, who was born in Cameroon, says "it's a sad day, especially for us Africans, and really the whole world."…

Kris Kristofferson, prolific songwriter and superstar actor, dies at 88

By Andrew Dalton, Kristin M. Hall, Associated Press

With his long hair and bell-bottomed slacks, he represented a new breed of country songwriters with his peers like Willie Nelson, John Prine and Tom T. Hall.

Tito Jackson, member of Jackson 5 and Rock Hall of Famer, dies at 70

By Brian P. D. Hannon, Associated Press

Jackson was the third of nine children, including global superstars Michael and Janet, and was part of a music-making family whose songs have sold hundreds of millions of copies.