fb-pixelObituaries - The Boston Globe Skip to main content

Singer Connie Francis, whose hits included ‘Who’s Sorry Now?’ and ‘Pretty Little Baby,’ dies at 87

Francis, who was a top performer of the pre-Beatles era and rarely off the charts from 1957-64, leaves behind a legacy of hits.

Thornton Willis, who brought emotion to geometric painting, dies at 89
Mr. Willis patiently excavated the problems and possibilities of the painted surface in terms of color, texture, process, and space.

Steve Benson, provocative editorial cartoonist, dies at 71

Mr. Benson earned the 1993 Pulitzer in editorial cartooning.

Martin Cruz Smith, best-selling author of ‘Gorky Park,’ dies at 82

For many readers, Mr. Smith’s signature achievement was the way he conjured Russian society on the page.

Andrea Gibson, spoken-word artist who poignantly wrote about gender and a terminal diagnosis, dies at 49
“Andrea was truly a rock star poet,” comedian and writer Tig Notaro wrote on Instagram.

Fauja Singh, master runner at an advanced age, is dead
"It made me more disciplined to stick to a routine," he said of his running and his fame. "I could forget my problems and remain happy and avoid negativity.”

John MacArthur, firebrand preacher and culture warrior, dies at 86
His dogged emphasis on expository preaching -- narrowly focused on the meaning and historical context of a particular piece of Scripture -- influenced thousands of conservative Protestant pastors.

Andrew Kassoy, 55, dies; saw capitalism as a force for social good
From a background that ranged from working on a Native American reservation in South Dakota to a career in private equity, Mr. Kassoy searched for ways to leverage capitalism to “benefit society and not just a few shareholders.”

More Obituaries Headlines

Paulette Jiles, acclaimed author of ‘News of the World,’ dies at 82

The works by Ms. Jiles include prizewinning poetry and richly told novels following the lives of those on the old American frontier.

Nigeria’s ex-president Buhari, twice leader of Africa’s most populous nation, dies aged 82

When Muhammadu Buhari was elected in 2015, on his fourth attempt, he became the first opposition candidate to win a presidential election.

David Gergen, Washington veteran who advised four presidents, has died

Gergen, an inside-the-Beltway veteran who helped shape the public images of four presidents, mostly Republicans, died Thursday in Lexington.

Paul Libin, a forceful presence on and off-Broadway, dies at 94

Paul Libin, a prolific producer and respected Broadway theater executive whose first major endeavor was an off-Broadway revival of Arthur Miller's play "The Crucible" that he staged in the ballroom of a New York City hotel in 1958, died June 27 in New York City. He was 94.

Baseball

Lee Elia, former major league manager known for his profane rant, dies at 87

He managing the Cubs in 1983 when he famously criticized the team’s fans in a memorable postgame tirade.

Henry Mount Charles, whose castle was a mecca for rock, dies at 74

In 1976, Henry Mount Charles was 25 and living happily in London when his father summoned him home to Ireland to save the family castle from bankruptcy.

Baseball

Natick’s Joe Coleman, the No. 3 pick in the inaugural amateur draft in 1965, dies at 78

The son and father of major leaguers, Coleman became the No. 3 pick in baseball’s inaugural amateur draft in 1965 when he was selected by the Washington Senators.

Ivar Giaever, Nobel recipient in quantum physics, dies

Dr. Giaever developed an experiment that provided proof of a central idea in quantum physics -- that subatomic particles can behave like powerful waves.