August 2011 Notable Deaths

August 2011 Notable Deaths

August 2011 Notable Deaths. In August we said farewell to many noteworthy individuals, including a controversial reality show husband and a concentration camp survivor. Read on to learn more about them and the others who passed away this month.

August in memoriam, Russell Armstrong, Rudolf Brazda

Stetson Kennedy August 2011 Notable Deaths

1916-2011

A human rights activist, Stetson Kennedy is best known for infiltrating a well-known racist group and authoring a book about what he witnessed. Kennedy's legacy is also left behind in the folklore group he founded.

Klu Klux Klan, Florida Folklore Society, Jacksonville, Florida, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

Esther Gordy Edwards August 2011 Notable Deaths

1920-2011

Edwards transformed an old recording studio into a museum as a way of preserving the Motown sound. Edwards' nickname says it all about how much she meant to the Motown music community.

Georgia, United States, Hitsville USA, Esther Gordy Edwards "Pillar of Motown", Howard University, Smokey Robinson

Nick Ashford August 2011 Notable Deaths

1942-2011

With his wife, Nick Ashford wrote and produced several hit songs, including this Marvin Gaye hit. Ashford and his wife were also successful as performers themselves and had a hit with their song "Solid".

Valerie Simpson, aint no mountain high enough, Ashford and Simpson Solid, White Rock Baptist Church Harlem, New York, "I'm Every Woman"

Michael Showers August 2011 Notable Deaths

1966-2011

Known for his role in a hit HBO show and for his appearances in "Breaking Bad, " "I Love You Phillip Morris" and a vampire TV show, Michael Showers' untimely death shocked fans of his work.

Treme, Breaking Bad, The Vampire Diaries, Michael Showers found dead,

Mike Flanagan August 2011 Notable Deaths

1951-2011

A star baseball player for this team from the' 70s through the early '90s, Flanagan was known for his incredible talent as well as for his quick wit.

pitcher (baseball), Baltimore Orioles, Cy Young award, Remembering Mike Flanagan, the funniest man in baseball, Mike Flanagan, daughter fourth test tube baby, 1983 baseball World Series

Jerry Leiber August 2011 Notable Deaths

1933-2011

With his songwriting partner, Jerry Leiber wrote many rock ''n' roll hits, including "Stand by Me" and this classic Elvis Presley song. Leiber was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1985 and has his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Contestants on this TV show performed his songs for one episode.

Mike Stoller, Stand By Me song, Jailhouse Rock, American Idol, American Idol Leiber and Stoller, Jerry Leiber lyricist, Yakety Yak (song)

Scotty Robertson August 2011 Notable Deaths

1930-2011

Throughout his life as an NBA coach, Robertson head-coached the New Orleans Jazz, the Chicago Bulls and the Detroit Pistons. He went on to be assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns, the Miami Heat, the Indiana Pacers and this Texas team.

NBA, Utah Jazz, Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat, Indiana Pacers, San Antonio Spurs,baseball, Louisiana Tech

Pete Pihos August 2011 Notable Deaths

1923-2011

A native of this holiday destination, Pihos was an All-American football player at this university. Pihos went on to play in the NFL for this team from 1947 to 1955. Pihos died from this degenerative disease, which was the focus of a documentary film produced by his daughter.

alzheimer's disease, Dear Dad by Melissa Pihos, Pete Pihos receiver, Pete Pihos The Golden Greek

Russell Armstrong August 2011 Notable Deaths

1964-2011

Russell Armstrong was an investment banker and venture capitalist in this California city. He is known for being the estranged husband of a reality show cast member, and he appeared on the Bravo show several times.

Taylor Armstrong, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, housewives re edit, Jill Zarin tweets about Russell Armstrong

Albert Brown August 2011 Notable Deaths

1905-2011

Albert Brown was the oldest survivor of the Bataan Death March. A former dentist, Brown and 78,000 other prisoners of war were forced to walk for dozens of miles, a trek that killed more than 11,000. During the war, Brown also survived malaria, dengue fever and a broken neck.

Bataan Death March, Albert Brown 105, Bataan Death March 65 miles, "Doc Brown" Albert Brown, Creighton University, Omaha

Ernie Johnson August 2011 Notable Deaths

1924-2011

Ernie Johnson was a Major League Baseball player in the '40s and '50s. He played for the Boston Braves, the Milwaukee Braves and the Baltimore Orioles. Johnson later became a commentator for the Atlanta Braves, working with his son.

ernie johnson pitcher, Current video game, Canada Day Photo Contest, 1957 World Series, Vermont, United States

Zachery Tims August 2011 Notable Deaths

1969-2011

A co-pastor of this church and a televangelist commonly appearing on this TV program, Zachery Tims died nearly four years after he publicly asked for forgiveness for his extramarital affairs.

New Destiny Christian Center, Praise the Lord, Maranatha Bible College, Trinity Broadcasting Network

Jani Lane August 2011 Notable Deaths

1964-2011

The lead singer of -glam band Warrant, Jani Lane wrote six top 40 singles. Lane was also a cast member on this reality show.

Celebrity Fit Club, Jani Lane, John Kennedy Oswald,

Ray Anderson August 2011 Notable Deaths

1934-2011

Ray Anderson was a successful entrepreneur and the founder of Interface. He was also known as an outspoken advocate for industrial sustainability.

Interface Inc. Georgia Institute of Technology, The Ecology of Commerce by Paul Hawken

Mike Barrett August 2011 Notable Deaths

1943-2011

Mike Barrett was a basketball player for the 1968 U.S. Olympic basketball team. He also played professionally for this basketball organization.

1968 Olympic Basketball Team won Gold, American Basketball Association, Mike Barrett 6-foot-2, Mexico City, Mexico

Mark Hatfield August 2011 Notable Deaths

1922-2011

Mark Hatfield was a prominent politician in Oregon, serving 30 years as a U.S. senator and later elected Oregon's secretary of state and then governor. Several Oregon buildings that have been named in his honor, including the Mark O. Hatfield Library at his alma mater university and the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse in this "Rose City."

Oregon, United States, Mark O. Hatfield Library , Willamette University, Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse, Portland, Oregon, Vietnam War, "St. Mark" Mark Hatfield

Charles Wyly August 2011 Notable Deaths

1933-2011

With his brother, Charles Wyly founded Michaels Stores. Wyly is also known for his large contributions to public art projects in this Texas town.

Sam Wyly, Michaels Stores, Michaels Stores, Dallas, Texas, +Louisiana Tech University, Charles Wyly net worth 1 Billion

Hugh Carey August 2011 Notable Deaths

1919-2011

Hugh Carey was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 13 years before he was elected this state's 51st governor. In addition to his work as a politician, Carey was an attorney who earned his law degree from this university.

+St. John's University,

Nancy Wake August 2011 Notable Deaths

1912-2011

A British agent during this war, Nancy Wake was a highly decorated servicewoman in the Allied forces and was given the United States Medal of Freedom as well as several other awards from Britain, Australia, France and her home country.

United States Medal of Freedom, The White Mouse Nancy Wake

Bernadine Healy August 2011 Notable Deaths

1944-2011

Bernadine Healy was a well-known figure in the fields of health and medicine. She served as the head of the National Institutes of Health as well as the president of this humanitarian organization.

National Institutes of Health, American Red Cross, US News and World Report

Fred Imus August 2011 Notable Deaths

1942-2011

The brother of a well-known radio figure, Fred Imus was himself a radio talk show host as well as a songwriter and classic car enthusiast. Imus broadcast his radio show from his trailer in this Southeastern U.S. city.

Trailer Park Bash, +Frederic Moore Imus

Francesco Quinn August 2011 Notable Deaths

1963-2011

Known for his breakthrough role in this Academy Award-winning film and as the son of this actor, Francesco Quinn was also an adventure sports fan and spoke four languages.

Francesco Quinn English, French, Spanish and Italian.Into the West (2005)

Rudolf Brazda August 2011 Notable Deaths

1931-2011

Rudolf Brazda was the last known concentration camp survivor who was interned for being gay.

Rudolf Brazda hid in Pig Shed

Bubba Smith August 2011 Notable Deaths

1945-2011

Not only was Bubba Smith known for being an NFL football player, but he also gained fame as an actor, starring in a popular police comedy film series and beer commercials.

bubba smith miller lite, Charles Aaron Smith, Moses Hightower

Annette Charles August 2011 Notable Deaths

1948-2011

A fan favorite from the movie "Grease," Annette Charles played Cha-Cha, the flirtatious dancing beauty who hung with the rival crowd. Charles went on to teach at a California university.

Cha-Cha Digregorio Grease, California State University, Northridge, Charlene "Cha-Cha" DiGregorio, Speech

Leslie Esdaile Banks August 2011 Notable Deaths

1959-2011

Leslie Esdaile Banks was a prolific author who wrote in a range of genres, from African-American literature to crime and romance. She won many awards throughout her career, including this honor in 2008.

Essence Literary Awards Storyteller of the Year, LA Banks, The Vampire Huntress Legend Series

DeLois Barrett Campbell August 2011 Notable Deaths

1926-2011

The oldest member of a gospel-singing trio of sisters, DeLois Barrett Campbell had a true rags-to-riches story. Campbell grew up in a very poor family and lost four of her siblings to an infectious disease. Campbell and her sisters beat the odds and became successful recording artists.

The Barrett Sisters, Chicago, Illinois, tuberculosis, Wonderful, Sam Cooke, Patti LaBelle