Most notable deaths of 2011

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Most notable deaths of 2011

Look back at some of the most notable figures who died in 2011.

SARGENT SHRIVER (Nov. 9, 1915 - Jan. 18, 2011) was a distinguished statesman and by marriage, member of the Kennedy family. With Eunice Kennedy, he had five children, including Maria Shriver. After Sargent was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2003, Maria wrote a children's book explaining the disease. Sargent Shriver died on January 18, 2011 in Bethesda, Maryland, at age 95.

JACK LALANNE (Sept. 26, 1914 - Jan. 23, 2011) was a fitness expert and TV personality. Throughout his long and colorful life, he was known as a bodybuilder, nutrition expert and fitness guru. LaLanne died at the age of 96 from pneumonia.

UGA VIII: The Bulldogs mascot died Feb. 4, at not quite 17 months old and after only a half-season serving as the university mascot. The white English bulldog was diagnosed in January with lymphoma, a common cancer in dogs.

CHUCK TANNER: The former Braves manager passed away at age 82 on Feb. 11.

WARREN CHRISTOPHER (Oct. 27, 1925-March 18, 2011) was a lawyer, diplomat and politician. He served as Secretary of State during Bill Clinton's first term. He also served as Deputy Attorney General during the Lyndon Johnson administration and as Deputy Secretary of State under Jimmy Carter. Christopher died from complications of bladder and kidney cancer at the age of 85.

DREW HILL: Ex-Georgia Tech receiver died on March 19 at age 54. He had a long NFL career, ending it in a Falcons uniform.

ELIZABETH TAYLOR (Feb. 27, 1932-March 23, 2011) spent six decades as one of the world's most visible women for her two Academy Awards, eight marriages and work in AIDS philanthropy, died at age 79.

GERALDINE FERRARO (Aug. 26, 1935-March 26, 2011), the U.S. Representative from New York (1979-1985) and 1984 Vice Presidential nominee died in Boston of blood cancer. She was 75.

JESSE OUTLAR: He served as sports editor and sports columnist for 30 of his 41 years at the Atlanta Constitution, retiring in 1988. He died April 10 at the age of 87.

WALTER BREUNING (September 21, 1896 - April 14, 2011): An American supercentenarian, Breuning was a former railroad man that credited a good diet, exercise and keeping his mind active for his longevity. At the time of his death, at age 114, he was the oldest American man on record. He died in his sleep of natural causes.

TIM HETHERINGTON (December 5, 1970 - April 20, 2011): British-born photojournalist and filmmaker. He was mortally wounded in Libya on April 20, 2011 while covering the civil war raging in the country. He was 40 years old.

OSAMA BIN LADEN: The leader of militant Islamist organization Al-Qaeda and the man behind the September 11 attacks on the United States was shot and killed by U.S. Navy SEALs on May 2, 2011, after living in hiding for more than a decade.

RANDALL MARIO POFFO, A.K.A. RANDY 'MACHO MAN' SAVAGE (Nov. 14, 1952-May 20, 2011) Over his professional wrestling career, which spanned more than 20 years, Randy Savage was a six-time world heavyweight champion and held 20 titles. Savage was recognizable for his deep and raspy voice, his ring attire (sunglasses, a bandanna, flashy robes, and a cowboy hat) and his signature catch phrase - "Ooh yeah!"

JACK KEVORKIAN (May 26, 1928 -- June 3, 2011) also known as "Dr. Death," championed a terminal patient's right to die via physician-assisted suicide. He claimed to have assisted at least 130 patients and served eight years in prison for second-degree murder. He died from a thrombosis eight days after his 83rd birthday.

CLARENCE CLEMONS (January 11, 1942 -- June 18, 2011) was a saxophone player and founding member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. He was also featured in several films, including "New York, New York" and "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure." He died of complications from a stroke.

LORENZO CHARLES: Former Hawks player died in a bus wreck on June 27 at the age of 47. Charles was known for scoring the winning basket that gave N.C. State the national title in 1983.

Betty Ford (April 8, 1918-July 8, 2011) The former first lady's triumph over drug and alcohol addiction, and her openness about her problem, inspired her Betty Ford Center and legions of addicts who sought treatment there.

AMY WINEHOUSE (Sept. 14, 1983 - July 23, 2011): English singer-songwriter known for her powerful deep vocals and her eclectic mix of musical. The first British female to win five Grammys, Winehouse died of alcohol poisoning.

STATE REP. BOBBY FRANKLIN (Feb. 13, 1957-July 26, 2011) was a Cobb County Republican who skirted the outer reaches of conservatism and helped design the current state flag.

ERNIE JOHNSON SR. (June 16, 1924 - August 12, 2011) went 40-23 as a major league pitcher before taking the microphone as a radio and TV broadcaster from 1962-99, most notably as the legendary voice of the Atlanta Braves. Johnson died at age 87 after a long illness.

NICKOLAS ASHFORD (May 4, 1941 - Aug. 22, 2011): Part of the duo Ashford & Simpson he was best-known for duets "Solid" (1984), and "Found a Cure" (1979). He died of complications from throat cancer.

TROY DAVIS (October 9, 1968 - September 21, 2011) was convicted of the 1989 killing of Savannah police officer Mark MacPhail and sentenced to death. Always maintaining his innocence, he garnered support from death penalty opponents around the world. After he exhausted all of his appeals, Davis was executed by lethal injection at the age of 42.

SYLVIA ROBINSON (March 6, 1936 - September 29, 2011) was a singer who went on to establish Sugar Hill records, which helped launch the rap genre. She is often referred to as the "mother of hip-hop." She died at the age of 75 from heart failure.

STEVE JOBS (February 24, 1955 - October 5, 2011) was the co-founder and CEO of Apple Inc. After leaving Apple amid a power struggle in 1985, Jobs went on to become CEO of Pixar Animation Studios. He returned to Apple in 1996 as he made the company profitable and oversaw the development of the iPod, iPhone and iPad.

MOAMMAR GADHAFI (June 1942 - October 20, 2011) was the dictator of Libya for 42 years. Known for his flamboyant wardrobe, he crushed opposition groups and his government was linked to the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 that killed 259 people in 1988. Gadhafi was killed by the opposition movement that drove him from power.

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SARGENT SHRIVER (Nov. 9, 1915 - Jan. 18, 2011) was a distinguished statesman and by marriage, member of the Kennedy family. With Eunice Kennedy, he had five children, including Maria Shriver. After Sargent was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2003, Maria wrote a children's book explaining the disease. Sargent Shriver died on January 18, 2011 in Bethesda, Maryland, at age 95.

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