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December 17th
249 Notable deaths
Ruby Murray
Northern irish pop singer (1935–1996).
Born March 29th, 1935 in Belfast.
Died December 17th, 1996 at 61 years old in Torquay (liver cancer).
Günther Anders
German-austrian philosopher (1902–1992).
Born July 12th, 1902 in Wrocław.
Died December 17th, 1992 at 90 years old in Vienna.
Mehmet Shehu
Prime minister of albania (1913-1981).
Born January 10th, 1913 in Çorrush.
Died December 17th, 1981 at 68 years old in Tirana (gunshot wound).
Hound Dog Taylor
American chicago blues guitarist and singer (1915–1975).
Born April 12th, 1915 in Natchez.
Died December 17th, 1975 at 60 years old in Chicago (lung cancer).
Bhogaraju Pattabhi Sitaramayya
Indian politician (1880–1959).
Born November 24th, 1880 in Gundugolanu.
Died December 17th, 1959 at 79 years old
Bernard Spilsbury
British pathologist (1877–1947).
Born May 16th, 1877 in Warwickshire.
Died December 17th, 1947 at 70 years old in London.
Mary Ann Jackson
American actress (1923-2003).
Born January 14th, 1923 in Los Angeles.
Died December 17th, 2003 at 80 years old in San Fernando (myocardial infarction).
Juan Vicente Gómez
Venezuelan general and dictator (1857-1935).
Born July 24th, 1857 in Táchira.
Died December 17th, 1935 at 78 years old in Maracay.
Constance Garnett
English writer and translator (1861–1946).
Born December 19th, 1861 in Brighton.
Died December 17th, 1946 at 84 years old in Kent.
Pierre Buyoya
Burundian politician, former president of burundi (1949–2020).
Born November 24th, 1949 in Rutovu Commune. [ref]
Died December 17th, 2020 at 71 years old in Bonneuil-en-France (COVID-19). [ref]
Guillermo Cano Isaza
Colombian journalist (1925-1986).
Born August 12th, 1925 in Bogotá.
Died December 17th, 1986 at 61 years old in Bogotá.
Savang Vadhana
Thai queen consort (1862–1955).
Born September 10th, 1862 in Bangkok, Grand Palace.
Died December 17th, 1955 at 93 years old in Bangkok.
Tom Wesselmann
American artist (1931–2004).
Born February 23rd, 1931 in Cincinnati. [ref]
Died December 17th, 2004 at 73 years old in New York City (surgical complications). [ref]
Oskar Potiorek
Austro-hungarian general (1853-1933).
Born November 20th, 1853 in Bad Bleiberg.
Died December 17th, 1933 at 80 years old in Klagenfurt am Wörthersee.
Big Joe Williams
American delta blues guitarist, singer and songwriter (1903–1982).
Born October 16th, 1903 in Crawford.
Died December 17th, 1982 at 79 years old in Macon.
Artur da Costa e Silva
Military and president of brazil (1899–1985) during the dictator ship.
Born October 3rd, 1899 in Taquari. [ref]
Died December 17th, 1969 at 70 years old in Rio de Janeiro (myocardial infarction).
Muhammad Hamidullah
Indian scholar and polymath (1908–2002).
Born February 19th, 1908 in Hyderabad.
Died December 17th, 2002 at 94 years old in Jacksonville.
Rosa von Praunheim
German film director (1942–2025).
Born November 25th, 1942 in Riga.
Died December 17th, 2025 at 83 years old in Berlin. [ref]
Eglantyne Jebbs
British social reformer, founder of "save the children" (1876-1928).
Born August 25th, 1876 in Ellesmere.
Died December 17th, 1928 at 52 years old in Geneva.
Reginald Victor Jones
World war ii scientist (1911-1997).
Born September 29th, 1911 in Herne Hill.
Died December 17th, 1997 at 86 years old in Aberdeen.
Lars Magnus Ericsson
Swedish inventor and founder of telephone equipment manufacturer ericsson (1846–1926).
Born May 5th, 1846 in Värmskog. [ref]
Died December 17th, 1926 at 80 years old in Botkyrka parish. [ref]
Dick Heckstall-Smith
English jazz and blues saxophonist (1934-2004).
Born September 26th, 1934 in Ludlow. [ref]
Died December 17th, 2004 at 70 years old in London. [ref]
Ferdinand James von Rothschild
British politician (1839-1898).
Born December 17th, 1839 in Paris.
Died December 17th, 1898 at 59 years old in Waddesdon Manor.
Philip, Prince of Eulenburg
German politician, diplomat, composer, and writer (1847-1921).
Born February 12th, 1847 in Kaliningrad, Königsberg.
Died December 17th, 1921 at 74 years old in Templin.
Noble Sissle
African-american jazz musician (1889–1975).
Born July 10th, 1889 in Indianapolis.
Died December 17th, 1975 at 86 years old in Tampa (disease).
Deaths 51 to 75 of 249
Death must be so beautiful. To lie in the soft brown earth, with the grasses waving above one’s head, and listen to silence. To have no yesterday, and no to-morrow. To forget time, to forget life, to be at peace. Oscar Wilde