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April deaths 2011



Notable People We Lost in April

In April, we said farewell to many beloved figures, including a female marathoner, a trailblazing TV writer & a politician who was undefeated for a half-century.
April in memoriam
In April we said farewell to many beloved figures, including a supercentenarian, a writing trailblazer and a modern rock star.

Click ahead to read about the lives of:
Larry Finch
Skip O'Brien
Bill Brill
Tul Bahadur Pun
Phoebe Snow
1951-2011
Best known for her 1975 hit "Poetry Man," Phoebe Snow (real name?) interrupted her promising career to care for her brain-injured daughter.

Bio | Video | Photos

Popular songs:

"Harpo's Blues"

"No Regrets"

"Teach Me Tonight"

"Shakey Ground"
Poly Styrene
1958 – 2011
Poly Styrene (real name?) was the British singer for the early punk band X-Ray Spex. Although the group recorded only two studio albums, she is often credited for influencing the riot grrrl movement.

Bio | Video | Photos

Career highlights:

She was inspired to form a band after seeing an early punk sensation.

Their debut single became a punk anthem.
Grete Waitz
1954-2011

Norwegian athlete Grete Waitz (from which city?) ran her first marathon in 1978. She won that race -- and broke the tape in eight more.

Bio | Video | Photos

Career highlights:

Early in her career, she set two world records.

In her first New York City Marathon, she set another one.

She was given a royal honor.
Lou Gorman
1929-2011

Gorman was a Major League Baseball icon. He managed a team once called the Beaneaters and a team nicknamed the M's.

Bio | Video | Photos

His career:

Baltimore Orioles

Kansas City Royals

Seattle Mariners

New York Mets

Boston Red Sox
Larry Finch
1951-2011

Finch was a groundbreaking basketball star. As a player, he rivaled Bill Walton in a championship game. As a coach, he was an all-time winner.

Bio | Video | Photos

His highlights:

1972-73 season

1991-92 season

1994-95 season
Calvin Russell
1948-2011

Russell was a Texas musician (listen to his songs) who experienced success abroad. He recorded new albums throughout his career, including one last year.

Bio | Video | Photos

Popular songs:

"Living at the End of the Gun"

"Big Brother"

"Rats and Roaches"

"Crossroads"
Ned McWherter
1930-2011

McWherter, a former Tennessee governor, made great strides for minority groups and government transparency.

Bio | Photos

McWherter trivia:

Beer distributor

Political patriarch

Clinton favorite
Barry Blumberg

1925-2011

Blumberg received a Nobel Prize for an important discovery. He worked closely with NASA, right until his death.

Bio | Video | Photos

Blumberg quotes:

Preventing cancer

Improving the planet

Saving a life
Skip O'Brien
1950-2011

O'Brien was an actor best known for his recurring role on a hit TV drama.

Bio | Photos

Film highlights:

"Black Sheep"

"Liar Liar"

"Blow"
E.J. McGuire
1952-2011

McGuire held a renowned position with the National Hockey League and coached several teams.

Bio | Video | Photos

Career highlights:

Guelph Storm's trophy

Hartford Wolf Pack's playoffs
Edward Edwards
1933-2011

Edwards was a serial killer who remained at large most of his life and escaped prison. He was on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list as early as 1961.

Bio | Photos

Murders:

1977 murders

1980 murders

1996 murder
Bill Brill
1931-2011

Brill was a fiery sportswriter who wrote for regional newspapers. He made an erroneous prediction in 2004 that incited a conference win.

Bio | Photos

Brill awards:

Sportswriter of the Year

Special contributions

Hall of Fame
Walter Breuning
1896-2011

Breuning was the oldest American supercentenarian ever. Always well dressed, Breuning appeared on television in 2009 to remark on current affairs.

Bio | Video | Photos

Breuning quotes:

Stay busy

Second marriages

Fear of death
William Donald Schaefer
1921-2011

Schaefer was a public servant who served as mayor, governor and comptroller. Schaefer's life was not without controversy, but he remained undefeated for 50 years.

Bio | Video | Photos

Schaefer's legacy:

Integration

Oriole Park

Aquarium bathing suit

Downtown
Michael Sarrazin
1940-2011

Sarrazin was an actor who starred with Jane Fonda (video) in an acclaimed film. His varied career included science fiction and comedy.

Bio | Video | Photos

Career highlights:

"Saturday Night Live"

"Frankenstein"

"Sometimes a Great Notion"

"Harry in Your Pocket"
Harold Lee Volkmer
1931-2011

Volkmer was a longtime state representative and a longtime U.S. representative who fought for equal rights. His views on gun control separated him from his political party.

Bio | Photos

Notable views:

Voting rights

Fair housing

Superfund
William Rusher
1923-2011

Rusher served as a strong conservative voice through journalism, activism and public speaking. He was a fusionist with strong feelings about former President Ronald Reagan.

Bio | Video | Photos

Career highlights:

Draft Goldwater

"Good Morning America"

"The Rise of the Right"
Elisabeth Sladen
1946-2011

Sladen was an actress known for her role in a popular 1970s show. She had a long marriage with a co-star.

Bio | Video | Photos

Sladen trivia:

Onstage flirting

Daughter's cameo

Cardboard cut-out
Mason Rudolph
1934-2011

Rudolph was a winning golfer on the PGA Tour. One golfer lost against Rudolph on purpose.

Bio | Video | Photos

Career highlights:

Tennessee Open amateur

Fig Garden landslide

Ryder Cup win
Gerard Smith
1975-2011

Smith was a multi-instrumentalist for TV on the Radio (hear some tracks). The band issued a statement upon his passing.

Bio | Video | Photos

Notable collaborations:

With David Bowie (more about Bowie)

With Kazu Makino (Blonde Redhead songs)

With Katrina Ford (Ford's songs)
Tul Bahadur Pun
1923-2011

Pun received one of the highest British military awards and the Burma Star. He bravely persevered alone in a World War II battle.

Bio | Video | Photos

Pun's victories:

Immigration

Memorials

India Service Medal

Madelyn Pugh
1921-2011

Pugh was one of the first female TV writers, and she wrote for one of the greatest female-led shows of all time.

Bio | Video | Photos

Career highlights:

"My Favorite Husband"

Woman of the Year

Golden Globe

"Laughing With Lucy"

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