Al Jarreau –
Jazz singer, songwriter, workaholic.
March 12, 1940 – February 12, 2017.
Aged 76 years.
Most recognized for: He sang the theme to 80’s TV dramedy “Moonlighting,” had a solo line in “We Are the World,” and won a shitload of Grammys.
Fab Melo –
NBA center, Brazilian, first round draft bust.
June 20, 1990 – February 11, 2017.
Aged 26 years.
Most recognized for: As a sophomore at Syracuse, he was named the Big East Defensive Player of the Year… despite nearly flunking out of every class. The solution to his academic problem: go pro… and then flunk out of the NBA within a year.
Mike Ilitch, Sr. –
Sports team owner, philanthropist, pizza baron.
July 20, 1929 – February 10, 2017
Aged 87 years.
Most recognized for: As owner of The Detroit Red Wings, The Detroit Tigers, and Little Caesars Pizza, he surely had an affinity for things that sucked.
Irwin Corey –
Actor, comic, kooky old fart.
July 29, 1914 – February 6, 2017.
Aged 102 years.
Most recognized for: His “Professor” character was typically billed as “The World’s Foremost Authority” on… whatever. Aside from that, he was known as bit of a communist fruitcake.
Tara Palmer-Tomkinson –
TV Personality, socialite, pain-in-the-royal-ass.
Dec. 23, 1971 – Feb. 8, 2017.
Aged 45 years.
Most recognized for: The party-girl god-daughter of Prince Charles, she had cranio-facial surgery to repair a collapsed septum. Basically, she got her cavities drilled out because of too much candy.
Richard Hatch –
Actor, writer, not the gay guy from Survivor.
May 21, 1945 – February 7, 2017.
Aged 71 years.
Most recognized for: A slew of 70’s & 80’s TV appearances. Most notable of which would be his role as Captain Apollo on Battlestar Galactica… which was Star Trek’s retarded cousin.
Joost van der Westhuizen –
Rugby star, Pretorian, hookers & blow enthusiast.
Feb. 20, 1971 – Feb. 6, 2017.
Aged 45 years.
Most recognized for: He was kinda/sorta the David Beckham of Int’l Rugby, but most folks just recognize his name from past dead pool lists.
Selected by: M. Poweleit, B. Hollander, Doug Graves, K. Laws, C. Capps, & J. Darr
Andre H. Arruda –
Comedian, actor, “anti-giant.”
March 11, 1983 – January 31, 2017.
Aged 33 years.
Most recognized for: Had a handful of TV & movie roles, but was most celebrated as a Canadian comic. Apparently, the 51st state has a thing for funny dwarves.
Geoff Nichols –
Musician, songwriter, heavy metal Swiss Army Knife.
February 28, 1948 – January 28, 2017.
Aged 68 years.
Most recognized for: With the exception of drums, he played just about every instrument for Black Sabbath at one point in time or another.
Frank Pelligrino Sr. –
Actor, restaurateur, wanna-be wise guy.
May 13, 1944 – January 31, 2017.
Aged 72 years.
Most recognized for: Played the Jersey Fed that bugged Tony’s lamp and wired up Adriana on the Sopranos. Also co-owner of Rao’s restaurant – a popular dining spot for New York greaseballs.
John Wetton –
Singer/songwriter, musician, 70’s session bassist du jour.
June 12, 1949 – January 31, 2017.
Aged 67 years.
Most recognized for: Founder/bassist/vocalist for early 80’s supergroup Asia. Not to be confused with Toto, who took us to “Africa” or Europe who gave us “The Final Countdown.”
Mohammed Bello Abubakar –
Muslim cleric, Nigerian superpolygamist, glutton for punishment.
January 3, 1924 – January 28 2017.
Aged 93 years.
Most recognized for: He was sentenced to death at one point for refusing to divorce 82 of his 86 wives… but got off the hook(?) By the time of his death, he was up to 120 wives… and 203 children.