Beverly Cleary, who died in March, channeled memories from her youth in Oregon to created beloved characters such as Ramona Quimby, her sister Beatrice “Beezus” Quimby and Henry Huggins. Other sports figures who died in 2021 include Los Angeles Dodgers Manager Tommy Lasorda, college football coach Bobby Bowden, Olympic swimmer Clara Lamore Walker, NBA players Paul Westphal and Elgin Baylor, auto racer Bobby Unser, golfer Lee Elder, track and field star Milkha Singh and boxer Leon Spinks.Īmong the entertainers who died this year was a children’s author whose books were enjoyed by millions around the world. Hank Aaron, who died in January, endured racist threats on his path to breaking Babe Ruth’s record and is still considered one of the game’s greatest players. Ruth Ann Minner, former Danish Prime Minister Poul Schlueter and Iranian ambassadors Ali Akbar Mohtashamipour and Ardeshir Zahedi.Īlso among those who died this year was a man who held the title of baseball’s home run king for years. Bob Dole, former South Korean President Roh Tae-woo, talk radio host Rush Limbaugh, former Delaware Gov. Mondale, former South African President F.W. Others political figures the world said goodbye to this year include former U.S. In the leadup to the war, Powell cited faulty information during a United Nations Security Council address while claiming Hussein had secretly stashed weapons of mass destruction. Rumsfeld was secretary of defense and shouldered some of the blame as Iraq sank into chaos after the toppling of Saddam Hussein’s regime. presidents and was seen as a visionary of a modern military. Rumsfeld, who died in June, had a storied career in government under four U.S. Bush, he became the nation’s first Black secretary of state.

He rose to the rank of four-star general in the Army before becoming the first Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Powell, who died in October, was a trailblazing soldier and diplomat. But both also saw their legacies tarnished by their actions in the long, bloody war in Iraq.įormer Secretary of State Colin Powell and former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld are among the many noteworthy people who died in 2021.

They both carved out sterling reputations as military and political leaders over years of public service.

Jack smith abc news