Deaths in August 1988

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The following is a list of notable deaths in August 1988.

Entries for each day are listed alphabetically by surname. A typical entry lists information in the following sequence:

• Name, age, country of citizenship at birth, subsequent country of citizenship (if applicable), reason for notability, cause of death (if known), and reference.

August 1988

1

• John Dearden, 80, American Roman Catholic cardinal, pancreatic cancer. ^[1]
• Florence Eldridge, 86, American actress. ^[2]
• Sheldon Kinser, 45, American race car driver.
• Georges Wambst, 86, French cyclist. ^[3]
• Gertrude Welcker, 92, German stage and silent-screen actress. ^[4]

2

• Steve Anderson, 82, American hurdler and Olympic medalist.
• Raymond Carver, 50, American short-story writer and poet, lung cancer. ^[5]
• Nityanand Kanungo, 88, Indian politician, Governor of Bihar and Gujarat.
• Nada Klaić, 68, Croatian historian.

3

• Lillian Bilocca, 59, British fisheries worker, peritoneal cancer.
• Campbell Copelin, 87, English-Australian actor.
• Tucker McGuire, 75, American-British film and television actress.
• Krishnaswami Ramiah, 96, Indian agricultural scientist, geneticist and parliamentarian.
• Paddy Walsh, 81, Australian rules footballer.
• Vic Watson, 90, English international footballer.

4

• Allan Adair, 90, British army Major General.
• Brian Brake, 61, New Zealand photographer, heart attack.
• Charles B. Brownson, 74, American World War II veteran, member of U.S. House of Representatives.
• Toshiwo Doko, 91, Japanese engineer. ^[6]
• Harry Lee Waterfield, 77, American politician, Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky.

5

• Red Davis, 80, American NFL footballer.
• James Devereux, 85, American general of the U.S. Marine Corps, member of U.S. House of Representatives, pneumonia.
• Colin Higgins, 47, French-Australian-American screenwriter, actor, director and producer, AIDS-related illness. ^[7]
• Arif Hussain Hussaini, 41, Indian-Pakistani revolutionary leader, assassinated.
• Ralph Meeker, 67, American film, stage and television actor, heart attack. ^[8]

6

• John Bingham, 79, English thriller, detective and spy novelist, MI5 spy.
• Anatoly Levchenko, 47, Soviet cosmonaut, brain tumour. ^[9]
• Francis Ponge, 89, French essayist and poet. ^[10]
• J. Skelly Wright, 77, American circuit judge. ^[11]

7

• Wilfred Jackson, 82, American animator, arranger, composer and director.

8

• Alan Ameche, 55, American NFL player, heart attack. ^[12]
• Kid Chocolate, 78, Cuban boxer.
• George Estregan, 49, Filipino film actor.
• Henri Frenay, 82, French military officer and member of the French Resistance.
• Félix Leclerc, 82, Canadian singer-songwriter, poet, writer, actor and political activist.
• Alan Napier, 85, English actor. ^[13]
• Dominic Serventy, 84, Australian ornithologist.

9

• Jimmie Fidler, 89, American columnist, journalist and radio and television personality. ^[14]
• Owen Jenkins, 82, Welsh Anglican priest.
• Giacinto Scelsi, 83, Italian composer, cerebral hemorrhage. ^[15]
• Ramón Valdés, 63, Mexican actor and comedian, stomach cancer. ^[16]

10

• Arnulfo Arias, 86, Panamanian politician, doctor and writer, President of Panama, heart attack.
• Jean Brachet, 79, Belgian biochemist.
• Jan-Magnus Bruheim, 74, Norwegian poet and children's writer.
• Adela Rogers St. Johns, 94, American journalist, novelist and screenwriter.
• Paul Thek, 54, American painter and sculptor, AIDS. ^[17]

11

• Nellikode Bhaskaran, 64, Indian actor.
• Alfred Kelbassa, 63, German international footballer.
• K. Avukader Kutty Naha, 68, Indian politician, Deputy Chief Minister of Kerala.
• Jean-Pierre Ponnelle, 56, French opera director, set and costume designer, pulmonary embolism following a fall.
• Anne Ramsey, 59, American actress, cancer. ^[18]
• Jack Regan, 75, Australian rules footballer.

12

• Jean-Michel Basquiat, 27, American artist, heroin overdose. ^[19]
• Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar, 92, Indian guru, writer and spiritual leader.

13

• Mel Almada, 75, Mexican Major League baseballer.
• Fred Below, 61, American blues drummer, liver cancer.
• Per Digerud, 55, Norwegian cyclist and Olympian.
• Keith Hancock, 90, Australian historian and academic.
• James Heaslip, 87, Australian politician, member of South Australian Parliament.
• Sydney Jacobson, 79, British journalist, editor and political commentator.
• Gajanan Jagirdar, 81, Indian film director, screenwriter and actor, heart attack.
• Otto Passman, 88, American politician, member of U.S. House of Representatives. ^[20]
• William H. Phelps Jr., 85, Venezuelan ornithologist and businessman. ^[21]
• Tenor Saw, 21, Jamaican dancehall singjay, hit and run accident.
• Gordon H. Scherer, 81, American lawyer and politician, member of U.S. House of Representatives. ^[22]
• Edward Bennett Williams, 68, American lawyer and businessman, colon cancer. ^[23]

14

• Roy Buchanan, 48, American guitarist and blues musician, suicide by hanging.
• Robert Calvert, 43, South African–born British writer, poet and musician, heart attack.
• Michael Crowder, 54, British historian and author.
• Enzo Ferrari, 90, Italian motor racing driver and car maker, leukemia. ^[24]
• Hollis Dow Hedberg, 84, American geologist. ^[25]

15

• Rudy Collins, 54, American jazz drummer.
• Ronald Stein, 58, American film composer, pancreatic cancer.
• Hans Heinz Stuckenschmidt, 86, German composer, musicologist and music historian and critic.
• Hartman Turnbow, 83, Mississippi farmer, orator and activist during the Civil Rights Movement.

16

• Rashad Barmada, 74–75, Syrian politician, Deputy Prime Minister of Syria.
• Fred Butters, 84, English international rugby league footballer.
• Ron McAuliffe, 70, Australian politician and rugby league administrator, Australian senator, stroke.
• Rick Newsom, 38, American NASCAR Winston Cup driver, plane crash.

17

• Akhtar Abdur Rahman, 64, Pakistani Army general, plane crash.
• Arnold Lewis Raphel, 45, American diplomat, U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan, plane crash.
• Franklin D. Roosevelt Jr., 74, American lawyer and politician, member of U.S. House of Representatives, lung cancer.
• Siddique Salik, 52, Pakistani army officer, plane crash.
• Victoria Shaw, 53, Australian film and television actress, emphysema.
• Samuel Silkin, 70, British politician, Attorney General for England and Wales.
• Jack Straus, 58, American professional poker player, aortic aneurysm.
• Bob Troughton, 84, Australian rules footballer.
• Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, 64, Pakistani military officer, President of Pakistan, plane crash. ^[26]

18

• Sir Frederick Ashton, 83, British ballet dancer and choreographer. ^[27]
• Don Hummel, 80, American businessman and politician, mayor of Tucson.
• Michael Perrin, 82, Canadian-British scientist.
• Jessica Powers, 83, American poet and nun, stroke.
• Ernst Simon, 88, German educator and religious philosopher.

19

• Don Haggerty, 74, American actor of film and television.
• Russ Hathaway, 92, American NFL football player.

20

• Leon McAuliffe, 71, American Western swing guitarist.
• Joan G. Robinson, 78, British author and illustrator of children's books.
• Lazarus Salii, 51, Palau politician, President of Palau, suicide by shooting. ^[28]

21

• H. G. Adler, 78, Czechoslovakian-English German-language poet and novelist.
• Ray Eames, 78, American artist and designer. ^[29]
• Eino Kirjonen, 55, Finnish ski jumper and Olympian.
• Stuart Leary, 55, South African footballer and first-class cricketer, suicide.
• Jerry Warren, 63, American film director, producer, editor, screenwriter, cinematographer and actor, lung cancer.

22

• James Ryng, 75, Irish hurler.

23

• Gerald Drayson Adams, 88, Canadian-American business executive and literary agent.
• José Manuel de Sousa e Faro Nobre de Carvalho, 76, Portuguese army brigadier-general.
• C. Desmond Greaves, 74, English Marxist activist and historian.
• Laud Humphreys, 57, American sociologist and Episcopal priest, lung cancer.
• Josef Klehr, 83, German Nazi SS-Oberscharführer, Nazi concentration camp supervisor.
• Hans Lewy, 83, Prussian-American mathematician. ^[30]
• Alf Martinsen, 76, Norwegian international footballer and Olympic medalist.
• Menotti Del Picchia, 96, Brazilian poet, journalist and painter.
• Jack Sher, 75, American newspaper columnist, songwriter, film director, film writer and producer. ^[31]

24

• Pierre Béchu, 29, French ice dancer and Olympian, road accident.
• Leonard Frey, 49, American actor, complications from AIDS. ^[32]
• Kenneth Leighton, 58, British composer and pianist, oesophageal cancer.
• Nat Stuckey, 54, American country singer, lung cancer.

25

• Price Daniel, 77, American jurist and politician, stroke. ^[33]
• Françoise Dolto, 79, French pediatrician and psychoanalyst, pulmonary fibrosis. ^[34]
• Gilbert Gil, 74, French film actor.
• Art Rooney, 87, American founding owner of Pittsburgh Steelers NFL football team, complications of a stroke. ^[35]

26

• Donald De Lue, 90, American sculptor.
• Carlos Paião, 30, Portuguese singer and songwriter, car accident.
• Fred Peart, 74, British politician, leader of the Houses of Lords and Commons.
• Milton Sperling, 76, American film producer and screenwriter, cancer.

27

• Max Black, 79, Azerbaijani-British-American philosopher. ^[36]
• Charles Farrell, 88, Irish stage, film and television actor.
• Irene Higginbotham, 70, American songwriter and concert pianist.
• Jack Kane, 80, Australian senator.
• Mario Montenegro, 60, Filipino film actor, heart attack.
• William Sargant, 81, British psychiatrist.

28

• Hazel Dawn, 98, American stage, film and television actress. ^[37]
• Paul Grice, 75, British philosopher of language. ^[38]
• Guy Hocquenghem, 41, French writer and philosopher, AIDS-related complications.
• Jean Marchand, 69, Canadian trade unionist and politician.
• Max Shulman, 69, American writer and humorist, bone cancer. ^[39]

29

• David A. Hargrave, 42, American game designer and writer of fantasy and science fiction role-playing games.
• Horace Henderson, 83, American jazz pianist, organist, arranger and bandleader.
• Wilfred Johnson, 52, American mobster, murdered.
• Algirdas Klimaitis, 77–78, Lithuanian paramilitary commander.

30

• Yan Kelun, 75, Chinese politician, diabetes.
• Jack Marshall, 76, New Zealand politician, Prime Minister of New Zealand. ^[40]

31

• Grace Eldering, 87, American public health scientist.
• Vasil Mzhavanadze, 85, Georgian Soviet politician, First Secretary of the Georgian Communist Party.

Unknown date

• Albert Büchi, 81, Swiss road bicycle racer.
• John Willie Parker, 63, English footballer.
• Sammy Thompson, 55, British trade unionist, cancer.

References

1. Wolfgang Saxon (August 2, 1988). "John Cardinal Dearden, 80, Dies; Leading Liberal Voice in Church" . The New York Times . p. A 17. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
2. The Annual Obituary. St. Martin's. 1988. p. 365. ISBN   978-1-55862-050-6.
3. "Ciclismo - Georges Wambst" (in Spanish). LosDeportes.info. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
4. Gertrude Welcker
5. Carol Sklenicka (November 24, 2009). Raymond Carver: A Writer's Life. Simon and Schuster. p. 478. ISBN   978-1-4391-6058-9.
6. "Toshiwo Doko Is Dead; Industry Chief Was 91" . The New York Times . August 5, 1988. p. B 6. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
7. Sarah Lyall (August 7, 1988). "Colin Higgins, Film Director, 47, Creator of 'Harold and Maude'" . The New York Times . p. 1 34. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
8. Mervyn Rothstein (August 6, 1988). "Ralph Meeker, 67, Star of 'Picnic' And Featured Actor in Films, Dies" . The New York Times . p. 1 32. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
9. "Levchenko". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on October 20, 2010. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
10. "Francis Ponge, Writer Of 'Thing-Poetry,' 89" . The New York Times . August 9, 1988. p. D 20. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
11. Marjorie Hunter (August 8, 1988). "JUDGE J. SKELLY WRIGHT, SEGREGATION FOE, DIES AT 77" . The New York Times . p. D 10. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
12. "Alan Ameche, 55, Football Star in 1950's" . The New York Times . August 9, 1988. p. D 20. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
13. "Alan Napier, Actor, Dies at 85" . The New York Times . August 9, 1988. p. D 20. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
14. "Jimmie Fidler, 89, Hollywood Columnist" . The New York Times . August 12, 1988. p. D 18. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
15. "Giacinto Scelsi, Composer, 83" . The New York Times . August 12, 1988. p. D 18. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
16. "Se cumplen 33 años de la muerte de Ramón Valdés, Don Ramón" (in Spanish). ADN Sureste. August 9, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
17. "Paul Thek Dead at 54; An Artist of the Surreal" . The New York Times . August 11, 1988. p. D 20. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
18. "Anne Ramsey, 59, Best Known in Role Of Ogreish 'Momma'" . The New York Times . August 13, 1988. p. 1 10. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
19. Basquiat, Jean-Michel (June 4, 2019). Basquiat-isms. Princeton University Press. pp. 112–113. ISBN   978-0-691-19283-3.
20. Thomas J. Lueck (August 14, 1988). "Otto Passman, 88, Louisiana Congressman Who Fought Spending" . The New York Times . p. 1 41. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
21. Glenn Fowler (August 19, 1988). "William H. Phelps Jr. Dies at 85; Ornithologist and Conservationist" . The New York Times . p. D 15. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
22. "Gordon Scherer, 81; Served in the House And United Nations" . The New York Times . August 17, 1988. p. D 23. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
23. Albin Krebs (August 15, 1988). "Edward Bennett Williams, Trial Lawyer, Dead at 68; A Brilliant 'Superlawyer'" . The New York Times . p. D 11. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
24. Richard Williams (February 28, 2011). Enzo Ferrari: A Life. Random House. p. 323. ISBN   978-1-4464-5037-6.
25. "Hollis Dow Hedberg, Professor Emeritus, 85" . The New York Times . August 16, 1988. p. D 23. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
26. Bone, James; Hussain, Zahid (August 16, 2008). "As Pakistan comes full circle, a light is shone on Zia ul-Haq's death". The Times . London. p. 40. Archived from the original on November 27, 2016. Retrieved November 13, 2011.(subscription required)
27. The New York Times Biographical Service. New York Times & Arno Press. 1988. p. 923.
28. "Second President of Palau Is Found Shot to Death" New York Times, 21 August 1988
29. Douglas C. McGill (August 23, 1988). "Ray Eames, 72, a Founder of Firm That Designed the Eames Chair" . The New York Times . p. D 19. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
30. "Dr. Hans Lewy, 83, Mathematics Profesor" . The New York Times . September 2, 1988. p. B 5. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
31. "Jack Sher, 75, Writer And Director of Films" . The New York Times . August 24, 1988. p. D 18. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
32. Mel Gussow (August 25, 1988). "Leonard Frey, Actor, Dies at 49; Was in 'Fiddler' and Other Films" . The New York Times . p. D 21. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
33. Alfonso A. Narvaez (August 26, 1988). "Ex-Senator Price Daniel, 77, Dies; Was Texas Governor for 3 Terms" . The New York Times . p. D 15. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
34. Guillerault, Gérard (2008). Comprendre Dolto: Une éthique positive du désir. Armand Colin. p. 38.
35. Gerald Eskenazi (August 26, 1988). "Art Rooney, 87, Founder of N.F.L.'s Steelers, Dies" . The New York Times . p. D 15. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
36. "Dr. Max Black, 79, Author and Philosopher" . The New York Times . August 30, 1988. p. D 19. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
37. C. Gerald Fraser (August 31, 1988). "Hazel Dawn, Stage Actress, Is Dead at 98" . The New York Times . p. D 21. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
38. Richard Grandy and Richard Warner (2017). Paul Grice. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
39. James Barron (August 29, 1988). "Max Shulman, Humorist, Is Dead; Chronicler of Postwar Life Was 69" . The New York Times . p. A 16. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
40. New Zealand. Parliament (1988). Parliamentary Debates: House of Representatives. p. 6401.