Gary Gygax was 69.  He co-created the fantasy game Dungeons & Dragons and helped start the role-playing phenomenon.

Jeff Healey was 41.  He was a legendary Juno-winning rock and jazz musician who taught himself to play guitar by laying the instrument across his lap. Fourteen months ago I shared a little story about Jeff Healey after I read he had major surgery to remove cancerous tissue from both

William F. Buckley Jr. was 82.  He was the erudite Ivy Leaguer and conservative herald who showered huge and scornful words on liberalism as he observed, abetted and cheered on the right's post-World War II rise from the fringes to the White House.

Robin Moore was 82.  He was the author best known for writing "The French Connection" and "The Green Berets."

Willie P. Bennett was 56.  He was a revered singer-songwriter who was an integral part of Canada's folk music scene, starting in the 1970s, as he played at festivals across the country.

Steve Fossett was 63.  He was the self-made business tycoon whose thirst for adrenaline drove him to fly around the world solo in a balloon, climb mountains and aim for speed records. Fossett disappeared September 3, 2007 but was only legally declared dead yesterday.  This answers a question I once

Roy Scheider was 75.  He was a one-time boxer whose broken nose and pugnacious acting style made him a star in "The French Connection" and who later uttered one of cinematic history's most memorable roles in "Jaws."

Barry Morse was 89.  A longtime Canadian resident, he was most famous for his portrayal of the cold-hearted detective who relentlessly pursues the wrongly convicted Richard Kimble for four seasons in The Fugitive.

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi was 91.  He was a guru to the Beatles who introduced the West to transcendental meditation.

Suharto was 86.  He was the former Indonesian President and U.S. Cold War ally who led one of the 20th century's most brutal dictatorships over 32 years that saw up to a million political opponents killed.

Talivaldis Kenins was 88.  He was the pioneering Canadian composer known for masterful works such as his Second Piano Quartet, Concerto for 14 Instruments and Symphony No. 4 for percussion and ensemble.

Heath Ledger was 28.  He was the Australian-born actor nominated for an Oscar for "Brokeback Mountain."

Suzanne Pleshette was 70.  She was the husky-voiced star best known for her role as Bob Newhart's sardonic wife on television's long-running "The Bob Newhart Show."

Allan Melvin was 84.  He was a character actor with countless credits best known for playing Sam the Butcher on "The Brady Bunch."

Don Wittman was 71.  He did the play-by-play for Grey Cups and Stanley Cups, plus covered curling, golf and track and field. I remember him best for his call of Ben Johnson's 100m Olympic final in 1988 and Donovan Bailey's gold medal triumph in the same event in 1996.

Bobby Fischer was 64.  He was the reclusive chess genius who became a Cold War icon by dethroning the Soviet world champion in 1972 and later renounced his American citizenship.

Brad Renfro was 25.  He was the actor whose career began promisingly with a childhood role in "The Client" but rapidly faded as he struggled with drugs and alcohol. I thought he was pretty good in "Bully".

Johnny Podres was 75.  He pitched the Brooklyn Dodgers to their only World Series title in 1955.

Murray 'Dusty' Cohl was 78.  He was credited with taking the Toronto International Film Festival to the international level it now holds.

Christopher Bowman was 40.  He was the U.S figure skating champion who pleased fans and fellow skaters with his flair on the ice.

Edmund Hillary was 88.  He was the unassuming beekeeper who conquered Mount Everest to win renown as one of the 20th century's greatest adventurers.

Milt Dunnell was 102.  He was a Canadian sportswriter, known chiefly for his work at the Toronto Star. I grew up reading Milt Dunnell in the Star.  For a taste of his greatness, here's an article of his from May 18, 1983 entitled "Gretzky class his trademark win or lose"

Benazir Bhutto was 54.  She was the first woman elected to lead a Muslim state, twice elected Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Oscar Peterson was 82.  He was the the Canadian known globally as one of the most spectacularly talented musicians ever to play jazz piano.