The Associated Press published a report in New York on December 10 titled "The Final Farewell: Taking Stock of Influential People Who Died in 2021," excerpted in full:
Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and former U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld were two of many celebrities who died in 2021.
They were military and political leaders, and their years of public service brought them an outstanding reputation. But their reputations were tarnished by what they did in the long and bloody Iraq War.
Powell died in October. He was a pioneering soldier and diplomat. He rose to the rank of four-star general in the Army and later became the first black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. During the administration of former President George W. Bush, he became the first black secretary of state in the United States.
Rumsfeld, who died in June, was a legend who served in the administrations of four U.S. presidents. He was considered a visionary modern military man. Rumsfeld was secretary of defense. Iraq fell into chaos after the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime, and Rumsfeld was responsible for it. Before the outbreak of the iraq war, Powell provided false information in a speech to the United Nations Security Council, claiming that Saddam Hussein secretly stockpiled weapons of mass destruction.
Other politicians in the world who died this year include former U.S. Vice President Walter Mondale, former South African President De Klerk, former U.S. Senator Bob Dole, former South Korean President Roh Tae-wook, radio talk host Rush Limbo, former Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner, and former Danish Prime Minister Paul Schlütte.
One other person who died this year was a baseball "home run king" for years. Hank Allen passed away in January. He was threatened with racism along the way to growing up, and people consider him one of baseball's greatest players.
Other sports figures who died in 2021 include Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lassoda, college soccer coach Bobby Bowden, Olympic swimmer Clara Lamore Walker, U.S. men's professional basketball league players Paul Westfar and Elgin Baylor, auto racing driver Bobby Onzer, golfer Lee Elder, track star Mirka Singer and boxer Leon Spinks.
Among those in the literary world who died this year was a children's literature writer who had millions of readers around the world. Beverly Cleary died in March. Based on her experiences in Oregon as a young man, she created a character that was beloved by readers.
Source: Reference News Network
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