Cliff Becker (40) Becker joined the National Endowment for the Arts in 1992 and was named director of literature in '99. He helped to develop and launch the National Poetry Recitation Contest and believed that novels and other writings by US authors tell the world what it is like to be an American. He died of a heart attack in Riverdale, Maryland on May 17, 2005.

Paul H. Cassidy (94) first ghost artist for Superman comics in the late '30s, credited with adding the letter S to the superhero’s cape. Cassidy also worked as an artist for the World Book Encyclopedia and later for Grolier’s Book of Knowledge in New York. He tried unsuccessfully to develop his own comic strip, a sci-fi adventure tale called Fantasy, the Moon Boy. He died in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on May 15, 2005.

Piero Dorazio (77) considered one of the fathers of Italian abstract painting. Dorazio attracted attention in the late Ô50s for the way he represented space using the vibration of light through a transparent structure. He died after being treated for kidney problems, a consequence of diabetes, in Perugia, Italy on May 17, 2005.

Batya Gur (57) best-selling author almost single-handedly responsible for making the detective novel a flourishing genre in Israel. Gur was also a literary critic for the Haaretz, the most prestigious newspaper in Israel. She died of cancer in Jerusalem, Israel on May 19, 2005.

Keiiti Aki (75) seismologist whose penetrating studies of the behavior and origins of earthquakes contributed to a deeper understanding of natural disasters. Aki was widely known for his concept of the "seismic moment," which he developed in the '60s as a means of measuring the magnitude of earthquakes. He copublished a 2-volume textbook, Quantitative Seismology: Theory & Methods, the most often-cited reference in seismology. He died of a brain hemorrhage suffered after a fall on Réunion Island on May 17, 2005.

Anthony Athanas (93) founder of Anthony’s Pier 4, one of New England’s best-known seafood restaurants, popular among politicians and tourists. Athanas emigrated with his family from Albania to Massachusetts in 1915 and peddled fruits and newspapers as a boy, before opening the flagship Anthony's restaurant along Boston Harbor. He died after battling Alzheimer's disease for the past three years, in Swampscott, Massachusetts on May 20, 2005.

Robert Lee Clay Sr. (59) prominent Maryland contractor whose firm, Robert Clay Inc., reaped millions in government contracts set aside for minority-owned businesses. Clay founded two organizations for minority contractors, Maryland Minority Contractors Association and later the Maryland Metropolitan Minority Contractors Association, and was heavily involved in state and local politics, despite often being the subject of controversy. He was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his Baltimore, Maryland office on May 16, 2005.

Edward Schwarm (82) electrical engineer whose work on the Apollo space program helped NASA to land the first man on the moon. In 1985, Schwarm lived in Acton, Massachusetts, where he was active in town government. He died of skin cancer in Cape Cod, Massachusetts on May 20, 2005.

Chung Se-yung (77) founder of Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea’s largest automaker, and brother of the late Hyundai Group founder Chung Ju-yung. Chung Se-yung set up Hyundai Motor Co. in 1967 and helped it to develop into one of the world’s best-selling car brands. He died of pneumonia in Seoul, South Korea on May 21, 2005.

Harold Wooster (86) information scientist whose decades-long career influenced the development of computer technology and medical TV. Wooster edited several books about information science and an annual bibliography of USAF Office of Scientific Research grants published for nearly 10 years. He also wrote Microfiche 1969: A User Study. He died of a heart attack in Carlisle, Pennsylvania on May 20, 2005.

Victor Wouk (86) electrical engineer and entrepreneur who built one of the first hybrid cars, operating on both gasoline and electricity. Wouk's hybrid, a modified 1972 Buick Skylark, was built primarily in response to the growing concern over air pollution that led to the passage of the Clean Air Act of 1970. He died of cancer in New York City on May 19, 2005.

Renée Hubert (89) professor of French and comparative literature who helped to found graduate departments in those subjects at the University of California Irvine. Hubert was known for studying the relationship between literature and painting, She published three books on the subject and at least six books of poetry in French. She died of a heart attack in Newport Beach, California on May 18, 2005.

Ellis B. Page (81) education professor at he University of Connecticut who developed an early computer program for grading written essays and was widely published in the field of educational psychology. Page tested his first program during the '60s, long before computers were used by students. He died of pneumonia in McLean, Virginia on May 17, 2005.

Paul Ricoeur (92) French philosopher whose broad interests included biblical interpretation and the study of human perception. In November 2004, Ricoeur won a share of the $1 million Kluge prize, which honors achievement in fields not covered by the Nobel prizes. He wrote 20 books and was active in the Socialist Party. He was perhaps best known for his work in the field of phenomenology. He died in his sleep in Chatenay-Malabry, France on May 20, 2005.

Mark Blinoff (70) award-winning program director for Los Angeles radio station KMPC-AM during the '70s. Blinoff initiated format changes to appeal to a younger audience, playing less Sinatra and more Beatles, and was named program director of the year in 1978 by Billboard magazine. He later became an elementary school educator after leaving the broadcast business in 1989. He died of lung cancer in La Crescenta, California on May 19, 2005.

J. D. Cannon (83) actor who appeared in guest roles on TV shows such as Law & Order and Murder, She Wrote. Cannon had a regular role as an New York detective chief on the TV series McCloud, a police drama that ran on NBC (1970-77). He had 85 guest roles on TV (1960-91), including on Remington Steele, The Fall Guy, B. J. & the Bear, Gunsmoke, Bonanza, The Mod Squad, The Fugitive, The Defenders, and The Untouchables. His final guest role was in a March 1991 episode of Law & Order. Cannon had a few big-screen roles, including in Cool Hand Luke (1967), a prison drama starring Paul Newman and George Kennedy. A native of Salmon, Idaho, he died in Hudson, New York on May 20, 2005.

Henry Corden (85) actor who provided the voice of cartoon caveman Fred Flintstone, with his trademark saying "Yabba dabba doo!" for more than 20 years. Corden took over as the famed character when the original voice actor, Alan Reed, died in 1977. Corden also appeared in numerous movies, often as a villain, including The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947) and The Ten Commandments (1956). He also contributed voices to The Jetsons, Scooby-Doo, and The Smurfs. He died of emphysema in Encino, California on May 19, 2005.

Robin Dougherty (45) journalist and critic who wrote an incisive series of author interviews for her column in the Boston Globe from 2001 until the week of her death. Dougherty was previously a feature writer and TV and theater critic in Boston and Miami and wrote for the online magazine Salon, Entertainment Weekly, the Washington Post, and other publications. She died of a cerebral hemorrhage, a complication of treatment for breast cancer, in Washington, DC on May 21, 2005.

Alastair Forbes (87) uncle of Sen. John Kerry and a journalist who drew on his circle of high-society friends for contacts, including playwright Noel Coward and many members of European royal families. Forbes worked for several British newspapers and in later years wrote long, opinionated book reviews for publications such as The Spectator. He died in London, England on May 19, 2005.

Mark Trent Goldberg (49) executive director of the Ira & Leonore Gershwin Trusts and manager of the Gershwin archive, which includes music manuscripts, photographs, royalty statements, and other items linked to lyricist Ira Gershwin and his brother, composer George Gershwin. Goldberg died of a heart attack in his office in New York City, on May 18, 2005.

Frank Gorshin (72) impressionist who did more than 40 impersonations, including of Al Jolson, Kirk Douglas, Bobby Darin, Dean Martin, and James Cagney, but was best known for his Emmy-nominated role as the Riddler on the '60s TV series Batman. Gorshin portrayed George Burns on Broadway in 2002 in the one-man show Say Goodnight Gracie and appeared in numerous movies. His final performance was broadcast on May 19, 2005 on the CBS-TV series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. He died of lung cancer complicated by emphysema and pneumonia, in Burbank, California on May 17, 2005.

Elsa Hilger (101) Philadelphia Orchestra cellist who never missed a performance in 35 years except the day her son was born. Hilger studied at the prestigious Vienna Conservatory and became the youngest member of the Conservatory Orchestra. At age 12 she performed with the Vienna Philharmonic. She died in Shelburne, Vermont on May 17, 2005.

Theola Kilgore (79) '60s rhythm-and-blues singer, best known for her recordings of two Ed Townsend songs, "The Love of My Man" and "This Is My Prayer." Kilgore also recorded an answer to the legendary song "Chain Gang" by Sam Cooke, entitled "Sounds of My Man Working on the Chain Gang." She died in Los Angeles, California on May 15, 2005.

Richard Lewine (94) composer of Broadway musicals starting in the Ô30s who later produced TV musicals and music specials, including the Emmy-winning My Name Is Barbra (1965). Lewine died in New York City on May 19, 2005.

Linda Martinez (29) promising young composer and pianist who wrote music for several films and won many musical competitions. Martinez committed suicide at her home in Los Angeles, California on May 19, 2005.

Howard Morris (85) comic who costarred with Sid Caesar and Carl Reiner on the TV classic Your Show of Shows in the '50s before progressing to success as a film director and to fame as poetry-spouting Ernest T. Bass on The Andy Griffith Show. Morris died in Los Angeles, California on May 21, 2005.

Olav Neuland (58) film director known for his films chronicling the history of Estonia and for writing scripts for Estonian TV series. Neuland's career peaked in the late '70s when he completed his best-known work, Tuulte pesa, or Nest of Winds, a drama set in Estonia in the aftermath of World War II. He was killed when the ultralight aircraft he was piloting crashed near Tallinn, Estonia on May 21, 2005.

Bryan Wolfe (44) Texas killer executed for the fatal stabbing of his children’s 84-year-old babysitter during a robbery. Wolfe had been on parole from Louisiana and had fled a work-release program when he was arrested for the 1992 slaying of Bertha Lemell in her Beaumont, Texas home. He was executed by lethal injection in Huntsville, Texas on May 18, 2005.

Tony Fulton (53) 18-year veteran of the Maryland General Assembly, a Democrat known for challenging the political establishment, including his own party, and using tactics that at times raised ethical concerns. Fulton was recently involved in a legal battle that involved an alleged scheme by a lobbyist to pressure clients with lead-paint problems. He died of pancreatic cancer in Towson, Maryland on May 20, 2005.

Gen. Andrew J. Goodpaster (90) US soldier and scholar who led Army troops in World War II and Vietnam, oversaw US military operations in Europe in the early Ô70s, and was called out of retirement to run the military academy at West Point in a time of crisis. Goodpaster died of prostate cancer in Washington, DC on May 16, 2005.

C. Montgomery Johnson (81) longtime political strategist and former Washington state GOP chairman also known as Gummie, who helped to weed right-wing radicals out of the party during the '60s and '70s. Johnson was also a longtime supporter of equal rights for women and advised the campaign that elected the state's first woman governor, conservative Democrat Dixy Lee Ray, in 1976. Johnson died of complications from a stroke and diabetes in Olympia, Washington on May 21, 2005.

JosŽ M. L—pez (94) World War II veteran awarded the Medal of Honor for single-handedly killing more than 100 German soldiers in a single skirmish during the Battle of the Bulge in 1944. L—pez died of cancer in San Antonio, Texas on May 16, 2005.

Albert Marshall (108) Briton believed to have been the last surviving British cavalryman to serve in World War I. Marshall served with the Essex Yeomanry in Flanders, Belgium after lying about his age to join the army during the war. He died near London, England on May 16, 2005.

Arthur Naftalin (87) former mayor of Minneapolis who led that city through the turbulent '60s during four terms. Naftalin was the only Jewish mayor the city has had. He also was an aide in the late '40s to then-mayor Hubert Humphrey, and a professor at the University of Minnesota Institute of Public Affairs. He died from complications of a fall in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 16, 2005.

Gergely Pongratz (73) one of the leaders of the anti-Communist uprising in Hungary in 1956. Pongratz helped to organize one of the key resistance groups and commanded some 2,000 fighters based around the Corvin Passage in central Budapest during the uprising. He was president of the 1956 World Federation of Hungarians and established a museum and a chapel in memory of those who died in the rebellion. Pongratz died of a heart attack in Kiskunmajsa, Hungary on May 18, 2005.

William Seawell (87) former brigadier general and commandant of cadets at the US Air Force Academy and later president and chairman of now-defunct Pan American World Airways. Seawell also was military assistant to the secretary of the Air Force and to the deputy secretary of Defense. His awards included the Silver Star and the Distinguished Flying Cross. He died in Pine Bluff, Arkansas on May 20, 2005.

Milton A. Wolf (80) former US ambassador who helped to host the 1979 SALT II arms summit in Austria and was deeply committed to peace in the Middle East. Wolf was a longtime fund-raiser in Democrat politics who worked on Jimmy Carter’s 1976 campaign, served on the Carter inauguration committee, and was chairman of the Milton A. Wolf Investors private investment firm. He died of lymphoma in Cleveland, Ohio on May 19, 2005.

Sir Denis Wright (94) former British ambassador in Iran (1963-71), who devoted himself to the Iranian people and continued to do so even after his retirement, writing two well-received books and countless essays, memorials, and commentaries about the country and his experiences there. Wright later helped to establish and chaired the Iran Society and presided over the British Institute of Persian Studies. He died in Haddenham, England on May 18, 2005.

Rev. Paul Abrecht (87) ethicist who, under the auspices of the World Council of Churches, took a leading role in formulating the response of mainstream Christianity to modern ethical challenges for more than 30 years. Abrecht was instrumental in planning two landmark events shaping Christian social ethics: the 1966 world conference on Church & Society in Geneva and the '79 world conference on Faith, Science & the Future at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He died in Geneva, Switzerland on May 21, 2005.

Robert C. Bradley (64) once a well-respected judge with the Ventura County (Calif.) Superior Court, Bradley's legal career was shortened by a bout with alcoholism in 1997. Although held in the highest esteem by fellow colleagues, his life took a serious turn for the worse with arrests in March 2000 and two parole violations in '01. Bradley was found dead at his home by a caretaker after choking on a piece of meat, in Santa Paula, California on May 16, 2005.

Richard Cartwright (31) former Texas mechanic on death row for robbing and fatally shooting Nick Moraida (37) in Corpus Christi in 1996. Cartwright's family led an aggressive campaign proclaiming his innocence. Cartwright also claimed himself a victim of brutality at the hands of prison guards. He was executed by lethal injection in Huntsville, Texas on May 19, 2005.

Arthur K. ("Red") Hoffman (86) golf writer for more than 60 years who spent 11 years as a publicist for golf architect Robert Trent Jones. Hoffman also wrote stories for Dorf Features that appeared in the Newark (NJ) Star-Ledger and GolfWorld magazine. He was a former director of the Golf Writers Association of America. He died in Westfield, New Jersey on May 21, 2005.