2009 Notable Deaths

Director John Hughes, famous for making a string of hit movies in the 1980s and 1990s that included “The Breakfast Club,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and “Sixteen Candles” died on Aug. 6, 2009. He was 59 years old. (FILE PHOTO / LOS ANGELES TIMES)

Hartford Courant

Sept. 17, 2009 9:54 AM PT

In this Jan. 29, 1997 file photo, Frank McCourt, retired teacher and author of the best selling book “Angela’s Ashes,” sits during an interview in his New York apartment. Brother Malachy McCourt says Frank McCourt died Sunday afternoon July 19, 2009, at a Manhattan hospice in New York City at age 78. (BEBETO MATTHEWS / AP)

In this file photo dated April 30, 2009, showing former British First World War veteran Henry Allingham, who died aged 113-years old, on Saturday July 18, 2009. Allingham joined the British Royal Naval Air Service in 1915 and took part in the infamous WWI naval battle, the Battle of Jutland. Allingham was the world’s oldest man, and was one of the last surviving WWI veterans. (GARETH FULLER / AP)

In this photo taken on Sept. 24, 2007, former news anchor Walter Cronkite arrives at the Metropolitan Opera 2007-08 season opening gala. The famed CBS News anchor, known as the ‘most trusted man in America’ died Friday, July 17, 2009. He was 92. (EVAN AGOSTINI / AP)

Arturo Gatti looks on against Carlos Baldomir during their WBC/IBA Welterweight Championship fight at Boardwalk Hall July 22, 2006 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Former world champion boxer Arturo Gatti, aged 37, was found dead in a hotel room in Brazil on July 11, 2009. The cause of death has yet to be determined. (AL BELLO / GETTY IMAGES)

Actress Farrah Fawcett died June 25, 2009, after a three year battle with cancer. She was 62. (Tom Wargacki/Getty Images)

Basketball player turned musician Wayman Tisdale lost his battle with cancer May 15th. He was 44. Tisdale starred at Oklahoma before heading to the NBA for 12 seasons with the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns. (Brad Barket/Getty Images)