I can't explain it but I can't even watch reruns of old Steve Irwin (The Crocodile Hunter) since he was killed.

They all hit home to me to some degree — I guess I've gotten sentimental in my aging.

 

The first one I recall that really caught me off-guard was Thurman Munson. I was as ate-up with baseball as you can possibly imagine a pre-teen boy being, first getting to know Munson through the Reds WS matchup in 76, then I started cheering for him against the hated Dodgers the next two years.

 

I was riding with my father and his brother to CVG airport for some reason or another, or maybe we were picking up my uncle. Anyway, we had it on WLW and they announced it, said he died in a plane crash, which made us being at the airport right then seem extra-eerie to a young boy just 2 weeks shy of his 9th birthday.

 

John Lennon's death the next year also shook me up.

 

My dad worked with his father Darrell for a while in the early mid 70s. He was a truck driver and my dad did shipping and receiving at the FORD plant in Lorain, OH.

 

My dad was a huge Thurmond Munson fan because he was from the area.

 

According to my dad Darrell was a miserable son of a gun to be around.

None for me. Not big into celebs or never have been a big jock sniffer. The one that always puzzled me that everyone was talking about was Princess Diana. They talked about what a great giving person she was. She died the same week Mother Theresa did. That woman dedicated her entire life giving to others.

Ronnie Van Zant

John Lennon

I'd say the first true impact for me was Princess Diana.

 

Truly the only thing that has ever rocked me to my core was 9/11. My dad worked at the Pentagon and was there when it happened. I didn't even know until around 3pm or 4pm that afternoon that anything had happened but I remember seeing teachers and adults crying in the offices when they thought we couldn't see. I distinctly remember standing on the sidewalk and it was a beautiful day and thinking things would never be the same. Crazy feeling. Still watch the footage every year on 9/11.

Probably the most was Johnny Carson and Luther Vandross.

I can't explain it but I can't even watch reruns of old Steve Irwin (The Crocodile Hunter) since he was killed.

 

True. I used to finds snakes etc. in the yard and do my imitation..."she's a beauty", and it isn't the same anymore.

BGP celeb, WVFrank

Her name was Christa McAuliffe. This incident affected me as much as any event I've seen. I remember that as if it happened 5 minutes ago. It doesn't help that it was shown again, just a few weeks ago, on Discovery's special "When We Left Earth". Still get choked up just thinking about it.

 

I can't watch anything associated with 9/11. Period.

 

I know of no "Celebrity" that I have ever grieved over.

 

I have to revise that last sentence from 2008. When they made the announcement of Lee Roy Selmon's stroke, the resultant critical condition, and during the moment of silence for him, prior to kickoff of the USF/Notre Dame in South Bend, in 2011, I cried. He died the next day. I cried again at the memorial tribute to him the following week.

 

There was a truly great man who was taken way to early.

My Dad was born in 1919, and my Mom in 1929, and have both passed on. Many of the celebs that they followed, and I grew up hearing about have also passed on.

 

Whenever one of the rare few that are still around pass on it hits me hard because it's hard for me to face that so very few of my parent's generation celebs are still with us.

 

In more recent times the passing of someone like Shirley Temple messed me up. When stars like Phyllis Diller, Sid Caesar or Ernest Borgnine died that goofed me up for awhile too.

 

When people like Carol Burnett or Don Rickles go that's gonna be hard. I have great memories of watching Carol Burnett with my parents and laughing uncontrollably.

 

I'm amazed at some who've managed to hang in there like Betty White or Don Rickles, and it's inevitable that their days are numbered, but for all the memories related to my parents, it's still not going to be easy. Losing some like Mary Tyler Moore or Dick Van Dyke will be as equally hard.

 

Although I wouldn't consider myself a Deadhead, when Jerry Garcia passed I recall that effecting me. Some like Michael Jackson, Freddie Mercury, or Richie Havens passing screwed me up pretty good. Really had hoped to see all the Beatles age, so losing John Lennon and George Harrison messed me up. The way we lost Princess Diana was so unnecessary and avoidable. Losing a gem like her, and so young was difficult.

 

I'm sure that there's many more that I'm presently forgetting, but you get the drift.

Not an actual celebrity, but more a local hero. When the army officially declared Matt Maupin dead, I was hurt inside.

The music that you listened to growing up holds some very important and lasting memories. When those performers, especially the ones who passed way too soon, die it really hits home. I was very sad when guys like Warren Zevon, Dan Fogelberg, Gerry Rafferty, Brad Delp, and the Gibb brothers passed away.

The sickest feeling I've ever felt when it comes to a celebrity was when Dale Earnhart died. Only time I've ever had that feeling for a celeb. Weird actually.

I am exactly the same. Dale's death was terrible for me. That's the only time I ever felt that way.

The music that you listened to growing up holds some very important and lasting memories. When those performers, especially the ones who passed way too soon, die it really hits home. I was very sad when guys like Warren Zevon, Dan Fogelberg, Gerry Rafferty, Brad Delp, and the Gibb brothers passed away.

 

I'm only 33 so maybe I am demonstrating my immaturity. But I have never heard of any of those people. Not a single one of your musical heroes even rings a bell.

I'm only 33 so maybe I am demonstrating my immaturity. But I have never heard of any of those people. Not a single one of your musical heroes even rings a bell.

 

 

Not immaturity, just youth. I would trade you for the 19 years I have on you in an instant. I miss the younger, more carefree days. If it makes me seem less old, I do like PINK.