A roll call of some who died in 2008

The Associated Press

From the summit of Everest, the top of the world, to the intricate workings of the human heart. From outer galaxies to the dungeons of Stalin’s gulag.

Sir Edmund Hillary was the first man to stand atop the world’s highest mountain. Dr. Michael DeBakey developed treatments for heart disease that prolonged the lives of millions.

Arthur C. Clarke carried readers and moviegoers light years into space and centuries into the future. Alexander Solzhenitsyn bravely revealed the horrors of the Soviet prison system.

They are some of the remarkable people who died in 2008.

Mildred Loving changed history in 1967 when the U.S. Supreme Court upheld her right, as a black woman, to marry a white man. Madelyn Payne Dunham helped raise her grandson Barack Obama and died just two days before he was elected president.

Charleton Heston brought a larger-than-life quality to screen roles as Ben-Hur and Michelangelo. Paul Newman combined rebellion and blue-eyed charm in films that reflected changing social attitudes.

William F. Buckley and Tim Russert informed their journalism with a love of politics and respect for the issues. Anne Armstrong opened doors for women in government service, while Jesse Helms, Howard Metzenbaum and Tom Lantos were powerful voices in Congress.

The world of science lost Dr. Judah Folkman, cancer researcher; Edward Lorenz, father of chaos theory; and Albert Hofmann, discoverer of LSD.

We said goodbye to Watergate’s “Deep Throat,” chess master Bobby Fischer and the people who helped bring you the Slinky, Hula Hoop, transcendental meditation, Dungeons and Dragons, the Egg McMuffin, Precious Moments figurines and Baskin-Robbins ice cream. To the men who coined “rhythm and blues” and “sci fi,” and to entertainers named Eartha, Cyd and Bo.

Here, a roll call of some of the notable people who died in 2008. (Cause of death cited for younger people if available.)

JANUARY

Erich Kaestner, 107. Believed to be Germany’s last World War I veteran. Jan. 1.

Dr. Pramod Karan Sethi, 80. Inventor of low-cost artificial foot that helped millions in developing nations. Jan. 6.

Philip Agee, 72. Renegade CIA agent whose naming of operatives led to law against exposing spies. Jan. 7.

Sir Edmund Hillary, 88. He conquered Mount Everest; one of 20th century’s greatest adventurers. Jan. 11.

Carl N. Karcher, 90. He parlayed $325 investment into Carl’s Jr. hamburger chain. Jan. 11.

Johnny Podres, 75. He pitched Brooklyn Dodgers to their only World Series title in 1955. Jan. 13.

Richard Knerr, 82. Co-founded Wham-O toy company that popularized Hula Hoop, Frisbee. Jan. 14.

Dr. Judah Folkman, 74. Researcher who worked to cut off cancer from its blood supply, giving hope for a cure. Jan. 14.

Bobby Fischer, 64. Reclusive chess genius who dethroned Soviet champion in 1972. Jan. 17.

Eugene Sawyer, 73. Chicago mayor for 16 months in late 1980s. Jan. 19.

Suzanne Pleshette, 70. Beautiful, husky-voiced actress; sardonic wife on “The Bob Newhart Show.” Jan. 19.

James L. Sorenson, 86. Utah billionaire; built fortune in medical devices, real estate. Jan. 20.

Kenneth Eugene Parnell, 76. Notorious California child molester; held young Steven Stayner for years. Jan. 20.

Heath Ledger, 28. Actor nominated for Oscar for “Brokeback Mountain”; the Joker in “The Dark Knight.” Jan. 22. Drug overdose.

Miles Lerman, 88. Helped found U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Jan. 22.

Richard Darman, 64. White House budget director; helped persuade first President Bush to compromise on new taxes. Jan. 25.

George Habash, 81. His PLO faction gained notoriety for 1970 hijackings of four Western airliners. Jan. 26.

Viktor Schreckengost, 101. Artist, industrial designer. Jan. 26.

Lovie Yancey, 96. She founded Fatburger restaurant chain. Jan. 26.

Suharto, 86. Indonesian president, a Cold War U.S. ally whose brutal regime killed hundreds of thousands. Jan. 27.

Gordon B. Hinckley, 97. Led Mormon church during major period of expansion. Jan. 27.

Archbishop Christodoulos, 69. Greece’s Orthodox Church leader, eased centuries of tension with Vatican. Jan. 28.

Margaret Truman Daniel, 83. Harry Truman’s only child; a concert singer, TV personality, mystery writer. Jan. 29.

Robert M. Ball, 93. Social Security commissioner; considered father of Medicare. Jan. 29.

FEBRUARY

Earl L. Butz, 98. U.S. agriculture secretary; forced out in 1976 over racist joke. Feb. 2.

Harry Richard Landis, 108. One of two surviving U.S. veterans of World War I. Feb. 4.

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, around 91. Beatles’ guru; introduced transcendental meditation to West. Feb. 5.

Ruth Stafford Peale, 101. Founded Guideposts magazine with her husband, clergyman Norman Vincent Peale. Feb. 6.

Phyllis A. Whitney, 104. Novelist whose suspense tales (“Feather on the Moon”) sold millions. Feb. 8.

Ray Wu, 79. Genetic engineer; worked to make stronger crops. Feb. 10.

Roy Scheider, 75. Two-time Oscar nominee (“The French Connection,” “All That Jazz”); police chief in “Jaws.” Feb. 10.

Rep. Tom Lantos, 80. 14-term California congressman; forceful voice for human rights. Feb. 11.

Imad Mughniyeh, 45. One of world’s most wanted terrorists; suspected in 1980s attacks on Americans in Lebanon. Feb. 12. Car bombing.

Alain Robbe-Grillet, 85. Author in France’s “new novel” movement. Feb. 18.

Eugene Freedman, 82. Founded Enesco, maker of Precious Moments figurines. Feb. 19.

Max Raab, 81. His clothing company, Villager, epitomized 1960s preppy style. Feb. 21.

Robin Moore, 82. Wrote “The French Connection,” “The Green Berets,” both made into movies. Feb. 21.