Telegram - Serving Metropolitan Detroit Since 1944

Each New Year it seems only appropriate to remember the noteworthy lives lost the previous year. At the Telegram, we look back at these exceptional lives and recall the contributions they made.

On January 6, 2022, actor Sidney Poitier passed away. Poitier gained national recognition in one of his early films, "Blackboard Jungle" in 1955 and earned a Best Actor Academy Award Nomination for his role in "The Defiant Ones" in 1959. In 1963, Poitier became the first African American to win the Best Actor Oscar for his performance in "Lilies of the Field." His other films include "In the Heat of the Night" and "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," in which Poitier starred alongside Spencer Tracey and Katherine Hepburn. In the 1970s he turned his attention to directing films and found success there as well. In 1968, he was awarded Knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II and in 2009 was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama. Poitier was 94.

On January 11, Native American activist Clyde Bellecourt passed away at the age of 78. Bellecourt, who was born and raised on White Earth Reservation in Minnesota, became a co-founder of the American Indian Movement (AIM) in 1968. Today, AIM says it represents more than 375 million Indigenous people worldwide. In the United States, AIM monitors police violence towards Native people, advocates for fair housing and education for Native communities, provides legal aid, fights for treaty rights, and works to preserve Indigenous traditions and spiritual practices.

On January 12, the music world announced the death of Ronnie Spector, lead singer of the girl-group The Ronettes. The group's talent, sexy looks, and powerful voices made them one of the premier acts of the era. Spector formed the Ronettes with her sister and a cousin, and produced such memorable 60s hits as "Be My Baby" and "Walking in the Rain." Spector was 78.

On February 17, Charles McGee, one of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen passed away at the age of 102. McGee enlisted in the Army in October 1942 and was singled out for pilot training and sent to Tuskegee Army Air Field. Of the nearly 14,000 Tuskegee Airmen trainees, fewer than 1,000 eventually became fighter pilots. Others became navigators, bombardiers, mechanics, and other support staff. McGee earned his wings and 2nd Lieutenant's Commission in June 1943. He flew more than 130 combat missions during World War II and returned to the United States in 1944 to become an instructor. McGee also flew combat mission during the Korean and Vietnam Wars and was promoted to full colonel and retired from the military in January 1973. McGee ended his career with 6,308 flying hours and 409 combat missions.

In July, television and film actress Nichelle Nichols passes away at the age of 89. Nichols began her career as a singer and dancer but found fame when she appeared as Lt. Nyota Uhura on TV's "Star Trek" from 1966 to 1969 and later appeared in several of the "Star Trek" films. The role was groundbreaking for African American actresses on American television. In the 1970s, Nichols worked with NASA on a special program to recruit women and minorities to the agency. The program helped to develop some of the first female astronauts.

In October, stage and film actress Angela Lansbury passed away at the age of 96. The actress is remembered for her role as amateur sleuth Jessica Fletcher on TV's "Murder She Wrote" which was hugely successful and ran for 12 seasons from 1984 to 1996. Lansbury was one of the few stars remaining from Hollywood's Golden Age. She appeared in films which include "Gaslight" in 1944, which earned her an Oscar nomination, and "The Harvey Girls" in 1946. She also starred in Disney's "Bednobs and Broomsticks" in 1971 and voiced the character Mrs. Potts, a singing teapot, in the animated film "Beauty and the Beast" in 1991.

On December 4, founding cast member of TV's "Sesame Street" Bob McGrath passed away at the age of 90. "Sesame Street" premiered in 1969 and McGrath, an actor, children's author, and musician, remained with the show until 2016. McGrath graduated from the University of Michigan's School of Music in 1954. Prior to his work on "Sesame Street" McGrath found success as a singer, singing with the Seventh Army Symphony Orchestra while he served two years in the U.S. Army and on the NBC television show "Sing Along with Mitch" from 1960 to 1964. He also released a string of successful albums of folk songs and ballads, some in Japanese, which made him a singing star in Japan.

Singer Ronnie Spector of the Ronettes passed away last year at the age of 78.

On December 22, the pioneer of the Philadelphia Soul Sound, Thom Bell passes away at the age of 79. The songwriter, producer, and arranger helped to perfect the 1970s sound with inventive orchestral arrangements for such artists as the Spinners, the Delfonics, and the Stylistics. Bell worked on more than 30 gold records from 1968 to 1978 as Philadelphia was becoming a hub for soul music the same way Detroit and Motown Records had been. Bell's hits included the Stylistics' "You Make Me Feel Brand New" and Joe Simon's "Drowning in the Sea of Love."

On December 21, the sports world said goodbye to Franco Harris, who passed away at the age of 72. The four-time Super Bowl Champion started with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1972 and played with the team for 12 seasons. He then played a season for the Seattle Seahawks in 1984. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990. Later in 1990, Harris partnered with former Penn State teammate Lydell Mitchell to Super Bakery (later RSuper Foods) which produced nutrition-oriented food for school children.