The Top 16 Most Notable Deaths of 2016

Muhammad Ali: called “The Greatest of All Time”; a three-time world heavyweight boxing champion and civil rights activist.
David Bowie: a forward-thinking music icon known for his artistic and dramatic flair in his music videos and fashion.
Carrie Fisher: a.k.a. Princess Leia.
Prince: a one-man studio band and seven-time Grammy winner, who was adored by many.
Elie Wiesel: an Auschwitz survivor, whose harrowing account of the Nazi concentration camps in his published works, as well as his work as a human rights activist, won him the Nobel Peace prize in 1986.
John Glenn: first American to orbit Earth, who then served in the Senate for 24 years.
George Michael: front man of the 80’s pop duo Wham!, who also had a very successful solo career.
Nancy Reagan: the fashionable first lady to President Ronald Reagan.
Arnold Palmer: a champion golfer, who popularized golf in America and attracted a fanatic following called Arnie’s Army.
Craig Sager: the beloved NBA sideline reporter known for the quirky suits he wore and the questions he asked.
Merle Haggard: a country music legend who had 38 number-one country Billboard hits.
Wesley A. Clark: the physicist who designed the first modern personal computer.
Harper Lee: author of the beloved and well-read novel To Kill a Mockingbird.
Henry J. Heimlich: the thoracic surgeon who developed the Heimlich maneuver.
Alan Rickman: an actor whose best known roles include Snape from the Harry Potter series and the villain from Die Hard.
Antonin Scalia: served almost three decades on the Supreme Court.

Honorable Mentions

Kenny Baker: the legend who brought R2D2 to life in Star Wars.
Gene Wilder: the actor best-known for his portrayal of Willy Wonka.
Alan Thicke: the dad on the hit TV sitcom Growing Pains.
Patty Duke: Oscar-winning actress who was also a mental health advocate.
Florence Henderson: the mother in the hit TV sitcom The Brady Bunch.
Junko Tabei: the first woman to scale Mount Everest and ascend the highest summit of every continent.
Janet Reno: the first female Attorney General.
Harambe: a gorilla who lit a fire in the hearts of people around the world.