HANDOUT PHOTO:   John J. McGinty III, who received the Medal of Honor for his heroism in Vietnam, died Jan. 17 at his home in Beaufort, S.C. He was 73.  (Courtesy of Congressional Medal of Honor Society)

(Courtesy of Congressional Medal of Honor Society / Courtesy of Congressional Medal of Honor Society)

John J. McGinty III, Medal of Honor recipient, dies at 73

Capt. McGinty was honored for his efforts to lead, protect and rally his outnumbered platoon in Vietnam.

John Dobson, evangelist for astronomy, dies at 98

Mr. Dobson, a former monk, designed a powerful, easy-to-make telescope and taught others how to stargaze.

Otis G. Pike, maverick N.Y. congressman, dies at 92

Otis G. Pike, maverick N.Y. congressman, dies at 92

A caustic critic of cost overruns, Mr. Pike led a probe of intelligence services in the 1970s.

Claudio Abbado, famed Italian conductor, dies at 80

Claudio Abbado, famed Italian conductor, dies at 80

He led several of the most storied orchestras of Europe into a new era with his embrace of modern music.

Mae Young, tough cookie of pro wrestling, dies at 90

Mae Young, tough cookie of pro wrestling, dies at 90

Ms. Young clawed and slammed her way to fame as a brawling star of female pro wrestling.

‘Partridge Family’ actor Dave Madden dies at 82

‘Partridge Family’ actor Dave Madden dies at 82

Towering and rumpled, Mr. Madden was best known for his role as Reuben Kinkaid.

Japanese soldier who fought until 1974 dies at 91

Japanese soldier who fought until 1974 dies at 91

Assigned to spy on U.S. aircraft in World War II, he hid in the Philippine jungle for nearly three decades.

Polly Greenberg, writer, child development specialist, dies

Polly Greenberg, writer, child development specialist, dies

Mrs. Greenberg was instrumental in creating one of the earliest Head Start programs in Mississippi in the 1960s.

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Galleries

Joan Fontaine (1917-2013)

Actress Joan Fontaine dies at age 96.

Crime novelist Elmore Leonard dies

The writer, who had many of his works turned into movies, died Aug. 20 at his home in Bloomfield Township, Mich.

The life and career of Lindy Boggs

The first woman elected to Congress from the state of Louisiana died July 27, 2013. She was 97.

Esther Williams, movie star and swimmer, dies

The championship swimmer who became one of the world’s most popular movie stars died June 6 at age 91.

Margaret Thatcher: 1925-2013

The former British prime minister dies April 8 at 87.

Hugo Chavez

The charismatic and omnipresent Venezuelan president died March 5 at the age of 58.

Bonnie Franklin dies

She became a household name as the independent-minded divorcee with two daughters on the sitcom “One Day at a Time.”

Joe Allbritton dies at 87

Allbritton was a self-made millionaire who built a Washington communications empire and led the once venerable Riggs National Bank.