Free Republic

The computer scientist behind groundbreaking research that helped land Nasa's astronauts on the Moon, has died aged 90. Margaret Hamilton was a trailblazer in her field, leading the team who developed the software for Nasa's Apollo missions, which coined the term "software engineering". Hamilton's former employer, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), confirmed her death, adding she died on 30 September.

Jim Bakker, the popular 1980s televangelist who with his first wife, Tammy Faye, built one of the largest Christian television ministries in the country before its spectacular collapse in scandal and fraud, died Monday. He was 86. His death was announced by his second wife, Lori Bakker, who said her husband had “gone home to be with the Lord.” “He was a pioneer of Christian television, but to me, he was my husband, my best friend, and the man I was honored to walk beside through so many seasons of life and ministry,” Lori Bakker added in a social media...

Barry Melrose, a former NHL player and coach who was a beloved hockey analyst for ESPN for over 25 years, died Wednesday, his wife, Cindy, told ESPN's Steve Levy. He was 70. Melrose was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2023, leading to his retirement from ESPN. He joined the network in 1996. "For decades, Barry Melrose was one of the most distinctive and trusted voices in hockey," ESPN said in a statement. "His knowledge of the game was deep, his candor was refreshing, and his passion was unmistakable. He was a foundational part of ESPN's hockey coverage, and fans and...

Panettiere is remembered for roles on "Heroes" and "Nashville," among others. Actress Hayden Panettiere has died, her representative confirmed to ABC News. She was 36 years old. "It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden. She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her -- and to the millions who watched her onscreen," her father, Skip Panettiere, said in a statement. Her father asked for privacy "as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss."

Davis was responsible for launching artists like Whitney Houston, Barry Manilow and Alicia Keys to superstardom.Clive Davis, the legendary music executive who shepherded the careers of such stars as Whitney Houston, Barry Manilow and Alicia Keys, died on Monday (June 22) at his home in New York from age-related illness. He was 94. Davis rose to prominence while serving as president of Columbia Records from 1967 to 1973, before founding his own label, Arista, where he signed Manilow and stars including Aretha Franklin, Patti Smith and Dionne Warwick, among many others. In 2000, he founded J Records, which was responsible...

Walter Parazaider, a co-founding member of Chicago who was with the band from its start in 1967 through his retirement in 2017, died Wednesday, family members announced. He had been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease for six years.Parazaider played reed instruments in the band for that 50-year run, and may be most easily recognized for his flute solo in “Colour My World,” though he was more often found on the saxophone. In the band’s earliest conception, he was the only horn player, and he is often credited as the one whose idea it was to bring an entire horn section in...

Tutored by Thelonious Monk, the Harlem native came of age with bebop and created a succession of improvisational masterpieces that made him one of history’s most influential musicians.Sonny Rollins, the powerful and personal jazz tenor saxophonist whose improvisational sessions became legend and his compositions “St. Thomas,” “Oleo,” “Doxy,” “Rent-Up House” and “Airegin” standards, died Monday. He was 95. Rollins died at his home in Woodstock, New York, his family announced. Widely recognized as one of the most important and influential musicians of all time, Rollins recorded 60-plus albums during his seven-decade career. Along the way, he received a a...

The puppeteer and his late brother Marty partnered on 'The Banana Splits Adventure Hour,' 'H.R. Pufnstuf,' 'Land of the Lost' and much more.Sid Krofft, the wildly imaginative puppeteer who teamed with his younger brother Marty to build an entertainment empire behind such trippy TV shows as The Banana Splits Adventure Hour, H.R. Pufnstuf and Land of the Lost, has died. He was 96. Krofft, eight years older than Marty and the creative force of their business, died Friday in his sleep at the Los Angeles home of friend and business partner Kelly Killian. Marty died in November 2023 at age...

The Detroit Tigers family is mourning the loss of one of the most iconic pitchers in franchise history. Mickey Lolich, the legendary left-hander who helped carry the Tigers to a World Series championship in 1968, has passed away at the age of 85.

Scott Adams, a cartoonist, author, an independent-minded pundit and podcaster, has died at the age of 68 after a rather public battle against prostate cancer. The host of Real Coffee with Scott Adams, the creator of the legendary comic strip Dilbert, and the author of numerous books, had continued with his livestreaming routine, seven days a week throughout his treatments for the disease up until yesterday. In the process, he treated his audience like close family during his cancer journey. Adams first entered the American consciousness through the clever and relatable satire of Dilbert, which vividly captured the frustrations, absurdities,...

Jim Robinson, the visionary founder of Free Republic and one of the internet’s earliest conservative pioneers, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 27, 2025, in Fresno, California. He was 79. Longtime readers of this website may remember our frequent posting of Free Republic articles on The Gateway Pundit. The online community at Free Republic was one of the most devoted and energized conservative grassroots organizations in the country. ---- All of us here at The Gateway Pundit would like to thank Jim and his family for their dedication to the truth and their support for our great nation. Rest in...

Diane Ladd, the high-spirited actress who earned Academy Award nominations for her fiery performances in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, died Monday. She was 89. “My amazing hero and my profound gift of a mother passed with me beside her this morning at her home in Ojai, California,” her daughter, Oscar winner Laura Dern, said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “She was the greatest daughter, mother, grandmother, actress, artist and empathetic spirit that only dreams could have seemingly created. We were blessed to have her. She is flying with her angels now.”...

Ozzy Osbourne, the lead singer of Black Sabbath, died Tuesday. He was 76. "It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning," the family said in a statement to BBC. "He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time."

Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary Prince of Darkness and one of heavy metal’s most iconic stars, has died. He was 76. He died “surrounded by love,” his family said in a statement to The Sun on Tuesday. “It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time. Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis.”

Sly Stone, the frontman of legendary band Sly and the Family Stone, has died. He was 82. Stone, born Sylvester Stewart, had been in poor health in recent years. His publicist Carleen Donovan said Monday that Stone died surrounded by family after contending with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other ailments. Sly and the Family Stone transformed popular music in the 1960s and ’70s and beyond with such hits as "Everyday People," "Stand!" and "Family Affair."

Writing about the death of #MichaelLedeen is something I always feared a quiet dread I carried in my heart for years. Today, with overwhelming sorrow, I find myself doing just that. @michaelledeen was everything. Everything I have today my safety, my second chance, my voice I owe to him and his beloved wife, Barbara. In 2008, after surviving a decade of imprisonment and torture in the Islamic Republic in #Iran, I managed to escape to Iraq. It was Michael who intervened. He engaged directly with the U.S. government and secured my entry into the United States as a political refugee....

Singer Roberta Flack, who broke through as one of the most important and beloved singers of the 1970s and beyond with a sound that combined soul, jazz, rock and pop, died Monday at the age of 88. A representative for Flack did not share a cause of death, but the singer had been battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. Musically gifted from a young age, Flack won a scholarship to Howard University at just 15 with plans to pursue a classical music career. Turning The Tables Remembering Roberta Flack: The Virtuoso "My real ambition was to be a concert pianist,"...

NEW YORK (AP) — Marianne Faithfull, the British pop star, muse, libertine and old soul who inspired and helped write some of the Rolling Stones’ greatest songs and endured as a torch singer and survivor of the lifestyle she once embodied, has died. She was 78. Faithfull passed away Thursday in London, her music promotion company Republic Media said.

Former President Jimmy Carter, a man who redefined what a post-presidency could be, died Sunday. He was 100. Carter, who lived longer than any other U.S. president, entered home hospice care in Plains, Georgia in February 2023 after a series of short hospital stays. The only Georgian ever elected to the White House, Carter left office after a single term that was highlighted by forging peace between Israel and Egypt, but was overshadowed by the Iran hostage crisis. In the decades after, his reputation grew through his and wife Rosalynn Carter’s work at the Carter Center in Atlanta and his...

Art Cashin, UBS’ director of floor operations at the New York Stock Exchange who spent more than 60 years on Wall Street, has died aged 83. “It is with a heavy heart that I inform you of the passing of Arthur Cashin, Jr., a true giant in our industry, highly regarded market pundit,” Bill Carroll, head of sales and development at UBS Wealth Management USA, said in a memo to employees which was seen by Reuters on Monday. Cashin, dubbed ‘Wall Street’s version of Walter Cronkite’ by The Washington Post, was a regular on CNBC, delivering stock market commentary and...