Buzz
Before the COVID-19 pandemic is eventually overcome, either through time or a cure, the harsh truth is that many more lives will be claimed. No one is exempt from its impact, though it tends to be more fatal for those with weakened immune systems or the elderly.
Since the virus began spreading through China in 2019, it has resulted in thousands of deaths, including those of well-known figures such as celebrities, artists, and politicians.
Although every loss is a heartbreak, these ten individuals, listed here in no specific order, stand out for their contributions to society during their lifetimes, and like many others, they will be deeply missed.
10. Joe Diffie
If you're a fan of country music, the news of Joe Diffie's death likely struck a chord with you. Diffie was a celebrated country artist who enjoyed immense success with numerous hit singles over the years. Between 1990 and 2004, he released 35 singles that appeared on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Five of those hits topped the chart, including classics like 'Home,' 'If the Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets),' 'Third Rock from the Sun,' 'Pickup Man,' and 'Bigger Than the Beatles.' In addition to these hits, Diffie released seven studio albums, a Christmas album, and a Greatest Hits compilation.
9. Floyd Cardoz
The culinary world was shaken by the passing of Floyd Cardoz, a celebrated Indian-American chef and winner of Top Chef Masters in 2011. Fans of the hit show mourn his loss, as Cardoz was not only a television personality but also a successful entrepreneur in the gourmet food industry. He served as the executive chef at Paowalla and Tabla, two renowned New York City restaurants, where he skillfully combined Indian spices and flavors with Western culinary traditions.
Cardoz was also a four-time James Beard Award nominee and authored two cookbooks. In early March, Cardoz traveled from Mumbai to New York via Frankfurt, fell ill shortly after, and tested positive for COVID-19. Tragically, he passed away on March 25th at a hospital in New Jersey at the age of 59. He is survived by his wife and business manager, Barkha, and their two sons, Justin and Peter.
8. Maria Mercader
Although Maria Mercader may not have been widely recognized outside of the journalism world, she was a pivotal figure in news and reporting at CBS, where she dedicated over thirty years. Mercader began her career in 1987 as a CBS page, before transitioning to the network’s news division with CBS Newspath. There, she produced stories distributed across CBS' affiliate stations, covering major events such as the death of Princess Diana and the 9/11 attacks.
Mercader was honored with an Emmy Award for her excellence as a producer and rose to the position of Director of Talent Strategy at CBS in 2016. In this role, she worked to promote diversity in the workplace, building relationships with various minority organizations, including the Asian American Journalists Association. Despite battling cancer and other health challenges for over twenty years, Mercader succumbed to COVID-19 at a New York City hospital on March 29th, passing away at the age of 54.
7. Terrence McNally
Terrence McNally was a renowned playwright, screenwriter, and librettist, often celebrated as 'the bard of American theater.' Widely regarded as one of the greatest playwrights of his generation, McNally earned this title over a distinguished 56-year career. He won two Tony Awards for Best Play and another two Tony Awards for Best Book of a Musical. McNally’s list of accolades also includes an Emmy, two Guggenheim Fellowships, and numerous other theater honors.
Spanning six decades, McNally’s works included Broadway and off-Broadway plays, films, and operas, among other genres. He is best known for works like 'Kiss of the Spider-Woman' and 'Ragtime,' though his portfolio includes a wide range of plays and theater pieces. His works have been performed globally, and his death on March 24th from complications related to COVID-19 at the age of 81 left a deep void in the theater community.
6. Princess María Teresa Of Bourbon-Parma
Princess María Teresa of Bourbon-Parma was a French-Spanish member of the Bourbon-Parma family, a branch of the Spanish Royal family. She dedicated her life to advancing social causes, earning her the moniker 'Red Princess.' A staunch monarchist, she holds the tragic distinction of being the first member of a royal family to pass away from COVID-19. Born in Paris in 1933, she spent her childhood in various castles and attended private schools.
She pursued higher education at Paris-Sorbonne University, obtaining a doctorate in Hispanic Studies, and then continued her studies with another doctorate in Political Sociology from Complutense University of Madrid. Throughout her life, she was a fierce advocate for women's rights and other social causes. On March 27th, Princess María Teresa passed away at 86 due to COVID-19 complications. While she was the first royal to succumb to the disease, Prince Charles also tested positive but only experienced mild symptoms and was able to isolate for a week, ultimately recovering.
5. Nashom Wooden
While the name Nashom Wooden may not immediately ring a bell, his drag queen persona, Mona Foot, made him a memorable figure. Wooden first developed Mona Foot in the late 1980s, and he credited RuPaul as a key mentor in his drag career, especially for teaching him makeup techniques. This support helped him land the role of Mona Foot in the off-Broadway production 'My Pet Homo.' Interestingly, Wooden conceived the persona while working as a manager in a men's clothing department at Patricia Field’s boutique in Manhattan.
Wooden later appeared as Mona Foot in the movie 'Flawless,' where he also performed the iconic song of the same name with The Ones. As time passed, Wooden gradually moved away from his Mona Foot persona. Despite being diagnosed with HIV, his viral load remained undetectable. His death, however, was due to complications from COVID-19, which claimed his life on March 23rd in New York City at the age of 50.
4. Manu Dibango
Emmanuel N’Djoké 'Manu' Dibango was a celebrated Cameroonian musician, known for his contributions to jazz, particularly as a skilled saxophonist and composer. With a career that spanned six decades, he produced many hits, most notably the 1972 single 'Soul Makossa,' which later became iconic after being sampled by artists like Michael Jackson and Kanye West. Dibango's journey began at age 15 when he moved to Paris following World War II, quickly establishing himself as a fixture in the European jazz scene.
3. Dr. Li Wenliang
Fame often comes during one’s lifetime, but for some, it’s a posthumous recognition. This was the case for Dr. Li Wenliang, a Chinese ophthalmologist who worked at Wuhan Central Hospital. In December 2019, he was one of the first to warn colleagues about an emerging virus resembling SARS. That virus would later be identified as COVID-19, and Dr. Wenliang became the first doctor to sound the alarm about its potential dangers.
Dr. Wenliang became a whistleblower on the impending virus, but tragically, he faced consequences for it. On January 3rd, the Wuhan police reprimanded him for 'spreading false information online.' Despite this setback, he returned to work and later contracted the virus from one of his patients. He passed away on February 7th at the age of 33. After his death, Dr. Wenliang was posthumously exonerated and the Communist Party of China issued a 'solemn apology' for the earlier rebuke. Had his warnings been heeded, this list of losses might not exist.
Don’t forget to wash your hands, practice social distancing, and always remember: we will get through this together!
2. Daniel Azulay
Daniel Azulay, a celebrated comic book artist and educator, was well-known both in Brazil and internationally. His artistic legacy is particularly cherished for his children’s series, Turma do Lambe-Lambe. Born in Rio de Janeiro and raised in the vibrant neighborhood of Ipanema, Azulay's career began early with the creation of a newspaper strip, Capitão Cipó, at just 21. Five years later, he introduced his iconic Turma do Lambe-Lambe.
Azulay’s work not only entertained but also educated children in the 1980s on ecology, art, design, and other important subjects. His international travels saw him exhibiting his artwork and conducting lectures, while his art workshops impacted thousands of children and adults. In 2009, he expanded his reach by hosting an online drawing class to teach even more aspiring artists. Azulay passed away in his hometown of Rio de Janeiro at 72, after being hospitalized for leukemia treatment. Sadly, he contracted COVID-19 during his stay, leading to complications that resulted in his death.
1. Lucia Bosè
Italy was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, and no one was immune to its effects. Lucia Bosè, a celebrated actress, gained fame in Italy during the Italian Neorealism movement that emerged in the 1950s. Initially, she worked in a bakery, but in 1947, she won second place in the Miss Italia beauty pageant, which catapulted her into the acting world. Throughout the early 1950s, she earned recognition for her roles, reaching her peak in 1955 before her career slowed down.
While filming Muerte de un ciclista, she fell in love with a Spanish bullfighter, and soon after, she decided to leave her acting career behind to focus on raising a family. She eventually returned to the screen, taking on multiple roles with her last appearance in 2007. Lucia Bosè was also the mother of the renowned Spanish singer Miguel Bosé. She was deeply respected in her field throughout her life. Sadly, she passed away on March 23rd at the age of 89 from pneumonia, which was complicated by a COVID-19 infection.
