Buzz
Since childhood, I've been captivated by obituaries. Delving into the stories of lives, from the ordinary to the extraordinary, has always intrigued me. Each person's journey is unique, and their tale deserves to be shared when their time comes. Accuracy is essential, but the most critical detail is ensuring the individual has truly passed before their obituary is published. Surprisingly, errors occur more frequently than one might expect. Whether someone has faked their demise, been mistakenly declared dead, or confused with another, premature death announcements are more common than you'd think.
The individuals listed here were all declared deceased, with their deaths announced in obituaries or through other media channels (or, in one instance, speculated). While some may have been featured in earlier compilations, I aimed to highlight lesser-known cases, avoiding the widely reported multiple death announcements of figures like Gerald Ford, Bob Hope, and Pope John Paul II.
10. Shoichi Yokoi
While Yokoi’s story has appeared in other compilations, I chose to include it because of the profound impact it had on me as a teenager. Learning about a Japanese soldier emerging from the jungle, still convinced World War II was ongoing, was astonishing. The idea that someone could remain hidden and continue fighting for 28 years after the war ended was both shocking and unforgettable—yet entirely true.
In World War II, surrendering was seen as a disgrace for Japanese soldiers, leading to dishonor. When Guam was liberated by the United States in 1944, ten Japanese soldiers chose to escape into the jungle rather than surrender. They dismissed reports of Japan’s surrender as enemy propaganda. Even after the war officially ended in 1945, these soldiers stayed hidden. Over time, seven returned to society, but three remained in the jungle. Two of them perished from starvation, leaving Shoichi Yokoi as the sole survivor. In 1972, after 28 years in hiding, Yokoi was discovered by two local fishermen, who captured and brought him out.
Shoichi Yokoi’s fight for the Japanese Imperial Army finally came to an end. Presumed dead long ago, his obituary had listed him as killed in action. Upon his return, he was celebrated as a hero in Japan. However, Yokoi felt he had failed the Emperor and his country, famously stating, 'It is with much embarrassment that I have returned alive,' a phrase that quickly gained popularity. Remarkably, Yokoi was the third-to-last Japanese soldier to emerge from hiding. Hiroo Onoda and Teruo Nakamura, the final two, continued their resistance and surfaced later.
9. Luca Barbareschi
Although it’s unclear whether an obituary was ever published for Luca Barbareschi, his story and the controversy surrounding the film Cannibal Holocaust are so bizarre that I felt compelled to include it here. For a time, many people genuinely believed Barbareschi had died.
The late 1970s and early 1980s were a golden era for horror cinema. Iconic films like An American Werewolf in London, The Thing, Halloween, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre dominated the genre. However, in 1980, a film emerged that was so disturbing it prompted authorities to investigate whether the extreme violence depicted was real.
Long before The Blair Witch Project, Italian director Ruggero Deodato created Cannibal Holocaust, which was presented as “recovered documentary footage.” The film follows a group of documentary filmmakers who venture into the Amazon jungle to capture the lives of indigenous tribes, only to disappear. Months later, their footage is discovered, depicting horrifying scenes, including impalements and other gruesome acts.
Just ten days after its release, Deodato was arrested on obscenity charges, and the film was banned in Italy, Australia, the UK, and other countries. Shockingly, rumors that the actors had been killed during production led to murder charges against Deodato. In 1981, a French magazine speculated whether Cannibal Holocaust was a snuff film, further fueling the belief that the actors had been murdered. While this controversy likely boosted the film’s notoriety, Deodato hadn’t anticipated people would genuinely believe he had killed his cast. To maintain the illusion, he had the actors sign contracts preventing them from appearing in any media for a year after the film’s release, reinforcing the idea that the footage was real.
Luca Barbareschi was one of four actors Italian police suspected had been killed during filming. Deodato eventually contacted Barbareschi and the others, voiding their contracts and arranging their appearance on an Italian TV show to prove they were alive.
Despite being cleared of murder charges, Deodato still faced legal consequences. The courts found him guilty of violating animal cruelty laws, as several animals were harmed and killed during the production of Cannibal Holocaust. Deodato, along with the producers, screenwriter, and a studio representative, received a four-month suspended sentence for obscenity and violence. Deodato spent three more years battling in court to lift the ban on his film.
8. Vuk Peric
Warren Zevon, the singer and songwriter, was aware of his impending death after being diagnosed with mesothelioma, a rare cancer linked to asbestos exposure. With only a year left to live, Zevon reflected on his career, which began in the 1970s alongside California rock icons like Jackson Browne and The Eagles. In a mix of humor and seriousness, he wondered if Don Henley would attend his funeral—Henley did not.
Have you ever thought about who might attend your funeral? Vuk Peric, a man from Serbia, decided to find out. In 1997, he published his own obituary in a local newspaper and sent out funeral invitations. From a distance, he observed the service, then surprised everyone by walking in to thank them for coming and inviting them to his wake. He later told a newspaper, 'I wanted to see people smiling at my funeral and was curious who would show up.'
In 2002, five years after his unusual funeral experiment, Peric attempted to sell his grave and tombstone. Unfortunately, there were no buyers.
7. Frank Gorshin
Frank Gorshin, an actor, impersonator, and comedian, is most famous for his portrayal of the Riddler in the 1960s Batman series and his role as Belle in the Star Trek episode 'Let That Be Your Last Battlefield.' However, Gorshin almost didn’t live to create these iconic characters. In fact, he was declared dead in 1957.
In 1957, while in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Gorshin received an urgent call from his agent urging him to return to California for an audition in the upcoming Clark Gable film, 'Run Silent, Run Deep.' Reluctant to fly, Gorshin drove nonstop for 39 hours. Nearing his destination, he fell asleep at the wheel and crashed, sustaining a severe head injury that left him unconscious for four days. During this time, Los Angeles newspapers reported his death. Gorshin missed the audition, and the role ultimately went to Don Rickles.
6. Terry L. Fergerson
Imagine arriving at work on an ordinary day, only to find your colleagues mourning your death. This was the surreal experience of 58-year-old graphic arts teacher Terry Fergerson in May 2006, when he walked into Central Technical Vocational School in Syracuse, New York. Staff and students were shocked and grieving his supposed passing—until he appeared, very much alive.
The confusion began the night before, around 9:17 p.m., when a fatal head-on collision occurred in nearby Hannibal. The victim, 59-year-old Terry L. Ferguson, drove a red Chevrolet pickup, shared a similar name, and was close in age to Fergerson. News of the accident led Fergerson’s family to believe he had died, prompting an outpouring of condolences. Reflecting on the bizarre coincidence, Fergerson remarked, 'I don’t know the odds, but it’s pretty unbelievable.'
5. Dave Swarbrick
Renowned as the most influential British fiddle player without exception, Dave Swarbrick not only served as a session musician but also became an integral part of Fairport Convention from 1969 to 1979. Despite his immense talent, Swarbrick faced severe health challenges, battling progressively worsening emphysema. In a bizarre twist, the Daily Telegraph published an obituary on April 29, 1999, portraying him as a 'small, dynamic, charismatic figure' capable of electrifying audiences with a single stroke of his bow. Ironically, Swarbrick was very much alive, having undergone two benefit concerts and a double lung transplant, continuing to tour and perform regularly.
The newspaper later apologized for the premature obituary, which Swarbrick himself read. His wife, Jill, humorously noted that he found no fault with the spellings or facts, except for the glaring inaccuracy. That August, Swarbrick made a triumphant return to the public eye at the Cropredy folk music festival, where he amused fans by autographing copies of his own obituary. 'It’s not the first time I’ve died in Coventry,' he quipped, embracing the irony of the situation.
4. Paul Vance
In June 1960, Brian Hyland soared to fame with the catchy tune 'Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini,' penned by Paul Vance. Vance's songwriting prowess didn't stop there; he also co-wrote classics like Perry Como's 'Catch a Falling Star' and Clint Holmes' 1973 chart-topper 'Playground in My Mind.' His contributions earned him a nomination for the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2009. However, in 2006, Vance was mistakenly declared dead in an obituary published by The News-Times of Danbury, Connecticut, which was widely circulated by the Associated Press and global news outlets. The twist? Vance was very much alive.
On September 6, 2006, Paul van Valkenburgh, a former salesman and painting contractor from Ormond Beach, Florida, passed away. The News-Times reported that van Valkenburgh had claimed to have written 'Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka-Dot Bikini' under the pseudonym Paul Vance, having sold the song's rights years prior. His wife, believing this tale, included the claim in his obituary. This misinformation led to widespread confusion about Vance's true identity and status.
Paul Vance discovered the erroneous reports of his death while watching a local news broadcast. To dispel the rumors, he publicly confirmed he was alive and even displayed royalty checks from ASCAP as proof. The false news had caused concern among his relatives and friends, who rushed to check on him. Additionally, two of his racehorses were withdrawn from competitions due to the reports. Vance contemplated legal action, fearing the false obituary might disrupt his royalty payments.
3. Lincoln Hall
The 2006 Everest climbing season was marked by tragedy, with eleven climbers losing their lives. Among the most debated incidents was the death of David Sharp. Sharp arrived at Everest with minimal support and outdated equipment, lacking the usual resources like climbing partners, Sherpas, or even a camera. Despite these challenges, he was determined to reach the summit, even if it meant sacrificing more fingers and toes. His solitary journey and inadequate preparation made his story one of the most poignant of the season.
David Sharp is believed to have summited Everest on May 14th, but exhaustion prevented his descent. Weak and unable to continue, he sought refuge in a small cave near the summit. A Sherpa found him alive, and Sharp identified himself, expressing his desire to sleep. Despite his condition, around forty climbers passed him without offering assistance. By May 16th, Sharp had perished, sparking global outrage. Sir Edmund Hillary condemned the incident, stating that human life should always take precedence over reaching the summit.
Ten days after David Sharp's death, Australian climber Lincoln Hall faced a similar fate. Hall, part of a climbing group that had already lost German climber Thomas Weber, struggled with high altitude cerebral edema after summiting. Sherpas attempted to save him but were eventually forced to leave him in the 'death zone' to save themselves. Hall was declared dead, and the news was relayed to his wife and the world, marking another tragic loss on Everest.
The following day, climber Dan Mazur and his team were stunned to encounter Lincoln Hall alive at over 28,000 feet. Hall, sitting exposed and without oxygen, greeted them with a remark about their surprise. Miraculously, he had survived a night in the death zone, defying all odds. Eleven Sherpas worked tirelessly to bring him down, and Hall lived to tell his extraordinary tale.
2. Whitney Cerak
On April 26, 2006, a tragic accident occurred when a van carrying Taylor University students collided with a tractor trailer. Five students lost their lives, and four others sustained serious injuries, including one who fell into a coma. Whitney Cerak was initially declared among the deceased, and her funeral drew over a thousand mourners. Meanwhile, Laura VanRyn, one of the survivors, was hospitalized in critical condition. As VanRyn began to recover, her speech and behavior raised suspicions among her loved ones. When she wrote her name, it was revealed to be Whitney Cerak, not Laura VanRyn. The shocking mix-up was due to their similar appearances and builds. Laura VanRyn had been buried under Whitney Cerak’s name, while Whitney, who had been misidentified as Laura, eventually recovered and graduated from college in 2009.
1. Eric de Boer
In January 2009, reports surfaced that Rich Williams, the iconic eye-patch-wearing guitarist for the rock band Kansas, had passed away. Obituaries appeared in New England newspapers and on the Legacy website. However, the real Rich Williams was alive and well. The deceased was actually Eric de Boer from Kingston, New Hampshire, who had been impersonating Williams for years. De Boer claimed to be Williams, a member of Kansas, and even took credit for writing their hit song 'Carry on My Wayward Son,' which was actually penned by Kerry Livgren. He also fabricated a story about being a Vietnam POW. Williams had known about the impersonation for years but chose not to act out of respect for de Boer’s supposed military service. Later investigations suggested de Boer likely never served in Vietnam.
