Final goodbye to some who died in '08

From the summit of Everest, the top of the world, to the intricate workings of the human heart. From outer galaxies to the dungeons of Stalin's gulag.

Sir Edmund Hillary was the first man to stand atop the world's highest mountain. Dr. Michael DeBakey developed treatments for heart disease that prolonged the lives of millions.

Arthur C. Clarke carried readers and moviegoers light years into space and centuries into the future. Alexander Solzhenitsyn bravely revealed the horrors of the Soviet prison system.

They are some of the remarkable people who died in 2008.

Here, a roll call of some of the notable people who died in 2008. (Cause of death cited for younger people if available.)

JANUARY:

Erich Kaestner, 107. Believed to be Germany's last World War I veteran. Jan. 1..

Sir Edmund Hillary, 88. He conquered Mount Everest; one of 20th century's greatest adventurers. Jan. 11.

Carl N. Karcher, 90. He parlayed $325 investment into Carl's Jr. hamburger chain. Jan. 11.

Johnny Podres, 75. He pitched Brooklyn Dodgers to their only World Series title in 1955. Jan. 13.

Bobby Fischer, 64. Reclusive chess genius who dethroned Soviet champion in 1972. Jan. 17.

Suzanne Pleshette, 70. Beautiful, husky-voiced actress; sardonic wife on "The Bob Newhart Show." Jan. 19.

Heath Ledger, 28. Actor nominated for Oscar for "Brokeback Mountain"; the Joker in "The Dark Knight." Jan. 22. Drug overdose.

FEBRUARY:

Harry Richard Landis, 108. One of two surviving U.S. veterans of World War I. Feb. 4.

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, around 91. Beatles' guru; introduced transcendental meditation to West. Feb. 5.

Roy Scheider, 75. Two-time Oscar nominee ("The French Connection," "All That Jazz"); police chief in "Jaws." Feb. 10.

Evan Mecham, 83. Firebrand Arizona governor; removed in 1988 impeachment trial. Feb. 21.

Myron Cope, 79. Colorful Pittsburgh Steelers announcer. Feb. 27.

William F. Buckley Jr., 82. Erudite author, editor; helped revive conservative movement. Feb. 27.

MARCH:

Gary Gygax, 69. Co-created Dungeons & Dragons; father of role-playing games. March 4.

Lazare Ponticelli, 110. France's last World War I veteran. March 12.

Ivan Dixon, 76. Actor; Kinchloe on "Hogan's Heroes." March 16.

Arthur C. Clarke, 90. Visionary science fiction writer ("2001: A Space Odyssey,") March 19.

Richard Widmark, 93. Hollywood leading man; made sensational debut as a giggling killer ("Kiss of Death.") March 24.

APRIL:

Charlton Heston, 84. Oscar winner ("Ben-Hur"); later headed National Rifle Association. April 5.

Burt Glinn, 82. Magnum photographer; Cold War images included Khrushchev's 1959 U.S. visit. April 9.

John A. Wheeler, 96. Physicist; coined "black holes." April 13.

Yossi Harel, 90. His 1947 attempt to bring Holocaust survivors to Palestine inspired "Exodus." April 26.

Albert Hofmann, 102. Discoverer of LSD, which inspired - and arguably corrupted - millions in 1960s. April 29.

MAY:

Philipp Freiherr von Boeselager, 90. Believed to be last of plotters who tried to kill Hitler in 1944. May 1.

Irvine Robbins, 90. Co-founded Baskin-Robbins, brought exotic ice cream to every corner of America. May 5.

Robert Mondavi, 94. Vintner who helped Napa Valley become a wine-lovers' mecca. May 16.

Dick Martin, 86. Zany co-host of "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In," which took television by storm in 1960s. May 24.

Sydney Pollack, 73. Oscar-winning director, a Hollywood mainstay ("Tootsie," "Out of Africa.") May 26.

Harvey Korman, 81. Emmy winner for "The Carol Burnett Show"; conniving politician in "Blazing Saddles." May 29.

JUNE:

Bo Diddley, 79. Founding father of rock ‘n' roll, known for "shave and a haircut, two bits" rhythm. June 2.

Jack Lucas, 80. At 17, became youngest Marine to receive Medal of Honor. June 5.

Jim McKay, 86. "Wide World of Sports" host; told Americans about killings at 1972 Olympics. June 7.

Tim Russert, 58. Host of "Meet the Press" whose personality and passion made him beloved in Washington. June 13.

Cyd Charisse, 86. Dancer turned actress; starred in musicals with Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly. June 17.

George Carlin, 71. The dean of counterculture comedians who taught us "Seven Words You Can Never Say On TV." June 22.

JULY:

Former Sen. Jesse Helms, 86. A champion of conservatism who spent three decades in Congress. July 4.

Tony Snow, 53. White House press secretary who cheerfully sparred with reporters. July 12. Colon cancer.

Jerome Holtzman, 82. Hall of Fame Chicago baseball writer, historian. July 19.

Paul Bentley, 87. Detective who helped arrest Lee Harvey Oswald. July 21.

Eric "Digger" Dowling, 92. Had major role in planning the "Great Escape" from German prison camp. July 21.

Michael J. Daly, 83. Awarded Medal of Honor for heroism in World War II. July 25.

AUGUST:

Alexander Solzhenitsyn, 89. Nobel-winning Russian author who chronicled Stalin's slave labor camps. Aug. 3.

Anthony J. Russo, 71. Researcher who helped leak Pentagon Papers in 1971. Aug. 6.

Bernie Mac, 50. One of "Original Kings of Comedy" who connected with audiences across a wide spectrum ("Ocean's Eleven.") Aug. 9. Pneumonia.

Isaac Hayes, 65. Soul crooner who laid groundwork for disco; won Oscar, Grammy for "Theme From Shaft." Aug. 10.

Edward Freeman, 80. Army helicopter pilot in Vietnam awarded Medal of Honor. Aug. 20.

Gene Upshaw, 63. Football star; leader of NFL players union. Aug. 20.

Yuri Ivanovich Nosenko, 81. KGB spy who defected, became valuable source for the CIA. Aug. 23.

SEPTEMBER:

Jerry Reed, 71. Witty country singer ("When You're Hot, You're Hot") and actor ("Smokey and the Bandit.") Sept. 1.

Don Haskins, 78. Hall of Fame basketball coach; broke color barrier in 1966 by using five black starters. Sept. 7.

Ralph S. Plaisted, 80. Led 1968 expedition to North Pole. Sept. 8.

Nathan Green Gordon, 92. Awarded Medal of Honor for rescue of 15 downed airmen. Sept. 8.

Paul Newman, 83. Oscar-winning actor/philanthropist who never lost the heartthrob cool of his anti-hero performances. Sept. 26.

OCTOBER:

Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal, 79. Vegas gambling executive; inspired film "Casino." Oct. 13.

Robert R. Furman, 93. Army officer; supervised secret roundup of uranium stocks during World War II. Oct. 14.

Levi Stubbs, 72. Dynamic Four Tops frontman ("Baby I Need Your Loving.") Oct. 17.

Tony Hillerman, 83. Author of acclaimed Navajo mystery novels. Oct. 26.

NOVEMBER:

Cecil Stoughton, 88. Took famed image of Lyndon Johnson's swearing-in after Kennedy assassination. Nov. 3.

Michael Crichton, 66. Author whose books became blockbuster films ("Jurassic Park.") Nov. 4.

Preacher Roe, 92. All-Star Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher; one of "The Boys of Summer." Nov. 9.

Pete Newell, 93. Hall of Fame University of California basketball coach. Nov. 17.

DECEMBER:

Forrest J Ackerman, 92. Editor, literary agent; credited with coining term "sci-fi." Dec. 4.

Martha "Sunny" von Bulow, 76. Comatose heiress; husband was acquitted of attempted murder. Dec. 6.

Bettie Page, 85. Beauty who daringly bared it all in the straitlaced ‘50s. Dec. 11.

Sammy Baugh, 94. Hall of Fame Washington Redskins quarterback; revolutionized use of forward pass. Dec. 17.

W. Mark Felt, 95. FBI second-in-command who revealed himself as "Deep Throat" 30 years after Watergate. Dec. 18.

Robert Mulligan, 83. Academy Award-nominated director of "To Kill a Mockingbird"; later helped launch Reese Witherspoon's career. Dec. 20.