Obituary

Equally remarkable

The notable obituaries of 2023

A year of lives remembered in The Economist

The comfort of apples

Eric Freeman hoped to save the Gloucestershire of old

The champion of wassailing and saviour of rare breeds died on October 29th, aged 91

Let’s talk about now

Benjamin Zephaniah stayed angry all his life

The performance poet and “deep-down revolutionary” died on December 7th, aged 65

A cowgirl on the bench

Sandra Day O’Connor specialised in breaking into male bastions

The first woman justice on America’s Supreme Court died on December 1st, aged 93

Adapt or die

Saleemul Huq lobbied ceaselessly to make poor countries heard

The biologist and climate activist died on October 28th, aged 71

The fastest gun in the west

Elinor Otto did not realise what giant strides she was making for women

The longest-working “Rosie the Riveter” died on November 12th, aged 104

A hundred ways to peace

Vivian Silver knew no good could ever come of war

The veteran Canadian-Israeli peace activist has been confirmed killed on October 7th, aged 74

Elastic adventures

David Kirke believed safe sport repressed people’s imaginations

The world’s first bungee-jumper and founder of the Dangerous Sports Club died on October 21st, aged 78

When the laughter stops

Matthew Perry changed the way America spoke

The star of the sitcom “Friends” died on October 28th, aged 54

An eye over Gaza

Rushdi Sarraj loved to record what others did not or would not see

The Palestinian photo-journalist and film-maker was killed in an Israeli missile strike on October 22nd

Life on the edge

Ofir Libstein had extraordinary dreams for his small patch

The mayor of Sha’ar HaNegev was killed in the Hamas attacks on October 7th, aged 50

A foe who never was

Muhammad Amir Muhammad Khan fought India’s government for five decades

The still-dispossessed Rajah of Mahmudabad died on October 4th, aged 80