Celebrity Death Thread 2012

[Correction]

Computer Legend and Gaming Pioneer Jack Tramiel Dies at Age 83

[MaachaQ]

Gold-medalist diver Lenzi dies at 43

Mark Lenzi struck gold when he switched from wrestling to diving in the mid-1980s.

Over the next decade, he became the 1992 Olympic 3-meter springboard champion, earned a bronze medal four years later in Atlanta and became the first driver to score 100 points on a single dive.

On Monday, Lenzi, the last American male diver to win Olympic gold, died at the age of 43 in Greenville, N.C.

Lenzi's alma mater, Indiana University, posted the announcement on its web site but did not provide a cause of death. His mother, Ellie, told the family's hometown newspaper, The Free Lance-Star of Fredricksburg, Va., that Lenzi had been hospitalized the past two weeks because of fainting spells that were caused by low blood pressure.

"As an Olympic gold and bronze medalist, Mark was one of our country's greatest divers, and he will be missed tremendously,'' USA Diving chairman Bob Rydze said in a statement posted on the organization's web site.

It almost didn't happen.

Lenzi was wrestling in high school when he was suddenly captivated by Greg Louganis' remarkable Olympics performance in 1984. Lenzi quickly changed sports and dove right into his new passion.

In 1989, he swept the Big Ten titles in the 1-meter, 3-meter and platform competitions, then went on to win the first of his back-to-back 1-meter national championships in `89. He was selected the NCAA's diver of the year in 1989 and 1990.

But Lenzi was just beginning to emerge on the international stage.

His victory on the 3-meter board at the Barcelona Olympics gave the Americans their third straight title in that event. Four years later, following a brief retirement, Lenzi earned an Olympic bronze medal.

No American male diver has won an Olympic diving medal since Lenzi in `96.

Lenzi's impressive resume includes 18 international springboard championships. He was the first diver to score more than 700 points in an 11-dive competition on the 3-meter board and was the first American to successfully complete a forward, 4 1/2 somersault in competition.

After his diving career ended, Lenzi went into coaching. He helped four divers win national age-group titles with Indiana's junior diving team and coached men's and women's divers at East Carolina from 2009-11.

Lenzi is survived by his wife, Dorothy, his mother, two brothers, one sister and his grandmother, Mary Cochran. Lenzi's funeral and viewing will be held Tuesday at Wilkerson Funeral Home in Greensville from 6 to 8 p.m.

[Ratatapa]

Commodor Jack Tramiel dead

http://www.siliconrepublic.com/digit...international/

[Day]

About to lose a great drummer/musician/singer. I has a sad.

http://www.billboard.com/news/levon-...06790752.story

[Eticket]

Dick Clark

http://www.tmz.com/2012/04/18/dick-c...-heart-attack/

[Bregor]

HAPPY DOO YEAR

[Cail]

surprised he made it this long

[TacoTaru]

This is one of those times where I feel bad because I thought he was already dead.

[Correction]

He died years ago, the muppeteer animating his corpse for new year's just retired.

[Titanss]

10,000 dollar pyramid was the shit son

[Talint]

10,000 dollar pyramid was the shit son

Yes. Yes it was.

They actually had to ban from being a celeb partner on the show because he was too awesome.

[CrosisX]

Gonna miss Dick Clark. Man was a legend.

[miokomioko]

This is one of those times where I feel bad because I thought he was already dead.

I feel bad because I randomly just wished him dead a day or so ago.

[bechyni]

I feel bad because I randomly just wished him dead a day or so ago.

Proves you have the power to wish someone dead.

[kuronosan]

He should have died January 1st. It would have had more impact.

[Null]

Dick Clark at 12:01.

Second post in thread. So close.

[Aksannyi]

surprised he made it this long

This, but still, RIP

[Tweek]

[Day]

Levon Helm passed away this afternoon. Drummer for "The Band". Legendary musician. Sad day for all musicians.

Some of you may remember him as the old crazy guy in "Shooter".

About to lose a great drummer/musician/singer. I has a sad.

http://www.billboard.com/news/levon-...06790752.story

[Toxictaru]

Greg Ham of Men at Work, was 58.
http://news-briefs.ew.com/2012/04/19...ead/?hpt=hp_t3