On this day in 1924, French poet, journalist, and novelist Anatole France died in Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire, France at the age of 80. Born François-Anatole Thibault on 16 April 1844 in Paris. He was a successful novelist, with several best-sellers. Ironic and skeptical, he was considered in his day the ideal French man of letters. France was a member of the Académie française, and won the Nobel Prize for Literaturein recognition of his literary achievements. He is also believed to be the model for narrator Marcel’s literary idol Bergotte in Marcel Proust’s In Search of Lost Time. In 1877, Anatole France married Valérie Guérin de Sauville (1877 – 1893 divorce). France’s relations with women were always turbulent, and in 1888 he began a relationship with Madame Arman de Caillavet, who conducted a celebrated literary salon of the Third Republic. The affair lasted until shortly before her death in 1910. After his divorce, he had many liaisons, notably with Mme. Gagey, who committed suicide in 1911. France married again, Emma Laprévotte in 1920.
The Final Footprint – France is buried in the Neuilly-sur-Seine community cemetery. The Neuilly-sur-Seine community cemeteries in the Hauts-de-Seine département of France are in the western suburbs of Paris, between Paris and La Défense. The first is called cimetière ancien (Old Cemetery) and is to be found in Neuilly; the second (New Cemetery) is to be found in Nanterre, near La Défense, but belongs to Neuilly. It is called cimetière nouveau.
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On this day in 1940, The King of the Cowboys, actor Tom Mix died in a car accident near Florence, Arizona at the age of 60. Born Thomas Hezikiah Mix on January 6, 1880 in Mix Run Pennsylvania. The star of many early Western movies between 1909 and 1935, Mix appeared in 291 films, all but nine of which were silent movies. He was Hollywood’s first Western star and helped define the genre as it emerged in the early days of the cinema.
The Final Footprint
Mix memorial near Florence, Arizona (32°49′17.4″N 111°12′12.5″W), the site of his death
His funeral took place at the Little Church of the Flowers in Glendale, California, on October 16, 1940, and was attended by thousands of fans and Hollywood personalities. He was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery Glendale. Other notable Final Footprints at Forest Lawn Glendale include; L. Frank Baum, Humphrey Bogart, Lon Chaney, Nat King Cole, Sam Cooke, Dorothy Dandridge, Sammy Davis, Jr., Walt Disney, Errol Flynn, Clark Gable, Jean Harlow, Michael Jackson, Carole Lombard, Casey Stengel, Jimmy Stewart, Elizabeth Taylor, and Spencer Tracy
On this day in 1997, singer/songwriter, actor, activist, poet John Denver died at the age of 53 when his experimental Rutan Long-EZ plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean near Pacific Grove, California, while making a series of touch-and-go landings at the nearby Monterey Peninsula Airport. Born Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr. on 31 December 1943 in Roswell, New Mexico. My all time favorite John Denver song is Wild Montana Skies. Oh, to be there now astride a fine, stout horse.
The Final Footprint – Upon announcement of Denver’s death, Colorado governor Roy Romer ordered all state flags to be lowered to half staff in his honor. Funeral services were held at Faith Presbyterian Church in Aurora, Colorado, on 17 October 1997, being officiated by Pastor Les Felker, a retired Air Force chaplain. Later, Denver’s ashes were scattered in the Rocky Mountains. Further tributes were made at the following Grammys and Country Music Association Awards. On 23 September 2007, nearly ten years after his death, his brother Ron witnessed the dedication of a plaque placed near the crash-site in Pacific Grove, California, commemorating the singer.
#RIP #OTD in 2020 actress (Hot L Baltimore, Erin Brockovich, L. A. Law, Two and a Half Men) Conchata Ferrell died; cardiac arrest; Sherman Oaks Hospital in Sherman Oaks, California aged 77. Forest Cemetery, Circleville, Ohio
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On this day in 1963, French singer and cultural icon Édith Piaf died of liver cancer at age 47 at her villa in Plascassier (Grasse), on the French Riviera, the day before filmmaker and friend Jean Cocteau died. Born Édith Giovanna Gassion on 19 December 1915 in Belleville, Paris. Widely regarded as France’s national diva, as well as being one of France’s greatest international stars. Her singing reflected her life, with her specialty being ballads. Among her songs are “La Vie en rose” (1946), “Non, je ne regrette rien” (1960), “Hymne à l’amour” (1949), “Milord” (1959), “La Foule” (1957), “l’Accordéoniste” (1955), and “Padam… Padam…” (1951). Reportedly, the love of Piaf’s life, the married boxer Marcel Cerdan, died in a plane crash in October 1949, while flying from Paris to New York City to meet Piaf. Cerdan’s Air France flight, flown on a Lockheed Constellation, crashed in the Azores, killing everyone on board, including noted violinist Ginette Neveu. Piaf and Cerdan’s affair made international headlines, as Cerdan was the former middleweight world champion and a legend in France in his own right. Piaf married Jacques Pills (1952 – 1957 divorce) and Théo Sarapo (1962 – 1963 her death).
And on this day in 2014, actress and comedienne Jan Hooks died from throat cancer at her home in Woodstock, New York, at the age of 57. Born Janet Vivian Hooks on April 23, 1957 in Decatur, Georgia. Perhaps best known for her work on Saturday Night Live, where she was a repertory player from 1986 to 1991, and continued making cameo appearances until 1994. Her subsequent work included a regular role on the final two seasons of Designing Women, a recurring role on 3rd Rock from the Sun and a number of other roles in film and television including on Tina Fey’s NBC show 30 Rock and The Simpsons.
The Final Footprint
And on this day in 2015, chef Paul Prudhomme died in New Orleans at the age of 75. Born on July 13, 1940 in Opelousas, Louisiana. His specialties were Creole and Cajun cuisines, which he was also credited with popularizing. He was the chef proprietor of K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen in New Orleans, and had formerly owned and run several other restaurants. He developed several culinary products, including hot sauce and seasoning mixes, and wrote 11 cookbooks.
On this day in 1981, actress and singer Gloria Grahame died from cancer at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Manhattan, New York City, at the age of 57. Born Gloria Grahame Hallward on November 28, 1923 in Los Angeles. She began her acting career in theatre, and in 1944 made her first film for MGM. 
