Obituary

A country’s conscience
John Lewis died on July 17th

The congressman and civil-rights activist was 80

Writing music
Ennio Morricone died on July 6th

The Italian composer, who made his name writing music for the cinema, was 91

Perchance to dream
William Dement died on June 17th

The pioneer of sleep science and founder of the world’s first sleep clinic was 91

Facing up to Mao’s horrors
Li Zhensheng died on June 22nd

The chronicler in photographs of China’s Cultural Revolution was 79 or 80

Queen in all but name
Vera Lynn died on June 18th

The singer who kept Britain going through the second world war was 103

The lark of metro Barbès
Lily Lian died on May 24th

The last singer of popular songs on the streets of Paris was 103

Shout loud, save lives
Larry Kramer died on May 27th

The outspoken prophet of America’s AIDS epidemic was 84

The life pressed out
George Floyd was killed on May 25th

The unarmed black man whose death has convulsed America was 46

The wisdom of the forest
Antonio Bolívar died on April 30th

The star of “The Embrace of the Serpent” and custodian of tribal stories was 75

Gonna have some fun tonight
Little Richard died on May 9th

The king of rock & roll and hero for a generation of musicians was 87

Visions in the ordinary
Eavan Boland died on April 27th

The Irish poet who recovered and championed women’s voices was 75

A midwestern parable
Willie Levi died on April 23rd

The man whose case shone a sharp light on the treatment of mentally disabled workers was 73