Obituary
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20231124012807im_/https://www.economist.com/img/b/1424/801/90/media-assets/image/20231125_OBP001.jpg)
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
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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
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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
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When the laughter stops
Matthew Perry changed the way America spoke
The star of the sitcom “Friends” died on October 28th, aged 54
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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
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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
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20231124012807im_/https://www.economist.com/img/b/1424/801/90/media-assets/image/20231014_OBP501.jpg)
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
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Beauty been
The Sycamore Gap tree held a particularly deep place in people’s hearts
It was felled maliciously in the small hours of September 28th, aged around 300
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20231124012807im_/https://www.economist.com/img/b/1424/801/90/media-assets/image/20230930_OBP001.jpg)
Life in its fullness
Fernando Botero became famous for his over-size people and animals
But the Colombian painter and sculptor, who died on September 15th, had a different agenda
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On a spear’s edge
Mangosuthu Buthelezi had his own vision for a democratic South Africa
The Zulu chief, a rival to Nelson Mandela, died on September 9th, aged 95
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Rules in the millions
Douglas Lenat trained computers to think the old-fashioned way
The mathematician who insisted that AI needed a basis of pure common sense died on August 31st, aged 72
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20231124012807im_/https://www.economist.com/img/b/1424/801/90/media-assets/image/20230909_OBP501.jpg)
Building revolution
Isabel Crook devoted her long life to making a new China
The Canadian anthropologist and teacher died on August 20th, aged 107