A former monk, he spent decades constructing a grand edifice as an act of faith and devotion, and did so almost single-handedly.
Tag: Deaths (Obituaries)
Marie-Claire Blais, Acclaimed French Canadian Novelist, Dies at 82
Though largely unknown outside Canada, she was often ranked alongside Margaret Atwood and Alice Munro as one of the country’s greatest living writers.
Norodom Ranariddh, Royal Player in Cambodian Politics, Dies at 77
He rode a wave of royalist sentiment to win a United Nations-sponsored election in 1993, but was later ousted in a power struggle with his co-prime minister.
Dr. Sherif R. Zaki, Acclaimed Disease Detective, Dies at 65
He helped identify numerous viruses, including Covid-19, as well as the bioterrorism attack that spread anthrax in 2001.
Lamine Diack, Olympics Power Broker Convicted of Taking Bribes, Dies at 88
The former head of the world governing body for track and field was convicted of accepting bribes to cover up a Russian doping scandal.
Laszlo Z. Bito, Scientist, Novelist and Philanthropist, Dies at 87
He fled communist rule in Hungary, discovered a treatment for glaucoma in the U.S., then became an author and a voice against authoritarianism in his homeland.
Jakucho Setouchi, 99, Dies; Buddhist Priest Wrote of Sex and Love
Her more than 400 novels often drew on her own romantic affairs, and her translation of an 11th-century romantic Japanese classic sold millions of copies.
Chun Doo-hwan, South Korea’s Most Vilified Ex-Military Dictator, Dies at 90
The country’s most vilified former military dictator, he seized power in a coup and ruled his country with an iron fist for most of the 1980s.
Ardeshir Zahedi, Irrepressible Iranian Diplomat, Dies at 93
While he enabled business deals worth billions of dollars, he also hosted lavish parties, led conga lines through his embassy and dated Elizabeth Taylor.
Raúl Rivero, Disenchanted Poet of the Cuban Revolution, Dies at 75
A leading journalistic voice who broke with the Castro regime, he gained wide recognition for his protests, was jailed as a dissident and went into exile.