The year 2025 will be remembered as a time of profound loss across the globe, as a remarkable number of influential figures from every walk of life passed away. From world leaders and religious icons to artists, scientists, and athletes, the breadth of lives commemorated this year is a testament to the diversity and impact of those we lost. Their stories—woven into the fabric of our collective memory—remind us of the enduring legacy individuals can leave behind.
One of the most widely mourned losses was that of Pope Francis, who died at the age of 88. According to the Vatican, more than 250,000 people attended his funeral in April, an outpouring of respect for the first Latin American pontiff. Francis was known for his humility, his efforts to soften Catholic attitudes toward homosexuality, and for appointing more women to senior roles than any of his predecessors. Late in his life, he reflected, “How much harm the women and men of the Church do when they erect walls. Rigidity is a sin that often enters into clerics.” His words, as reported by Mindfood, captured the spirit of a papacy marked by a commitment to openness and reform.
Another spiritual leader who left a lasting mark was Karim Al Husseini, the fourth Aga Khan. The hereditary leader of 15 million Ismaili Muslims and a prominent figure in both religious and philanthropic circles, the Aga Khan died in February at age 88. His influence reached far beyond his faith community, and his passing was felt in high places—echoing the sentiment immortalized in Peter Sarstedt’s 1969 song, “Your name it is heard in high places; you know the Aga Khan.”
The world of science also bid farewell to giants. Jane Goodall, the renowned primatologist and environmental activist, died in October at the age of 91. Her life’s work transformed our understanding of primates and environmental conservation. Jim Lovell, the commander of NASA’s ill-fated Apollo 13 mission and a symbol of resilience and ingenuity, died at 97. Alongside him, James Watson, whose discovery of the structure of DNA revolutionized genetics, also passed away at 97. Their discoveries and adventures have inspired generations and changed the course of human knowledge.
Hollywood and the arts lost several legendary talents. Robert Redford, the quintessential leading man and founder of the Sundance Film Festival, died in September at 89. Diane Keaton, beloved for her roles in classics like “The Godfather” and “Annie Hall,” died in October at 79. The film industry also mourned David Lynch, the visionary behind “Twin Peaks” and “Mulholland Drive,” who died in January at 78. Gene Hackman, star of “The French Connection” and “Unforgiven,” died in February at 95, along with his wife Betsy Arakawa and one of their dogs. Autopsy results revealed Hackman’s death was due to heart disease and other factors, likely days after Arakawa—his primary caregiver—succumbed to a rare virus spread by mice.
Tragedy struck the Reiner family when acclaimed director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele were found dead in their Los Angeles home in December. Their son, Nick Reiner, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder over the stabbings, an event that sent shockwaves throughout Hollywood and beyond.
The sports world was also hit hard. Boxing legend George Foreman died at 76, and Hulk Hogan, whose charisma turned professional wrestling into a global spectacle, died in July at 71. The football community was stunned by the death of Diogo Jota, the 28-year-old Portuguese soccer star, who died in a car accident just a month after lifting the Premier League trophy for Liverpool.
In literature, the world lost Tom Stoppard, the Czech-born British playwright known for his dazzling verbal gymnastics, who died in November at 88. Mario Vargas Llosa, the Nobel Prize-winning Peruvian novelist and political figure, died in April at 89. Kenyan author Ngugi wa Thiong’o, whose critiques of post-independence elites led to prison and exile, passed away at 87. The literary world also mourned Frederick Forsyth, author of “The Day of the Jackal,” and Jilly Cooper, famed for her satirical bestsellers.
Music icons were not spared. Ozzy Osbourne, the “Prince of Darkness” and frontman of Black Sabbath, died in July at 76, sparking an outpouring of grief in his hometown of Birmingham. Brian Wilson, co-founder of the Beach Boys and creator of some of rock’s most enduring songs, died in June at 82. Roberta Flack, whose soulful ballads topped charts in the 1970s, died in February at 88. The reggae world lost Jimmy Cliff in November at 81, while funk pioneer Sly Stone and neo-soul trailblazer D’Angelo also passed away. Marianne Faithfull, voice of Britain’s swinging ‘60s, died in January at 78, and Alan Bergman, one half of a legendary songwriting duo, died in July at 99.
The business world was shaken by the death of Giorgio Armani in September at 91. The Italian designer’s will, instructing heirs to sell a large part of the Armani group, sparked a frenzy in the fashion world. Eddie Jordan, the charismatic Irish entrepreneur who launched Michael Schumacher’s Formula One career, died at 76. Frederick Smith, who built FedEx from a handful of planes into a global powerhouse, died in 2025 after stepping down as CEO in 2022.
Journalism lost several prominent voices. Hussam al-Masri, a Reuters cameraman, was killed in an Israeli military attack on a hospital in Gaza on August 25, one of five journalists who died in the incident. Anthony Grey, a Reuters correspondent detained for over two years in 1960s China, died at 87, and Ruth Weiss, who bore witness to some of the 20th century’s greatest crimes, passed away at 101.
Political figures who shaped history also departed. Dick Cheney, one of America’s most powerful vice presidents, died in November at 84. Charlie Kirk, a political activist credited with building Donald Trump’s base among younger voters, was assassinated in September, leading to a crackdown affecting hundreds of Americans. Jean-Marie Le Pen, the controversial former head of France’s far-right party, died in January at 96. Other notable leaders who passed include Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria, Raila Odinga of Kenya, Sam Nujoma of Namibia, Tomiichi Murayama of Japan, Jose Mujica of Uruguay, Violeta Barrios de Chamorro of Nicaragua, and Ion Iliescu of Romania.
The creative world also lost architectural genius Frank Gehry, Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado, Italian fashion photographer Oliviero Toscani, and many others. The list of notable deaths in 2025 is long, touching nearly every corner of public life—from Virginia Giuffre, a prominent Jeffrey Epstein accuser, to Felix Baumgartner, the extreme athlete famed for his space skydive.
Closer to home, communities mourned the loss of local figures like James Kenneth Cates of Pine Hill, Alabama. Known as "Kenny," he passed away on December 19, 2025, after a long illness. Born in Mobile in 1944, Kenny was a proud member of the Iron Workers Union and, after retirement, became a beloved fixture in Pine Hill for his produce, bait, and seafood sales. His funeral will be held at Valhalla Memorial Gardens in Eight Mile, Alabama, on December 22.
As the year closes, the world reflects on the extraordinary lives lost and the indelible marks they left behind—reminders that though they are gone, their legacies endure in the worlds they helped shape.