A look at high-profile valley deaths in 2018
News Channel 3’s Karen Devine takes a look back to remember high profile locals and others from the entertainment and political arenas who’ve spent ample time here in our desert that passed away in 2018.
Jazz legend Nancy Wilson, a high desert resident and Grammy winner, known for songs such as “Guess Who I Saw Today” and “(You Don’t Know) How Glad I Am,” passed away at her home in Pioneertown, at the age of 81 after battling a longtime illness. Wilson recorded dozens of albums and appearing on shows including Hawaii Five-O and Police Story.
1950’s movie hunk, one-time Palm Springs homeowner and frequent visitor to the desert, Tab Hunter died on July 8th from a heart attack caused by a blood clot. The actor, who has a Star on the Palm Springs Walk of the Stars, was best most known for his roles in Damn Yankees! and The Pleasure of His Company. Hunter revealed he was gay in his 2005 memoir, Tab Hunter confidential, The Making of a Movie Star. He was 86 years old.
Also no stranger to Palm Springs, The legendary Marvel Comics writer Stan Lee. Lee died at the age 95 on November 12th. He was best known for co-creating characters including Spider-Man, the Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, the X-Men and Doctor Strange. He made an appearance at the first ComicCon Palm
Springs greeting fans and telling stories about the characters he inspired. In more recent years, he helped Marvel become a multi-billion-dollar movie empire.
Famous celebrity host, story teller and chef Anthony Bourdain swung through the desert a couple of times. In 2009 he spoke at the McCallum Theatre and two years later Bourdain filmed an episode of Travel Channel’s “No Reservations”. On that visit he reportedly dined at Lord Fletcher’s, Joshua
Tree Country Kitchen and Pappy and Harriet’s. The celebrity chef died of an apparent suicide in France at the age of 61.
A tragic accident took the life of fashion designer Jonathan Skow, the man behind Mr. Turk Menswear Collection. He died on Oct. 12th at the age of 55, after a swimming accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down. He and his wife of 33 years worked together to grow their apparel company, Trina
Turk. There are two stores in the desert, one El Paseo in Palm Desert and the other in Palm Springs.
On the political side, the Valley lost longtime former Palm Desert City Councilman and Mayor Bob Spiegel. Spiegel spent 23 years in local government. His tenure on the city council began when he was appointed to fill a vacancy in 1993. He went on to win five subsequent elections for the same post, becoming the second longest serving council member, and also served as mayor.
One of the most notable deaths this year with connections to the Coachella Valley, Former President of the United States George H.W. Bush. President Bush frequented the historic Sunnylands Estate in Rancho Mirage with First Lady Barbara Bush more than 15 times.
His most notable visit was in 1990 when he scheduled an urgent meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister to avoid the possibility of Japan closing its markets to the U-S.
Bush 41, as he was known, also played in the 1995 Desert Classic, a particularly historic golf game, alongside Bill Clinton who had just beaten him in the presidential race. Former President Ford and
Actor/Entertainer Bob Hope also played with Bush in the tournament that year.
President Bush died on November 30 at the age of 94, just seven months after he lost his wife of more than 70 years, Barbara Bush.
This is a partial list of celebrities, politicians and local dignitaries who’ve passed this year who have desert connections. If we have missed naming someone of importance to the valley, please contact us with the person’s name and information on our Facebook page.
