Famous people and celebrities who died in February 2013

This page is dedicated to commemorating the celebrities and famous people who passed away in February 2013. This month marked the loss of influential and beloved figures whose contributions spanned various fields and touched many lives. Explore our detailed list to remember and celebrate their enduring legacies and the remarkable impact they had on the world

• Feb. 1 Ed Koch

  Prominent American politician who served as the 105th Mayor of New York City from 1978 to 1989, known for his distinctive personality and leadership during a challenging period in the city's history.

• Feb. 2 Chris Kyle

  Chris Kyle was a highly decorated United States Navy SEAL sniper, considered the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history, whose life story was portrayed in the film 'American Sniper'.

• Feb. 2 P. Shanmugam

  Indian politician who served as the 13th Chief Minister of Puducherry from 1987 to 1988, playing a significant role in the region's political landscape during the late 20th century.

• Feb. 3 Oscar Feltsman

  Oscar Feltsman was a notable Ukrainian-Russian composer and pianist who contributed to the classical music landscape of the 20th century. He was known for his interpretations of classical repertoire and his compositions that blended traditional and contemporary musical styles.

• Feb. 4 Donald Byrd

  Renowned American jazz trumpeter who was a pivotal figure in hard bop during the late 1950s and early 1960s. His distinctive trumpet technique and rich tonal quality set him apart from his contemporaries.

• Feb. 4 Reg Presley

  Lead singer of the British rock band The Troggs, known for their hit song 'Wild Thing'. A significant figure in the 1960s rock music scene.

• Feb. 5 Stanley Cohen

  Renowned biochemist who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his groundbreaking discovery of epidermal growth factor, which significantly advanced our understanding of cell growth and development.

• Feb. 6 Menachem Elon

  Prominent Israeli jurist and academic who made significant contributions to Israeli law and served as a Deputy President of the Supreme Court of Israel.

• Feb. 8 Nevin Scrimshaw

  Renowned American nutrition scientist and professor emeritus at MIT who made significant contributions to global nutrition research and public health strategies.

• Feb. 8 Giovanni Cheli

  Giovanni Cheli was a prominent Roman Catholic theologian and diplomat who served as a Vatican representative and archbishop. He played significant roles in inter-religious relations and was a notable consultant for Latin American affairs.

• Feb. 9 Richard Artschwager

  Richard Artschwager was an influential American artist known for blurring boundaries between painting, sculpture, and furniture design. His unique work challenged traditional artistic categories and explored perception and representation.

• Feb. 9 Keiko Fukuda

  First woman to receive a 9th-degree black belt in judo, she was a pioneering martial artist who dedicated her life to teaching and promoting judo for women in the United States.

• Feb. 13 Yuko Tojo

  Daughter of Hideki Tojo, the infamous Prime Minister of Japan during World War II, who was a key figure in Japan's wartime leadership and later executed as a war criminal.

• Feb. 14 Ronald Dworkin

  Prominent American legal philosopher and scholar who made significant contributions to legal and political theory, particularly in the areas of rights and justice.

• Feb. 17 Richard Briers

  Renowned British actor famous for his comedic roles in television series like 'The Good Life' and 'Ever Decreasing Circles', who also performed in Shakespearean stage productions.

• Feb. 17 Debbie Ford

  Influential self-help author and spiritual teacher who wrote transformative books about personal growth and shadow work.

• Feb. 17 Mindy McCready

  Mindy McCready was a prominent American country music singer who rose to fame in the 1990s with hit songs like 'Guys Do It All the Time', known for her tumultuous personal life and musical career.

• Feb. 19 Armen Alchian

  Armen Alchian was a renowned American economist and professor at UCLA, widely recognized for his significant contributions to microeconomic theory and institutional economics.

• Feb. 19 Donald Richie

  Renowned American-Japanese cultural critic, author, and expert on Japanese cinema who significantly contributed to Western understanding of Japanese culture.

• Feb. 19 Robert Coleman Richardson

  PHY - American physicist and academic, nobel prize laureate (b. 1937)

• Feb. 22 Wolfgang Sawallisch

  Renowned German classical music conductor and pianist who led the Bavarian State Opera and Philadelphia Orchestra, known for his exceptional interpretations of German repertoire.

• Feb. 23 Julien Ries

  Belgian cardinal who served the Catholic Church during the mid-20th century, known for his theological contributions and ecclesiastical leadership.

• Feb. 26 Stéphane Hessel

  German-French diplomat, resistance fighter, and human rights activist who became famous for his influential pamphlet 'Time for Outrage'. He was a Holocaust survivor and played a significant role in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

• Feb. 27 Dale Robertson

  Prominent American actor known for Western films and television series, particularly 'Tales of Wells Fargo' and 'Iron Horse'.

• Feb. 27 Van Cliburn

  Legendary American classical pianist who achieved international fame by winning the Tchaikovsky Piano Competition in Moscow during the Cold War, symbolizing cultural diplomacy and musical excellence.

• Feb. 27 Ramon Dekkers

  Ramon Dekkers was a legendary Dutch kickboxer renowned for his aggressive fighting style and multiple world championships in Muay Thai.

• Feb. 28 Donald A Glaser

  Renowned physicist who won the Nobel Prize in 1960 for inventing the bubble chamber, a groundbreaking device for detecting subatomic particles.