Obituary
![](https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240713_OBP001.jpg)
Haunted by a painting
Pål Enger never quite knew why he had to steal “The Scream”
The petty criminal and former footballer died on June 29th, aged 57
![](https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240706_OBP501.jpg)
The keeper of memory
Ángeles Flórez Peón, “Maricuela”, made sure Spain did not forget its history
The last militiawoman who defended the Second Republic died on May 23rd, aged 105
![](https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240629_OBP001.jpg)
Just keep having fun
Willie Mays’s philosophy was simple: They throw the ball, I hit the ball
Possibly the best baseball player ever died on June 18th, aged 93
![](https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240622_OBP001.jpg)
No witches in this world
Birubala Rabha fought to end the stigmatisation of women
The intrepid campaigner against witch-hunting died on May 13th, aged 75
![](https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240615_OBP001.jpg)
Out of the window, Earth
William Anders took the photo that kicked off the environmental movement
The Apollo 8 astronaut and nuclear engineer died on June 7th, aged 90
![](https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240608_OBP002.jpg)
Unearthing ancient mysteries
Barry Kemp spent his career digging up Akhenaten’s abandoned city
The eminent Egyptologist died on May 15th, aged 84
![](https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240601_OBP001.jpg)
Fixing a likeness
June Mendoza captured both the famous and the unknown
Britain’s most prolific portrait-painter died on May 15th, aged 99
![](https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240525_OBP001.jpg)
Morality and butchery
Ebrahim Raisi was obsessed with the security of the people
The hardline president of Iran died in a helicopter crash on May 19th, aged 63
![](https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240518_OBP001.jpg)
Life is too short to stuff a mushroom
Shirley Conran wrote a bonkbuster to teach schoolgirls about sex
The author and campaigner for maths education died on May 9th, aged 91
![](https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240511_OBP001.jpg)
For the love of giraffes
Anne Innis Dagg devoted her life to the world’s tallest creature
The zoologist and campaigner for equality died on April 1st, aged 91
![](https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240504_OBP001.jpg)
Inside “Apocalypse Now”
Eleanor Coppola recorded how a cinematic triumph almost came unstuck
The documentary-maker and wife of Francis Ford Coppola died on April 12th, aged 87
![](https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240427_OBP002.jpg)
Prisoner of Hizbullah
Terry Anderson was held by Islamic militants for 2,454 days
The former Marine and AP Beirut bureau chief died on April 21st, aged 76