Notable sports deaths in 2019 (Updated: March 21)
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Mike Cofer, Lions linebacker from 1983-93 who was a Pro Bowl selection in 1988. March 21. He was 58.
Detroit News archives
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Coutinho, a Brazilian soccer star who was a member of the 1962 World Cup winner and who Pele considered his favorite attacking partner. March 11. He was 75.
Andre Penner, Associated Press
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Julia Ruth Stevens, the last surviving daughter of slugger Babe Ruth. March 9. She was 102.
Michael Dwyer, Associated Press
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Harry Howell, NHL Hall-of-Fame defenseman with the New York Rangers. March 9. He was 86.
Seth Wenig, Associated Press
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Freeda George Forman, the daughter of former heavyweight champion George Foreman and briefly a boxer herself. March 8. She was 42.
Laura Rauch, Associated Press
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Christopher Pallies, AKA professional wrestler King Kong Bundy, who performed at WrestleMania III at the Pontiac Silverdome in 1987. March 4. He was 61.
David Coates, Detroit News
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Ted Lindsay, Red Wings legend who won four Stanley Cups with Detroit. March 4. He was 93.
Detroit News
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Kendric Price, Michigan basketball player from 2005-07, from a shooting. March 2. He was 32.
Michigan athletics
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Lulu Harwell, the widow of legendary Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell. March 1. She was 99.
Steve Perez, Detroit News
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Don Newcombe, long-time pitcher for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers. Feb. 19. He was 92.
Mark J. Terrill, Associated Press
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Gene Littler, professional golfer who won 29 times on the PGA Tour, including the 1961 U.S. Open at Oakland Hills in Bloomfield Township. Feb. 15. He was 88.
Associated Press
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Rick Rasnick, head football coach at Eastern Michigan from 1995-99, from complications of Alzheimer's Disease. Feb. 13. He was 59.
Eastern Michigan athletics
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Ron Hughes, a long-time member of the Lions front office who was part of the player-personnel department from 1982-2000. Feb. 12. He was 75.
Detroit Lions
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Pedro Morales, professional wrestler who spent some time in the WWF and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1995. Feb. 12. He was 76.
WWE
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Dick Kempthorn, former Michigan fullback who was a team captain and member of the 1947 and 1948 national-championship teams who went on to a successful career in business. Feb. 8. He was 92.
Wikipedia
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David Williams, Detroit Mumford alum, athletic director at Vanderbilt and the first black athletic director in the SEC. Feb. 8. He was 71.
Mark Humphrey, Associated Press
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John Dingell, long-time congressman serving southeast Michigan who also developed an epic Twitter persona, particularly when it came to his fandom for Michigan, the Tigers and other sports, of prostate cancer. Feb. 7. He was 92.
Special to The Detroit News
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Frank Robinson, Major League Baseball Hall-of-Fame slugger, the game's first black manager, and later a league executive. Feb. 7. He was 83.
Associated Press
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Joe Presko, major-league pitcher in the 1950s who spent the 1957 and 1958 seasons with the Tigers. Feb. 5. He was 90.
Detroit News
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Matti Nykanen, four time Olympic ski-jumping champion whose personal demons, particularly with alcohol, made him the subject of biographies and a film. Feb. 4. He was 55.
Bob Pearson, Getty Images
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Bob Friend, long-time pitcher for the Pirates who led the league in ERA in 1955. Feb. 3. He was 88.
Associated Press
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Alice Dye, "first lady" of golf architecture and design whose courses include TPC of Sawgrass. Feb. 1. She was 91.
Andy Lyons, Getty Images
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Wade Wilson, former Vikings quarterback and Cowboys position coach. Feb. 1. He was 60.
Al Messerschmidt, Getty Images
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Peter Magowan, long-time owner of the San Francisco Giants, of cancer. Jan. 27. He was 76.
Eric Risberg, Associated Press
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John Coughlin, United States figure skater, of suicide. Jan. 18. He was 33.
Getty Images
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Glen Wood, co-founder of Wood Brothers Racing. Jan. 18. He was 93.
Sean Gardner, Getty Images
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Joe O'Donnell, Ann Arbor native, offensive guard at Michigan and in the NFL. Jan. 17. He was 77.
Buffalo Bills
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Mel Stottlemyre, major-league pitcher and pitching coach, of multiple myeloma. Jan. 13. He was 77.
Jim McIsaac, Getty Images
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Gus Ganakas, Michigan State basketball coach (1969-76) and broadcaster. Jan. 11. He was 92.
Detroit News archives
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J.D. Gibbs, race-car driver and co-owner of Joe Gibbs Racing, of degenerative neurological disease. Jan. 11. He was 49.
Mike Ehrmann, Getty Images
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Rick Forzano, Detroit Lions head coach from 1974-76. Jan. 10. He was 90.
Associated Press
None
Lenny Green, major-league outfielder including with his hometown Detroit Tigers (1967-68). Jan. 6. He was 86.
Detroit News archives
None
Kwamie Lassiter, NFL defensive back for several teams including the Arizona Cardinals, of a heart attack. Jan. 6. He was 49.
Otto Greule Jr, Getty Images
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Rick Down, Wyandotte native, major-leaguer and major-league hitting coach for several teams. Jan. 5. He was 68.
Doug Benc, Getty Images
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Alex Smirnoff, professional wrestler (including with WWE), of kidney failure. Jan. 5. He was 71.
Special to Detroit News
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George Welsh, long-time football coach at Virginia. Jan. 2. He was 85.
Julian H. Gonzalez, Getty Images
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"Mean" Gene Okerlund, legendary wrestling announcer for WWE and WCW. Jan. 2. He was 76.
WWE
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Tyler Trent, Purdue student and Boilermakers super fan, of bone cancer. Jan. 1. He was 20.
Michael Hickey, Getty Images
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Mike Cofer, Lions linebacker from 1983-93 who was a Pro Bowl selection in 1988. March 21. He was 58.
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