News Obituaries
![The Houston-area congresswoman, a Democrat, helped establish Juneteenth as a federal holiday and spoke out about police brutality. The Houston-area congresswoman, a Democrat, helped establish Juneteenth as a federal holiday and spoke out about police brutality.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SJM-L-OBLEE-0724.jpg?w=132)
Sheila Jackson Lee dies at 74; longtime Texas congresswoman was ‘a fierce champion of the people’
The Houston-area congresswoman, a Democrat, helped establish Juneteenth as a federal holiday and spoke out...
![His Bluesbreakers band included musicians who went on to play with such legendary groups as Cream, Fleetwood Mac, the Rolling Stones and Canned Heat. His Bluesbreakers band included musicians who went on to play with such legendary groups as Cream, Fleetwood Mac, the Rolling Stones and Canned Heat.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Obit_John_Mayall_30793.jpg?w=132)
John Mayall dies at 90; British blues pioneer helped introduce the world to Eric Clapton, Mick Fleetwood and other musical superstars
His Bluesbreakers band included musicians who went on to play with such legendary groups as...
![Esta TerBlanche is the fifth former star of a favorite day-time show to die this year under unexpected, tragic and sometimes mysterious circumstances. Esta TerBlanche is the fifth former star of a favorite day-time show to die this year under unexpected, tragic and sometimes mysterious circumstances.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Esta2Cropped.jpg?w=114)
‘All My Children’ star’s death hits soap opera fans with another shocking, unexpected loss
Esta TerBlanche is the fifth former star of a favorite day-time show to die this...
![Jerry Miller was an incredible guitarist, whose many admirers included such Rock and Roll Hall of Famers as Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page. Jerry Miller was an incredible guitarist, whose many admirers included such Rock and Roll Hall of Famers as Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/sjm-l-mobygrape.jpg?w=88)
‘Best guitar player in the world’ with strong Bay Area ties dies at 81
Jerry Miller was an incredible guitarist, whose many admirers included such Rock and Roll Hall...
![Between 1964 and 1967, the group had 11 top 20 hits and two No. 1’s: “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)” and the classic “Reach Out I’ll Be There.” Between 1964 and 1967, the group had 11 top 20 hits and two No. 1’s: “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)” and the classic “Reach Out I’ll Be There.”](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SJM-L-OBFAKIR-01-0722.jpg?w=132)
Abdul ‘Duke’ Fakir dies at 88; singer was last original member of the Four Tops
Between 1964 and 1967, the group had 11 top 20 hits and two No. 1’s:...
![Richard Simmons Richard Simmons](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-169820450-e1710875430703.jpg?w=135)
Richard Simmons laid to rest in Los Angeles
Richard Simmons was reportedly laid to rest in Los Angeles at a cemetery that is...
![Silicon Valley was turning sand into gold. Criminals noticed. Richard Bernes took it upon himself to go after the thieves who began preying on the tech industry. Silicon Valley was turning sand into gold. Criminals noticed. Richard Bernes took it upon himself to go after the thieves who began preying on the tech industry.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SJM-L-FBITECH-0720-2.jpg?w=128)
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Obituary: Pioneering FBI agent battled Silicon Valley tech crime in chip-theft heyday
Silicon Valley was turning sand into gold. Criminals noticed. Richard Bernes took it upon himself...
![He is survived by his three sons Tom, Jeff and Mike and his three grandchildren. Panelli's wife, Lorna, passed away in 2019. He is survived by his three sons Tom, Jeff and Mike and his three grandchildren. Panelli's wife, Lorna, passed away in 2019.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Panilli.jpg?w=140)
California Supreme Court Justice Edward Panelli dies at 92
He is survived by his three sons Tom, Jeff and Mike and his three grandchildren....
![Dobbs had a lengthy career in broadcast journalism, spending more than two decades at CNN, which he joined at its inception in 1980. He left CNN in 2009 to help Rupert Murdoch launch the Fox Business Network. Dobbs had a lengthy career in broadcast journalism, spending more than two decades at CNN, which he joined at its inception in 1980. He left CNN in 2009 to help Rupert Murdoch launch the Fox Business Network.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Lou_Dobbs_veteran_cable_news_anchor_and_Trump_booster_dies_at_781.jpg?w=132)
Lou Dobbs, veteran cable news anchor, dies at 78
Dobbs had a lengthy career in broadcast journalism, spending more than two decades at CNN,...
![He shot to fame with his deadpan stand-up routines, then starred in TV's "The Bob Newhart Show" and "Newhart." He also had legions of younger fans from his role in the film "Elf." He shot to fame with his deadpan stand-up routines, then starred in TV's "The Bob Newhart Show" and "Newhart." He also had legions of younger fans from his role in the film "Elf."](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SJM-L-OBNEWHART-03-0718-e1721334939635.jpg?w=120)
Bob Newhart dies at 94; comedy legend also starred in pair of acclaimed sitcoms
He shot to fame with his deadpan stand-up routines, then starred in TV's "The Bob...