As it was too difficult to narrow down the list to just 10, I created two lists of the ten most significant deaths of 2013. The list below includes those in the fields of sports and entertainment while the one to follow contains people that excelled in the categories of politics, science, journalism, and business. Both are arguable in terms of order as well as omissions; feel free to point those out. I also admit its US centric and excludes hockey players. Plus, I’ve no doubt that Gary Coleman exclaimed, “What you talkin’ ‘bout Willis,” when his former co-star Todd Bridges told him that I excluded Different Strokes dad Conrad Bain, who died in January at the age of 89.

#10 VAN CLIBURN

#9 ESTER WILLIAMS

#8 EARL WEAVER

#7 KEN NORTON

#6 PAT SUMMERALL

#5 STAN MUSIAL

#4 ELMORE LEONARD

#3 DEACON JONES

#2 JAMES GANDOLFINI

With many hits yet to make when he died at age 51, Gandolfini’s anti-hero ushered in the golden age of American TV drama.

#1 LOU REED

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