2012 deaths

Jean "Bim" Diederich (20 February 1922 – 6 December 2012) was a professional Luxembourgian road bicycle racer, with an impressive record in the Tour de France.
Diederich was born in Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg, and was active in competition from 1946 to 1954. He finished sixth in the road race at the 1947 Road World Championships. He had fourteen wins, including stage wins in the 1950 Tour de France (finishing in Menton), the 1951 Tour de France (from Reims to Ghent, leading the race solo over the Muur van Geraardsbergen before crossing the finish line, earning the nickname "Le Duc de Grammont" or "the Duke of Geraardsbergen"), and the 1952 Tour de France (into Namur). He wore the yellow jersey as leader of the general classification for three days during the 1951 Tour.He was the father-in-law of cyclist Lucien Didier, and the grandfather of cyclist Laurent Didier.

Carlos Flores Truan Sr. (June 9, 1935 – April 10, 2012), was an American businessman from Corpus Christi, Texas, who served for thirty-four years as a Democrat in both houses of the Texas Legislature. He was a state representative from 1969 to 1977 and a senator from 1977 until his retirement in 2003.

Harry Cummings McPherson Jr. (August 22, 1929 – February 16, 2012) served as counsel and special counsel to President of the United States Lyndon B. Johnson from 1965 to 1969 and was Johnson's chief speechwriter from 1966 to 1969. McPherson's A Political Education, 1972, is a classic insider's view of Washington and an essential source for Johnson's presidency. A prominent Washington lawyer and lobbyist since 1969, McPherson was awarded American Lawyer magazine's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008. He died February 16, 2012, in Bethesda, Maryland.

Edmund Asa "Eddie" Barker Jr. (August 18, 1927 – July 23, 2012) was a television reporter in Dallas, Texas, perhaps best known for being the first newsman to report the death of John F. Kennedy, and his interview with Marina Oswald.Barker was born in San Antonio, Texas, and began his radio career in 1943. He later went to Dallas' KRLD (now KDFW), where in 1963, he was covering the visit of President Kennedy to Dallas. After the assassination, he was first to report the president's death on CBS, 5 minutes before the network feed, and Walter Cronkite's famous flash.Later, he secured the first interview with Marina Oswald, the wife of assassin Lee Harvey Oswald.Barker died in July 2012 in Dallas, of natural causes.

Warda Al-Jazairia (Arabic: وردة الجزائرية; born Warda Mohammed Ftouki (وردة محمد فتوكي); 22 July 1939 – 17 May 2012) was an Algerian singer. She was well known for her Egyptian Arabic songs and music. Her name was sometimes shortened to just Warda (Arabic: [ˈwæɾdæ] meaning "rose") or as "The Algerian rose" in the Arab world.

Vincent Alfred Ostrom (September 25, 1919 – June 29, 2012) was an American political economist and the Founding Director of the Ostrom Workshop based at Indiana University and the Arthur F. Bentley Professor Emeritus of Political Science. He and his wife, the political economist Elinor Ostrom, made numerous contributions to the field of political science, political economy, and public choice.
The Ostroms made particular study of fragmentation theory, rational choice theory, federalism, common-pool resources and polycentrism in government. The Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization published a special issue, "Polycentric Political Economy: A Festschrift for Elinor and Vincent Ostrom", as the proceedings of a 2003 conference held in their honor, at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University.

Joel King Goldsmith (November 19, 1957 – April 29, 2012) was an American composer of film, television, and video game music.

Pierre Tornade (21 January 1930 – 7 March 2012) was a French actor. He appeared in more than 120 films and television shows between 1956 and 1998.

John W. Gallivan (June 28, 1915 – October 2, 2012) was an American newspaper publisher, cable television pioneer, and civic leader. A major figure in the promotion and development of Salt Lake City and Utah's ski industry, he was instrumental in starting the campaign to bring the 2002 Olympic Winter Games to Salt Lake City. Using his position as publisher of the Salt Lake Tribune, "Jack" Gallivan was the driving force behind numerous civic improvement and development projects including the Salt Palace, the Salt Lake Arts Center, Symphony Hall, The Capitol Theatre, and the promotion of light rail. His many contributions to the economic and cultural life of the city were recognized by the community in the naming of the John W. Gallivan Plaza near the center of downtown.

Jacqueline Porel (1918–2012) was a French stage and film actress. She was also a voice actor, dubbing foreign films for release in French-speaking markets. She was married to the actor Gérard Landry.