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Portrait of William McDonald

William McDonald

William McDonald is the obituaries editor of The New York Times.

  1. Unlikely Parallels in a Year of Momentous Deaths

    The deaths of luminaries like Queen Elizabeth II, Benedict XVI and Bill Russell did not necessarily surprise. Others, though, inscrutably departed seemingly in tandem.

    By William McDonald

     

  2. Arnold Tucker, 95, Celebrated but Overshadowed Quarterback, Is Dead

    Though he helped lead Army to three national titles, he was eclipsed by two storied running backs, and his death in 2019 was largely overlooked.

    By Frank Litsky and William McDonald

     

  3. Joan Joyce, a Sensation in Softball and More, Is Dead at 81

    Her pitching feats — including striking out Ted Williams — were legend. And her prowess in basketball, volleyball and golf as well spoke to her all-around athletic greatness.

    By William McDonald

     

  4. John Landy Dies at 91; Dueled Roger Bannister in ‘Mile of the Century’

    The second man to run the mile in less than four minutes, he believed that he and his longtime rival, who was the first, had simply done the inevitable.

    By Frank Litsky and William McDonald

     

  5. Deaths in 2021: Headline Names Against the Backdrop of Pandemic

    Aaron, Sondheim, Dole and Didion. But the loss of Colin Powell from the virus spoke most directly to the moment the world is in.

    By William McDonald

     

  6. A Year Filled With Death Changed Lives Forever

    As Covid-19 swept the world, the killing of George Floyd galvanized a racial justice movement, and the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg upended the makeup of the Supreme Court.

    By William McDonald

     

  7. In a Year of Notable Deaths, a World of Women Who Shattered Ceilings

    Their breakthroughs were in law, science, music and business, and, like the more famous who died this year, they left indelible legacies.

    By William McDonald

     

  8. Cliff Branch, Raiders’ Elusive All-Pro Receiver, Dies at 71

    One of the N.F.L.’s fastest players, he made defenses “afraid that he’d blow by them,” a former teammate said, “and, ultimately, he would blow by them.”

    By William McDonald

     

  9. Herman Wouk, Best-Selling Novelist With a Realist’s Touch, Dies at 103

    His critics could be brutal, but he enthralled millions of readers with novels like “The Winds of War,” “The Caine Mutiny” and “Marjorie Morningstar.”

    By William Grimes

     

  10. Henry W. Bloch, Tax-Preparation Pioneer (and Pitchman), Is Dead at 96

    With his brother Richard, Mr. Bloch founded H&R Block, one of the most recognizable brands in American business.

    By Robert D. Hershey Jr.