November 25, 2006

2006Luciano Bottaro, Italian author and illustrator (born 1931)^[†]

Luciano Bottaro was an Italian comic book artist.

2006Valentín Elizalde, Mexican singer-songwriter (born 1979)^[†]

Valentín Elizalde Valencia was a regional Mexican singer. Nicknamed "El Gallo de Oro", he was known for his off-key style. His biggest hits included: "Vete Ya," "Ebrio de Amor", and "Soy Así". Some of his songs were narcocorridos eulogizing Mexican drug lords like Vicente Carrillo Fuentes. He also wrote lyrics honoring Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, leader of the Sinaloa Cartel. He was murdered as he left a performance; allegedly by members of the drug trafficking cartel Los Zetas.

2006Phyllis Fraser, American actress and publisher, co-founded Beginner Books (born 1916)^[†]

Phyllis Cerf Wagner, also known as Phyllis Fraser, was an American socialite, writer, publisher, and actress. She was a co-founder of Beginner Books.

2006Kenneth M. Taylor, American lieutenant and pilot (born 1919)^[†]

Kenneth Marlar Taylor was a United States Air Force officer and a flying ace of World War II. He was a new United States Army Air Corps second lieutenant pilot stationed at Wheeler Field during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Along with his fellow pilot and friend George Welch, Taylor managed to get a fighter plane airborne under fire. Taylor claimed to have shot down four Japanese dive bombers but only two were confirmed. Taylor was injured during the incident and received several awards for his efforts, including the Distinguished Service Cross and the Purple Heart.