As we close the book on 2022, it’s a good time to reflect on things that have changed, including those that we’ve lost this year.
So, let’s take a moment to look back and remember those famous and influential people who have died this year, and appreciate the good they did in the world.
Kirstie Alley, January 12, 1951-December 5, 2022
Kirstie Alley was a force in Hollywood for decades. She starred on the hit show Cheers, had several hit movies, and other successes. Her beautiful smile and friendly demeanor made her seem like she could be anyone’s friend next door. She passed away on December 5, at age 72, from colon cancer.
She owned several properties, including a farm in Kansas, a home under renovation in Florida, and this home in the Los Feliz area of Los Angeles. The gorgeous expansive property, which she sold in 2021 after owning it for 20+ years, is designed in the Italianate style. It has tiered balconies and gorgeous patios, as well as a pool, pool house, grotto, and even a turtle pond!
Inside, the home has custom blue tiled bathroom floors, a gold-lace-trim living room, library, dining room, and three stone-carved fireplaces, all spread out over more than 7,000 square feet of living space.
Loretta Lynn, April 14, 1932-October 4, 2022
Loretta Lynn is one of country music’s beloved treasures, with a career spanning six decades. Her countless hits touched on alcoholism, poverty, love, and heartbreak, and resonated with her audience in a way few musicians do. She received countless awards and accolades, and toured all the way up until 2018, when a hip injury finally slowed her down.
Born and raised in coal-mining country in Kentucky, she bought a large estate in Tennessee after becoming a country music legend. She and her family lived in a 14-room plantation-style home for 22 years before turning that into a museum and moving to another home on the property.
Known as the Loretta Lynn Ranch, it is now open to visitors, as is an exact replica of the Butcher Holler home where she grew up. There’s also a simulated coal mine, and other attractions. Visitors can stay in RV sites, campgrounds, and can ride horses, go canoeing and more.
Bob Saget, May 17, 1956-January 9, 2022
Bob Saget, of Full House and How I Met Your Mother fame, passed away unexpectedly on January 9, of an apparent head injury. He left behind a legacy of humor, both family-friendly on television and adult humor as a stand-up comedian.
He and his wife Kelly Rizzo lived in this gorgeous Brentwood mansion with a low street profile, giving him much-wanted privacy in celebrity-crazed Los Angeles. The home went on the market after his death for around $7.8 million. He paid $2.9 million for the home in 2003, which has five bedrooms, beautiful balconies, and a private swimming pool.
Sidney Poitier, February 20, 1927-January 6, 2022
Sidney Poitier, Oscar-winning and barrier-breaking actor, passed away on January 6 in his Beverly Hills home. The actor, born in Miami while his Bahamian parents were there on business, was the first Black actor to be nominated for the Best Actor Academy Award, and then the first to win one.
He served as an Ambassador from the Bahamas to Great Britain, was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, helped break down civil rights barriers in the US, and more.
His home, where he lived with his wife Joanna Shimkus. Built in 1925, the Mediterranean-style mansion has been a passion project for Joanna, who loves her second career as an interior designer.
Queen Elizabeth II, April 21, 1926-September 8, 2022
Perhaps the most notable death of the year was the passing of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, who passed away on September 8, after a 60-year reign. She lived her life in dedication to the monarchy and the people over whom she reigned.
On her 21st birthday, she famously stated: “I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.”
As the monarch, she owned several impressive residences throughout England and Scotland, but one of her favorite places was Balmoral Castle in Scotland. It was here, at the 250-year old castle that she spent her most private and precious time with family. And it was here that she passed away, a little more than a year after her husband, Prince Phillip passed.
These are just a few of the famous people we loved who passed away in 2022. It’s worth a moment as we move on, to reflect on the past and appreciate their positive influences. Hopefully we can all leave the world a better, happier, more peaceful and fair world, the way these people did.