Marlfox’s obituaries and updates have been on form already this year, but circumstance has allowed the eight-legged one the chance to do the end of February round-up.
Until Friday evening, it was looking like a very small round-up of the month after the earlier cull of the drop 40, but then things got really went off with a bang… literally!
Let’s do the round-up first. and it is mainly politically based.
Politics
Chronologically, the first death is that of politican Rita Sussmuth, who died back at the beginning of February. Sussmuth, a former Presidenot of the Bundestag was a committed peace activist, right up to her dying day, and where – eventually – the source of her obituary came, in an article about protests regarding Donald Trump and Iran (this becomes relevant in due course).
More politicians were to fall, but so far, the wonderfully named former President of Nauru, Ludwig Scotty hasn’t got the required obit, but Antonio Tejero had no such problems. A long-time hard-line loyalist to dictator General Franco, Tejero had already served a jail term for his efforts to halt democracy in Spain after Franco’s death, before rocking up into parliament and attempting a coup in 1981. It failed miserably and Tejero served another 15 year prison term. His death followed a long period of ill-health.
The next obit, and the highest profile also was in a period of ill-health. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei may well have been picked by a number of teams for his failing health, however its possible one of the teams who picked him is Donald Trump, and got fed up of waiting. An airstrike finally toppled the Supreme Leader of Iran since 1989, aged 86. It remains to be seen how this particular skirmish pans out, but for DDP rules, it’s cut and dried, and 11 teams, including veterans Stab in the Dark and Madonna’s Hand of Bod take not only the 6 points for his 86 years, but 3 points for a very unnatural death bonus.
Will anyone now follow up airstrikes with fellow lingerers like Esther Rantzen, I wonder?
Television
Compared to Khamenei’s death, Australian actress Lorraine Bayly’s death at the age of 89 was tame in comparison. She had a long soap career including The Sullivans and Neighbours and was an unique hit for an Aussie soaps theme team.
Music
Last, but far from least, Neil Sedaka, the singer-songwriter beloved by ladies of a certain age, who managed to have a long career in various guises as a crooner, pianist, songwriter and composer, died aged 86 on February 27th. He was the composer of ‘Is The Way to Amarillo?’ but had numerous hits himself, including ‘Oh! Carol’ amongst others. 5 teams score 6 points.
| Name and Age | Date of Death | Teams and Scores |
| Rita Sussmuth | February 01 | Deutschland verabschiedet sich!💀💀💀💀💀💀💀+👻 = 10 Points |
| Antonio Tejero | February 25 | 3 Teams 💀💀💀💀💀 = 5 Points |
| Neil Sedaka | February 27 | 5 Teams 💀💀💀💀💀💀 = 6 Points |
| Lorraine Bayly | February 28 | Gone and Away 💀💀💀💀💀💀+👻 = 10 Points |
| Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | February 28 | 10 teams 💀💀💀💀💀💀 + 😲 = 9 points Stab in the Dark 🃏 = 18 Points |