List of Famous people who died at 78

Sir Charles William Feilden Hamilton was a New Zealand engineer who developed the modern jetboat, and founded the water jet manufacturing company, CWF Hamilton Ltd.

Emerson Emory was an American internist and psychiatrist from Dallas, Texas. Aspiring to be a doctor from an early age, he attended Prairie View State Normal and Industrial College before serving in the Quartermaster Corps of the United States Army during World War II. After studying at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania and Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, Emory conducted his residency at St. Paul's Hospital, which was the first major hospital in Dallas to grant staff privileges to African American doctors.

Robert George Campbell was an English professional football player and later manager.

Mirjam Pressler was a German novelist and translator. Being the author of more than 30 children's and teenage books, she also translated more than 300 works by other writers from Hebrew, English, Dutch and Afrikaans. She is also known for translating a revision of Anne Frank's diary, The Diary of a Young Girl, in 1991, thus renewing its copyright.

John William Gleeson was an Australian cricketer who played in 29 Tests from 1967 to 1972. He is best known for his unique bowling style, which according to Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland "bamboozled batsmen" and could "regularly dumbfound the best batsmen in any team".

Ivan Gerald Mauger was a motorcycle speedway rider from New Zealand. He won a record six World Championships (Finals), a feat equalled only with the inclusion of the Speedway GP Championships by Tony Rickardsson of Sweden who won one World Final and five GP Championships. Mauger rode for several British teams – Wimbledon Dons, Newcastle Diamonds, Belle Vue Aces, Exeter Falcons, and the Hull Vikings. In 2010, Mauger was named an FIM Legend for his motorcycling achievements.

Véronique Nordey was a French actress. Her son, Stanislas Nordey, is the director of the Théâtre national de Strasbourg.

Venerable Marthe Robin was a French Roman Catholic mystic and stigmatist and foundress of the fr:Foyers de charité association. She became bedridden when she was 21 years old, and remained so until her death. According to witnesses she ate nothing for many years apart from receiving Holy Eucharist.

Carleton Herbert Wright was a rear admiral in the United States Navy (USN).

John Konrads was an Australian freestyle swimmer of the 1950s and 1960s, who won the 1500 m freestyle at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. In his career, he set 26 individual world records, and after his swimming career ended, was the Australasian director of L'Oréal, as well as campaigning for the Sydney Olympics bid. Along with his sister Ilsa Konrads, who also set multiple world records, they were known as the Konrad Kids.