List of Famous people who died at 79

Howard Lewis Johnson was an American jazz musician, known mainly for his work on tuba and baritone saxophone, although he also played the bass clarinet, trumpet, and other reed instruments.

Charles Neville was an American R&B and jazz musician best known as part of The Neville Brothers. Known onstage as "Charlie the horn man", his saxophone playing helped earn the group a Grammy Award for best pop instrumental performance.

Giulietto Chiesa was an Italian journalist, author, lecturer and politician.

Harvey Ross Ball was an American commercial artist. He is recognized as the designer of a popular smiley graphic picture, which became an enduring and notable international icon. He never applied for a trademark for the iconic smiley image and only earned $45 for his efforts. Ball later founded the World Smile Foundation in 1999, a non-profit charitable trust that supports children’s causes.

Klim Ivanovich Churyumov was a Soviet and Ukrainian astronomer.

Johannes Friessner was a German general in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.

Patricia Anderson Welsh was an American film actress, known as the raspy voice of E.T. in the 1982 film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.

Jaafar Muhammad an-Nimeiry was a Sudanese politician who served as the President of Sudan from 1969 to 1985.

Carlo Caffarra was an Italian prelate of the Catholic Church. He was Archbishop of Bologna from 2003 until 2015, when he retired. His previous positions included President of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family from 1981 to 1995 and Archbishop of Ferrara-Comacchio from 1995 to 2003. He was created a Cardinal in the consistory of 24 March 2006 by Pope Benedict XVI.

Robert Waseige was a Belgian football manager and player. While managing R.F.C. de Liège he helped them win the 1989–90 Belgian Cup. He became the coach of Belgium before Euro 2000 and led Belgium to the second round at the 2002 World Cup.