List of Famous people who died at 81

Eugenio Garza Sada was an industrialist in the city of Monterrey, Mexico best known for founding the Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM) school system in the country. Garza was born into a business family, with his father founding the Cuauhtémoc Brewery in Monterrey in 1890. After Garza graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), he began to work at the brewery, working his way up in the company to eventually take over as director after his father died. Garza and his brother Roberto grew the company into a conglomerate and instituted various innovations including benefits and social services for employees. Garza’s inspiration for founding ITESM came from his experience at MIT, as well as the desire to decrease Mexico’s dependence on foreign expert help. He remained the head of ITESM’s board until his death in 1973, as a result of a failed kidnapping attempt.

James Henry Cotton was an American blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter, who performed and recorded with many of the great blues artists of his time and with his own band. He played drums early in his career but is famous for his harmonica playing.

Eva Lee Kuney Grover Feldman was an American child actress, dancer, and draftswoman. She appeared in her first film at the age of 18 months and performed in numerous uncredited film roles.

Séamus Pattison was an Irish Labour Party politician who served as Leas-Cheann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann from 2002 to 2007, Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann from 1997 to 2002, Minister of State for Social Welfare from 1983 to 1987 and Father of the Dáil from 1995 to 2007. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Carlow–Kilkenny constituency from 1961 to 2007. He was a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the Leinster constituency from 1981 to 1983.

John Herbert was a Brazilian actor, director and producer.

Maximo Guillermo "Max" Manus DSO, MC & Bar was a Norwegian resistance fighter during World War II, specialising in sabotage in occupied Norway. After the war. he wrote several books about his adventures and started the successful office supply company Max Manus AS.

Victoria Hughes, was a British lavatory attendant, and the first of her profession to have an entry in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, having published her memoirs Ladies' Mile at the age of 80, which some found shocking but which have since become a valuable local history resource.

Ratiba Hefny was an Egyptian and an international Opera singer (Soprano) who has performed in more than 500 opera performances. She was the dean of the Higher Institute of Arabic Music in Cairo. She became the director of the Cairo Opera House in 1988.

Ofelia "Lia" Maivia was a Samoan professional wrestling promoter. She is credited as one of the first female professional wrestling promoters. Maivia was the wife of Samoan professional wrestler Peter Maivia and the grandmother of actor and wrestler, Dwayne Johnson, also known as The Rock.

Geneviève Fontanel was a French stage and film actress. She was nominated for the César Awards 1978 for Best Supporting Actress for her role in L'Homme qui aimait les femmes.