List of Famous people who died at 88

Mambillikalathil Govind Kumar Menon also known as M. G. K. Menon, was a physicist and policy maker from India. He had a prominent role in the development of science and technology in India over four decades. One of his most important contributions was nurturing the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, which his mentor Homi J. Bhabha founded in 1945.

Niven Busch was an American novelist and screenwriter of movies such as the acclaimed The Postman Always Rings Twice. His novels included Duel in the Sun (1944) and California Street. He was married to actress Teresa Wright for ten years beginning in 1942.

William Norman Pennington was an American casino industry executive. A pioneer in Nevada’s casino industry, he played a major role in establishing the Circus Circus company, including Excalibur Hotel Casino, Luxor and Mandalay Bay. He owned several properties in Las Vegas, Reno, Hawaii and elsewhere. For many years he was listed on the Forbes 400.

Bella Lewitzky was a modern dance choreographer, dancer and teacher.

Vera Pless was an American mathematician who specialized in combinatorics and coding theory. She was professor emerita at the University of Illinois at Chicago.