List of Famous people who died in 1981

Helmut Gröttrup was a German engineer, rocket scientist and inventor of the smart card. During World War II, he worked in the German V-2 rocket program under Wernher von Braun. From 1946 to 1953 he headed a group of 170 German scientists who were forced to work for the Soviet rocketry program under Sergei Korolev. After returning to West Germany in December 1953, he developed data processing systems and contributed to early commercial applications of computer science. In 1967 Gröttrup invented the basic principles of the smart card as a forgery-proof "key" for secure identification and access control.

Peter Huchel, born Hellmut Huchel, was a German poet.

Prince Andrei Alexandrovich of Russia was the first son and second child of Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich of Russia and Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna of Russia. He was also the eldest nephew of Nicholas II of Russia, the last Tsar.

Aimé Maeght was a French art dealer, collector, lithographer, and publisher. He founded the Galerie Maeght in Paris and Barcelona, and the Fondation Maeght in Saint-Paul-de-Vence near Nice. Though the original Flemish pronunciation is pronounced "," the French pronunciation of surname Maeght sounds more similar to.

Ann Geraldine Mary Fleming, previously known as Lady O'Neill and Viscountess Rothermere, was a British socialite. She married firstly Lord O'Neill, secondly Lord Rothermere, and finally the writer Ian Fleming. She also had affairs with the Labour Party politicians Roy Jenkins and Hugh Gaitskell.

Ada Kramm was a Norwegian stage and film actress whose career spanned more than six decades.

Patsy Kelly was an American actress. She is known for her role as the brash, wisecracking sidekick to Thelma Todd in a series of short comedy films produced by Hal Roach in the 1930s. Known as the Queen of Wisecracks, Kelly's career continued after Todd's death in 1935 in similar roles.

David George Brownlow Cecil, 6th Marquess of Exeter, KCMG, styled Lord Burghley before 1956 and also known as David Burghley, was an English athlete, sports official, peer, and Conservative Party politician. He won the gold medal in the 400 m hurdles at the 1928 Summer Olympics.

Prince Pedro Henrique of Orléans-Braganza, was a great-grandson of the last emperor of Brazil, Pedro II, and one of two claimants to the abolished throne.

Isabel Cristina Mrad Campos was a Brazilian Roman Catholic that studied medicine before her murder following an attempted rape in her apartment. Mrad Campos studied medicine hoping to become a pediatrician to help poor children ; she was involved in her local parish after having joined the Young Vincentian movement that came under the main organization. Throughout her life she was dedicated to her faith and placed particular emphasis on Eucharistic Adoration and frequent attendance at Mass.