List of Famous people who died in 1997

Lyman Spitzer Jr. was an American theoretical physicist, astronomer and mountaineer. As a scientist, he carried out research into star formation, plasma physics, and in 1946, conceived the idea of telescopes operating in outer space. Spitzer invented the stellarator plasma device and is the namesake of NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. As a mountaineer, he made the first ascent of Mount Thor, with Donald C. Morton.

Friedrich von Mellenthin was a German general during World War II. A participant in most of the major campaigns of the war, he became known afterwards for his memoirs Panzer Battles, first published in 1956 and reprinted several times since then.

John Akii-Bua was a Ugandan hurdler and the first Olympic champion from his country.

Colette Magny was a French singer and songwriter. A charismatic performer who did not record until her thirties, her work encompassed blues, jazz, protest songs, experimental music and spoken word recordings.

Nick Traina was an American singer, who was lead singer for the punk band Link 80.

Maria Mordasova was a Russian singer, known for her renditions of folk song and chastushkas. She was honoured as a People's Artist of the USSR in 1981 and Hero of Socialist Labour and the Order of Lenin in 1987.

Li Shuxian, also known as Li Shu-Hsien, was the fifth and last wife of Puyi, the last emperor of the Qing dynasty in China.

Jürgen Kuczynski was a German economist, journalist, and communist. He also provided intelligence to the Soviet Union during World War II.

Joan Coromines i Vigneaux was a linguist who made important contributions to the study of Catalan, Spanish, and other Romance languages.

Damião de Bozzano - born as Pio Giannotti - was an Italian Roman Catholic priest and a professed member from the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin who served in the Brazilian missions for over six decades. Giannotti entered the order when he was twelve to do his ecclesial studies and religious formation of which he spent some of that time in Rome. He worked as a teacher from 1928 until 1931 when he was sent to the missions in Brazil. He would remain there for the rest of his life and would go travelling often to northern Brazilian cities where he would celebrate Mass and evangelize while hearing confessions on a frequent basis.