List of Famous people who died in 2005

Maurice Desimpelaere (1920–2005) was a Belgian cyclist. He won the 1944 Paris–Roubaix and finished in fifth place in the 1945 Paris–Roubaix.

Joseph Harnell was an American composer, musician, and music arranger.

Bert Pronk was a Dutch road cyclist who won the Tour de Luxembourg and Ronde van Nederland in 1977. He rode Tour de France in 1976, 1977, 1979 and 1980 with the best achievement of 12th place in 1977. A few years before his death he was diagnosed with cancer, but seemed to fully recover and resume his sport activities. He died suddenly while on vacations in Portugal.

Elda Mazzocchi Scarzella (1904–2005) was an Italian educationalist, social worker and philanthropist, who founded the Villaggio della Madre e del Fanciullo for single mothers in Milan and is also remembered for her work with children in Sardinia.

Raymond Mphakamisi Mhlaba was an anti-apartheid activist, Communist and leader of the African National Congress (ANC) also as well the first premier of the Eastern Cape. Mhlaba spent 25 years of his life in prison. Well known for being sentenced, along with Nelson Mandela, Govan Mbeki, Walter Sisulu and others in the Rivonia Trial, he was an active member of the ANC and the South African Communist Party (SACP) all his adult life. His kindly manner brought him the nickname "Oom Ray".