Dead bodybuilders in 2005

[ARMZ]

I found this article while looking for pics of an old friend Hans Hopstaken that passed away..  I didn't know Derrick Whitsett died?  That damn Advil! 


DATELINE: MAY 8, 2005 | This evening, I received a call telling me that 2002 Masters Olympia winner Don Youngblood had died of a heart attack at age 51. Two days prior, I had been informed that a middle-tier pro who competed earlier this year was now undergoing kidney dialysis, with a view to a future transplant. His career is now over, his life probably shortened. On May 2, we had heard that Charles Durr, 1991 NPC USA middleweight winner, had died of a heart attack at age 44.

On behalf of Weider Publications, I would like to send my sincerest condolences to the families of Don Youngblood and Charles Durr, and express my wishes that the newly retired pro has the best prognosis allowed his condition.

Bodybuilders are by no means the only people on this planet who are liable to die an early death or succumb to critical illness. But our sport cannot escape the fact that since the early '90s, there has been a succession of tragedies and near-tragedies that cannot be dismissed as mere statistical coincidences.

Just going from memory, the list of bodybuilders who have died prematurely since 1992, in addition to Durr and Youngblood, includes Momo Benaziza, Andreas Munzer, Curtis Leffler, Hans Hopstaken, Sonny Schmidt and Derrick Whitsett. Bodybuilders whose competitive careers were cut short by illness include Dennis Newman, Mike Francois, Don Long, Flex Wheeler, Tom Prince and Mike Matarazzo. The list of athletes that we know have experienced harum-scarum hospital visits with conditions in which their lives have been in danger includes Mike Matarazzo, Edgar Fletcher, Paul Dillett (twice), Milos Sarcev, Nasser El Sonbaty, Bob Cicherillo and Mustafa Mohammad (twice).





   

[Ron]

Don Youngblood passes away news blurb..

http://www.getbig.com/news/2005-02/050905youngblood.htm

[Joe Roark]

From my website, Lifelines section: (by no means complete):
For 2004:
Jan 3 Gary Cleveland
Jan 24 Derrik Whitsett
Jan 25 Sonny Schmidt
Feb 22 Bob Bednarski
Mar 6 Trevor Smith
Mar 8 Claudia Bianchi age 34
Mar 14 Stuart Cameron
Apr 19 Les Stockton
May 6 Joseph 'Pepper' Gomez
May 9 Wes Barrett's mother (sorry, do not know her name)
May 16 Inge Jones (Arthur's wife)
May 29 Werner Selig, age 42
Jul 11 Joe Gold
Aug 7 Mark Wallace (1993 NPC Mr. Georgia)
Sep 11 Johnny Hordines, age 94
Sep 22 Harold Zinkin
Sep 22 'Big Boss Man' Ray Traylor
Sep 26 Marianna Komlos age 35
Oct 4 John Carl Mese
Oct 5 Jeff Allen
Oct 21 Russ Warner age 87
Oct 28 date of burial for Georg Schipper 1934-2004
Oct 30 John Patrick O'Shea
Nov 5 P.G. Taylor
Nov 6 Robert Benavente died
Nov 24 Martin Cypher
Dec 4 John McWilliams
Dec 5 Dean Lotz
Dec 16 Ursula Buckanes-Henry
Don Crain also died but I am unaware of the date.
Luke Iams, when?


For 2005:
Jan 10 Helmut Losch died
Jan 11 Jack Lowell died
Jan 15 Angelo Iuspa died
Jan 20 Tony Lanza died
Feb 19 Gustavo Badell wins IFBB Ironman Pro
Mar 05 Dexter Jackson wins IFBB Arnold Classic
Mar 12 Chris Cormier wins IFBB San Francisco Pro
Mar 20 Lee Priest wins IFBB Grand Prix: Melbourne, Australia
Apr 22 Pat Casey died(5 am)
Apr 28 Paul Porteous (not sure of death date, but was disccovered deceased)
May ?? Maurice Catarcio died
May 02 Charles Durr died
May 08 Don Youngblood died
May 09 Steve Klisanin died
May 21 Darrem Charles wins IFBB New York Pro
May 22 Anthony Clark died
May 24 Gordon Wong died
May 26 Jyrki Savolainen died
Jun 01, Joe Hornick died
Jun 2 Paul Demayo died
Jun 4 Mannie Hamilton died
Jun 4 Darrem Charles wins IFBB Toronto Pro
Jun 12 Andy Bolton deadlifts new world record 937 lbs
Jun 18 Ron Lacy died age 75; born June 18, 1929
Jun 23 Roger Estep died
Jun 29 Monotosh Roy
Jul 28 Paul W. 'Sarge' Pendley, age 88, died. Powerlifter
Aug 7 Fannie Barrios died, age 39, 2am
Aug 9 Bruce White died; born Aug 5, 1934, age 70
Aug 10 Asia Monet Ray born to Shawn and Kristie at 5:50am
Aug 12 Coyle D. 'Bud' Lamison, Jr. died age 69
Aug 17 Joe Valdez died age 73 physique photog
Aug 18 John Riggins died
Aug 25 Fred Jarrett was buried; born Jun 23, 1927 died when ??
Sep 1 Terry Albritton, died. Shot put 71' 8.5"
Sep 1 Hannah Claire Means died age 17 (lifter)
Sep 17 Branch Warren wins IFBB Southwest/Europa Pro
Sep 27 John Ware died. Age 46 (former PLer; current football coach)
Oct 1? Phil Hile, 39, powerlifter
Oct 7 Doug Young, 61, powerlifter
Oct 14 Jen Hendershott wins Fitness Olympia
Oct 14 Davana Medina wins Figure Olympia
Oct 15 Ronnie Coleman wins his 8th Mr. Olympia to tie Haney's record
Oct 16 Mr.& Mrs. Mark Henry, son born, 9 lbs 3 ozs
Oct 21 Norm Dabish, 46, died. Co-founder of Powerhouse Gyms.
Oct 22 Reggie 'Crusher' Lisowski, age 79, died. Pro wrestler.
Oct 27? Vadim Savchuck, age 40, masters champ weightlifter, died construction accident
Nov 1 Barbara Beasley died; born Nov 2, 1954
Nov 8 Herb Glossbrenner, 63, suffers stoke, is hospitalized
Nov 10 Robert John Martin born; son of Chris Martin
Nov 10 Steve Courson died; NFL, Strongman competitor.
Nov 13 Eddie Guerrero, pro wrestler dies, age 38. In Minneapolis.
Dec 27 Henry Atkin died, age 89. Published Vigour mag.

For 2006:
Jan ? George Crawford died
Jan 19 Joseph Peters died age 89; was in 1939 Mr. A contest
Jan 20 Johnny Fuller died, age 62
Feb 6 Hans Ossner, German bodybuilder, died, age 64.
Feb 15 Dave Barno, powerlifter died, age 35
Apr 5 Dave Moyer died; WLer, PLer.
Apr 7 Rick Tuller died age 53. PLer.
Apr 9 Russ Knipp died. WLer.
Apr 23 Jason Keene died. Pler, BBer. b. Aug 21, 1974.

[Hurricane Beef !]

I recall seeing pics of Hans Hopstaken and he was ripped. It said in the article he stated he would not see 50 with waht he was doing to his body.

The Beef.

[Hurricane Beef !]

While looking for the pic of Hans I came across this pic. Please tell me this is morphed, this dude is a freak. Does anyone have any info on him?

The Beef

[shortfatugly]

At some point, even those people making the most steadfast denials about what is happening MUST see that many bodybuilders ( to the right of the bell curve from whatever a normal bodybuilder is ) are leading a life that will almost certainly lead to the demise. 

And this is not the same as the fact that everyone leads a life that will kill them.  Bodybuilders do things, and in excessive quantities and to excessive lengths that the majority of normal people don't. 

Drugs, criminality, excessive partying/lifestyle ( being led/making decisions based upon either their co.ck or their cu.nt ) leads many a young man/woman to an early death.

Bodybuilding is in some ways, very much the current GLADIATOR sport from the Roman Days of yore. 

It eats it's young and often with nary a second glance behind as their is always someone else coming along to fill in the empty space.

[Jerryme7]

Ive been fortunate to see the late Curtis Leffler train in Hawaii when I lived there. I have never seen a man so big and so vascular!

The first time I saw him...this is how I describe him....it's as if you were standing right by a rhino or some humongous animal! I was in awe. And the poundages he trained with. I have never seen someone train as heavy as that dude in my life.

You think Ronnie and Jay are huge? If you ever witnessed Curtis Leffler in person, you would be amazed. This guy was bigger than Jay and Ronnie..im talking about the old Ronnie Coleman...

I just wished he turned pro earlier in his career. I was a big fan of his.

I just wish someone could post a pic of him because I cant cause I work on a government computer and it wont allow me to find pics of Curtis Leffler...

[phyxsius]

From my website, Lifelines section: (by no means complete):
For 2004:
Jan 3 Gary Cleveland
Jan 24 Derrik Whitsett
Jan 25 Sonny Schmidt
Feb 22 Bob Bednarski
Mar 6 Trevor Smith
Mar 8 Claudia Bianchi age 34
Mar 14 Stuart Cameron
Apr 19 Les Stockton
May 6 Joseph 'Pepper' Gomez
May 9 Wes Barrett's mother (sorry, do not know her name)
May 16 Inge Jones (Arthur's wife)
May 29 Werner Selig, age 42
Jul 11 Joe Gold
Aug 7 Mark Wallace (1993 NPC Mr. Georgia)
Sep 11 Johnny Hordines, age 94
Sep 22 Harold Zinkin
Sep 22 'Big Boss Man' Ray Traylor
Sep 26 Marianna Komlos age 35
Oct 4 John Carl Mese
Oct 5 Jeff Allen
Oct 21 Russ Warner age 87
Oct 28 date of burial for Georg Schipper 1934-2004
Oct 30 John Patrick O'Shea
Nov 5 P.G. Taylor
Nov 6 Robert Benavente died
Nov 24 Martin Cypher
Dec 4 John McWilliams
Dec 5 Dean Lotz
Dec 16 Ursula Buckanes-Henry
Don Crain also died but I am unaware of the date.
Luke Iams, when?


For 2005:
Jan 10 Helmut Losch died
Jan 11 Jack Lowell died
Jan 15 Angelo Iuspa died
Jan 20 Tony Lanza died
Feb 19 Gustavo Badell wins IFBB Ironman Pro
Mar 05 Dexter Jackson wins IFBB Arnold Classic
Mar 12 Chris Cormier wins IFBB San Francisco Pro
Mar 20 Lee Priest wins IFBB Grand Prix: Melbourne, Australia
Apr 22 Pat Casey died(5 am)
Apr 28 Paul Porteous (not sure of death date, but was disccovered deceased)
May ?? Maurice Catarcio died
May 02 Charles Durr died
May 08 Don Youngblood died
May 09 Steve Klisanin died
May 21 Darrem Charles wins IFBB New York Pro
May 22 Anthony Clark died
May 24 Gordon Wong died
May 26 Jyrki Savolainen died
Jun 01, Joe Hornick died
Jun 2 Paul Demayo died
Jun 4 Mannie Hamilton died
Jun 4 Darrem Charles wins IFBB Toronto Pro
Jun 12 Andy Bolton deadlifts new world record 937 lbs
Jun 18 Ron Lacy died age 75; born June 18, 1929
Jun 23 Roger Estep died
Jun 29 Monotosh Roy
Jul 28 Paul W. 'Sarge' Pendley, age 88, died. Powerlifter
Aug 7 Fannie Barrios died, age 39, 2am
Aug 9 Bruce White died; born Aug 5, 1934, age 70
Aug 10 Asia Monet Ray born to Shawn and Kristie at 5:50am
Aug 12 Coyle D. 'Bud' Lamison, Jr. died age 69
Aug 17 Joe Valdez died age 73 physique photog
Aug 18 John Riggins died
Aug 25 Fred Jarrett was buried; born Jun 23, 1927 died when ??
Sep 1 Terry Albritton, died. Shot put 71' 8.5"
Sep 1 Hannah Claire Means died age 17 (lifter)
Sep 17 Branch Warren wins IFBB Southwest/Europa Pro
Sep 27 John Ware died. Age 46 (former PLer; current football coach)
Oct 1? Phil Hile, 39, powerlifter
Oct 7 Doug Young, 61, powerlifter
Oct 14 Jen Hendershott wins Fitness Olympia
Oct 14 Davana Medina wins Figure Olympia
Oct 15 Ronnie Coleman wins his 8th Mr. Olympia to tie Haney's record
Oct 16 Mr.& Mrs. Mark Henry, son born, 9 lbs 3 ozs
Oct 21 Norm Dabish, 46, died. Co-founder of Powerhouse Gyms.
Oct 22 Reggie 'Crusher' Lisowski, age 79, died. Pro wrestler.
Oct 27? Vadim Savchuck, age 40, masters champ weightlifter, died construction accident
Nov 1 Barbara Beasley died; born Nov 2, 1954
Nov 8 Herb Glossbrenner, 63, suffers stoke, is hospitalized
Nov 10 Robert John Martin born; son of Chris Martin
Nov 10 Steve Courson died; NFL, Strongman competitor.
Nov 13 Eddie Guerrero, pro wrestler dies, age 38. In Minneapolis.
Dec 27 Henry Atkin died, age 89. Published Vigour mag.

For 2006:
Jan ? George Crawford died
Jan 19 Joseph Peters died age 89; was in 1939 Mr. A contest
Jan 20 Johnny Fuller died, age 62
Feb 6 Hans Ossner, German bodybuilder, died, age 64.
Feb 15 Dave Barno, powerlifter died, age 35
Apr 5 Dave Moyer died; WLer, PLer.
Apr 7 Rick Tuller died age 53. PLer.
Apr 9 Russ Knipp died. WLer.
Apr 23 Jason Keene died. Pler, BBer. b. Aug 21, 1974.

Man... You are Dr. Death

[Dan-O]

From my website, Lifelines section: (by no means complete):

For 2005:
May 26 Jyrki Savolainen died

Wow, hadn't heard about this guy.  He was a perennial competitor at the Worlds in the early 80's, representing Finland.  He wouldn't have been that old either, probably somewhere in his 50's at most.

What was the cause of death, any info?

[Joe Roark]

http://www.ironhistory.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=6049

[Dan-O]

http://www.ironhistory.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=6049

Thanks.  Jyrki was Finnish but I'd forgotten he actually represented Australia in the Worlds.

He died in an auto accident in Finland at age 47, it says in the link.

[Has Beens]

While looking for the pic of Hans I came across this pic. Please tell me this is morphed, this dude is a freak. Does anyone have any info on him?

The Beef

That is Bill Cambra....and no, that pic is not morphed, he is/was a monster.

[Royalty]

Ive been fortunate to see the late Curtis Leffler train in Hawaii when I lived there. I have never seen a man so big and so vascular!

The first time I saw him...this is how I describe him....it's as if you were standing right by a rhino or some humongous animal! I was in awe. And the poundages he trained with. I have never seen someone train as heavy as that dude in my life.

You think Ronnie and Jay are huge? If you ever witnessed Curtis Leffler in person, you would be amazed. This guy was bigger than Jay and Ronnie..im talking about the old Ronnie Coleman...

I just wished he turned pro earlier in his career. I was a big fan of his.

I just wish someone could post a pic of him because I cant cause I work on a government computer and it wont allow me to find pics of Curtis Leffler...

Jeramy Freeman told me the same thing about Curtis: Huge, cut, and veiny. Just massive. Watch UFC 13 and UFC 15, Curtis is in Vitor Belforts Corner.

[blinky]

i forgot all about sonny schmidt.

I recall seeing pics of Hans Hopstaken and he was ripped. It said in the article he stated he would not see 50 with waht he was doing to his body.

his wife/girlfriend at the time of his death posts here.

[shortfatugly]

Ive been fortunate to see the late Curtis Leffler train in Hawaii when I lived there. I have never seen a man so big and so vascular!

The first time I saw him...this is how I describe him....it's as if you were standing right by a rhino or some humongous animal! I was in awe. And the poundages he trained with. I have never seen someone train as heavy as that dude in my life.

You think Ronnie and Jay are huge? If you ever witnessed Curtis Leffler in person, you would be amazed. This guy was bigger than Jay and Ronnie..im talking about the old Ronnie Coleman...

I just wished he turned pro earlier in his career. I was a big fan of his.

I just wish someone could post a pic of him because I cant cause I work on a government computer and it wont allow me to find pics of Curtis Leffler...

I had a picture of myself and Curtis Leffler.  He is enormous and incredibly vascular.  I also have a picture of myself standing next to Jeep Swenson.  Although no where near cut, this guy had to be the biggest muscular man I have ever seen.  I think he died the following year. 

WorldGym guy will attest to Jeep's size. 

[Mydavid]

i forgot all about sonny schmidt.

his wife/girlfriend at the time of his death posts here.

That would be me .

Lisa

[Bast175]

That would be me .

Lisa

I didn't know that.

[Mydavid]

I didn't know that.

Are you trying to type a funny?

Lisa

[Bast175]

Are you trying to type a funny?

Lisa

No.

[Forka]

I recall seeing pics of Hans Hopstaken and he was ripped. It said in the article he stated he would not see 50 with waht he was doing to his body.

The Beef.

Are you serious man? He really stated that?  I remember reading an article on Hans in Flex. I can't recall who he was leaving behind, be it a girlfriend or his wife. But the questions I'm trying to ask is, what the hell did she say if he even said that?  And please, no disrespect, but what did he die of?  What did all these bodybuilders die of?

[arce377]

BODY OPUS!

[arce377]

http://www.foothillgym.com/Hans.htm


   I was lucky enough to win the Novice Overall in 1992, and an unusual thing happened as a result of that, that got me some recognition.  Some months later, there was a small write up in “Muscle Mag” about my showing at the comp. Because it was flattering, I sent a letter of thanks to Steve Niece, the author of the article.  Included in my letter was a photo, a black and white, to date probably the best physique photo of myself I’d ever had.  A good friend of mine, took it at his house two days before the show, I had just first shop, a most muscular, and for whatever reason, it stood out much more that the others.

             MuscleMag printed the letter and photo, and no more thought was give to the matter.  That was until I got a call from a man claiming to be Dan Duchaine’s publisher, saying that Dan was interested in using my photo on the cover of his new book “Body Opus”.  I thought it was one of my friends playing a joke, so I joked along with it.  I was lucky he didn’t hang up on me.  It became apparent after a while, that it was a legitimate call.  He accepted my apology, I was of course very interested, we negotiated the legalities, and it was an agreement.

            Dan of course was a very controversial figure in our sport, I did have the good fortune to correspond with him for a time, and I distinctly remember he didn’t like B S.  I started my first correspondence with a great respect, that I felt he was due.  He, in no uncertain terms, made it clear that he preferred to be treated like a regular guy; I really liked that about him.  Although I did not know him well, and may not have agreed with some of his methods, I was greatly saddened by his passing.  He had an incredible mind!

--- Hans

[blinky]

Are you trying to type a funny?

Lisa

right, sorry i couldnt remember your forum name.

[Hurricane Beef !]

Do you have a link to the article?

Here's an article located at ZONECAPONE . . .http://www.zonecapone.com/

It's not the one I mentioned, that had lots of pics of Hans around a pool. It can't be far asI only hit four or five sites. I will look.

The Beef

[Mydavid]

I recall seeing pics of Hans Hopstaken and he was ripped. It said in the article he stated he would not see 50 with waht he was doing to his body.

The Beef.

I'm not sure he said that in an article...i did share on GetBig that he did not think he would live to see 50, though, but not because of "what he was doing to his body". He came from a family that did have some health problems, so he was taking that into consideration...yes, trying to be the most "shreddest" bodybuilder out there and the hard work he was putting into it, was definitely going to put a toll on his body and he knew that. The problem was that he loved what he did so much.
As for the addiction to painkillers, I'll be honest to say that he did enjoy them and the first time he went into the hospital with double pneumonia, his liver was not reacting well to the antibiotics they were giving him and they thought it could be from the fact that his liver was all jacked-up from the painkillers...they put him into a coma to clean out his system, he came out of it 2 or so weeks later, came home, and then went back into the hospital (CLEAN) 6 weeks later with double pneumonia AGAIN and everything in his body just started shutting down...they told us he was going to have to start dialysis because of Kidney failure and that's basically when he told me he "just wanted to rest" and we said our goodbyes...they put him back into a coma, he went into cardiac arrest about 10 hours later and that was about it.

Lisa