Those that left us in 2006 - September

SEPTEMBER:

Warren Mitofsky, 71. Longtime CBS News polling chief; pioneered use of exit polls. Sept. 1.

Nellie Connally, 87. Former Texas first lady; was in President Kennedy's limousine when he was assassinated. Sept. 1.

Gyorgy Faludy, 95. Poet and translator considered one of Hungary's greatest literary figures. Sept. 1.

Bob Mathias, 75. Two-time Olympic decathlon champion; four-term California congressman. Sept. 2.

Steve Irwin, 44. Television's irrepressible "Crocodile Hunter." Sept 4. Sting ray attack.

James DeAnda, 81. Co-founder of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund; federal judge. Sept. 7.

William Ziff, 76. Built a media empire with special interest magazines (Popular Photography.) Sept. 9.

Daniel Smith, 20. Anna Nicole Smith's son; sudden passing made headlines worldwide. Sept 10. Drug combination.

Patty Berg, 88. Golfer; won 15 major LPGA titles. Sept. 10.

Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, 88. Longtime king of the Pacific Island nation of Tonga. Sept. 11.

Ann Richards, 73. Former Texas governor, a witty and flamboyant Democrat. Sept. 13.

Oriana Fallaci, 76. Italian journalist noted for probing interviews with powerful people. Sept. 15.

Silviu Brucan, 90. A top communist official in postwar Romania, a strong opponent of dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. Sept. 14.

Patricia Kennedy Lawford, 84. Her marriage to Peter Lawford lent Hollywood glamour to the Kennedy dynasty. Sept. 17.

Dean Everett Wooldridge, 93. Co-founded aerospace giant TRW Inc. Sept. 20.

Pham Xuan An, 79. Led a perilous double life as a communist spy and a respected reporter during the Vietnam War. Sept. 20.

Henri Jayer, 84. Acclaimed French winemaker. Sept. 20.

Sven Nykvist, 83. Oscar-winning Swedish cinematographer; worked with Ingmar Bergman, Woody Allen. Sept. 20.

Joel T. Broyhill, 86. Eleven-term Virginia congressman. Sept. 24.

Iva Toguri D'Aquino, 90. Convicted of treason as alleged propagandist Tokyo Rose; later pardoned. Sept. 26.

Byron Nelson, 94. Golfer; his 11 straight tournament victories in 1945 stand as one of sports' most enduring records. Sept. 26.