Deaths Elsewhere

Published 12:00 am Sunday, October 27, 2019

Deaths of note from around the world:

Marieke Vervoort, 40: Paralympian who won gold and silver medals in wheelchair racing at the 2012 London Paralympics, and two more medals three years ago in Rio de Janeiro; in an interview, Vervoort described living with unbroken pain from an incurable, degenerative spinal disease. Died Tuesday by euthanasia in her native Belgium, where the practice is legal; Vervoort was a strong advocate of the right to choose euthanasia — like training hard, she said it gave her control and put “my own life in my hands.”

George Brancato, 88: Former LSU two-way back who won Grey Cup titles with the Ottawa Rough Riders as a player, assistant coach and head coach; Brancato also played five games in the NFL in 1954 with the Chicago Cardinals. His death was confirmed Wednesday by the Redblacks, Ottawa’s current Canadian Football League team.