Gone, But Definitely Not Forgotten

Published on December 16, 2025

By Carrie S.

I confess, I started to write this blog months ago—without knowing the sheer volume of celebrities we would sadly lose in 2025. First, there was my tearful lament at the loss of iconic filmmaker David Lynch. Then my reminiscence of the summer I refused to take off my Hulkamania bandana. Now that it's December, I look back and finally realize just how much we’ve lost.

I credit my dad for instilling in me a lifelong love of the Beach Boys. I once wrote an exceptionally long fan letter to Brian Wilson (unmailed, thankfully). God only knows what 12-year-old me was thinking, but needless to say, the loss of Brian Wilson hit the music world hard this year.

Unfortunately, this was the tip of the iceberg when it came to musical losses. The year 2025 also robbed us of Ozzy Osbourne, Sly Stone, Connie Francis, Roberta Flack, Ace Frehley, and New York Doll, David Johansen. 

The movie world said goodbye to some truly iconic figures this year. While still reeling from the loss of the great Gene Hackman, final bows were also taken by Terence Stamp, Diane Keaton, Robert Redford and, most recently, Rob Reiner. 

And the authors! 'Shopaholic' Sophie Kinsella, Joanna Trollope, crime novelists Peter Lovesey and Martin Cruz Smith, and the extraordinary Jane Goodall also bookended their lifespan in 2025.

Thankfully, we are left with an incredible body of work to enjoy. So, while we mourn their passing, let’s also celebrate their lives by remembering their achievements. 

Character limits prevent me from including every loss from this past year. Nor is there space to share every library offering from this wealth of talent. Instead, please accept this curated list of recommendations.

Be sure to search the catalog for other gems, and remember, Interlibrary Loan is always available if we don’t have that deep-cut Sabbath album that you’re looking for!