National Obituaries

Fellow country artists and fans react to the death of singer-songwriter Toby Keith, who died Monday at 62. “I was saddened to hear of Toby Keith’s passing. He really was one of the good guys. He helped a lot of people get started in the business.

LONDON (AP) — Former Irish Prime Minister John Bruton, who played a key role in bringing peace to Northern Ireland, has died at the age of 76. Bruton’s family said he died Tuesday in a Dublin hospital after a long illness.

PITTSBURGH — Former Toronto Maple Leaf forward Jason Spezza says his younger brother Matthew has died of an accidental overdose.

NEW YORK (AP) — Bob Beckwith, a retired firefighter whose chance encounter with the president amid the rubble of ground zero became part of an iconic image of American unity after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, has died. He was 91.

LONDON (AP) — Actor Ian Lavender, who played a hapless Home Guard soldier in the classic British sitcom “Dad’s Army,” has died, his agent said Monday. He was 77.

Former New York Jets tight end and wide receiver Richard Caster, who was selected for three Pro Bowls during his 13-year NFL career, has died. He was 75.

DETROIT (AP) — Earl “The Twirl” Cureton, who won two NBA championships in 12 seasons in the league, has died. He was 66.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Former Florida athletic director Bill Carr, an All-America center and team captain for the Gators in 1966, died Saturday night. He was 78. The university confirmed Carr’s death Sunday.

CARDIFF, Wales (AP) — Barry John, the rugby great who played 25 games for Wales and inspired the British and Irish Lions’ famous series victory over New Zealand in 1971 before retiring at the age of 27, has died. He was 79.

FLORENCE, Italy (AP) — Kurt Hamrin, a former Fiorentina and Sweden great who was the last living player to have participated in the 1958 World Cup final, has died. He was 89. The Swedish soccer federation announced Hamrin's death on Sunday.