The Death of John Lennon

“John Lennon was an English musician who gained worldwide fame as one of the founder members of The Beatles, for his subsequent solo career, and for his political activism and pacifism. He was shot to death by Mark David Chapman at the entrance to the building where he lived, The Dakota, in New York City on Monday 8 December 1980. Lennon had just returned from Record Plant Studio with his wife, Yoko Ono.

“Lennon was pronounced dead on arrival at Roosevelt Hospital. He was 40 years old. At the hospital, it was stated that nobody could have lived for more than a few minutes after sustaining such injuries. Shortly after local news stations reported Lennon’s death, crowds gathered at Roosevelt Hospital and in front of the Dakota. Lennon was cremated on 10 December 1980 at the Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York; the ashes were given to Ono, who chose not to hold a funeral for him.”(Wkipedia)

The Day John Lennon Died

In 2010, on the 30th anniversary of his death, ITV aired a documentary.

(And I have deleted the link since the video is no longer available.)

The fact that so many people had their lives changed by his death on that day will forever be his legacy.

Personal Note

In 1980, we were living in Vancouver, BC. On the 8th of December, my friend Evelyn rang to tell me that she’d heard on the radio that John Lennon had been shot and killed that evening in New York City.

I was devastated, having been a lifelong fan of The Beatles. We had lost our hero, and the world would never be the same. The world has never been the same since that day.