LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The Louisville community grieved the loss of many notable figures in 2024 including a local sports icon, a chef with a big heart  and storytellers. 

Here is a list of Louisville or southern Indiana natives who passed away in 2024, listed in order of their deaths:

Bob Edwards

Bob Edwards, the longtime host of NPR's "Morning Edition," died Feb. 10, 2024 at the age of 76.

The Louisville native was a distinctive and trusted voice for NPR's morning program for more than 24 years, and was best known for hosting "All Things Considered" with Susan Stamberg. The show won a Peabody Institutional Award for excellence in broadcasting in 2000. 

Edwards grew up in Louisville, attended St. Xavier High School and attended night classes at the University of Louisville. During his senior year, he started his radio career at WHEL in New Albany, according to his bio in the UofL Hall of Fame. 

After being drafted into the U.S. Army, Edwards produced and anchored TV and radio news for the American Forces Korea Network in Seoul. 

He was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2004, and authored two books. 

Danny Rodden

Former Clark County, Indiana, sheriff Danny Rodden died on March 11, 2024, in Venice, Florida, where he lived. He was 69.

According to an obituary, Rodden spent his career in law enforcement. He was a Jeffersonville police officer for 30 years, serving as chief for a time. He was elected Clark County Sheriff in 2007, but retired in 2014 after covering up an affair with a prostitute and lying to the FBI. 

His obituary called Rodden a selfless leader and loyal friend who spent time coaching youth sports and volunteering in the community.

Sheldon Shafer

Sheldon S. Shafer, a prolific reporter who covered local government, development and other topics big and small for The Courier-Journal for more than four decades, died April 8, 2024. He was 79.

Shafer, who was inducted into the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame in April, had been in failing health since a fall at his home in late 2023.

In a career that began at the Louisville newspaper in 1973, Shafer chronicled established Louisville institutions -- Waterfront Park, the Belle of Louisville and the Louisville Zoo, to name just a few – and its curiosities, from the Louisville Clock to the Ohio River’s Falls Fountain.

He also was known for stories about development proposals that never came to fruition, an unbuilt collection of buildings dubbed “Shaferville” by his colleagues in the newsroom at Sixth Street and Broadway.

Shafer covered the Metro Council and, before the merger of city-county governments, the Board of Aldermen and Jefferson County Fiscal Court. He wrote about every Louisville mayor from Harvey Sloane to Greg Fischer.

Rob Auerbach

Rob Auerbach, co-founder of the Louisville natural food market Rainbow Blossom, died on May 7, 2024 at 72 surrounded by "his girls" — his wife and his daughters.

An avid fan of horseracing, Auerbach's family said he got to fulfill his final wish by watching the 150th Kentucky Derby in person.

In his free time, Auerbach was an avid pilot, who loved cycling, beekeeping, live music, and traveling, according to his family.

Auerbach and his wife, Pumpkin, opened the first Rainbow Blossom in 1977. Their daughter Summer is now managing the business.

Alan Rupp “The Pie Man”

Alan Scott Rupp, president of Kern's Kitchen, died June 7, 2024 at the age of 70. 

Rupp was fondly known as "The Pie Man," according to his obituary. He loved playing golf, "had a fondness for nature and all its beauty" and was a supporter of the Kentucky Restaurant Association.

Rupp got his start in the family business in 1973, nearly 20 years after his grandparents, Walter and Leaudra Kern, created the very first Derby Pie in 1954 at the Melrose Inn in Prospect. 

William Lee Lyons Brown Jr.

The former President and CEO of Brown-Forman, William Lee Lyons Brown Jr., died peacefully on June 9, 2024 in Gulf Stream, Florida at the age of 87.

Brown served in several leadership roles for Brown-Forman between 1975 and 1996.

According to his obituary, Brown also served as the American Ambassador to Austria under President George Bush from 2001 to 2005. Brown also held roles under President Ronald Reagan and President Bill Clinton.

He also served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1964-1966.

Merv Aubespin

Merv Aubespin died June 26, 2024 in California at the age of 86. He was one of the first Black news artists and reporters at the Louisville Courier Journal.

In the 1960s, he was on the frontline chronicling racial tensions as the city exploded into riots. In 1968, Aubespin covered the claims of excessive force used by Louisville police after Manfred Reid, an African American businessman, had been beaten with a blackjack by a Louisville officer.

Aubespin retired from the newspaper in 2002 as an associate editor. He dedicated his life to diversifying media and involving more people of color in the production of the news.

A published author and former president of the National Association of Black Journalists, Aubespin was also a member of Kentucky's Journalism Hall of Fame and founded the Louisville Association of Black Communicators. 

Dennis Lampley

Dennis Lampley died July 9, 2024 at the age of 80 after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's Disease. 

Lampley was head coach at Trinity for 19 years and won five state championships as head football coach. He was part of three more as defensive coordinator. He built a career record of 138-21, including a state-record 50-game winning streak from 1988-91, and in 1990 was named National Coach of the Year. He was Kentucky Coach of the Year three times.

He was voted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017. After his coaching career, he remained at Trinity as athletic director for another 15 years, helping to extend the school's championship tradition. He also served on the board of the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The basketball court at Trinity bears his name.

Lampley was among those Jeff Brohm honored the day he was named University of Louisville football coach. Lampley coached Jeff and Greg Brohm at Trinity.

Ira Salls

Ira Salls, the first Black female McDonalds franchise owner and a beloved community leader in Kentucky died Oct. 27, 2024 at the age of 70 according to her obituary. 

Salls began her career with McDonald's as a staff accountant at the company's corporate office.

In 1991, she became the first black female franchise owner in Kentucky and Indiana. She earned the prestigious Golden Arch Award, placing her among the top 1% of operators.

Salls grew her franchise business to nine McDonald locations in Louisville. She also established the McDonald's Black History Makers of Tomorrow Scholarship.

Anoosh Shariat

Legendary Louisville Chef Anoosh Shariat died Oct. 30, 2024 after a long battle with colorectal cancer. He was 67.

Born Anoosh Shariatmadari in Tehran, Iran, he left his home country in his teens. Working in kitchens in Europe and eventually the United States, he made his way to Louisville in the 1990s. 

Shariat owned a number of well-known fine and casual dining spots in Louisville over the years, including Shariat's Restaurant, Browning's Restaurant & Brewery, Park Place on Main, and, most recently, Noosh Nosh and Anoosh Bistro. He retired this May.

Shariat was known for his kindness and efforts to help local charities, including Chefs for Hope, Apron, Inc., Feat, Carriage House, The Louisville Comprehensive Care MS Center, and many others.

He also published a cookbook of his favorite recipes, "Eat Well, Love Life," and appeared on many local television segments promoting his restaurants or charities he supported. 

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