Classical music composer and conductor Pierre Boulez dies at age 90.
So did I win yet?
Most of us had our first names for the 2017 list years ago. And the 2018 list… 
The cricketer Michael Hobden has died, age 22.
Given the number of points he’d have been worth, and his absence from my list, I’m relieved to see that this is the sole mention of this late luminary in this thread. 
Pierre Boulez, Leading Figure of Classical Music, Dies at 90.
The French conductor and composer died peacefully Tuesday at his home in Baden-Baden, Germany, said his assistant Marion Thiem. He was 90 and had been unable to conduct recently due to eye trouble, she said.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016/01/06/world/europe/ap-eu-germany-boulez-a-life.html?_r=0
William “Fridge” Perry hospitalized.
NO!!! I took him off my list Dec. 31st. Get well soon!
For the Fridge, his Super Bowl ring size is the largest of any professional football player in the history of the event. He’s also suffering from Guillain–Barré syndrome. He was fun to watch, especially when he tried to throw Walter Payton over the goal line.
For Hallowe’en one year, I made a cardboard refrigerator, sandwich board style, painted it in ChiBears colors, with a big 72 on the front and Perry across the back.
So do we have an opening kick off winner? I’m hearing Pat Harrington died.
Confirmed. Schneider down the drain. I knew that plunger would come in handy.
Looks like 4 players got 14 points.
Yes, on January 2:
Florence King, author of Confessions of a Failed Southern Lady, among other classics, died yesterday.
Damn missed it. But now 5 people on the board.
1 guylevesque 31 1 1
2 BlossomDrearie 14 1 0
2 bowler girl 14 1 0
2 Happy Lendervedder 14 1 0
2 Team Dirt 14 1 0
Woohoo! I’m tied for sixth!! 
ETA: Team Dirt is such a perfect username for a Death Pool player. C’mon team, take those dirt naps! 
Yeah, it’s crowded
Move over, dammit, I can’t reach the chips.
Whoop, whoop! Nice to get those first points out of the way early!
January and I’m in third place. It’s looking up already!