January

Alex Asmasoebrata (Jan. 2, aged 69) – An auto racer legend, Alex Asmasoebrata competed in the 1988 Johor Grand Prix along with his brother Ferry Asmasoebrata. He won several national competitions in the 1990s and upon his retirement he became a politician. Alex’s legacy lives on through his daughter, Alexandra Asmasoebrata, who is a fiercely competitive auto racer in her own right.

Farida Pasha (Jan. 16, aged 68) – Farida Pasha was an Indonesian actress best known for her work in the horror genre. In 1977, she made her career breakthrough after starring in Guna Guna Istri Muda (Young Wife’s Curse). Younger generations became familiar with Farida due to her portrayal of Mak Lampir, a powerful sorceress, in the epic fantasy series Misteri Dari Gunung Merapi (Mount Merapi’s Mystery). Farida died due to COVID-19 complications in Jakarta.

Mona Lohanda (Jan. 16, aged 74) – Coming from a Chinese-Indonesian family, Mona Lohanda was a celebrated historian who specialized in the history of Batavia and Chinese-Indonesians. She contributed greatly to the National Archives (ANRI) by archiving documents from the Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC) era. In 1994, Mona received her master’s degree in philosophy from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London University. Mona died due to a heart attack at the Sari Asih Karawaci Hospital.

Junaedi Salat (Jan. 18, aged 70) – Junaedi Salat was an actor best known for starring in the 1977 movie Ali Topan Anak Jalanan (Ali Topan, the Street Kid) based on a novel written by Teguh Esha (who also died this year) about a young man who comes from a broken home yet manages to excel at school. Junaedi died after suffering from diabetes.

Progressive: Rev. Stephen Suleeman was known for his support toward minority groups. (Courtesy of GKI) (Archive/Courtesy of GKI)

February

Soraya Abdullah (Feb. 1, aged 42) – Soraya Abdullah was an actress best known for her work in various TV series including Gerhana (Eclipse) and Tersanjung (Charmed). She died due to COVID-19 complications at the Siloam Kelapa Dua Hospital in Tangerang, Banten.

Firmanzah (Feb. 6, aged 44) – An academic, Firmanzah was the youngest dean of the University of Indonesia when he was elected to lead the university’s School of Economics in 2008. He was later selected to lead Paramadina University. He was also the special adviser for economic affairs to then-president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono back in 2012.

Tong Djoe (Feb. 8, aged 94) – Tong Djoe was a businessman who owned Singapore-based Tunas Group Pte. Ltd. He was best known for his role in maintaining diplomatic and trading ties between Indonesia and China especially in the 1990s. Then-president B. J. Habibie awarded him a Service Star for his efforts.

Prie GS (Feb. 12, aged 56) – A well-known cultural practitioner, Prie GS’ skills ranged from journalist, writer and cartoonist, to radio and television host. He died of a heart attack in Semarang, Central Java, on Feb. 12, a week after his birthday.

Artidjo Alkostar (Feb. 28, aged 72) – A judge and a former member of the Supreme Court, Artidjo Alkostar was famous for his tough sentences handed down to those convicted of corruption. He often handed them even heavier sentences after appeals. Artidjo was a member of the Supervisory Board of the Corruption Eradication Commission at the time of his death.

Gusti Jamhar Akbar (Feb. 28, aged 78) – Gusti Jamhar Akbar was a local artist best known for his work in lamut, a traditional storytelling art of the Banjar people of South Kalimantan. In the last two years of his life, Gusti still performed lamut for radio broadcasts in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, every Friday night despite a decline in public interest in the art form.

Taslim Azis (Feb. 28, aged 56) – Taslim Azis was known as a pencak silat (martial arts) athlete and he won gold medals at various editions of the Southeast Asian Games as well as the Indonesian National Games. He later became a politician affiliated with the Gerindra Party and served in the House of Representatives.

March

Rina Gunawan (March 2, aged 46) – An actress and a TV presenter, Rina Gunawan was perhaps best known for her role as a supporting actress in famous TV show Si Doel Anak Sekolahan (Doel, the College Boy) in the 1990s. She later became a popular TV host for daytime shows Anda Meminta Kami Memutar (You Request, We Play). She is survived by her husband actor Teddy Syah and two children Aqshal Ilham Syafatullah and Karnisya Rahmasyach.

Asmiar Yahya (March 3, aged 76) – Asmiar Yahya was a popular actress who started in a number of drama films and TV series in the 1980s. She was also a fashion designer.

Anton Medan (March 15, aged 63) – Born Tan Hok Liang on Oct. 10, 1957, Anton Medan was a controversial figure. He was notorious for his stint as a robber and a gambling mogul before converting to Islam and becoming a preacher in the early 1990s. Before converting to Islam, Anton was allegedly involved in the dark side of Indonesian politics as a gangster boss.  He was later accused of having been involved in the Jakarta riots back in 1998. Anton infamously refused to testify unless the National Human Rights Commission cleared his name first.

Adnan Ganto (March 23, aged 74) – Adnan Ganto was a celebrated Acehnese figure who held several key positions in various international banks. He was also key advisor to several defense ministers in the early 1990s. Adnan played an important role in transforming the Aceh Development Bank into Sharia Aceh Bank.

Basrief Arief (March 23, aged 74) – Basrief Arief was a former attorney general. Born in Tanjung Enim, South Sumatra, Basrief was responsible for state prosecutions including firing several prosecutors who were serving at the Bojonegoro Prosecutor’s Office in East Java for involvement in corruption.

Farid Husain (March 23, aged 71) – Farid Husain was a surgeon who was best known for his contributions during the peace agreement between the government and the Free Aceh Movement that was signed on Aug. 15, 2005, in Helsinki, Finland, ending 30 years of conflict. Farid died of COVID-19 complications.

Arbi Sanit (March 25, aged 81) – Arbi Sanit was a political scientist and lecturer at the School of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Indonesia. He died of a heart attack at the Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital in Jakarta.

Wawan Wanisar (March 29, aged 71) – Wawan Wanisar was an actor best known for portraying the handsome Pierre Tendean, a national hero who died during the attempted communist coup in 1965, in the 1984 movie Pengkhianatan G 30 S PKI (G 30 S PKI Betrayal).

April

Daniel Dhakidae (Apr. 6, aged 75) – Daniel Dhakidae was a journalist and academic who was affiliated with Prisma magazine and Kompas as their head of research and development before joining The Conversation.

Lia Eden (Apr. 9, aged 73) – Born Sjamsuriati Gustaman and later known as Lia Aminuddin or Lia Eden, she became notorious for leading a cult that taught a new religion that combined Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism. She was arrested for blasphemy at one point.

Albert Papilaya (Apr. 18, aged 53) – Albert Papilaya was a celebrated boxer who competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain and reached the quarterfinals.

Radhar Panca Dahana (Apr. 22, aged 56) - Radhar Panca Dahana was a literary figure whose works were featured in Kompas, Hai and Jakarta Jakarta.

May

SAE Nababan (May 8, aged 87) - Soritua Albert Ernst Nababan was a Lutheran pastor who held several senior positions in various groups in the 1980s.

Teguh Esha (May 17, aged 74) – Born Teguh Slamet Hidayat Adrai, Teguh Esha was best known for writing the novel Ali Topan Anak Jalanan (Ali Topan, the Street Kid), which was later adapted as a movie. Esha himself directed the 1977 film.

Wimar Witoelar (May 19, aged 75) – A journalist and talk show host, Wimar also served as the presidential press secretary for then-president Abdurrahman Wahid from 1999 to 2001.

Celebrated talent: Markis Kido at a press conference in Bali in 2015. The badminton player passed away from a heart attack on June 14. (Kompas.com/Courtesy of badmintonindonesia.org) (Kompas.com/ourtesy of badmintonindonesia.org)

June

Mochtar Kusumaatmadja (June 6, aged 92) – An academic and a former diplomat, Mochtar Kusumaatmadja served as law minister from 1974 to 1978 and foreign minister from 1978 to 1988. He was also a lecturer at Bandung Padjajaran University.

Toeti Heraty (June 13, aged 87) – A writer, a medical practitioner, and a philosopher, Toeti Heraty was heralded as the only woman among the country’s leading contemporary poets. She founded Jurnal Perempuan, a feminist magazine that put an emphasis on women’s issues, as well as contributing to Suara Ibu Peduli, an NGO that focuses on women’s empowerment.

Markis Kido (June 14, aged 36) – Markis Kido was a badminton player who won gold medals along with his partner Mohammad Ahsan at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Markis passed away after suffering a heart attack while playing a friendly badminton match in Tangerang, Banten.

Neta S. Pane (June 16, aged 56) – An activist and a journalist, Neta S Pane was best known for presiding over Indonesia Police Watch from 2004 until the time of his death. He often criticized the police through his work.

Steven Nugraha (June 22, aged 46) – Steven Nugraha was a singer and an actor best known for leading reggae group Steven & Coconut Treez.

Edy Oglek (June 28, aged 54) – Born Edy Suwandi, Edy Oglek was an actor and comedian best known for his work on the Tukang Bubur Naik Haji (Rice Porridge Seller Goes on the Hajj) series.

Aria Baron (June 29, aged 51) – A guitarist, Aria Baron was best known for his contributions to various musical groups such as Gigi, /rif, Boomerang and Baron Soulmates.

July

Rachmawati Soekarnoputri (July 3, aged 70) – The daughter of first president Soekarno, Rachmawati Soekarnoputri was a politician in her own right and served as a member of the Presidential Supervisory Committee during then-president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s leadership.

Jane Shalimar (July 4, aged 41) – Jane Shalimar was an actress, singer, model and politician. She died of COVID-19 complications.

Carmel Budiardjo (July 10, aged 96) – Carmel Budiardjo was an English human rights activist who worked to raise awareness about the victims of human rights abuses in Indonesia and East Timor. In 1950, she married Suwondo Budiardjo – who was later jailed for 12 years after Gen. Suharto seized power in 1966. Budiardjo herself was jailed for three years and was deported in 1971. She founded Tapol, an organization campaigning for political prisoners in Indonesia, in which she remained active until her death.

August

Budi Darma (Aug. 21, aged 84) – A celebrated writer who inspired others, Budi Darma received many awards nationally and internationally for his work including Orang-orang Bloomington (Bloomington People) and Olenka.

Elly Kasim (Aug. 25, aged 76) – A singer, Elly Kasim was best known for popularizing traditional songs from the Minangkabau people of West Sumatra.

September

Koes Hendratmo (Sept. 7, aged 79) – A well-known singer in the 1960s, Koes Hendratmo was even better known for his role as the host of TV competition Berpacu Dalam Melodi (Melody Race) where contestants guessed songs based on snippets of the tunes played by a small orchestra.

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October

Gunawan Maryanto (Oct. 6, aged 45) – An author, theater director, and an actor, Gunawan Maryanto managed Teater Garasi and organized the annual Indonesian Dramatic Reading Festival with Joned Suryatmoko. In 2017, he won Best Actor for portraying poet Widji Thukul in the film Istirahatlah Kata-Kata (Rest in Peace, Words)

Oddie Agam (Oct. 27, aged 68) – Born Imran Madjid, Oddie Agam was a celebrated songwriter known for hits such as “Wow”, “Surat Cinta” (Love Letter),” Bahasa Cinta” (Love Language), “Logika” (Logics) and “Tamu Istimewa” (Special Guest). These songs were popularized by legendary singer Vina Panduwinata. Oddie also wrote “Antara Anyer dan Jakarta” (From Anyer to Jakarta), popularized by Malaysian singer Sheila Majid.

November

Julie Sutardjana (Nov. 2, aged 99) – A legendary writer and culinary expert, Julie Sutardjana started out as a teacher and a cake seller before writing recipes for Star Weekly in the early 1950s. She later published several cookbooks under the pseudonym Nyonya Rumah (Lady of the House) and later opened her own restaurant in Bandung, West Java. In 2012, she was named the oldest food writer and recipe maker by the Indonesian Museum of Records.

Vanessa Angel (Nov. 4, aged 29) – Born Vanesza Adzania, Vanessa Angel was an actress who appeared in several TV series before her tragic passing in a car accident. Her husband, Febri Andriansyah, also died in the accident. Vanessa and Febri are survived by their son Gala Sky Andriansyah. The circumstances behind their tragic deaths (including allegations of her driver’s responsibility for the accident) remain unclear.

Stephen Suleeman (Nov. 8, aged 67) – Reverend Stephen Suleeman was a religious leader known for his support for minority groups – especially LGBT groups.

Rony Dozer (Nov. 11, aged 46) – Born Rony Antonius Setiawan, Rony Dozer was an actor famous for his film appearances including in the horror movie Jelangkung (The Curse) and TV series such as superheroine film Saras 008.

Max Sopacua (Nov. 11, aged 75) – Max Sopacua was a well-known TV broadcaster often covering sports events such as the Olympics or World Cup. He was also active in the Indonesian National Sports Committee before launching a career as a politician.

Verawaty Fajrin (Nov. 21, aged 64) – Verawaty Fajrin was one of the leading Indonesian badminton players in the late 1970s and 1980s. She played three disciplines (women’s singles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles) and managed to triumph in all of them.

Bens Leo (Nov. 29, aged 69) - A music journalist, Bens Leo was a legend within the music industry. He was especially known for speaking up against music piracy.

December

Idang Rasjidi (Dec. 4, aged 63) – Idang Rasjidi was a jazz musician known for his piano-playing skills and scat singing. He often played in various music festivals such as Jazz Goes to Campus, Java Jazz Festival and Jak Jazz Festival.