Ethermac|Passage: Iris Apfel, Richard Lewis and David Culhane

It happened last week … the deaths of three people from very different walks of life.

Designer Iris Apfel died Friday.

The New York-born Apfel, who once called herself a "geriatric starlet," rose to fame in the 1950s and '60s as an interior designer, including on a number of White House restoration projects, eventually working for nine presidents, from Truman through Clinton.

But it was in later life that her bold fashions and saucer-size eyeglasses made Apfel a trendsetter. She even signed a modeling contract at age 97.

In 2011 she told The New York Times, "When you don't dress like everybody else, you don't have to think like everybody else."

Iris Apfel was 102 years old.

• Designer & fashion icon Iris Apfel shares secrets of staying young
• "Iris" producer Rebekah Maysles talks about the fashion icon

---

"I wanna get married. My last ... I just broke up with an actress who – look, I don't know if you know me or not, but I'm no gift, okay?"

We also learned Tuesday of the death of comedian Richard Lewis.

Born in Brooklyn in 1947, first in stand-up, then TV and film, Lewis built a career on his dark, neurotic, self-deprecating humor, most recently playing himself opposite close friend Larry David on television's "Curb Your Enthusiasm."

Lewis, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's last year, died of a heart attack at his home in Los Angeles. He was 76.

• Larry David pays tribute to childhood friend and co-star Richard Lewis
• Richard Lewis opens up about Parkinson's diagnosis

---

And we had a death in our family. We learned this past week of the passing of long-time "Sunday Morning" correspondent David Culhane.

Culhane joined CBS News in 1967, and after a number of assignments, in 1979 he brought his signature style to a fledgling Sunday morning program.

He'd report on all kinds of subjects, from all over the world, for the next 16 years.

Culhane then left CBS and moved to France, where he'd report for National Public Radio. 

After retirement, he remained abroad for some years before returning to the United States.

David is survived by his wife, Anne Kinzie Culhane, his four children, and six grandchildren.

Our David Culhane was 93 years old.

From 1980: David Culhane reports on dance teacher Jacques d'Amboise:

From 1994: David Culhane's report on rescuing Block Island's Southeast Lighthouse: 

Story produced by Annie Iezzi. Editor: Carol Ross. 

Jane Pauley

Jane Pauley is anchor of the award-winning "CBS Sunday Morning," a role she began in September 2016. Pauley is the recipient of multiple Emmys, the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism, the Edward R. Murrow Award for outstanding achievement and the Gracie Allen Award from the Foundation of American Women in Radio & Television. Pauley is a member of the Broadcast and Cable Hall of Fame.

Twitter Instagram