Remembering Those Las Vegas Lost in 2025
Posted on: December 30, 2025, 01:17h.
Last updated on: December 30, 2025, 01:17h.
Before the stroke of midnight delivers us into yet another calendar year, Casino.org stops to remember the influential Las Vegas figures we left behind in this one. The contributions made by these people shaped the Las Vegas we know today, from its megaresorts and tourism identity to its entertainment journalism, lounge culture and historical preservation.
Elaine Wynn (1942–2025)
Elaine Wynn, one of the most consequential figures in Las Vegas history, died on April 14, 2025 in LA, after a brief illness at age 82. Born Elaine Pascal, she co‑founded Mirage Resorts and Wynn Resorts with Steve Wynn, helping develop the Mirage, Treasure Island, Bellagio, Wynn Las Vegas, and Encore — properties that redefined luxury on the Strip.
Her personal and professional relationship with her more famous husband was notoriously turbulent. Married in 1963, divorced in 1986, remarried in 1991, and divorced again in 2010, their final split required her to vote her shares in tandem with him – a restriction she later challenged. In 2015, after the Wynn Resorts board declined to re‑nominate her, she launched a high‑profile proxy fight.
Everything changed in 2018 when The Wall Street Journal published allegations of sexual misconduct against her ex-husband. The scandal voided their voting agreement, and Elaine regained independent control of her shares. A settlement restored her voting rights and included a $25 million payment. When Steve Wynn resigned and sold his stake, Elaine became the company’s largest individual shareholder, with nearly 9% ownership.
Beyond gaming, she became one of Nevada’s most influential civic leaders. She served on the Nevada State Board of Education from 2012 to 2020, twice as president, and chaired the UNLV Foundation. A major arts philanthropist, she was a trustee of the Kennedy Center and co‑chair of LACMA. In 2024, she announced the Las Vegas Museum of Art, designed by Francis Kéré — a project widely regarded as her most lasting cultural legacy.
Norm Clarke (1942–2025)
Norm Clarke, the longtime Las Vegas entertainment columnist whose “Vegas Confidential” column became a must‑read for two decades, died on March 20, 2025, at age 82 after a long battle with prostate cancer.
Clarke joined the Las Vegas Review‑Journal in 1999 after a distinguished career with the Associated Press. His eyepatch — the result of a childhood accident — made him instantly recognizable. His reporting blended sharp news instincts with a warm, approachable personality that earned him trust across the city. Dealers, cab drivers, casino hosts and executives routinely fed him tips.
His scoops included Ben Affleck’s 2004 high‑stakes blackjack marathon, Britney Spears’ 55‑hour Las Vegas marriage, and Michael Jackson’s secret 2006 move to the city. Despite chronicling celebrity misbehavior, Clarke was known for kindness and humility. He kept his cancer diagnosis private for nearly two decades.
In his honor, the Smith Center created the Norm Clarke Entertainment Journalism Fund to support student reporters in the Nevada High School Musical Theater Awards.
David Siegel (1935–2025)
David A. Siegel, founder of Westgate Resorts and one of the most prominent figures in American timeshare development, died on April 5, 2025 at age 89. He founded Westgate in 1982 and expanded it into the largest privately held timeshare company in the world, with more than 13,500 rooms across 22 US resorts.
In 2014, Westgate purchased the Las Vegas Hotel & Casino — originally the International Hotel, later the Las Vegas Hilton — for a reported $150–$170 million. The property is legendary for hosting Elvis Presley’s record‑setting residency from 1969 to 1976.
Siegel stepped down as CEO in 2024 but remained executive chairman and president. His later years were defined by advocacy following the 2015 overdose death of his daughter Victoria. He and his wife Jackie founded the Victoria’s Voice Foundation and successfully pushed for state and federal naloxone‑awareness legislation.
Cook E. Jarr (1941–2025)
Cook E. Jarr — born Anthony Pettine — died on January 14, 2025, at age 83 from complications of pneumonia. A quintessential Las Vegas lounge performer, he embodied the city’s classic showmanship for more than 30 years.
Originally from South Philadelphia, Jarr discovered lounge culture in Wildwood, New Jersey, and built his stage name from singer Tony Carr and Phillies second baseman Cookie Rojas. His act mixed Top‑40 covers, comedy, and flamboyant theatrics: a Mr. T‑style necklace collection, a jet‑black “helmet” hairstyle, and his trademark “woof, woof!” bark.
After early work at Boeing and a brief recording stint — including a 1969 RCA single with his band The Krums — he arrived in Las Vegas in 1970. A two‑week booking at the Sands in 1982 turned into a three‑decade run across 19 casinos, most famously Harrah’s Carnaval Court and Piano Bar. His final shows were in 2019 at Napoleon’s at Paris Las Vegas.
Entertainment journalist Mike Weatherford called his death “the final nail in the coffin of classic Las Vegas.”
Rossi Ralenkotter (1947–2025)
Rossi Ralenkotter created the most successful US tourism slogan ever: “What Happens Here Stays Here.” He died on October 10 after a 16-year cancer fight at age 78.
Over 45 years with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (14 as CEO), Ralenkotter made sure that what happened in Vegas spread everywhere.
He secured for the Strip major events like the National Finals Rodeo and CES, expanded the convention center, and championed data-driven marketing.
John Strzemp (1951–2025)
Casino executive John Strzemp died on April 15 after a lengthy illness at age 73.
The Chicagoan moved to Las Vegas in 1981, holding key roles at Golden Nugget, Treasure Island, Hilton, and Bellagio before embarking on 28 years with Wynn Resorts — where he to executive VP and chief administrative officer.
But poker fans are more apt to remember his 1997 WSOP Main Event runner-up finish to Stu Ungar, in which he earned $583,000 in a dramatic heads-up battle.
Mark Wojtowicz (1976–2025)
Mark Wojtowicz, passionate Las Vegas historian and host of the “360 Vegas Podcast,” died on July 30 at age 49 amid ongoing mental health struggles.
The Ohioan fell in love with Vegas in the early 2000s, relocating here to launch his podcast in 2010. Producing 536 episodes, Wojtowicz uncovered forgotten casinos, quirky stories, and Hollywood myths, building a devoted community with annual “360 Vegas Vacation” events.
In 2025, he released his painstakingly researched first book, “Vegas: From Fremont to the Strip.” His enthusiasm and vulnerability inspired countless fans to appreciate the city’s rich history.
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