Edmond O'Brien, 69, who won an Oscar for best supporting actor in "The Barefoot Contessa" in 1954; he starred in the 1955 production of George Orwell's classic "1984"; he was nominated for a second Oscar in 1964 for his role in "Seven Days in May"; his last film role was in the 1969 production of "The Wild Bunch"; May 8, in Inglewood, Calif., of Alzheimer's disease.

Dr. Smith J. De France, 89, founder and director for many years of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Ames Research Center in California; his scientists played major roles in research that led to jet aircraft and space flight; his work force grew from 30 in 1940 to several thousand by the time he retired in 1965; he was the foremost U.S. expert on wind tunnels and, in the 1930s, designed the largest wind tunnel ever built; May 6, in Los Altos, Calif.

Robert S. "Buck" Halperin, 77, chairman of Commercial Light Co., electrical contractors, and a World War II naval officer and hero who took part in the invasion of North Africa and other campaigns; a star-class sailor, he won a bronze medal in the 1960 Olympics and a gold medal in the 1963 Pan American Games; a football player at Notre Dame under Knute Rockne, he played professionally with the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1930s and later coached football at St. Patrick High School; he was honored by the Chinese government for helping train Chinese guerrillas in 1945 to fight against Japan; May 8, in Palm Springs, Calif.