Cold War icon Van Cliburn passed away at the age of 78. His stunning pianist performance at the 1958 Moscow competition helped ease the cold war and ultimately end it. He had bone cancer but was fortunate enough to leave this world along the side of his family.

Van Cliburn, the internationally celebrated pianist whose triumph at a 1958 Moscow competition helped thaw the Cold War and launched a spectacular career that made him the rare classical musician to enjoy rock-star status, died Wednesday after a fight with bone cancer. He was 78.

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