So there goes Chairman Hua, The One Nobody Ever Remembers, aged 87.
I may have strongly disagreed with his politics, which were immortalised as the Two Whatevers: "We will resolutely uphold whatever policy decisions Chairman Mao made, and unswervingly follow whatever instructions Chairman Mao gave." (He later renounced this in self-criticism sessions.)
However, he did get rid of the Gang of Four, which is a lot more in itself than most polticians have managed.
BBC obituary: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7572298.stm
My favourite photo of Hua Guofeng (top left), taken at last year's Party Congress:
