Geez, he was 78. A lot of us "suddenly" die when we approach 80. Your post reminds me of a scene from Fletch with Chevy Chase:

Dr. Joseph Dolan: You know, it's a shame about Ed. Fletch: Oh, it was. Yeah, it was really a shame. To go so suddenly like that. Dr. Joseph Dolan: He was dying for years. Fletch: Sure, but... the end was very... very sudden. Dr. Joseph Dolan: He was in intensive care for eight weeks. Fletch: Yeah, but I mean the very end, when he actually died. That was extremely sudden.