He was diagnosed as being in the early stages of Alzheimer 's disease in 2001 .
He was died of a heart aneurysm in Sarasota , Florida , on December 17 , 2003 .
He was diagnosed as being in the early stages of Alzheimer 's disease in 2001 , and died of a heart aneurysm in Sarasota , Florida , on December 17 , 2003 .