All these famous people leave behind their "best bits" - for many their "best" was many years, if not decades, ago and not really a representation of who they are now or who they were.
That's not to discount that they'll have made an impact, but more a realisation that the impact they had remains a personal interpretation and an acknowledgement that this can remain with us for a long time. Yet it needs to be taken in context.
I sometimes think "feck me" when I hear of "famous" deaths, but can always move to "oh well" quickly enough.
Most of us think we'll leave bugger all behind, apart from a stained floor if we are left undiscovered for a while, but I think Vernon's death indicates that "impact" comes in many guises. Some more important than others.