Dave Freeman, an advertising exec who co-wrote the wildly popular book, “100 Things to Do Before You Die: Travel Events You Just Can’t Miss” has himself died.

Freeman was only 47. According to the Los Angeles Times, he died after falling and hitting his head at his home in Venice, Calif.

The point of his book: live every day like it’s your last. And Freeman did a pretty good job at that — in the short amount of time he was allotted, he managed to cross off about half the things on his book’s list.

Remember that day — July 17, 1996 — when TWA’s flight 800 exploded in mid-air off Long Island, killing all 230 onboard?

A lot has happened in the 12 years since then — including the demise of TWA.

But, good news: They’re finally getting around to fixing the “problem”.

According to a report from WJLA in Arlington, the feds are going to unveil “new safety rules” to prevent this. As I know you know, the authorities blamed the explosion on a spark igniting vapors in the 747’s tank. Now, it seems, there will be “new rules calling on the airline industry to fit some planes with a system that will use nitrogen to reduce the flammability of fuel tanks.”

Only took a dozen years.

Meanwhile, if you have a moment tomorrow — the anniversary — maybe send a thought to the families of the dead. Time does not heal all wounds.

Remember…it’s not just about the barbeque…

The missus is giving up on Steve Fossett. No, we’re not being snide. And we don’t blame Peggy Fossett, either. She’s asked a court to have her adventure-loving spouse of 38-years declared dead.

Fossett, you will remember, took off in a small plane in early September; just for a short flight, he said, over the rugged Sierra Nevadas.

And no one’s seen him since.