IX has a major character die, but since you don't actually witness it (it was mentioned in the ending) I felt it shouldn't count. I could technically count Squall's mother; but once again you never really witness it, so I don't feel it counts.
As for the blonde debate, Cecil isn't a blonde. He's albino. If you look at the origianl character design and character portrait, you'll see he's actually an albino. Butz is also an albino in the original character designs and FMV scenes.