I LOOOOOVE the end of the year lists! The best/worst of songs, movies, books, etc. Its always interesting to see croaked. ( Colin told me to add croaked)
While we all remember the more famous people such as Nelson Mandela, Corey Montieth, Margret Thatcher, Ed Koch, James Gandolfini, Annette Funicello and Paul Walker. let's take a closer look at what other lesser known folk said Goodbye in 2013.
Conrad Bain, 89. Veteran stage and film actor who became a star in middle age as the kindly white adoptive father of two young African-American brothers in the TV sitcom “Diff’rent Strokes.” Jan. 14.
Andre Cassagnes, 86. Inventor of Etch A Sketch, toy that generations of children drew on, shook up and started over. Jan. 16.
Pauline Friedman Phillips, 94. Under the name of Abigail Van Buren, she wrote the long-running “Dear Abby” newspaper advice column read by millions. Jan. 16.
Patty Andrews, 94. Last of the singing Andrews Sisters trio whose hits such as the rollicking “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B” and the poignant “I Can Dream, Can’t I?” captured the home-front spirit of World War II. Jan. 30.
Lavonne “Pepper” Paire-Davis, 88. A star of the All American Girls Professional Baseball League in the 1940s and an inspiration for the central character in the movie “A League of Their Own.” Feb. 2.
Essie Mae Washington-Williams, 87. Mixed-race daughter of one-time segregationist Sen. Strom Thurmond who kept her parentage secret for more than 70 years. Feb. 3.
Interesting that these next 2 died within days of each other.
Debi Austin, 62. She smoked a cigarette through a hole in her throat to illustrate her struggle with nicotine addiction in a public service advertisement. Feb. 22. Cancer.
C. Everett Koop, 96. He raised the profile of the surgeon general by riveting America’s attention on the then-emerging disease known as AIDS and by railing against smoking. Feb. 25.
George Lowe, 89. Last surviving climber from the team that made the first successful ascent of Mount Everest. March 20.
Joe Weider, 93. Legendary figure in bodybuilding who helped popularize the sport and played a key role in introducing young weightlifter Arnold Schwarzenegger to the world. March 23.
John Williamson, 80. Pioneer of the 1960s sexual revolution as co-founder of Topanga Canyon’s Sandstone Retreat, where nudity and free love once took place with abandon. March 24. Cancer.
Joyce Brothers, 85. Pop psychologist who pioneered the television advice show in the 1950s and enjoyed a long career as a syndicated columnist, author, and TV and film personality. May 13.
Rev. Andrew Greeley, 85. Outspoken Roman Catholic priest, best-selling author and Chicago newspaper columnist who criticized church hierarchy over the child sex abuse scandal. May 29.
Richard Ramirez, 53. Serial killer known as the Night Stalker who left satanic signs at murder scenes during a reign of terror in the 1980s. June 7. Liver failure.
Slim Whitman, 90. Country singer who sold millions of records through TV ads in the 1980s and 1990s and whose song saved the world in the film comedy “Mars Attacks!” June 19.
Charles “Chuck” Foley, 82. His Twister game launched decades of awkward social interactions at parties. July 1.
Doug Engelbart, 88. Visionary who invented the computer mouse and developed other technology that has transformed the way people work, play and communicate. July 2.
Virginia Johnson, 88. Half of the husband-wife research team that transformed the study of sex in the 1960s and wrote two best-selling books on sexuality. July 24.
Robert R. Taylor, 77. He put soap in pump bottles and forever changed the way people wash up. Aug. 29. Cancer.
Ray Dolby, 80. American inventor and audio pioneer who founded Dolby Laboratories. Sept. 12.
Barbara Park, 66. Former class clown who channeled her irreverence into the million-selling mishaps of grade-schooler Junie B. Jones. Nov. 15. - Foreshadowing (nice use of literary term) More on Barb soon…
Diane Disney Miller, 79. Walt Disney’s daughter and one of his inspirations for building the Disneyland theme park. Nov. 19.
Sylvia Browne, 77. Psychic who made frequent appearances on programs such as “Larry King Live” and “The Montel Williams Show.” Nov. 20. Come on we all have seen her at least once on those shows.
Mikhail Kalashnikov, 94. His work as a weapons designer for the Soviet Union is immortalized in the name of the world’s most popular firearm, the AK-47 assault rifle, which is often called “a Kalashnikov.” Dec. 23.
Soledad Mexia, 114. She was the oldest living person in California and the fifth-oldest in the world when she died in Chula Vista. Aug. 29.
It is what it is…
Namaste
No comments:
Post a Comment