Remembering The Passed

Remembering Mickey Wright, A.E. Hotchner, Joseph ShabalalaMickey Wright was the leader on the women’s golf tour for over a decade in the 1950’s and 1960’s. She won more than 80 tournaments and Ben Hogan said she had the best swing of any golfer, man or woman, he had ever seen. A.E. Hotchner was the writer and bon vivant who served as a companion to Ernest Hemingway in Hemingway’s later years. Hotchner also went on to found a successful charity food company with his Connecticut neighbor, Paul Newman. Joseph Shabalala was the South African musician and singer who founded and led the group Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

Remembering Orson Bean, Robert Conrad, Roger KahnOrson Bean was the quick-witted actor who starred on Broadway opposite Jayne Mansfield and Phyllis Newman and in the 1960 movie Anatomy of a Murder. He is best known for his television appearances on the Tonight Show and most notably on the game show To Tell the Truth (1956-1968). Robert Conrad was the handsome television actor who starred in three shows: Hawaiian Eye (1959-1963), Black Sheep Squadron (1976-1978), and his signature role The Wild, Wild West (1965-1969). Roger Kahn was the Brooklyn-born writer who penned one of the best books on baseball, The Summer Game (1972).

Remembering Stanley CohenStanley Cohen was awarded one half of the 1986 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, along with Rita Levi-Montalcini, for the discovery of nerve growth factor. Dr. Cohen eventually went on to discover epidermal growth factor (EGF). By understanding the mechanism of how EGF works, he was in part responsible for the tyrosine kinase inhibitor revolution (tyrosine kinase being an enzyme involved in the mechanism), which brought a host of whole new pharmacologic treatments to diseases from cancer to autoimmune conditions.

Remembering Bob Shane, Fred Silverman, The Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture Bob Shane was the last surviving member of the Kingston Trio, the most popular folk group of the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. Fred Silverman was the television executive and producer, who worked at the three major networks and helped engineer turnarounds at CBS and ABC. He was responsible for putting on some of the most memorable television shows of the 1970’s and 1980’s. The Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture in Arizona taught students architecture and carried on the tradition of the namesake architect for more than 80 years.

Remembering Willie Wood, Jack Burns, Mary Higgins Clark, Peter SerkinWillie Wood was the Hall of Fame safety for the legendary Green Bay Packer teams of the 1960’s. His interception and long return in Super Bowl I remains one of the most memorable plays in Super Bowl history. Jack Burns was the comedian and writer who was part of two great comedy duos – first with George Carlin and later with Avery Schreiber. Mary Higgins Clark was the novelist who specialized in suspense stories. She wrote over 50 best sellers in her career. Peter Serkin was the classical pianist who carried on in the family tradition of his father, Rudolf Serkin.

Remembering Kirk Douglas For seven decades, Kirk Douglas was a Hollywood fixture, and for the first half of that era, he was one of the motion picture industry’s biggest stars. He worked for some of Hollywood’s greatest directors including Stanley Kubrick, Billy Wilder, Vicente Minnelli and Lewis Milestone. His costars included Burt Lancaster in seven movies, Tony Curtis, Lana Turner, Barbara Stanwyck .His son, Michael Douglas, carried on his legacy and became one of the most important actors in Hollywood. Kirk Douglas was one of the last links to the earlier Hollywood of the star system.

Remembering Morgan Wootten, Jim Lehrer, Mr. PeanutMorgan Wootten was the basketball coach at DeMatha High School in Hyattsville, Maryland for 46 years. He won five national championships and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, the first high school coach to earn that honor. Jim Lehrer was the outstanding journalist and news anchor for the PBS NewsHour (1983-2011). His work with Robert MacNeil became a standard for television journalism. He was also a respected novelist and playwright. With his familiar monocle and top hat, Mr. Peanut was the familiar mascot for Planters for over a century.

Remembering Kobe Bryant, Gianni Bryant, Egil “Bud” KroghKobe Bryant was one of the greatest basketball players of this generation. A shooting guard, Bryant came out of high school to become the youngest player in NBA history. He joined the Los Angeles Lakers and guided them to five NBA championships, while amassing most of the Laker scoring records. Gianna “Gigi” Bryant was Kobe’s 13-year-old daughter who died alongside him and seven others in a helicopter crash. She was an emerging basketball star in her own right. Egil “Bud” Krogh was one of Richard Nixon’s operatives, who organized the plumbers and planned clandestine break-ins including at the Watergate Hotel and Dr. Daniel Ellsberg’s office. Krogh was also the man who invited Elvis Presley to meet Nixon in the White House for a famous photograph.

Remembering Terry Jones, Sir Roger Scruton, Barry Tuckwell, Norma TanegaTerry Jones was a member of the British comedy troupe, Monty Pythons Flying Circus. When the Pythons broke up, Jones went on to become a respected British historian. Sir Roger Scruton was a philosopher and leading conservative intellectual, who authored over 50 books on a variety of subjects. Barry Tuckwell was an Australian French horn player and is generally considered one of the world’s top horn players. Norma Tanega was a folk singer and songwriter out of California, best known for her 1966 hit “Walkin” My Cat Named Dog.”

Remembering Neil Peart, Gary Starkweather, Ken FusonNeil Peart was the Canadian drummer for the rock band Rush. Besides being the drummer he was the primary lyricist and spiritual heart of the band. He was considered one of the top drummers of the rock era. Gary Starkweather was the Michigan engineer who moved to Northern California where he developed the laser printer. He was an early part of the Silicon Valley tech revolution. Ken Fuson was the journalist who worked for The Baltimore Sun and Des Moines Register. He wrote a memorable obituary for himself.

Remembering Don Larsen, David Stern, Jack SheldonIn the 1956 World Series Don Larsen accomplished the greatest feat in pitching history: a perfect game. While there have been a number of perfect games in the regular season and one other no-hitter - not a perfect game - in the playoffs, no one has come close to duplicating Larsen’s performance in the World Series. David Stern was the commissioner of the National Basketball Association for 30 years, from 1984 to 2014. He revolutionized the marketing of professional basketball and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014. Jack Sheldon was a jazz trumpeter on the West Coast, as well as a singer and actor. He was the music director for The Merv Griffin Show (1962-1972) and a frequent voice on the children’s education series Schoolhouse Rock! (1973-2009).

Remembering Edd Byrnes, Buck Henry, Marie Fredriksson, Punta Ventana, Borden’s and ElsieEdd Byrnes played the iconic character Kookie on the classic ABC detective show 77 Sunset Strip (1958-1964). Buck Henry was the writer, director and actor who was responsible for the movie The Graduate (1967) and along with Mel Brooks created the television sitcom Get Smart (1965-1970). Marie Fredriksson was the lead singer of the Swedish rock duo Roxette, the most popular rock group ever to come out of Sweden next to ABBA. Punta Ventana was a rock formation in Puerto Rico that was popular with tourists but was destroyed in the recent earthquakes that shook the island. Borden’s Dairy Company was one of America’s most popular dairy companies that declared bankruptcy after 163 years (the company may be allowed to continue business). The Borden’s mascot was the well-known cow, Elsie.

Remembering Sue Lyon, Don Imus, Gertrude Himmelfarb Sue Lyon was the talented young actress who gave the legendary title performance opposite James Mason in the 1962 Stanley Kubrick film, Lolita. She was only 15 years old, playing a 12-year old, when the movie was released. Don Imus was one of the first shock jocks - radio disc jockeys known for their outrageous behavior. He was one of New York City’s most popular personalities for decades. Gertrude Himmelfarb was a leading conservative intellectual, whose specialty was the Victorian age. She was married to Irving Kristol, another one of the top intellectuals of our era.

Remembering Jerry Herman, Allie Willis, Ram Dass Jerry Herman was one of Broadway’s most successful composer/lyricists with creation of Hello Dolly (1964), Mame (1966), and La Cage Aux Folles (1983). He was also one of the longest surviving patients with HIV, being one of the first persons to receive antiviral drugs on an experimental basis. Allie Willis was the songwriter who wrote for the group Earth, Wind & Fire. She also wrote the theme song for the popular television show Friends (1994-2004). Ram Dass, formerly Richard Alpert, was a Harvard professor who became Ram Dass, an American spiritual teacher and author.

Remembering Junior Johnson, Dr. John Robbins, Herman Boone, Kenny LynchJunior Johnson was the moonshiner turned stock car driver who became a NASCAR legend. He won 50 racers then turned to owning and promoting stock car racing and was famously profiled by Tom Wolfe in an article in Esquire entitled “The Last American Hero.” Dr. John Robbins was the co-developer of a vaccine that prevented meningitis in millions of infants and toddlers. Herman Boone was the African-American football coach, who was the subject of the 2000 movie, Remember the Titans, where he was played by Denzel Washington. Kenny Lynch was the British entertainer who, in 1963, recorded the first Lennon/McCartney tune done by someone other than The Beatles.

Remembering Peter Snell, Danny Aiello, Hayden FryPeter Snell was arguably the greatest middle distance runner of all time. Running for New Zealand, he won an Olympic gold medal in 1960 and two more in 1964. He is considered the greatest athlete to ever come out of New Zealand. Danny Aiello was the actor best known for his portrayal of a pizza joint owner in the Spike Lee classic, Do the Right Thing (1989). Hayden Fry was the long-time football coach at the University of Iowa, best known for his folksy manner and success with the Hawkeyes. Before Iowa, he coached at SMU where his star, Jerry LeVias, was the first black in the Southwest Conference.

Remembering Caroll Spinney, Rene Auberjunois, Bump ElliottCaroll Spinney was the puppeteer who portrayed both Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on the long-running PBS television show Sesame Street. Rene Auberjunois got a break as an actor in Robert Altman’s movie version of MASH (1970). He went on to star in other television series, notably Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-1999) and Benson (1980-1986), as well as many other acting and voice-over roles. Bump Elliott was a legend in the Big Ten, first as a running back and football coach at the University of Michigan and later as the longtime athletic director at the University of Iowa.

Remembering Paul Volcker, Dr. Margaret Lawrence, Pete FratesPaul Volcker was the Chairman of the Federal Reserve from 1979 to 1987. At a time when inflation was extremely high, he committed to raising interest rates to tame inflation. Although it brought on a mild recession, his strategy worked and he restored balance to the economy. Despite being denied admission to medical school by her alma mater Cornell, Dr. Margaret Lawrence graduated from Columbia and worked with Dr. Benjamin Spock. She became America’s first African-American child psychologist. Pete Frates was the Boston College baseball player who contracted amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - Lou Gehrig’s disease- but he went on to devise the ice bucket challenge to raise awareness and funds to combat the disease.

Remembering Branko Lustig, Ron Leibman, Irving Burgie, Seymour SiwoffBranko Lustig was the Croatian film producer who was a prisoner at Auschwitz as a boy. He survived and went on to become an acclaimed film producer who won an Academy Award along with Steven Spielberg in 1994 for Schindler’s List (1993). Ron Leibman was the film, television, and Broadway actor who won a 1993 Tony Award for his portrayal of Roy Cohn in Angels in America. Irving Burgie was the songwriter who wrote some of the most well-known Caribbean folk songs of the 1950’s for Harry Belafonte. As head of the Elias Sports Bureau for many decades, Seymour Siwoff was the guru of sports statistics in America.

Remembering Jonathan Miller, Alelia Murphy, the Arena Football League, Alelia Murphy Jonathan Miller was the British intellectual and physician who started with the iconic group of young British comics, Beyond the Fringe. He went on, at various times, to be an acclaimed director of plays and operas. He was also a television personality with a gift for explaining complex subjects. Alelia Murphy was the oldest living American, born during the administration of Teddy Roosevelt. The Arena Football League was an indoor football league featuring lots of offense and fast action.

Remembering Michael J. Pollard, Fred Cox, Gahan Wilson, Jake Burton CarpenterMichael J. Pollard was the pie-faced actor best known for his Academy Award nominated role as C.W. Moss, the fictional member of the Bonnie and Clyde gang in the classic 1967 film Bonnie and Clyde. Fred Cox was the longtime placekicker for the Minnesota Vikings, and he also invented the NERF football, one of America’s favorite toys. Gahan Wilson was a cartoonist for a number of publications including Playboy and The New Yorker. His cartoons are known for their morbid subjects and macabre drawings. Jake Burton Carpenter was the inventor of the snowboard and was responsible in the main for snowboarding becoming an Olympic sport.

Remembering John Simon, Clive James, Barbara Hillary, Nick Clifford John Simon was the acerbic critic for a number of publications, and he reviewed plays, movies, and films. He was one of America’s top critics for decades, known for his well-written but frequently acerbic reviews and insults. Clive James was one of Great Britain’s top critics in a mold similar to that of John Simon. James was erudite and comfortable on television, reviewing and participating in both high and low culture. Barbara Hillary was the first African-American woman to reach both the North and South Poles. She accomplished both of these goals after her 75th birthday. Nick Clifford was the last surviving stone carver who worked on Mount Rushmore.

Remembering Harrison Dillard, Vera Clemente, Dr. C. Wayne Bardin, Werner Doehner, Klees Golf Shop Harrison Dillard came out of Cleveland’s East Tech High School, the same high school as Jesse Owens, and like Owens he won four gold medals, two in 1948 and two in 1952. He is the only man to win gold as a sprinter and a hurdler. Vera Clemente was the wife of baseball great Roberto Clemente and she helped keep his legacy alive with her humanitarian activities. Dr. C. Wayne Bardin was one of America’s leading endocrinologists, and he developed several methods of hormonal birth control. Werner Doehner was an eight-year old boy in 1937 when his parents brought him to America on the Hindenburg. He was the last survivor of the ill-fated hydrogen airship. The family-run Klees Golf Shop was a fixture on the South Side of Chicago for more than a century.

Remembering Peter Collier, Zeke Bratkowski, Maria Perego, Robert Freeman, Bob Norris Peter Collier was the activist turned author who began his life as a radical and then converted to an anti-radical stance. Along with his colleague David Horowitz, he wrote about the destructive consequences of the 1960’s as well as biographies of the Fords, Kennedys, and Rockefellers. Zeke Bratkowski was the back-up quarterback to Bart Starr on the legendary green Bay Packer teams of the 1960’s. Maria Perego was the Italian puppeteer who created Topo Gigio, the mouse who enchanted millions on The Ed Sullivan Show. Robert Freeman was the photographer who created the memorable photo that served as the cover of “Meet The Beatles”, the group’s introductory album in the United States in 1964. Bob Norris was the model for one of the most successful advertising campaigns in history, “The Marlboro Man.”

Remembering Willie Brown, Robert Evans, John Conyers, Bernie ParrishWillie Brown was the Hall of Fame cornerback who spent most of his career with the Oakland Raiders. He originated the “bump and run” style of coverage, which is a staple of football today. Robert Evans was the flamboyant movie producer and Hollywood personality known for hi slavish lifestyle. He produced some of the best-known and successful movies of the late 1960’s and early 1970’s including Love Story (1970), The Godfather (1972), and Chinatown (1974). He saved Paramount from bankruptcy and made it into Hollywood’s most successful studio of the era. John Conyers was the long-time member of The House of Representatives for fifty years, the sixth-longest membership in history and the longest membership for an African-American in the House. As a member of the Judiciary Committee, he presided over two presidential impeachment hearings. Bernie Parrish was the cornerback for the Cleveland Browns, who spent his post-football career working for better benefits for NFL players.

Remembering Alexei Leonov, Ginger Baker, Karen PendletonIn March of 1965, the Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov became the first man to walk in space, traveling in the space capsule Voskhod 2. Leonov went on to become one of the most respected space travellers in the Soviet Union and in the United States as well. Ginger Baker was the tempestuous British rock drummer best known for his work in Cream, the first rock supergroup. In Cream, Baker teamed with Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce. He went on to play in other groups including Blind Faith with Stevie Winwood. Karen Pendleton was one of the original Mouseketeers in the Walt Disney’s television series The Mickey Mouse Club. She was also one of the youngest Mouseketeers and she stayed during the entire run of the series.

Remembering Ron Fairly, Ernest Gaines, Gert Boyle, Bernard SladeRon Fairly was a Major League outfielder for 20 years and then he went on to be a broadcaster for another three-plus decades. With experience in more than 7,000 games, he was a prolific storyteller. Some of his best stories were about LA Dodger teammate Sandy Koufax and World Series rival Mickey Mantle. Ernest Gaines was the Louisiana novelist whose work was turned into television movies. His most notable work was The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, which starred Cicely Tyson in the 1974 television version. Gert Boyle was the longtime president of Columbia sportswear. She became one of Oregon’s leading philanthropists. Bernard Slade was the writer who created The Flying Nun (1967-1970) and The Partridge Family (1970-1974) for television and Same Time, Next Year (1975) for Broadway.

Remembering Ellie the Beagle, Harold Bloom, Dr. Bernard Fisher, Robert ForsterEllie the Beagle, who died at age 18, was the most loving loyal beagle in the world. She had a hearty appetite and a gregarious nature, and she was loved by all who met her. Harold Bloom was a literary intellectual and critic at Yale for six decades. He was said to be able to recite all of Shakespeare by memory. Dr. Bernard Fisher was the Pittsburgh surgeon who revolutionized breast cancer treatment with his adherence to data and his organization of large studies that debunked aggressive surgery. Robert Forster was the dependable actor who was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor opposite Pam Grier in the Quentin Tarantino/Elmore Leonard collaboration Jackie Brown (1997).

Remembering Sgt. Francis CurreyAs a private first class, Francis Currey was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery in defending a strong point near Malmedy, Belgium, on December21, 1944. At Malmedy, four days before that, German SS troops committed a massacre of between 80 and 88 captured American prisoners of war by shooting the unarmed prisoners in an open field. This action was during the opening phase of the Battle of the Bulge, the last German offensive of the Western front in their unsuccessful attempt to surround Allied forces. Pvt. First Class Currey, later promoted to sergeant, helped delay German troop movements until the weather cleared and American air forces were able to halt the German offensive a week later.

Remembering Jessye Norman, Diahann CarrollJessye Norman was the American opera singer who emerged from Georgia to become one of the world’s foremost operatic sopranos. She specialized in German operas, but later branched out into other operatic forms and then into popular music. She won several Grammys for her recording of Wagner. Diahann Carroll was the beautiful and talented actress who starred in movies, Broadway and television. She was originally a singer but branched out into acting and was the star of the groundbreaking sitcom “Julia” (1968-1971), where she played a single working mother. She later went on to a widely acclaimed role in “Dynasty” 1984-1987

Remembering Hopalong Cassady, Dr. Robert McClelland, Jimmy Nelson, Robert Hunter, WGN/Chicago CubsHoward “Hopalong” Cassady was the legendary Ohio State running back who won the 1955 Heisman Trophy and helped the Buckeyes to a national championship. Robert McClelland was one of the surgeons at Parkland Hospital on November 22, 1963, who was called in to treat President Kennedy after Kennedy was shot in Dealey Plaza. Jimmy Nelson was one of the top ventriloquists of the early television era, best known for the Nestle chocolate commercials he performed with his dummies. Robert Hunter was a close friend of Jerry Garcia and lyricist for the Grateful Dead. Television and radio station WGN was the longtime broadcast home of the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs are leaving WGN after 72 years.

Remembering Sander Vanocur, Cokie Roberts, Ric Ocasek, Phyllis NewmanSander Vanocur was the television journalists best known for his coverage of political conventions. He was one of the panelists in the 1960 Nixon-Kennedy presidential debates. He also did enlightening interviews with Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King before their deaths. Cokie Roberts was one of the first national female political correspondents. She had a long career on NPR followed by a stint on ABC, and blazed a trial for women in journalism. Ric Ocasek was one of the founders, lyricist, and occasional frontman for the 1970’s/1980’s rock group, The Cars. Besides their distinctive sound, The Cars had a flair for innovative rock videos, and Ric was also the husband of supermodel Paulina Porizkova. Phyllis Newman was a Tony-winning actress who went on to being a staple on television game shows. She was the wife of composer Adolph Green.

Remembering T. Boone Pickens, Robert Frank, Eddie MoneyT. Boone Pickens was the Oklahoma energy magnate who made and lost several fortunes, and also made a name as a corporate raider in the 1980s. He founded Mesa Petroleum and attempted to buy out much larger oil companies, usually unsuccessfully. His efforts did result in chastened boardrooms in many of those companies. He was also the largest single contributor to his alma mater, Oklahoma State University, in Stillwater. Robert Frank was the Swiss photographer who came to the United States after World War II and photography and photographic subjects were handled. In the 1950s and 60s, he did much of his work with the Beat poets. Eddie Money was the son of a New York policeman who turned to rock and roll, and became one of the most successful solo artists of the 1980s.

Remembering Valerie HarperValerie Harper was the obscure Broadway actress who was given the part of Mary Tyler Moore’s neighbor on the 1970 television show The Mary Tyler Moore Show. She created one of television’s most iconic characters, Rhoda Morgenstern, a brash brassy New Yorker and a perfect foil to Mary. She was so popular that her character was turned into a successful spinoff, Rhoda (1974-1978). The marriage episode became one of the most-watched television shows of the era. In real life, besides being beautiful she was witty, articulate, and brave in the face of illness.

Remembering James LeavelleJim Leavelle was the only man present at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and in Dallas on November 22, 1963. He was a sailor aboard the USS Whitney when he watched the Japanese bombing of the USS Arizona. In Dallas, he was a homicide detective who was involved in the capture and interrogation of Lee Harvey Oswald after the assassination of President Kennedy. He is best known for being the man in the white suit and cowboy hat in the Pulitzer Prize winning photograph that shows him escorting Oswald the moment the prisoner is shot by Jack Ruby.

Remembering Rosemary Kuhlmann, Robert Mugabe, Carol Lynley, Jimmy JohnsonRosemary Kuhlmann was the opera star who performed in Amahl and the Night Visitors, the Christmas opera written by Gian Carlo Menotti for NBC television in 1951. She played Amahl’s mother in the performance for 12 consecutive years. Robert Mugabe was the brutal socialist dictator of Zimbabwe for nearly forty years. Carol Lynley was the beautiful blonde actress best known for her role in The Poseidon Adventure (1972). Jimmy Johnson was a member of the Swampers, the session musicians who played at Muscle Shoals FAME studios.

Remembering Kary MullisKary Mullis was awarded one half of the 1993 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, along with Michael Smith. Dr. Mullis was given the Prize for his invention of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR revolutionized medicine by permitting the creation of essentially unlimited copies of strands of DNA. This has been a vital process in everything from microbiology, where bacteria can be more easily identified, to forensic medicine, where crime-scene DNA can be recreated. Dr. Mullis was also known for his free spirit and his controversial views.

Remembering Tom O’Hara, Al Haynes, Bill McEnerneyTom O’Hara was the track star from Loyola University in Chicago who broke the world record for the indoor mile in 1964. His modesty and quiet demeanor as he shattered the record earned him a place on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Al Haynes was the pilot of United Flight 232 that crash-landed in Sioux City, Iowa. Although 112 people died, his efforts saved another 184 who were on the plane. Bill McEnerney was a tough guy who battled illness for over half a century.

Remembering Peter Fonda, Liane Russell, Jack Whitaker, Richard WilliamsPeter Fonda was the male scion of the Fonda family, who is best known for his creation and starring role in the revolutionary 1969 film Easy Rider. With its low budget and verite style, it revolutionized Hollywood movie making. Liane Russell was the scientist who worked at Oak Ridge after World War II and was instrumental in describing the effects of radiation in mammals in utero. Jack Whitaker was the elegant sportscaster for CBS, best known for his coverage of golf and horse racing. Richard Williams was the cartoon animator who created Roger Rabbit for the 1988 combined live action/animation film Who Killed Roger Rabbit.

Remembering Henri Belolo, Nuon Chea, Edward Lewis, Sherman Poppen Henri Belolo was the music producer who helped create the music group The Village People, who were popular across the world in the late 1970’s with songs like YMCA and Macho Man. Nuon Chea was the second-in-command of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia in the 1970’s. He and his cohorts including Pol Pot were responsible for the deaths of two million Cambodians in a country of seven million. Edward Lewis was the film producer who helped end the Hollywood blacklist when he publicly hired Dalton Trumbo, a member of the Hollywood Ten, for the Kirk Douglas movie Spartacus (1960). Sherman Poppen was the Michigan man who came up with the idea of snurfing, essentially surfing in the snow with a snowboard he invented.

Remembering Robert SchriefferRobert Schrieffer was awarded one-third of the 1972 Nobel Prize in Physics, along with John Bardeen and Leon Cooper, for his work on the quantum theory of superconductivity. This theory also known as the BCS theory, for the initials of the discoverers, explained the electron alignment in superconductors at low temperatures, a concept that had eluded some of the world’s greatest physicists. Schrieffer made his contribution after coming up with the concept on a New York subway train. Late in his career he was involved in a fatal traffic accident and went to prison for a brief time.

Remembering Toni MorrisonToni Morrison was awarded the 1993 Nobel Prize in Literature, and is generally acclaimed as one of America’s great novelists of the late 20th century. Her 1987 book Beloved, often regarded as her best work, won the 1988 Pulitzer Prize. Her other works include Song of Solomon (1977) and Paradise (1997). She was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the National Humanities Medal.

Remembering Nick Buoniconti, Cliff Branch, D.A. Pennebaker Nick Buoniconti was the middle linebacker for the great Miami dolphin teams of the early 1970’s, the leader of the no-name defense. His life took a turn when his son suffered a severe neck injury in a college football game, and Buoniconti became a spokesman for spinal cord injuries. Late in life he developed dementia that he believed to be football related. Cliff Branch was the sprinter turned wide receiver for the Oakland Raiders of the 1970’s and 1980’s. He is generally regarded as one of the great deep threats in the history of the game, although he is still not in the Hall of Fame. D. A. Pennebaker was the documentary filmmaker who works including a profile of a young Bob Dylan in Don’t Look Back (1967) and Monterey Pop (1968), often regarded as the best rock and roll documentary,

Remembering Harold Prince, Daniel Callahan, Mark Kleiman, Lois WilleHarold Prince was the legendary theatrical producer and director, responsible for many of the greatest plays of the mid and late 20th century. He worked with, among others Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim and Andrew Lloyd-Webber. Daniel Callahan is often thought to be one of the fathers of modern bioethics. He was also a cofounder of The Hastings Center, North America’s leading bioethics think tank. Mark Kleiman was a long-time professor at UCLA whose views on drug legalization were influential in changing drug policy in the United States. Lois Wille was one of Chicago’s greatest journalists, both as a reporter and an editorial writer. She won two Pulitzer Prizes during her career.

Remembering Chris Kraft, Rutger Hauer, David HedisonChris Kraft was the familiar voice of Mission Control, the operational nerve center of NASA during the 1960’s. He was the man in charge during the Mercury and Gemini programs and part of the Apollo Program. His organizational skills and decision-making capability were key to the success of the American space program. Rutger Hauer was the Dutch actor, best known for his role as the replicant Roy Batty in the 1982 Ridley Scott movie “Blade Runner.” David Hedison was the handsome actor who starred in the horror classic “The Fly” (1958), but is best known for his role as Captain Lee Crane in the Irwin Allen television series “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea” (1964-1968).

Remembering Joao Gilberto, Pernell Whitaker, Fernando Cortado, Pumpsie Green Joao Gilberto was the Brazilian guitarist and songwriter who was a key figure in bringing the bossa nova style of music to the United States in the early 1960’s. He is best known for the song “The Girl From Ipanema” which he sang in Portuguese and his then-wife Astrid sang in English. Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker was the boxing great who won the world title in four divisions. He was especially adept as a quick, defensive boxer. Fernando Cortado was American computer scientist who developed the time-sharing operating system so that computer time could be divided among many users. Pumpsie Green was the first African-American player to play for the Boston Red Sox, the last major league team to integrate.

Remembering Eva Kor, Justice John Paul StevensEva Kor was a Romanian Jew, who along with her twin sister Miriam, survived the Holocaust. As twins, she and her sister were subject to medical experiments by the notorious Auschwitz camp doctor, Josef Mengele. She surprised the world when she forgave several of the Nazi officers responsible for the Holocaust (but not Mengele).Justice John Paul Stevens, a native of Chicago, was an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court for 35 years from 1975-2010. Appointed by President Ford, he was the third longest justice in Supreme Court history

Remembering the Volkswagen Beetle, Ross Perot, Martin Charnin The Volkswagen Beetle was first built in 1938 in Nazi Germany as a cheap, reliable car for the common man. It became extremely popular in the United States in the 1950’s and especially in the 1960’s among the counterculture crowd. Ross Perot was the brash Texas billionaire who founded Electronic Data Systems and ran for president in 1992 and 1996. His 1992 campaign was extremely successful as he garnered more than 19 million votes. Martin Charnin was the Broadway writer and lyricist best known for his work on the 1977 musical Annie.

Remembering Rip Torn, Jim Bouton, The Chicago Defender, and Gene Pingatore Rip Torn was the actor from the Actors Studio who went on to a memorable, but tempestuous, career in television and the movies. A combative free spirit in real life, he is best known for his recurring role on television in The Larry Sanders Show (1992-1998) and in movies such as Men in Black (1997) and Dodgeball (2004). Jim Bouton was the fastballing pitcher for the 1960’s New York Yankees, who went on to be more famous for his behind the scenes look at baseball in his 1970 memoir Ball Four. The Chicago Defender was the prominent newspaper for African-Americans in Chicago and across the South from 1905 until it closed its print edition in 2019. Gene Pingatore was the most successful high school boys basketball coach in Illinois history. He was also featured prominently in the 1994 movie Hoop Dreams.

Remembering MAD Magazine, Arte Johnson, Sid RaminFor 67 years MAD magazine featured satire of every facet of American life. Its writers, artists, and cartoonists deftly skewered everything from politicians to movies to consumerism. Arte Johnson was the madcap comedian on NBC’s Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In (1968-1973). He specialized in dialects and his trademark was his sign-off at the end of every show as a German soldier. Sid Ramin was a composer, arranger and orchestrator who worked on the Broadway productions of West Side Story and Gypsy. He also wrote familiar themes for television and commercials.