By M. Kotch

New years are ushered in with a party and a resolution or two. However it’s only natural to glance back before we move forward; we’re sad about those who’ve left us, but grateful for all they’ve left behind. As 2009 draws to a close, Otrib pays tribute to some of the newsworthy figures we lost this year.

News and Newsmakers:

•    Walter Cronkite, 92

Americans tuned their TV sets to watch CBS’s Walter Cronkite for over 20 years. The iconic, “most trusted” news anchor delivered the news about JFK’s assassination, the Vietnam War and Watergate with a constant, warm composure that inspired calm during turbulent times. He delivered the news and let the audience form its own opinions before signing off with his signature phrase “and that’s the way it is.”

•    Edward Kennedy, 77

The youngest of nine children born to Joseph and Rose Kennedy, Ted Kennedy famously endured many public tragedies in his life. After the assassinations of his brothers, President John Kennedy and presidential hopeful Bobby Kennedy, he remained in public office, serving as the Democratic Senator from Massachusetts for 46 years. The liberal, long-serving senator famously spoke out against the Vietnam War; he went on to champion civil rights and health care reform.

•    Harry Patch, 111

The last British survivor of World War I, Patch was born in Victorian England. He fought in the First World War before returning to his quiet life as a plumber in Somerset, England. Patch received an honorary degree from Bristol University, the French Legion d’Honneur and the Freedom Award of the City of Wells, where he lived. He refused to discuss WWI for more than 80 years before granting an interview to the BBC in 1998.

•    William Safire, 79

The conservative New York Times columnist—and proud college dropout—first gained prominence as a Nixon White House Speech writer (where he coined memorable phrases such as “nattering nabobs of negativism”). After winning the Pulitzer Prize for commentary in 1978, he took on seven White House administrations during his 32 years as a columnist. The author of several fiction and non-fiction bestsellers, Safire also penned a weekly Times Magazine column, “On Language,” and became an unofficial authority on word usage. His Last Op-Ed piece for the New York Times appeared in 2005; it was titled “Never Retire.”

•    Neda Agha-Soltan, 26

Described by her fiancé and family as “not political,” Neda became a political symbol after she was killed during the disputed 2009 Iranian Elections. Iranians took to the streets by the thousands to protest the reelection of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad; Neda was shot during an anti-government march in Tehran. Although the Iranian Government tried to censor the images, video footage of Neda bleeding to death soon circulated internationally. Neda, whose name means call in Persian, was later referred to as “the voice of Iran.”

Music and Entertainers

•    Michael Jackson, 50

Thriller, Bad, Smooth Criminal, Black or White, Moonwalker—Michael Jackson’s music titles have often been used to describe the man himself. The youngest member of the Jackson 5, Jackson started his career as a precocious singer who belted out hits like “ABC,” and “I Want You Back,” to adoring young fans. Jackson was later known as the “King of Pop” after his solo career took off in the late 1970s and early1980s; “Thriller,” which sold over 40 million copies, went on to become the top selling album of all time. Jackson used his music to raise money for charity and encourage social awareness with hits like “We Are the World” and “Man in the Mirror.” He became a controversial figure and fodder for tabloids as the years went on. Countless musicians including Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder and Madonna all spoke about Jackson after his death, calling his influence on music and dance immeasurable.

•    Farah Fawcett, 62

To many, Fawcett is an international sex symbol, forever known as the poster girl with the blonde flip hairdo, toothy smile and red bathing suit. The Texas native first gained fame when she starred in 1970s TV hit “Charlie’s Angels.” After abruptly leaving the show that made her a star, Fawcett focused her later career on dramatic work; she was nominated for several Emmy and Golden Globe awards. Fawcett filmed a documentary about her cancer ordeal that aired on network television earlier this year. Some lauded her honesty while others criticized the voyeuristic nature of the piece. Before her death, Fawcett said she wanted the documentary to shed light on alternative cancer treatments.

•    Bea Arthur, 86

Bea Arthur was a singer and actress. Though she enjoyed a successful career in the theater, she was better known for playing two television characters. She first became famous as the title character of “Maude” in the 1970s; the show explored many controversial topics including drugs, adultery, and—most famously—abortion. A decade later she played Dorothy, the beloved heroine of the popular 1980s show “The Golden Girls,” which focused on four female friends living together in Florida. Over the course of her career, Arthur won two Emmy awards (she was nominated 11 times) and a Tony award.

•    John Hughes, 59

John Hughes wrote screenplays and directed movies that, for many, defined being a teenager in the 1980s. From “The Breakfast Club” to “Sixteen Candles,” “ Farris Bueller’s Day Off” to “Home Alone,” Hughes seemed to have his finger on the pop culture pulse like no one else; he had a knack for effortlessly melding laughter and drama within a single piece of work. He introduced us to the “Brat Pack,” launched more than a few actors’ careers and his movies are now considered classics.

•    Patrick Swayze, 57

Swayze was known as the movie star with a dancer’s athletic grace. The son of a rodeo star and a dance instructor, Swayze first shot to stardom as Orry Main in the 1980s miniseries “North and South.” He memorably played a murdered man trying to reach his beloved from the other side in “Ghost,” but Swayze is perhaps best known as the star of “Dirty Dancing.” He played Johnny Castle, a hotel dance instructor—and resident heartthrob—who breaks the rules by falling in love with a guest. The two-time Golden Globe nominee led a more private life in his later years; he owned several ranches where he bred Arabian horses with his wife of 34 years, Lisa.

Thinkers and Innovators:

•    Les Paul, 94

Les Paul created the sound that all rock fans take for granted: the wail of an electric guitar. A talented musician (he played alongside Louis Armstrong) and lover of gadgets, the Wisconsin native grew frustrated because no one sold a guitar that made the sounds he wanted. His solution? Invent an instrument that did. Paul’s influence only grew after creating the first solid body electric guitar in the 1940s. The Gibson guitar company hired him in the early 1950s, and the rest is music history. The Gibson Les Paul guitar has been the instrument of choice among music legends including Jimmy Page, Joe Perry, Slash, Eric Clapton and Bob Marley.

•    Norman Borlaug, 95

Norman Borlaug is recognized as the father of the Green Revolution. He is credited with feeding hundreds of millions of people and saving countless lives thanks to his innovations in agriculture. After receiving his Ph.D. in Plant Diseases from the University of Minnesota, the Iowa native moved to Mexico to begin work on the Cooperative Wheat Research Production Program; he would go on to breed several disease-resistant, high-yielding wheat varieties, and his innovations led to increased food production around the world. Borlaug received many prestigious awards including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and India’s Padma Vibhushan.

•    Frank McCourt, 79

Proving there’s no age limit for achieving one’s dreams, Frank McCourt became a Pulitzer Prize winning author at the age of 67. In his memoir, “Angela’s Ashes,” the Irish-American wrote about his difficult childhood (including his father’s drinking and the death of his siblings) in a straightforward, often funny manner. Before literary success, McCourt taught high school English for 30 years in New York City.

•    Mildred Cohn, 96

Cohn succeeded in the face of sexual discrimination and advanced medical research thanks to her work as a biochemist. Earning her high school degree at the age of 14 and her Master’s in Chemistry by 17, Cohn was unable to receive a doctoral degree from Columbia University in the early 1930s. At the time, women weren’t eligible for a position as a teacher’s assistant in the doctoral program. Years later she returned, completed her degree and went on to earn the National Medal of Science; she would become the first female president of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Cohn studied the mechanisms of enzymes, advanced the study of metabolic processes and her work led to medical breakthroughs, including the development of the MRI.

This entry was posted on Friday, November 27th, 2009 at 1:44 pm and is filed under Family & Friends. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.