Posted on 12/30/2003 7:29:30 AM PST by mikeb704
The final hours of 2003 are an appropriate time to reflect on some of the people who left us over the past year.
Numerous showbiz types went to that great stage in the sky. Bob Hope, who combined a love of entertaining with an unadulterated patriotism, passed on at 100.
Art Carney, Ed Norton of the fabled Honeymooners, will be remembered as the ultimate pal. Sure, he often realized that Ralph Kramden’s latest get-rich-quick scheme was fatally flawed, but he hung in there anyway. Just out of pure, unquestioning friendship.
Bee Gee Maurice Gibb died in January. Whether one loved or despised disco, it’s indisputable that the Bee Gees had a large impact on rock for the past four decades.
Singer Johnny Cash gave us a lot of good songs. He died at 71, which may appear relatively young. Considering the many personal demons he confronted over the years, however, he lasted longer than might have been expected.
British rocker Robert Palmer didn’t leave the musical legacy of Mr. Cash. Still, he’ll be recalled for a few hits and his videos. They featured a mock backup band of mini-skirted lovelies, strumming guitars and sporting enough lip-gloss to supply the FoxNews reporterettes for a year.
Actor Robert Stack will be remembered for his portrayal of Eliot Ness. Richard Crenna had a lengthy acting career, stretching all the way back to playing the slow-witted Walter Denton on the early 50s TV series "Our Miss Brooks."
Buddy Ebsen is best remembered for his role as the Clampett family patriarch in "The Beverly Hillbillies." Then in the 70s he played seasoned detective Barnaby Jones. Older boomers may recall his Georgie Russell role in Disney’s Davy Crockett.
Other actors dying last year included Gregory Peck, Katharine Hepburn, Hume Cronyn, perennial Westerns bad guy Jack Elam, Charles Bronson and Hope Lange. Although there may be some question as to whether she was actually an actress (see the Cary Grant comedy "Kiss Them for Me"), former Coco Chanel model Suzy Parker was a stunningly beautiful woman whose life also ended last year.
2003 saw the passing of singers Bobby Hatfield of the Righteous Brothers, "Purple People Eater" performer Sheb Wooley, Gisele MacKenzie of "Your Hit Parade", Warren Zevon and Edwin Starr. Mr. Starr’s biggest hit was the anti-Vietnam "War," but he had better efforts, including "Agent Double –O Soul" and "Twenty-Six Miles."
Senator Strom Thurmond finally decided to check out at age 100. After he died, the story of his mixed-race daughter, now in her late 70s, emerged. The way she and her family and his other children handled that, with poise and decorum, was remarkable and, in a peculiar way, a testament to Mr. Thurmond.
Former senators Paul Simon and Daniel Patrick Moynihan passed away, as did longtime TV journalist David Brinkley. Mr. Brinkley made the mistake of committing the truth on network television one night in 1996 when he noted that Bill Clinton "has not a creative bone in his body. Therefore, he’s a bore and will always be a bore." For this journalistic mortal sin, the commentator later apologized.
The Atlantic Monthly’s Michael Kelly and NBC’s David Bloom died while covering the war in Iraq. Both were incredibly talented.
McDonald’s heiress Joan Kroc passed away in 2003. A liberal contributor to Leftist causes while alive, she willed over $200 million to National Public Radio. Don’t hold your breath waiting for NPR to announce that, in light of this huge gift, it won’t ask for taxpayer subsidies for a while.
Also dying was Ron Ziegler, President Nixon’s press secretary. He’ll be marked by history for his assessment of the Watergate break-in as a "third-rate burglary." Mr. Ziegler was absolutely correct, but failed to take into account what rabid opponents can do with a third-rate burglary.
Former Ugandan president Idi Amin, accused of killing hundreds of thousands, as well as incredible tortures and cannibalism, went to face the Creator. And has it really been almost a year since we lost the brave souls in the Columbia disaster?
Dr. Edward Teller also died. He is known as the father of the H-bomb and was a very strong anti-Communist and supporter of the strategic defense initiative. He often was asked if he regretted having worked on weapon systems. His answer, as detailed in his autobiography:
"My answer is no. I deeply regret the deaths and injuries that resulted from the atomic bombings, but my best explanation of why I do not regret working on weapons is a question: What if we hadn’t?"
Some of the people who died in 2003 will be missed more than others. They all made their mark while they were here.
One can't have everything. Personally, I'd like to see her live a good long time, long enough for most people to realize what a nut she really is.
There is a reference to them as a group. Don't know if many folks would know them by name.
We can only hope that they're getting EXACTLY what they deserve.
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0907814.html
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.