Man oh man, I feel old

 Sad to hear Betty White passed away. I was never a big fan, but I do understand she was beloved by many.

Betty White, a beloved icon and actress since the beginning of TV, has died at age 99


Tributes abound, and lots of news coverage, especially given the day she died, failing to make it to 2022. That is truly sad, but many others also never made it to 2022. Was this past year worse than other years for losing some famous people, OR does it only feel like it because of my age?

There were other notable deaths last year (doesn't it feel strange to call it "last year"?)

Remembering some of those we lost in 2021, from literary legends to everyday heroes


For me, the passing of people who advanced humanity and human kindness always sticks out, so I especially will miss:

Brian Sicknick (July 1978-Jan. 7, 2021)
Howard Liebengood (March 1969-Jan. 9, 2021)
Jeffrey Smith (April 1985-Jan. 15, 2021)
Kyle DeFreytag (October 1994-July 10, 2021)
Gunther Hashida (August 1977-July 29, 2021)


Vernon Jordan, a civil rights lawyer who devoted himself to ending discrimination against Black Americans

Desmond Tutu, who died at 90, was "a towering figure who helped bring an end to apartheid in South Africa"

As well as those not mentioned, all those who needlessly died due to Covid, especially those front line workers like doctors and nurses, THEY need their own headline!

Others will be less missed:


While still others were clearly not "headliners" but deserve recognition:

The oldest living person in America — Hester Ford — was at least 115, but some records indicate she was possibly 116, when she died at her home Charlotte, N.C.

Michael Collins was one of the three astronauts on Apollo 11

Danish Siddiqui, a Pulitzer-Prize winning photographer, was embedded with Afghan special forces when he, along with a senior Afghan officer, died after coming under Taliban fire. 

Broadway legend Stephen Sondheim died at 91.

And then there are those, who received accolades that, because of my political feelings, I feel indifferent about, such as Colin Powell or Bob Dole or Donald Rumsfeld.

HOW ABOUT YOU?

Any, besides Betty White, or from the NPR list, that you will miss or who you won't miss?

BTW, a more comprehensive list for those who are curious:
https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/12/27/names-we-wont-forget-famous-people-who-died-in-2021/







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