Mike Wallace
May 9, 1918 - April 7, 2012
In the 1970s and 1980s I often watched 60 Minutes on TV.
Junior Seau
January 19, 1969 - May 2, 2012
I am a NFL fan and watched Junior Seau play many times. I was impacted by his premature death by suicide, such deaths being generally shocking. Initial reports left a mystery, no problematic behavior, no drugs, and apparently no brain damage.
His family donated some of his brian tissue for research. Released results indicated Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). The family sued the NFL.
I continue to watch football as entertainment but it will never be quite the same. There is now widespread awareness of harm. This raises many ethical and philosophical questions.
Neil Armstrong
August 5, 1930 - August 25, 2012
In 1962, in Grade 7, we were required to do a project but I do not remember for which subject. I chose the US space program. It was about the time of transition from Project Mercury to Project Gemini with Project Apollo in the planning stage.
I do not remember watching the moon landing live on July 20, 1969 but have seen it numerous times since.
Some words live on for a long time in our memories.
"Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed."
"That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind."
I suspect that referring to a moon shot has less meaning for the generations that follow Baby Boomers.