In Memoriam | PBS NewsHour

ABOUT US \| LOCAL TV LISTINGS EMAIL PRINT



IN MEMORIAM


	2012 JULY July 24, 2012 Sally Ride, 61, Left Major Imprint on Space Program, Inspired Young Scientists Known for being the first American woman in space, Sally Ride dedicated her life to inspiring young people to engage in science, using space travel as a means to an educational end, rather than her own personal thrill ride. Judy Woodruff talks with science correspondent Miles O'Brien about Ride and her legacy.

	July 24, 2012 Sally Ride in 1987: Left NASA at Odds with Agency's Vision In 1987, Sally Ride retired from NASA to take a job a Stanford University, leaving America's space program "without a real hero" and "struggling to stay in orbit."

	July 24, 2012 The Daily Frame Brass band members take part in a second line parade Monday in New Orleans to honor the late "Uncle" Lionel Batiste, a singer and bass drummer for the Treme Brass Band. Batiste passed away July 8 at the age of 81.

	July 23, 2012 Sally Ride, First American Woman in Space, Dies at 61 Miles O'Brien remembers Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, who died on Monday after a 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 61.

	July 3, 2012 From Mayberry to Matlock, Andy Griffith Remembered for Iconic Roles Actor Andy Griffith, who played a widowed sheriff in the Andy Griffith show and a cagey Southern lawyer in Matlock, died Tuesday at his home. He was 86. These shows were only a small part of a career that spanned 50-years and included a Grammy award and a Presidential Medal of Freedom.



	JUNE June 27, 2012 Remembering the Life and Work of Writer, Director Nora Ephron Author, director and screenwriter Nora Ephron, known for her wistful romantic comedies including "When Harry Met Sally," died Tuesday at age 71. Gwen Ifill and Charles McGrath of the New York Times discuss the life and legacy of a woman whose movies, books and essays captured the spirit of changing times.

	June 26, 2012 Screenwriter Nora Ephron Dead at Age 71 Nora Ephron, author, screenwriter, humorist and chronicler of wistful romance comedies like "When Harry Met Sally" and "Sleepless in Seattle," died June 26 in New York.

	June 18, 2012 Remembering the Complicated Life Story of Rodney King Rodney King, whose video-taped beating by Los Angeles police in 1991 launched a public dialogue about race relations in the United States, died Sunday at age 47. Jeffrey Brown, Patt Morrison of The Los Angeles Times and Darnell Hunt of the University of California, Los Angeles discuss his complicated life.

	June 6, 2012 Remembering Ray Bradbury and His 'Cautionary Tales' Ray Bradbury, author of classic books such as "Fahrenheit 451" and "The Martian Chronicles," died Tuesday night at the age of 91. Jeffrey Brown and bestselling novelist Lev Grossman, who is also a book critic for Time magazine, discuss Bradbury's life, work and literary legacy.



	MAY May 30, 2012 Remembering Doc Watson, Who Moved Guitar Pickin' to Center Stage Music legend Doc Watson died Tuesday at age 89. While he didn't record an album until his 40s, his guitar-playing and singing helped define and influence the sound of folk and bluegrass music for several generations. Jeffrey Brown and Katy Daley, host of WAMU's "Bluegrass Country" discuss the blind guitar legend's legacy.

	May 29, 2012 Music Legend Doc Watson Dies at Age 89 Doc Watson, a legend of folk and bluegrass music, died Tuesday at a hospital in North Carolina. He was 89 years old. Blind as an infant, Watson developed into one of the nation's finest pickers and received scores of honors.

	May 21, 2012 Remembering Opera Singer Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau German opera singer Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, who died Friday at age 86, was a master of the Lieder, a form of German song that he helped make popular in the 20th century. Jeffrey Brown speaks with Anne Midgette, a classical music critic for The Washington Post, about Fischer-Dieskau's legacy.

	May 17, 2012 Remembering the 'Queen of Disco' Donna Summer Singer Donna Summer became known as the "Queen of Disco," defining the genre with her sultry vocals and pulsing rhythms. She used to say she grew up listening to rock 'n' roll and was raised on gospel music. But it was her dance hits that won her Grammys. Summers died Thursday at age 63.

	May 16, 2012 Remembering Carlos Fuentes, Mexico's Grand Man of Letters Carlos Fuentes was a prolific writer -- penning novels, essays, newspaper articles, even an opera. Recognized as one of Latin America's greatest literary figures, Fuentes brought stories from Mexico to the world stage. He died Tuesday at age 83. Ray Suarez and Ilan Stavans of Amherst College discuss the impact of Fuentes' work.

	May 16, 2012 Carlos Fuentes and His American Life Carlos Fuentes had aged so beautifully you might have subconsciously assumed he would live forever, like a character in a Latin American novel. Ray Suarez recalls the life of the Mexican writer.

	May 8, 2012 Maurice Sendak Dies at Age 83 Maurice Sendak, the author and illustrator of children's literature who was best known for his book, "Where the Wild Things Are," died early Tuesday in Danbury, Conn., at age 83. He had suffered a stroke on Friday.



	APRIL April 9, 2012 Remembering Mike Wallace, Legendary '60 Minutes' Interrogator A Mike Wallace interview was often harsh, unsympathetic even. The "60 Minutes" icon was never reluctant to confront the feared or the famous -- from Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini to Malcolm X to pitcher Roger Clemens. Wallace, 93, died Saturday. Morley Safer and Jeff Fager of CBS reflect on Wallace's career with Jeffrey Brown.



	MARCH March 19, 2012 Final Message From HEAL Africa's 'Mama Lyn': Tell Them Not to Cry HEAL Africa co-founder Lyn Lusi, who died Saturday from cancer at age 62, spent most of her recent years at the center of one of the world's most protracted civil wars. She was able to distill the complexity of all that has happened in the Democratic Republic of Congo down to one basic human failing.



	FEBRUARY Feb. 17, 2012 Reporter Anthony Shadid Brought Intimate Look to Mideast Struggles The death of New York Times foreign correspondent Anthony Shadid has been followed by an outpouring of praise for the talented and humble reporter, who passed away Thursday from an asthma attack while covering the unrest in Syria. Over the years, Shadid made numerous appearances on the NewsHour. Here are some highlights.



	2011 DECEMBER Dec. 16, 2011 Around the Web: Remembering Christopher Hitchens Christopher Hitchens -- a critic, author, journalist and habitual slayer of sacred cows -- died Thursday at the age of 62 from cancer. Hitchens' polarizing presence in public debate has spurred a cascade of tributes around the web.



	OCTOBER Oct. 28, 2011 Steve Jobs Biography Examines How Rule-Breaker Tied 'Artistry to Engineering' Author Walter Isaacson tells the story of Apple's late co-founder in a new biography simply titled "Steve Jobs." Jeffrey Brown and Isaacson discuss Jobs' personality, legacy and how his love of the arts shaped his views on innovation.

	Oct. 17, 2011 Obama, Civil Rights Leaders Formally Dedicate MLK Memorial Tens of thousands of people gathered Sunday in Washington to formally dedicate the National Mall's newest destination, a memorial honoring the life of civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. Gwen Ifill reports.

	Oct. 6, 2011 What Does Future Hold for Tech World, Apple Without Jobs? Late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs was remembered Thursday as being one the of world's greatest innovators. Jeffrey Brown discusses his life and work with Google's Vint Cerf, Boing Boing's Xeni Jardin and AOL co-founder Steve Case.

	Oct. 6, 2011 Remembering the Life, Designs of Digital Visionary Steve Jobs In a statement late Wednesday, Apple said its co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs lost his battle with pancreatic cancer at age 56. Correspondent Spence Michels looks back on the life and work of the digital visionary.

	Oct. 6, 2011 Steve Jobs in 1985: Apple Has 'Common Vision' on Changing the World Upon the death of Steve Jobs, we dipped into the NewsHour's video vault for past coverage of Apple and Jobs.

	Oct. 6, 2011 Steve Jobs Must-Reads: Reflections, Tributes, Photos and Webcomics The Web was awash in tributes and remembrances for late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs Thursday as people reacted to news that that the technology and device pioneer had died at age 56 after a long battle with several ailments, including pancreatic cancer.

	Oct. 5, 2011 Apple's Steve Jobs Dies at Age 56 Apple said in a brief statement late Wednesday that company co-founder and CEO Steve Jobs -- who has been battling cancer -- has died.



	SEPTEMBER Sept. 26, 2011 Remembering Wangari Maathai, First African Woman Nobel Peace Laureate Wangari Maathai, the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to save Kenya's forests, died Sunday after a long battle with ovarian cancer. She spoke with the NewsHour's Jeffrey Brown in 2005 about her ecology work and social activism.

	Sept. 15, 2011 N.Y. Photographer Captures 9/11 Tributes in Unexpected Places New York-based photographer Jonathan Hyman knew that the 9/11 attacks would alter the lives of Americans everywhere and it was his intention to capture the nation's vernacular response.

	Sept. 11, 2011 Poet Billy Collins Reflects on 9/11 Victims in 'The Names' Billy Collins was the U.S. poet laureate at the time of the 9/11 attacks. A year later, he wrote "The Names" in honor of the victims. He read the poem before a special joint session of Congress held in New York City in 2002, and reads it again now.

	Sept. 11, 2011 Young People Reflect on How 9/11 Helped Shape Generation When terrorists struck in 2001, many young people on the West Coast learned of the attacks as they were getting ready for school. Judy Woodruff reports from California on how 9/11 helped shaped the lives and choices of many young Americans.

	Sept. 11, 2011 New Yorker, Poet Nancy Mercado Reads 'Going to Work' After the attacks of September 11th, New Yorker and poet, Nany Mercado, felt compelled to write about what she lost when the World Trade Center Towers came down. Mercado reads her poem, "Going to Work." It was included in "Poetry After 9/11: An Anthology of New York Poets."

	Sept. 11, 2011 9/11 Victims' Family Members Write Memories, Sorrows in 'The Legacy Letters' If people who lost a family member on 9/11 wrote letters to their deceased loved ones about their lives today, their sorrow and their hopes, what would they say? Jeffrey Brown reports on a new collection titled, "The Legacy Letters," which offered victims' family members just that opportunity.

	Sept. 11, 2011 Around U.S. and World, Victims of 9/11 Commemorated on 10th Anniversary Sunday was filled with solemn ceremonies in New York City, Shanksville, Pa., at the Pentagon and elsewhere in the world to celebrate the lives of the people who were killed in the terrorist attacks 10 years ago on Sept. 11, 2001. The NewsHour team reports on how the 9/11 anniversary was commemorated.

	Sept. 11, 2011 Legacy Letters: 'Choose Happy' and Other Sentiments of Those Who Lost If the people who lost family members on 9/11 wrote letters to their deceased loved ones about their lives today, their sorrow and their hopes, what would they say?A new collection titled "The Legacy Letters" contains 100 such missives.

	Sept. 11, 2011 The 10th Anniversary of 9/11 Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush gathered to honor victims of the 9/11 attacks Sunday morning at the World Trade Center memorial site in New York.

	Sept. 11, 2011 9/11 Ceremonies, Speeches Mark a Decade Since Attacks President Obama said at the conclusion of a day of events and memorial visits commemorating the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001, that the past 10 years since the terrorist attacks show that "America does not give in to fear."

	Sept. 10, 2011 Then and Now: Children Draw to Cope with 9/11 In a national moment of grief and panic - and during a solemn time of remembrance - artwork becomes a way for children re-interpret painful images in more familiar terms, to make sense of the unimaginable.

	Sept. 9, 2011 News Wrap: NYSE Traders Observe Moment of Silence for 9/11 Victims In other news Friday, commemorations began in the United States and abroad for the 9/11 anniversary on Sunday. Traders at the New York Stock exchange observed a moment of silence before Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former Mayor Rudy Giuliani rang the opening bell.

	Sept. 9, 2011 Remembering a Morning of 'Chaos' on Capitol Hill On the morning of 9/11, I was in the House gallery broadcast booth readying for the day. It was a day much like any other. While driving in, I remembered remarking out loud what a crystal blue day it was.

	Sept. 9, 2011 Prayer Vigils, Remembrances Mark 9/11 Anniversary This weekend, memorial ceremonies and tributes mark the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001. View a schedule of events.

	Sept. 8, 2011 Remembering the Victims of 9/11 Starting at 12:01 a.m. ET Friday, the PBS NewsHour's @NewsHourLive account will tweet nearly 3,000 names of the victims of the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. The tweets will continue throughout the weekend, ending about 3 a.m. ET on Monday, Sept. 12.

	Sept. 8, 2011 Remembering the Smell of 9/11 Correspondent Betty Ann Bowser reflects on covering the aftermath of 9/11 in New York, remembering peoples' tragic stories of loss and one thing she hasn't been able to shake: the smell.

	Sept. 7, 2011 Pentagon Attack Widower: 'We Need to Go on' in Spite of Needless Suffering For Thomas Heidenberger, the emotional scars are still fresh. His wife, Michele, was a flight attendant on American Airlines Flight 77, which flew into the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. Heidenberger discusses the meaning and design of the memorial at the Pentagon dedicated to the 184 people who were killed there 10 years ago.

	Sept. 7, 2011 'Engineering Ground Zero' Explores the Challenges of Redesigning Historic Site Ten years after the 9/11 attacks, the memorial at the site of the World Trade Center towers in lower Manhattan will be dedicated on Sunday and open to the public on Sept. 12, 2011.

	Sept. 5, 2011 Flight 93 Memorial to 'Standing Up' Set to Open in Pennsylvania Ten years after the passengers and crew of United Flight 93 fought back against their hijackers, driving the airplane into the ground instead of the intended target in the nation's capital, a permanent memorial will open in Shanksville, Pa.



	AUGUST Aug. 26, 2011 MLK Memorial Emerges From Stone on National Mall, After Decades of Planning This weekend's dedication ceremony for the new memorial honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. has been postponed due to Hurricane Irene, but the public has already had an opportunity to reflect on the newest monument in Washington. Hari Sreenivasan reports.

	Aug. 8, 2011 America Remembers 9/11: Tell Us What's Changed, 10 Years Later We will soon mark 10 years since the attacks of Sept. 11 shook the nation, and the world. Since 2001, The PBS NewsHour has covered many of the faces, places, effects and implications of the deadly terrorist strikes. For this 10th anniversary, we're adding something new to our coverage: your voice.



	JULY July 12, 2011 Remembering Betty Ford, Who Broke the Mold for First Lady's Role One of the nation's most-admired first ladies, Betty Ford, died Friday at her home in Rancho Mirage, Calif., at the age of 93. Gwen Ifill introduces an excerpt of a documentary that examined the life, work, struggles and advocacy of President Gerald Ford's wife.

	July 11, 2011 'Betty Ford: The Real Deal' Charts Public Battles, Personal Triumphs We've been looking back at the life of Betty Ford -- outspoken wife of President Gerald Ford, advocate for breast cancer awareness and activist for equality issues -- who died Friday at age 93.