April 29: Births and Deaths

Birthdays are a wonderful daily occurrence in our lives. It is rare to weave through one's day without becoming privy to an announcement or celebration of a birthday or two, whether they belong to family, friends, or other eminent figures. Remembering those who have passed each day is, perhaps, just as noteworthy an endeavor, for if their memories are kept alive, one might argue, so too are their spirits.

Here is a sampling of April 29 honorees:

Birthdays

Bernard Madoff - There are few white collar crimes in American history as vilified as the elaborate Ponzi scheme carried out by the former chairman of the NASDAQ stock exchange, Bernard Madoff, who pled guilty to an 11-count criminal complaint, admitting to defrauding thousands of investors. Born in Queens, New York in 1938, Madoff opened his own office, Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities, in 1960. Now, he will likely spend the rest of his years in jail. Incredibly, it is estimated Madoff's client losses are approximately $65 billion.

Jerry Seinfeld - Many believe that "Seinfeld" was the best situation comedy in the history of television, and that's not a bad legacy to have if you're Jerry Seinfeld. Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1954, the "Did you ever notice how...?" comedian began his luminous career as a stand-up comic and parlayed it into the show about nothing with Julia Louise Dreyfuss, Jason Alexander, and Michael Richards that ran for nine incredibly successful seasons on NBC. He also starred as Barry B. Benson in the 2001 film, "Bee Movie."

Uma Thurman - Born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1970, Ms. Thurman has developed into one of the most beloved and successful film actresses of this generation. After beginning her career as a model at the age of 15, she was working diligently as an actress three years later. Many feel her tour-de-force was her performance in Quentin Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction," but she was also highly acclaimed in "Kill Bill," "Dangerous Liaisons," and "Sweet & Lowdown."

Deaths

Josh Hancock - A promising relief pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, Josh Hancock was involved in a tragic accident on his way home from a bar after a night game on this day in 2007. He was driving while intoxicated and struck the rear of a flat bed tow truck that was stopped for repairs in the left lane. He was only 29 at the time of his death.

Mike Royko - A 1972 Pulitzer Prize winner, Mike Royko was one of the most celebrated newspaper columnists in the country. Though he is most remembered as a Chicago columnist writing for the Chicago Daily News, the Chicago Sun-Times, and the Chicago Tribune, Mr. Royko's columns ultimately ran in more than 600 newspapers nationally. During his prolific career, he penned more than 7,500 daily columns. He died of a brain aneurysm at age of 64 on this date in 1997.

Marvin Gaye - Dubbed by many as the Prince of Motown, Marvin Gaye was a phenomenally gifted and soulful entertainer. Among his many hits were "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," and "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)." Tragically, Mr. Gaye was shot and killed by his own father on this date in 1984.