June 10: Comings and Goings

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 June 10 honorees:

Birthdays

Sasha Obama - With youth in the White House for the first time in many years, some milestones are inevitable. President Barack Obama's daughter, Sasha, who was born in 2001, is the youngest child to reside in the White House since John F. Kennedy, Jr, arrived as an infant in 1961. Sasha is also the first White House resident born in the 21st century.

John Edwards - At one time, he looked like a bona-fide contender to occupy the presidential chair, but his pursuit of the brass ring fell short, and then his life and career completely unraveled. Mr. Edwards, born on this day in Seneca, South Carolina in 1953, served one term as U.S. Senator from North Carolina. He was the Democratic nominee for Vice President in 2004, and was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004 and 2008. His wife's bout with cancer, and then an ugly adulterous affair with a former campaign worker sullied his reputation.

Tara Lipinski - It seemed impossible at the time but, under the brightest of lights with the world watching at the 1998 Winter Olympics. 15 year-old Tara Lipinsky won a gold medal in figure skating and became the youngest individual gold medalist in the history of the Olympic Winter Games. She was born in Philadelphia in 1982, began skating competitively in 1990, had enormous success until the late '90's, and eventually became a national spokesperson for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, among other philanthropic pursuits.

Deaths

Ray Charles - A musical legend passed away on this day in 2004, and was then summarily lauded with a highly acclaimed feature length film starring Jamie Foxx. Ray Charles was blind, but his music had vision. Once defined by Frank Sinatra as the only true genius in the business, Mr. Charles is ranked #10 in Rolling Stone Magazine's "100 Greatest Artists of All Time." He first hit the charts in 1953, and the list of his iconic songs is seemingly endless. Incredibly, Charles was married twice and fathered 12 children by 9 different women.

John Gotti - He was the famed boss of the Gambino crime family, a position he assumed after the gangland murder of the previous boss Paul Castellano. He became widely known for his outspoken personality and flamboyant style that eventually caused his downfall. After years of pursuit and near misses, earning him the nickname "The Teflon Don," he was finally convicted of racketeering, 13 murders, obstruction of justice, conspiracy to commit murder, illegal gambling, extortion, tax evasion, and loan sharking and was sentenced to life in prison where he died on this day in 2002.