May 10: Birthdays 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 May 10 honorees:

Birthdays

Bono - Would you consider yourself a success if you've been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, granted an honorary knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II, and named a Person of the Year by Time Magazine? Such are the heady accomplishments of Bono, born on this day in 1960 in Dublin. Of course, this doesn't even begin to address his music and the success of his band, U2. Clearly though, Bono's cultural influence has reached beyond the outstanding popularity of the band into the political and social arena, where he continues his activism on behalf of third-world debt relief, the plight of Africa, and other causes.

Kenan Thompson - This young performer, born in 1978 in Atlanta, Georgia, already has several high-profile comedic roles on his resume. His list of credits includes "Saturday Night Live," "Fat Albert," "All That," and Nickelodeon sitcom, "Kenan & Kel." He's also had several supporting roles in feature films such as "Heavyweights," "D3: The Mighty Ducks," "Love Don't Cost a Thing," "Barbershop 2: Back in Business," and, "Snakes on a Plane."

Pat Summerall - Many football fans believe the best broadcasting team to ever bring a game into our homes was Pat Summerall and John Madden. Summerall, born on this day in 1930 in Lake City, Florida, broadcast at CBS, FOX, and ESPN during his celebrated career, which included a 10-year stint as a member of the Detroit Lions, and then the New York Giants, as a placekicker. He was inducted into the American Sportscasters Association Hall of Fame in 1999.

Deaths

Joanie Weston - You need to have been around during the halcyon years of the Roller Derby to understand the popularity of Joanie Weston, key player on the sport's signature franchise, the San Francisco Bay Bombers. Perhaps her nicknames, Blonde Bomber, Blonde Amazon, Golden Girl, and Roller Derby Queen, will help form an image. She was high-profile enough to become the highest-paid female athlete in the 1960s and 1970s. Tragically, Ms. Weston succumbed to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in 1997 and she passed away at the age of 62.

Deborah Walley - She will always be affectionately remembered for her perky roles in the beach party films in the 1960's, but Ms. Walley had a deeper list of credits of which to be proud. She made her Hollywood film debut in 1961's "Gidget Goes Hawaiian," and had a key role in television's "The Mothers-in-Law," with Eve Arden and Kaye Ballard, among other film work. Ms. Walley passed away at the young age of 57 from esophageal cancer.