Trumpeting Trump's Birthday

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 14 honorees:

Birthdays

Donald Trump - He has evolved from millionaire real estate developer and multi-corporate mogul to become a celebrity of amazing proportions. Born on this date in 1946 in New York, Mr. Trump has elevated his high profile business image so far, he is now a cultural fixture, the brand name for wealth and success. He is the Chairman and CEO of the Trump Organization, the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts which operates numerous casinos and hotels across the world, and of course, the host and executive producer for the NBC reality show, "The Apprentice." He is also a socialite, the definition of a public figure.

Steffi Graf - Born on this date in 1969, in Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg, West Germany, Ms. Graf ascended to the very top of professional tennis at a young age and stayed there. She won an astounding 22 Grand Slam singles titles, second among male and female players only to Margaret Court's 24, and she is the only player to have won all four Grand Slam singles tournaments (Wimbledon, the US Open, the French Open and the Australian Open) at least four times each. In 1988, she achieved the "Golden Slam" by winning all four Grand Slam singles titles and the Olympic gold medal in the same year. Graf retired in 1999 while she was ranked third in the world, and maintained her high profile through her marriage to the former #1 men's tennis player, Andre Agassi.

Deaths

Kurt Waldheim - He was an Austrian diplomat and politician, and Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1972 to 1981. He was also President of Austria from 1986 to 1992. While running for President in Austria in 1985, his service as an intelligence officer in the Wehrmacht during World War II raised international controversy. Throughout his term as Austrian president, Mr. Waldheim was officially blacklisted by the United States, landing on a watch list of persons banned from entering the country. He passed away on this day in 2007.

Henry Mancini - To many, he was the embodiment of the "Pink Panther." Henry Mancini, who passed away on this day in 1994 at the age of 70, was an Academy Award winning composer, conductor and arranger remembered mostly for his film and television scores. Mancini also won a record number of Grammy awards, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1995. Beyond the "Pink Panther" theme, he will be forever immortalized for "Moon River," made famous by Andy Williams.